Recent reviews by TheBlueDash💙🦋!**

You’ve got the chibi auto-battler, train conducting with twelve camera angles, a trading system where you have to account for prices fluctuating while trying to make a profit and bargain, a bunch of restaurants like a milk tea shop and a chicken shop, a photo album in that chicken shop, and a pet shop where you can buy anything from fish to pigs.

It’s surprisingly good! I’m not sure how long it will last, but I think it deserves more credit than people give it. The chibi art is cute and nicely animated.

I just wanted to give this an early review for now, but I'll come back to make a full review once I finish the game.

If you played the demo, this is still very much the same game, but now you do not start at a high level and everything looks a lot better visually. There is a new title screen, new Pipkins to catch, and the surrounding areas are beautiful. Pipkin has always had great pixel art, but it really feels like it has improved even more.

It's very cute and comfy monster tamer game, and it seems to have made a lot of progress since the demo.

Ghostpia is one of those games that you look at and immediately want to buy just because of how pretty it looks. That’s exactly what I did, and in this case, it completely paid off. Ghostpia is an amazing visual novel.

You follow the perspective of Sayoko, who lives in a supposed ghost town where no one seems to die and no one knows what they are. They simply label themselves as ghosts. However, Sayoko feels different from the rest. Her memory of the past is blurry, and she feels like she doesn’t belong here.

You’ve probably already noticed that this game is called Ghostpia: Season One, and it really feels more like watching an episode of an anime than playing a visual novel. The intro and outro animations really help bring this vision to life, along with the numerous CGs and animations (of which there are many). So, even though this won’t be one of the longer visual novels you’ve played, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth just in the art department. Trust me.

Each episode follows Sayoko and her friends: typically Pacifica, a well-off girl who seems to care a lot about Sayoko; Anya, who works at the repair shop and might come off as standoffish at first but really does care; and Yoru, a girl who mysteriously appeared in this town one day, a town where the number of residents has never increased.

Just from looking at the promotional materials and reading the description, you can probably tell that the game will explore a wide range of emotions within our main character, or perhaps the lack of them at first. But you might still be surprised by the tone. The game is unexpectedly violent, which initially caught me off guard. Over time, though, you become numb to it, despite the cute, almost Ghibli-like art style. Sayoko is already used to it, and so will you eventually.

I really couldn’t guess the mystery of this game, which is tightly wrapped throughout the story, but clues are definitely scattered along the way. The game functions as the season name suggests, in episodes, with each episode typically lasting about three hours or so. Each episode is its own arc, but it is not an episodic format where they forget what happened in previous episodes. Each episode seems to bring Sayoko closer and closer to becoming more human than what she thinks of herself, a simple ghost who has been thoroughly outcast.

While Sayoko is the protagonist, it does not treat Sayoko as a blameless victim. While one of the main antagonists, the church, has made her reputation, let us say, not great, she also sometimes does cruel things to people trying to help her. For example, there is a character named Clara whom Sayoko constantly uses and manipulates, yet you still care a lot about her.

Her insecurity, lack of memories, and interactions with her friends all feel very human. Despite not always being the best person in her friend group, perhaps even selfish, I really wanted to support their journey and see where they were all headed. It reminds me a lot of my own friend groups in real life, and it is one of the more touching and interesting perspectives I have seen on this type of topic.
The glitchy visuals and CRT effect might be a bit too heavy for some people, but you can adjust them. To me, they add a lot to the story. Sayoko feels like someone whose memory is literally clouded and glitchy, so viewing her perspective through an old television made sense. It feels like the game is saying that this experience is fragile, something that could be forgotten or lost with the glitches and the wear of time. She remembers fragments of things, has questions about herself that she can’t answer, and has questions about others that she’s too afraid to ask, even if she knows she probably should. It’s a multi-faceted experience that really puts you into the viewpoint of Sayoko, not to identify with her, but to understand her as a person.

The story doesn’t end on a major cliffhanger, but it also doesn’t resolve every mystery, since those will be addressed in the sequel. Even so, I really enjoyed this game and now I’m excitedly waiting for the new season. Ghostpia is going on my all-time favorites list for visual novels, right up there with titles like Enjoy the Diner. It’s unique, it’s heartwarming, and it’s beautiful to look at. I would say this is a must-buy for anyone looking for a visual novel with a different vibe.

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts. Though in this case, it's the exact same review lol

Normally, I would wait to play more of a game, or at least until it’s fully released, before reviewing it or writing a full post on my site. But I think Muffles' Life Sentence deserves at least a review here on Steam for now.

I played the first episode a while ago when it was available as a sort of demo, and it's still completely free to play. Recently, I finished the second episode and replayed the first.

Muffles is still just as lovely as ever, or at least as lovely as a psychotic prison where inmates’ faces are mutilated can be. It’s an RPGMaker game with deckbuilding elements, which never get too difficult and work well as the game’s combat mechanic. However, the real charm of this game lies in just how fun it is. The characters always have something to say, and I don’t want to spoil too much, but eventually you’ll even be able to analyze characters for additional dialogue, even the so-called “less important” NPCs, called Pettys. The amount of dialogue here, especially from a solo developer, is incredible.

