What makes someone perfect? Experience this short bittersweet story in the shoes of the main character, Jung, where you will spend your time hanging out with a girl named Ai. Ai is everything Jung wishes for in a woman... except for one very important thing. A thing he prefers to disregard in order for them to have the best time of their lives.
GAME INFO
Name: Carpe Diem
Developer/s: Eyzi
Release Date: November 30, 2015
Genre: Slice-of-life
STORY
The story is all about a guy called Jung who meets up with this blue-haired girl named Ai. They hang out together, talking about various things, eating out, shopping, you know the drill. It's a date, after all. And then... twist.
To be honest, I’m not sure how to tell you the story without giving away anything. This is a really, really short game, around 10 minutes tops, so I think it would be best if you tried it out for yourself.
Ah, but since this is my VN journal, haha... I'd just like to say that the ending really saddened me, even though that theme has been cropping up a lot lately. I still find this kind of stories both fascinating and absolutely heartbreaking. </3
WRITING
 |
| Replace 'program' with 'visual novel project' and that's my problem every time. |
There are choices here, they pretty much have the same ending, so it's safe to say that this is more of a kinetic novel than a legit visual novel.
ART
The art, however minimal it may be, is very pleasing to the eyes. There’s only one sprite here, Ai’s, and she’s only got one pose and a couple of expressions, but she looks really good to me. Basically your standard anime style cel-shaded(?) visual novel art. I'm not sure if the backgrounds are custom but they’re very nicely done as well, complementing the single sprite with their soft coloring.
 |
| Nah, if it's you, I can wait. *flirty wink* Omooo I can't do this, hahaha. |
GUI
Simple but cute. Oh, and it’s very fitting for the theme, which I won’t give away because it’ll definitely be a spoiler. Though actually, the main menu itself is already a huge spoiler.
MUSIC
EXTRAS
In the actual game? None, as far as I know. There really are no hidden bells or whistles here. However, in the Steam page, you can download "Extra Package" for only less than a dollar. :)
WRAP-UP
Carpe Diem means “Seize the day”, and perhaps that’s why this whole visual novel takes place in a single day. There isn’t much to actually see or do, but for what it’s worth, it’s a nice little game.
It feels more like a test game than anything, to be honest. The art is nice, the writing is decent, and the plot is nice enough, too. At the very least, Carpe Diem has made me interested in whatever this new dev is planning to come up with for the future.
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P.S. If you liked this game, you might want to check out the films Her and Ex Machina. I loved, loved, loved those films! :") I hope they create more films like those!
[This review was originally prepared on: 3/26/16]
Ciel, the protagonist, is a princess who has never been allowed to leave her kingdom. Along with her loyal knight and bodyguard, she decides to follow her dreams of seeing the world.
Developer: Batensan
Release Date: August 08, 2015
Genre: GxB, Romance, Fantasy
Story-wise, I liked it, mainly because I could relate to the protagonist. I may not be a princess like Ciel and my father may not be a King like hers, but he sure is as strict as Ciel's dad! I remember, how, as a kid, I was never allowed to go outside to play with the other children. I don't have any siblings either, so I was always just alone at home. It was really sad. (This is why I love school, hahaha, because all my friends were in school, and I was always so lonely at home.) So I could definitely understand Ciel's problem in the story, having a dad who also wouldn't let her out of the house. To some extent, that's why I also understand Ciel's decision to escape.
Florien is such a sweetie. He cares a lot for Ciel, and he'd do practically anything for her. As long as it's reasonable, of course. Although... sometimes, what's reasonable for Florien may not be reasonable for others. He's not close to his brother, Anton, but they're really similar in a lot of ways. Even though he seems like a pretty gentle guy, he does get protective of Ciel, sometimes. I also find him cute whenever he's jealous. Cutie, Florien. I like him, 'nuff said.
