Steins; Gate Visual Novel

I sometimes wonder why it is that western games don’t have any real input in the visual novel genre of games.

Sure, the west created and pioneered the point-and-click adventure game as well as being home to the interactive movie genre, spawning such games as Night Trap on the Mega CD, but there aren’t any purely narrative driven experiences such as the visual novel over here.

Perhaps having been created in Japan, and the resultant overwhelming animé stigma attached to it, in these parts, simply mentioning the term ‘visual novel’ and there will be raised eyebrows all round. Most gamers have no clue what you are on about.

Better known for its animé counterpart, Steins; Gate started life as one of these visual novels back in 20XX and was finally released in the west earlier this year. The plot revolves around Rintarō Okabe an unemployed young man and self proclaimed ‘Mad Scientist’ (a phrase made more amusing when interspersed in broken English throughout Japanese dialogue, with emphasis on the syllables) who effects semi-delusional rantings and refers to himself as Hououin Kyouma. Most of Okabe’s exploits are half-jest, talking about the Organisation which he believes is following him, pretend conversations with allies, whispering ridiculous passwords at people ‘El Psy Congroo’.

Along with Itaru, a ‘Super-Hacka’ and Mayuri who makes the costumes and makes shopping trips, the 3 are the self-styled lab members of a cramped flat upstairs from a CRT TV store in gadget and tech-centric Akihabara in Tokyo.

When starting the game you almost forget there is a story supposedly about to happen, and are quite content with the meandering conversations of the lab members and the whimsical back and forths when Okabe resentingly gets called Okarin by the affectionate Mayuri. I was initially exposed to the game through the series so I knew what to expect ultimately, but for a new person experiencing Steins; Gate for the first time, the game was much better, the characters are instantly engaging and memorable and the long wait until something happens isn’t dull and paceless like the animé series.

Well it really begins as Okabe and Mayuri attend a small conference by a well known young scientist, it sets into motion a series of events which introduce the basic concept of the story, Time Travel. So as to give a rough idea of where the game is headed while being spoiler-free, I’ll be vague and say that there are conspiracies, friendships formed and lost and split timelines.

What I love about Steins; Gate is that unlike other narrative heavy games of this genre, the main character is very much his own character, not in anyway presented as if you are to play the role, choices play a part in the pathway but not much on his character.

The gameplay element is rather small but is all managed on a phone in game, people will call and text and you can decide whether or not to answer, but mostly the game just rolls out and most calls serve only for light-hearted humour.

There are two major pathways altering vastly the end of the game, however all others are just branches and can be achieved in a single playthrough, albeit with small use of multiple save datas.

Being an extremely linear game, it isn’t for everyone and the overwhelming nature of the characters can get on people’s nerves after such a long time, the game clocks in at nearly 30 hours, but it is significantly better than its animé and so fans of that will probably really enjoy it.

Less gameplay than other Visual Novels of this type, overt animé tropes and characters and the colour filter can be blindingly migraine inducing, but its clever plot and pervading humour manage to win over this cynical git so it could stand to do a whole lot worse. El Psy Congroo.

Steins; Gate Visual Novel

I like experiments

“Sure, I don’t mind needles…”

It’s how every story of a downward spiral starts,and it is also how the story of Vince began one day 2 years ago.

“Don’t talk or we’ll feed you to the Karkians…” Yuen Kong said, leader of the Red Arrow triad, controlling family of Hong Kong and shrewd owner of the Lucky Money club in the downtown Market.

Somehow a rather average, leather-clad punk had wound his way into the underworld, standing like a stiffened mannequin in the presence of the most powerful man in Hong Kong, but unlike any other sad, destitute junkie, the discovery of a malignant tumour forced his hand. But Vince was different, he had a deal with Kong. Become his guinea pig and be set for life and he was, for a little while.

“Tumor shmoomer” – Vince

Multiple Nano augmented transcriptions tore into his body, yet somehow he looked completely fine, creating an artificial respite to the impending death – but with a cost. With each treatment the drugs and genetic imprints rewrote his brain, leaving him a husk, a worn-out shadow of a man found drinking or scrounging at the Lucky Money bar. He was even there that fateful day in Hong Kong Market.

Vince in happier times at the Lucky Money bar.[/caption]

Isaac was tending the bar as usual when a guy he’d never seen before walked up to him, later Isaac recalled that throughout his time there he didn’t ask for a drink at the bar, “He started talking to a few of the regulars, but it was kinda late, they were all pretty pissed by then, he didn’t even ask for a drink at the bar”. After disturbing some of the patrons and rearranging some of the furniture he approached the bar, “I’m not sure what he wanted but he was talking about how UNATCO runs the joint over in New York City, started dissing Hong Kong, I asked him if he would like anything, he just went right around back and took off without even asking for a drink at the bar”.

“Experiments… I like experiments.” – Vince

Eyewitness accounts described what happened next as “somewhat shocking” and “the most scared I have been awake” or even “I didn’t even notice”, not long after the unusual man entered the staff area a number of mechanised cyborgs burst in and began to open fire without discrimination at the patrons. The chaos consumed the club and gave way to what has become known as the greatest disaster since the 2044 Olympic massacre, dozens injured and many more left traumatised from the sound of weak stomached people screaming at the sight of blood.

In the ensuing bedlam no-one had time to see Vince as he finished up the dregs of his beer, perhaps it was because he always kept to himself or maybe because they were running for their very lives, he was entirely unaware of the mania metres away and never thought that in mere seconds his life would be snuffed out.

He wasn’t found until the violence and dust had come to a stop, a bullet embedded in his torso, no longer able to fight the disease festering inside. Dead.

