This review contains spoilers
what i enjoyed
The writing is so poetic. The big themes are family and loneliness. They also make a lot of suggestive comments and they’re not crude at all, just funny. The character sprites are also very attractive!
what i didn’t like
The art style of the CGs I didn’t appreciate. For the kiss CGs specifically, the characters’ lips don’t touch (except for 2 CGs). Some parts of the story I felt were added in but not really explored. The music I had to mute after awhile.
my route reviews (alphabetical)
1. Keito Ebana - 3/5
I think out of all characters, Hiyori and Ebana have the funniest interactions. His hot and cold attitude to the other characters are also funny especially when it comes to cooking. Ebana makes a lot of sarcastic remarks and he’s also the “mother hen” of the house. I felt pity for him for his backstory and I’m so mad at how they forced him to face his trauma during the final drama. I do find him funny but I don’t like being screamed at and he screams at Hiyori a lot.
2. Kyoya Akase - 2.5/5
This is the route I enjoyed the least. Akase himself is hot but I didn’t care for his backstory or the progression of his route. I don’t think his story adds anything to the overall plot but also I get it because he’s an early route which means not a lot of secrets are known yet. The romance I found minimal. Akase is focused on being a hero to everyone else more. That’s his personality though and he’s consistent in all routes.
3. Mamoru Chigasaki - 5/5
I wasn’t initially interested in Chigasaki so this experience was something I didn’t expect. His backstory, his contribution to the plot, his personality, his face, his voice, I love all of them. This was one of the routes I felt so emotional over. Chigasaki has very low self esteem and is self sacrificial. I was angry at everyone that dared hurt him. The world can burn, I just want him to feel safe and happy. He’s the kindest in the house and it worked so well with his secret that you would really not expect it. I’m a big fan of loud, heavy jealousy but Chigasaki’s quiet jealousy was so heart wrenching. He feels that he deserves nothing good to happen to him and that he doesn’t have the right to desire anything. If I had to choose a different final route, it would be Chigasaki’s. He will always occupy a space in my heart.
4. Mei Dazai - 3.5/5
Dazai is a very bland looking character so I didn’t expect that he’d have a big contribution to the story! No offense to Dazai but everyone else is flashy in terms of looks. I said he’s a big part of the story but in the end, his route was just okay. Hiyori spent a lot of time with other characters than Dazai here and I think that’s why I didn’t feel the romance as much. I think I needed more longing, I needed more anguish. I needed more scenes where we could see Dazai’s love in both during their stay in Arcadia and during flashback scenes. It was missing a lot for me and I’m extra critical because it’s supposed to be one of the final routes. I felt bad for everyone during his good end, it felt like a normal end actually. In his bad end, I did tear up a little. Thinking about his sacrifice, gamble, and failure hurts.
5. Mizuki Iochi - 4/5
I screamed a lot in Iochi’s route! I liked the balance of good and evil, being a hero that sacrifices 1 to save everyone else or being a villain that saves 1 by sacrificing everyone else. The neck kissing scene was so good. I would have rated this a bit more higher if we heard Iochi scream out in agony when Hiyori tried falling into the eternal flames. I really liked the drama where he had to stab Hiyori. I was so sure he’d show restraint and even take a punishment game but he did it without hesitation, even burying it deep! And Hiyori’s surreal dream after where her stomach had a gaping hole was also a cool detail.
6. Ryoichi Futami - 4/5
Futami’s route at the start wasn’t interesting to me but when his shady behavior was revealed, it started getting really crazy! He ended up being one of the characters I really liked and it’s funny seeing him in other routes after knowing what his role is. My favorite part about the route is Futami’s lack of redemption. The situation he’s in is very cult like and you don’t heal from that in a snap. The neck kissing in Futami’s route too was even more intense than Iochi’s! I screamed a lot in this route. What he did to himself too and that one bloody fantastic CG, oh my god.
7. Souta Gyobu - 3/5
Gyobu’s route didn’t stand out to me, and I’m being extra critical again because this is one of the locked routes. The one part I liked was towards the end where he showed actual emotion, he was screaming at Dazai because of his choice. I thought he gave more in this short scene than the entire route combined! Didn’t really feel as much romance here. I think the focus is more on revealing the truth.
8. Takumi Haiji - 5/5
Haiji was the route I wanted to play from the get go because I just knew he had a secret. What can I say except my expectations were met and surpassed. I haven’t read a yandere character like him in so long. Not about killing others or stalking, but just keeping the other person with you in your world trapped… I really enjoyed all ends! I especially liked the glitch-esque style of no matter what you choose, you end up stuck in his world. In the true route I cried a little at his good end and a lot at his bad end.
9. Tomose Banjo - 3/5
Plotwise his route contributes nothing to the story so it’s best to play his first. But I liked that because this gave him and Hiyori a chance to explore their relationship. Tomose and Hiyori were really annoying but again I liked it. They’re childhood friends so it matches that they both act immature in their route. I understood Tomose’s actions because imagine trying to get your heart across to someone but they refuse to even acknowledge it. Not that it’s a good thing but I get it. The romance I found lacking even until the end. It’s more of starting a new chapter, a phase of their relationship so romance is only about to bloom after the route. I liked Tomose in other routes too, he really cares about Hiyori and is jealous but lets her be happy when she chooses someone else. As an after thought, if Hiyori told Tomose that she rejects his feelings then he wouldn’t have exploded like that in his route. I understand Hiyori’s struggle though with not wanting to lose an important person and struggling with change.
final thoughts
I like mystery games so I enjoyed Charade Maniacs. There are parts of the story I wish had gone a different direction or was explored more. I laughed and cried and got mad. Playing as Hiyori Sena was fun and the finale was satisfying and painful. Would reco!
The writing is so poetic. The big themes are family and loneliness. They also make a lot of suggestive comments and they’re not crude at all, just funny. The character sprites are also very attractive!
what i didn’t like
The art style of the CGs I didn’t appreciate. For the kiss CGs specifically, the characters’ lips don’t touch (except for 2 CGs). Some parts of the story I felt were added in but not really explored. The music I had to mute after awhile.
my route reviews (alphabetical)
1. Keito Ebana - 3/5
I think out of all characters, Hiyori and Ebana have the funniest interactions. His hot and cold attitude to the other characters are also funny especially when it comes to cooking. Ebana makes a lot of sarcastic remarks and he’s also the “mother hen” of the house. I felt pity for him for his backstory and I’m so mad at how they forced him to face his trauma during the final drama. I do find him funny but I don’t like being screamed at and he screams at Hiyori a lot.
2. Kyoya Akase - 2.5/5
This is the route I enjoyed the least. Akase himself is hot but I didn’t care for his backstory or the progression of his route. I don’t think his story adds anything to the overall plot but also I get it because he’s an early route which means not a lot of secrets are known yet. The romance I found minimal. Akase is focused on being a hero to everyone else more. That’s his personality though and he’s consistent in all routes.
3. Mamoru Chigasaki - 5/5
I wasn’t initially interested in Chigasaki so this experience was something I didn’t expect. His backstory, his contribution to the plot, his personality, his face, his voice, I love all of them. This was one of the routes I felt so emotional over. Chigasaki has very low self esteem and is self sacrificial. I was angry at everyone that dared hurt him. The world can burn, I just want him to feel safe and happy. He’s the kindest in the house and it worked so well with his secret that you would really not expect it. I’m a big fan of loud, heavy jealousy but Chigasaki’s quiet jealousy was so heart wrenching. He feels that he deserves nothing good to happen to him and that he doesn’t have the right to desire anything. If I had to choose a different final route, it would be Chigasaki’s. He will always occupy a space in my heart.
4. Mei Dazai - 3.5/5
Dazai is a very bland looking character so I didn’t expect that he’d have a big contribution to the story! No offense to Dazai but everyone else is flashy in terms of looks. I said he’s a big part of the story but in the end, his route was just okay. Hiyori spent a lot of time with other characters than Dazai here and I think that’s why I didn’t feel the romance as much. I think I needed more longing, I needed more anguish. I needed more scenes where we could see Dazai’s love in both during their stay in Arcadia and during flashback scenes. It was missing a lot for me and I’m extra critical because it’s supposed to be one of the final routes. I felt bad for everyone during his good end, it felt like a normal end actually. In his bad end, I did tear up a little. Thinking about his sacrifice, gamble, and failure hurts.
5. Mizuki Iochi - 4/5
I screamed a lot in Iochi’s route! I liked the balance of good and evil, being a hero that sacrifices 1 to save everyone else or being a villain that saves 1 by sacrificing everyone else. The neck kissing scene was so good. I would have rated this a bit more higher if we heard Iochi scream out in agony when Hiyori tried falling into the eternal flames. I really liked the drama where he had to stab Hiyori. I was so sure he’d show restraint and even take a punishment game but he did it without hesitation, even burying it deep! And Hiyori’s surreal dream after where her stomach had a gaping hole was also a cool detail.
6. Ryoichi Futami - 4/5
Futami’s route at the start wasn’t interesting to me but when his shady behavior was revealed, it started getting really crazy! He ended up being one of the characters I really liked and it’s funny seeing him in other routes after knowing what his role is. My favorite part about the route is Futami’s lack of redemption. The situation he’s in is very cult like and you don’t heal from that in a snap. The neck kissing in Futami’s route too was even more intense than Iochi’s! I screamed a lot in this route. What he did to himself too and that one bloody fantastic CG, oh my god.
7. Souta Gyobu - 3/5
Gyobu’s route didn’t stand out to me, and I’m being extra critical again because this is one of the locked routes. The one part I liked was towards the end where he showed actual emotion, he was screaming at Dazai because of his choice. I thought he gave more in this short scene than the entire route combined! Didn’t really feel as much romance here. I think the focus is more on revealing the truth.
8. Takumi Haiji - 5/5
Haiji was the route I wanted to play from the get go because I just knew he had a secret. What can I say except my expectations were met and surpassed. I haven’t read a yandere character like him in so long. Not about killing others or stalking, but just keeping the other person with you in your world trapped… I really enjoyed all ends! I especially liked the glitch-esque style of no matter what you choose, you end up stuck in his world. In the true route I cried a little at his good end and a lot at his bad end.
9. Tomose Banjo - 3/5
Plotwise his route contributes nothing to the story so it’s best to play his first. But I liked that because this gave him and Hiyori a chance to explore their relationship. Tomose and Hiyori were really annoying but again I liked it. They’re childhood friends so it matches that they both act immature in their route. I understood Tomose’s actions because imagine trying to get your heart across to someone but they refuse to even acknowledge it. Not that it’s a good thing but I get it. The romance I found lacking even until the end. It’s more of starting a new chapter, a phase of their relationship so romance is only about to bloom after the route. I liked Tomose in other routes too, he really cares about Hiyori and is jealous but lets her be happy when she chooses someone else. As an after thought, if Hiyori told Tomose that she rejects his feelings then he wouldn’t have exploded like that in his route. I understand Hiyori’s struggle though with not wanting to lose an important person and struggling with change.
final thoughts
I like mystery games so I enjoyed Charade Maniacs. There are parts of the story I wish had gone a different direction or was explored more. I laughed and cried and got mad. Playing as Hiyori Sena was fun and the finale was satisfying and painful. Would reco!