Anton... ah, Anton captured me with his aura the moment he appeared onscreen. Yeah, I can be pretty shallow sometimes. He's too protective for my liking, but man, he can be pretty lenient sometimes. Like when he lets Ciel escape. A dude who's protective, but knows how to control his protectiveness, is hot in my book. And also, even though he's the leader of the Royal Knights, he treats his subordinates like his equal. Now, that's what makes him really, really hot. I mean, this hotness thing, it isn't just about good looks or whatever. It's also about how you are as a person! Anton... oh, yeah. <3 Hahaha.
As siblings, they're absolutely adorable. <3 There's this one scene where the three of them are supposed to stay in one room for the night, and while Ciel is completely okay with it, the other two are absolutely not, calling it 'indecent'. Hahaha! Why is it that trustworthy guys are always the ones who view such innocent things maliciously? =) They actually remind me of two boys I know in real life. They're close friends, and they always act like this whenever we have sleepovers. Hahaha. I was smiling all throughout this scene because Florien and Anton reminded me of them.
And finally,Yvin! Oh, gosh. Yvin. Ciel calls him weird when they first see him, but I call him cute. If we're basing it on his looks, well then, "handsome" is the more fitting term", but... personality-wise, he's cute. To be honest, if this was in real life, I'd probably choose Yvin. Sure, I can stay in the castle with protective Anton and caring Florien, but don't you think I'd rather have fun and laugh out loud with humorous Yvin for the rest of my days? Hahaha. =) He actually feels like the real-est character to me here, since he started out with... well, let's just say he didn't seem to start out with completely pure intentions. Like a real human being, don't you think? Always having his own interests at the forefront of everything, before anything else. :)
And as for the protagonist... well, I'm not sure if I'm being biased towards Ciel just because I can relate so much to her and her situation. But she's seems real, with her own flaws and stuff.
Obviously, I really enjoyed the script. :) The writing is okay, the plot is nice, and the characters felt like real people! What's not to love? Hahaha. The only thing I really disliked was the shifting of POVs, but that can be overlooked, anyway.
When Anton comes onscreen, oh my gosh, I just had to peer closer. The dude is hot, I swear. While Florien's art looks a little half-finished (it sort of seems like coloring wasn't finished yet), Anton's sprite is ab-so-lute-ly gorgeous. <3
However, the lack of solid lines is something that I didn't particularly like. There are times when that art style look good, there are times when it doesn't, and in this case, it's leaning dangerously close to the latter. Nevertheless, I still think they look pretty good.
Backgrounds are custom-made, I believe? :) I'm not sure, though. Still, I find them super nice! There were some that still looked unfinished, though, like the inn background, which still looked like a sketch because of the beds.
I give it eight strawberries! Fans of fantasy otomes should definitely check this out.
By the way, the developer seems to be making some other games with the same theme, so... I guess that's something to look forward to, huh? :)
GAME INFO
Name: Magical Otoge CielDeveloper: Batensan
Release Date: August 08, 2015
Genre: GxB, Romance, Fantasy
WRITING/STORY
The writing is decent. We're given a first-person view of what's happening, but it shifts to second-person view whenever the surroundings are being described. And then, it sometimes shifts to the POV of the other character, where the player can read the other person's thoughts. I found that to be slightly strange, to be honest. I guess it's because I'm used to the usual first-person POV where we can only see the protagonist's thoughts. However, I still find it awkward whenever it shifts to the second-person POV. *shrugs*Story-wise, I liked it, mainly because I could relate to the protagonist. I may not be a princess like Ciel and my father may not be a King like hers, but he sure is as strict as Ciel's dad! I remember, how, as a kid, I was never allowed to go outside to play with the other children. I don't have any siblings either, so I was always just alone at home. It was really sad. (This is why I love school, hahaha, because all my friends were in school, and I was always so lonely at home.) So I could definitely understand Ciel's problem in the story, having a dad who also wouldn't let her out of the house. To some extent, that's why I also understand Ciel's decision to escape.
CHARACTERS
- Florien
Florien is such a sweetie. He cares a lot for Ciel, and he'd do practically anything for her. As long as it's reasonable, of course. Although... sometimes, what's reasonable for Florien may not be reasonable for others. He's not close to his brother, Anton, but they're really similar in a lot of ways. Even though he seems like a pretty gentle guy, he does get protective of Ciel, sometimes. I also find him cute whenever he's jealous. Cutie, Florien. I like him, 'nuff said.
- Anton
Anton... ah, Anton captured me with his aura the moment he appeared onscreen. Yeah, I can be pretty shallow sometimes. He's too protective for my liking, but man, he can be pretty lenient sometimes. Like when he lets Ciel escape. A dude who's protective, but knows how to control his protectiveness, is hot in my book. And also, even though he's the leader of the Royal Knights, he treats his subordinates like his equal. Now, that's what makes him really, really hot. I mean, this hotness thing, it isn't just about good looks or whatever. It's also about how you are as a person! Anton... oh, yeah. <3 Hahaha.As siblings, they're absolutely adorable. <3 There's this one scene where the three of them are supposed to stay in one room for the night, and while Ciel is completely okay with it, the other two are absolutely not, calling it 'indecent'. Hahaha! Why is it that trustworthy guys are always the ones who view such innocent things maliciously? =) They actually remind me of two boys I know in real life. They're close friends, and they always act like this whenever we have sleepovers. Hahaha. I was smiling all throughout this scene because Florien and Anton reminded me of them.
- Yvin
And finally,Yvin! Oh, gosh. Yvin. Ciel calls him weird when they first see him, but I call him cute. If we're basing it on his looks, well then, "handsome" is the more fitting term", but... personality-wise, he's cute. To be honest, if this was in real life, I'd probably choose Yvin. Sure, I can stay in the castle with protective Anton and caring Florien, but don't you think I'd rather have fun and laugh out loud with humorous Yvin for the rest of my days? Hahaha. =) He actually feels like the real-est character to me here, since he started out with... well, let's just say he didn't seem to start out with completely pure intentions. Like a real human being, don't you think? Always having his own interests at the forefront of everything, before anything else. :)And as for the protagonist... well, I'm not sure if I'm being biased towards Ciel just because I can relate so much to her and her situation. But she's seems real, with her own flaws and stuff.
Obviously, I really enjoyed the script. :) The writing is okay, the plot is nice, and the characters felt like real people! What's not to love? Hahaha. The only thing I really disliked was the shifting of POVs, but that can be overlooked, anyway.
ART
The art in this game is absolutely lovely! I just loved how the characters were drawn. <3When Anton comes onscreen, oh my gosh, I just had to peer closer. The dude is hot, I swear. While Florien's art looks a little half-finished (it sort of seems like coloring wasn't finished yet), Anton's sprite is ab-so-lute-ly gorgeous. <3
However, the lack of solid lines is something that I didn't particularly like. There are times when that art style look good, there are times when it doesn't, and in this case, it's leaning dangerously close to the latter. Nevertheless, I still think they look pretty good.
Backgrounds are custom-made, I believe? :) I'm not sure, though. Still, I find them super nice! There were some that still looked unfinished, though, like the inn background, which still looked like a sketch because of the beds.
MUSIC
I like the music! They all sound very fitting for the game. And actually, there are quite a few tracks here that can... oh, I don't know how to say it... capture one's heart? Like the track used when Ciel and Florien were waiting in Oronber for Anton. Now, that track was... so awwww. <3GUI
Default Ren'Py GUI. Or wait, I think there's a little variation? But yeah, it looks a lot like the default GUI. I'm not a fan of the font, either, which also looks like the default font. I'm not really that picky about GUIs, but since the rest of the game is pretty well made, I think the defaultness (is this even a word) of the GUI kinda distracts me. But hey, at least it works.EXTRAS
Yvin's route can be unlocked after you get either Florien's or Anton's endings! :)WRAP-UP
It's a pretty nice, short little game that you can play while on a break or something. It doesn't take too long to finish and majority of the game is just delicious fluff, so it's definetely going to be easy to read. There are quite a few touching scenes here though, and I think most would find the ending really nice.I give it eight strawberries! Fans of fantasy otomes should definitely check this out.
By the way, the developer seems to be making some other games with the same theme, so... I guess that's something to look forward to, huh? :)
DOWNLOAD
You can download this game here.
Original Date of Writing: 11/08/15
In the 17th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Monceau Park, a weird café lights up the street. A few streets from there, another light is on, on the third floor of a building. Although it's becoming real late, Evelyn is too depressed to fall asleep. To change her mood she decides to take a stroll in her neighbourhood. What will happen when she pushes the door of the small, weird café, a few streets afar?
GAME INFO
Name: Midnight's Cafe
Release Date: January 9, 2016
Developer: Didules
Genre: Urban-fantasy, Friendship
STORY
This visual novel is all about a girl named Evelyn who's bored and wants to change her life, so she goes out at night around her city. She sees a cafe, called Cafe de Midnight. She’s confused, because apparently, cafes aren’t supposed to be open at midnight.Ha! She should probably check out the cafes near my uni. A lot of them are open until after midnight, and I know one which is open 24/7. My own favorite cafe doesn't close until 12:00AM, too. :)))
Anyway, the cafe Evelyn stumbles into isn’t just any cafe, though. Turns out that it’s actually a cafe for non-humans, and only those who have links inside can find it. But if that's the case, then how in the world did Evelyn end up in this part of town?
CHARACTERS
Characterization is pretty good! We have the usual stereotypes here, but they are done so well it’s quite entertaining.
- Murmur
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| Hard to take him seriously when his name is Murmur though. I'd totally name my cat Murmur. |
- Asmodee
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| Ha! I know someone like this in real life. |
WRITING
The writing started out pretty awkward. I’m not sure why or how. It just kinda feels that way to me. The mismatched tenses and the narrator's preference of using “had had” “I’d” and “would have” sort of got on my nerves, I think. I swear, those words were used so much in the beginning that I was wondering if I was just gonna get a flashback of the events or something. Let’s discuss the use of past tense for a moment, shall we. I absolutely suck at using past tense in my own writing, though my present tense isn’t any better. Hahaha. Still, sometimes, past tense can be a little bit awkward to read. |
| Something here doesn't feel right, but I can't put my finger on it. |
Take a look at this screenshot here. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels really awkward because everything is supposed to be happening in the present and yet the descriptions are written in the past. There are also quite a few glaring grammar errors, though I also noticed some minor typos like uncapitalized names, etc.
ART
I'm not such a huge fan of the sprite art style. The coloring, upon further inspection, seems pretty good, though the style itself is simply not my taste. Call me biased against non-shiny, non-professional-looking art, but... that's not it. Hahahaha, no, really, that's not it. This is just my personal preference. :))))
The backgrounds are all original as well. While I think they look too rigid (straight lines, solid blocks) and simple, they do suit the sprites and even the story itself. I don't know about you guys, but I think the coloring really shouts "Midnight's Cafe!" to me, which is a plus. Hahaha.
 |
| THIS. THIS EXACTLY. |
Oh, and there are also a couple of CGs for the ending scenes in the game.
MUSIC
I am personally not a fan of the music. Even the opening theme managed to surprise me because I simply wasn't expecting that. Background soundtracks sound a lot better if they match the scenes they're placed in, I think. Midnight's Cafe kinda falls in the regard. I actually muted the music at some point in Asmodee's route in order to prevent the murder of the atmosphere, which is the exact opposite of what background tracks are for.GUI
It's customized to some extent, I think. Though it does look like your regular Ren'Py GUI.BONUS
There's a French translation! Weeee. That means we can use this to brush up on those French skills, mesdames et messieurs ! Haha, as a language nut, translations such as this are a real bonus for me.WRAP-UP
That said, I'm glad I tried this out. I really enjoyed playing Midnight's Cafe, even though I have to admit that I have a lot of gripes with this visual novel. However, I am desperate for a good ending, especially Murmur’s! I got four different endings, but none are happy. This game better has a happy ending... or else!
I give Midnight's Cafe seven strawberries. Not bad, but it could still be better! I may have a lot of gripes with it, but it was quite an enjoyable ride, and in the end, that's what's important, isn't it?
DOWNLOAD
You can download this game here.
Original date of writing: 04/24/16
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