He was a gift to science, a gift to us all. And now he is gone. No longer will we be graced with his insightful observations of the cruel world that he inhabited, or sudden inimitable declarations of love for the simpler things in life.

God rest your soul buddy, I hope “that’ll do the trick” for you in heaven.

I like experiments

American Gods

Usually when a graphic novel or comic book writer takes to the pen with the aim of writing a novel, the result is usually an action-packed sweepf of comic style narrative, with the only difference being the addition of a few adjectives, but when Gaiman does it, he can’t help but beguile you into reading a ornately woven and multi-layered story that seems to unreal to believe came from such humble foundations.

America has always been a country that has struggled with its identity, whether its trying to find out what the Great American Novel is or what the American Dream ought to be, there’s never a moment when America isn’t trying to forge its own path on a world wrought with disillusioned historical sentiment.

To try to write a novel that tackles the American outlook on these themes is not so unusual, but to represent an entire world’s worth of culture that America has collected and represent it in an effectively ‘American’ way, well…

For a British novelist to even attempt the feat is nothing short of ballsy, if not, entirely arrogant, but as a plot must march forth so must a writer and their muse. American Gods is a work of more than just observation, it’s a repetoire of the lore and theology that has contributed to the nation, it is a fly-on-the-wall of their society and a fly-in-your-face of American culture.

Neil Gaiman is revealed as more than fit for the immense task as he writes without a trace of Anglicism. There isn’t a sardonic viewpoint, atypical of the English writer, the writing is self-reflective to the point of being downright deceptively American.

From the moment that the novel begins, “Shadow had done three years in prison.”, you can tell this isn’t like any other fantasy book you have ever read, high or urban. You are told little about why he was incarcerated and lots about how he managed to get through it, as he is released he discovers his wife has just died and is soon approached by a mysterious man who offers him a job.

Alongside the main narrative are shorter tales about various deities and folklore creatures which have made their way to America, offering insight into the background and setting of American Gods. Old gods are brought to the continent by immigrants and colonists, creating a different version of the god for America, where in the modern day, they are struggling to be recognised and subsequently, survive with such dwindling beliefs.

The tone is rather melancholic, the characters and the environment are bleak and manage to sport a black comedy which is more at home in a less fantastical book. Some of the elements of the plot are rather twisted, enjoyably so, and others are almost romantic in content, although neither would be enough to sell the novel to someone on.

The wealth of knowledge and lore that is in the book is really what makes it stand out, where others make some half-arsed attempt at mythological elements, none are as successful or convincingly expressed as can be found in American Gods, whose own adventures make for a fitting addition to the current respective canons.

Slow-paced, there are times when the story decelerates to a crawl, allowing a little bit too much time to pore over niggling details, despite the novel wrapping up well, this pacing can still be a little dull at times.

American Gods is a beautifully presented fantasy novel which surpasses the ordinary expectations of its genre to become a modern fantasy epic for a more mature and discerning readership. The depth and scope are immense and has a gritty finish that leaves the patient reader wanting to see a little more of the astounding world of gods new and old in the land of the free.

American Gods

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

This long awaited crossover game, pits Level 5′s deferential archaeologist, Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke, against Capcom’s graceless attorney-at-law, Phoenix Wright and his assistant in a story that sees them attempting to solve the mysterious case of Labyrinthia. This game  has been out in Japan for well over a year, where it received some good reviews but lacklustre sales. After dipping their toe in the water, Capcom made the brave and best choice to dive in and release this in the west with a full retail release, unlike the previous Ace Attorney game which suffered ‘download-only’ status.

Contrary to Japan, Professor Layton is the more popular series in the west, enjoying high sales amongst gamers both casual and core and from a variety of backgrounds, making this title ideal for getting the west in the lesser known Ace Attorney series.

When a strange young girl arrives at Professor Layton’s office, claiming she is being chased by someone, Layton and Luke are soon wandering around London looking for clues, going straight into the action the mechanics are briefly and simply explained giving even the most clueless players no room for confusion or error.

Striding the line between a traditional point and click, with Ace Attorney style courtroom battles goes hand in hand, much like the Ace Attorney series does conventionally, the chapters are divided between the characters and the time spent on each case or section of the game is paced well, all being directly involved with the main plot of the game. The visuals are beautiful, both series look faithful, with Ace Attorney being a more old-school looking in its 3D incarnation than in Ace Attorney 5. The soundtrack contains some mixed up versions of both games backlog, with the most standout pieces being part of the original score, which feels grand and memorable.

The experience is great until the approach of the third act, where it turns into a bit of a slog. Gameplay goes out of the window and turns into a visual novel, complete with huge, lengthy dialogues which attempt to tie up plotpoints in order for the convoluted twist to make a little more sense; which in trying to be both Ace Attorney and Prof Layton-esque ends up as a semblance of neither, resulting in dull confusion.

Most of the time, I enjoyed what I was playing, simply seeing better attention to the plot (which was also handled by Shu Takumi who created Ace Attorney) was important after having played a somewhat lacklustre one in the Phoenix Wright series not too long ago,  but the attempt at making the story too epic seems to have undermined the core enjoyment one usually gets out of these games. It’s almost as though trying too hard to make the game good was its own condemnation, the story reaches a standstill, going on too long and too oddly for the bell to really chime at the end.

Unlike other tie-in style games, this is one which feels almost more lavish than main series entries for both franchises, and fans of either series will enjoy seeing the respective protagonists showing down in this fantastical setting,  but as a game by itself, it’s a bit of a mess, we’re unlikely to see more, which is a shame.

This is a game series which with more installments, had a high chance of getting the formula down, but as it is, I guess we can just marvel at young Phoenix and Layton having their spotlights nicked by one another.

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney