I don't spend a lot of time and energy on here anymore but I wanted to take the opportunity to proselytize for this game a little bit as the English release is coming up on the 15th of June 2023.
The game delivers on its concept and goes further. Really smartly written, aware of and playful with its language while not calling too much attention to itself in a detrimental way. Really curious to see how the translation will handle some of that material, like Yuuki's immediate default to addressing Kisa by 彼女 moments after meeting her while under the belief that she is a boy, a suggestion that Mare's gang consider themselves 彼女たち while not considering themselves not men at the same time. The intersection of 役割語 and what could be called "gendered language" in the patterns of characters like Tsukasa is also really well considered and really evident of the care taken in writing these characters and realising this setting while not explicitly being a "queer" work. I hope the translation work regarding these elements is good, and that the increased reliance of the English language on contextual markers like pronouns doesn't mean that they shy away from the facile way in which the Japanese script crosses borders, things like Shirota and Sugachi being called 歌姫 and 舞姫 with no friction or resistance.
Very cute romances, enjoyable music and drama. If you were interested in the concept of this game but are not a fan of the otoge angle, there is a non-romantic route in the game. Personally I found that a bit too cliché in a shounen manga way despite a very strong central concept, but the romantic route I chose (Shirota's) was incredibly well-devised, grounded and emotional. I played the last rhythm game in tears. Please give this game a chance if any of this interests you.
「狂楽の覚悟はお済みか、諸君！」
The game delivers on its concept and goes further. Really smartly written, aware of and playful with its language while not calling too much attention to itself in a detrimental way. Really curious to see how the translation will handle some of that material, like Yuuki's immediate default to addressing Kisa by 彼女 moments after meeting her while under the belief that she is a boy, a suggestion that Mare's gang consider themselves 彼女たち while not considering themselves not men at the same time. The intersection of 役割語 and what could be called "gendered language" in the patterns of characters like Tsukasa is also really well considered and really evident of the care taken in writing these characters and realising this setting while not explicitly being a "queer" work. I hope the translation work regarding these elements is good, and that the increased reliance of the English language on contextual markers like pronouns doesn't mean that they shy away from the facile way in which the Japanese script crosses borders, things like Shirota and Sugachi being called 歌姫 and 舞姫 with no friction or resistance.
Very cute romances, enjoyable music and drama. If you were interested in the concept of this game but are not a fan of the otoge angle, there is a non-romantic route in the game. Personally I found that a bit too cliché in a shounen manga way despite a very strong central concept, but the romantic route I chose (Shirota's) was incredibly well-devised, grounded and emotional. I played the last rhythm game in tears. Please give this game a chance if any of this interests you.
「狂楽の覚悟はお済みか、諸君！」
Reviewed on May 06, 2023