You play as Muffles, a character whose face has been changed and sewn shut. You’ll meet extremely hilarious and weird individuals, but the game also reminds you that this prison is, in many ways, a total human rights violation. It’s clearly inspired by other games like OFF, which you can probably see in the Pettys' designs, but, and maybe this is a bold opinion, I personally see this as a kind of next-level evolution of that style. There's so much more dialogue, the visual design is incredibly striking, and I love the three-tone color palettes that change with each episode, and even with optional choices.

The characters feel more polished than in many other RPGMaker games. I especially love how the game doesn’t drop interesting characters prematurely. With Episodes 1 and 2 taking me around five hours to finish, I’m assuming the final game will be longer than most RPGMaker titles, and that excites me.

The game is constantly being updated with bug fixes and improvements. Each episode costs only slightly more than a chocolate bar, so please, support it. I’ll write a longer review and update this once the full game is released.

The Silent Kingdom was one of my favorite demos from the Next Fest in October (or at least I think that’s when it was? I have amnesia, forgive me), and I really enjoyed its story and intense premise. The early access release includes the prologue we played in the demo, as well as Chapter 1.

This is one of my first experiences with an otome game. I believe I’ve only played one other before, and that one was a bit unique (Metamorph). I’ve seen plenty of otome-inspired games in anime, but I hadn’t tried the real thing until now. After playing this, I definitely want to check out more.

I’ve seen some discussions on the Steam page saying that straight guys might not enjoy this, but honestly, I don’t think that’s true. I’m a straight guy myself, and this felt like watching an epic, dark anime adventure. I felt like I was seeing the world through Erinys’s eyes and helping guide her decisions. It’s her story, and you just have a bit of influence. None of the romance options are mandatory either, so you can just enjoy the story and its dark, engaging narrative. It’s even debatable whether you are the hero of the story.

That said, I do recommend trying the romance routes, since they give you extra dialogue and more depth to the characters. The relationships with Chrono and Seneca are both interesting in their own ways.

This isn’t a game for people who avoid morally difficult choices. While it gives you plenty of options, life isn’t always simple. Erinys is in a tough position, and no matter what choices you make to avoid doing something horrible, you still have to think about what she wants to accomplish and the many challenges she faces.

I can’t wait to come back to this game and write a full review when it’s fully out of Early Access, but as it is now, I’m already enjoying it a lot.

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts.

Memory Girl + is a visual novel about a girl named Memori, who is searching for someone who disappeared from her life, someone very important to her. However… she has been here before. She’s the main heroine of a visual novel, but the main character… he’s gone. How did he disappear? Where did he go? Is this a glitch in the game? At least, that’s what she wonders.

I first saw this game at Next Fest 2024 with one of the most underrated demos in that October lineup. Now that I’ve played it, it’s just as cool as I expected yet somehow filled with some plot points I didn't see coming at all. Three dollars for the game is an insanely good deal, even though it’s short. I think it’s a very well-produced experience, especially with the occasional voice acting. The game’s artwork is also really beautiful, and the designs for each character feel unique. I love the design of Memori’s friend Messiah and all the other various characters we meet.

In some aspects, the game reminded me a bit of Serial Experiments Lain, particularly in certain visual elements and the surreal atmosphere. At times, you’re not sure what’s going on, and the glitchy effects mixed with odd horror elements keep you slightly on edge, even when nothing overtly horrific is happening right in front of you. The situation is anything but normal. There are some characters you meet who raise questions, along with mysteries about certain people that you have to explore or piece together through assumptions.

It has a huge psychological element to it overall. An adventure that’s just so hard not to spoil and one that I thought I'd figured out early on, but I was left guessing towards the end. It’s a game that makes you subtly question what you see and decide what was literal and what was just imagery that might not mean anything, all in the pursuit of figuring out what the heck is going on. That’s not just with the main story either. There are some characters, and some side elements, that I have so many questions about.

The main story is honestly fantastic, and I had fun trying to predict which direction it was going. Even after seeing the ending, I still have so many questions, and I kind of love games like that. I don’t think everything needs to be answered, and the fact that they managed to get me hooked on the scenarios and mysteries they presented in just a short two-hour playthrough already feels like a success. The bonus content in the game raises more questions than answers, some of which almost contradict the main ending of the game, which I'm really curious about what's going on there (And whether or not there will be a continuation).

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts.

Refind Self: The Personality Test Game is, as the name suggests, a personality test, but it is not a simple "answer questions and get your personality" type of test. Instead, it is based on the actions you take in the game. You are supposed to play three times (you can play more after that, but I’m primarily referring to the core story, which yes, this game does have a story!).

You play as a robot named Utsuwa, created by a Doctor whom we see through various flashbacks as we navigate the world to discover our personalities. Utsuwa seems to want to fulfill the Doctor’s wishes, but what those wishes are remains unclear at the start of the game. I won’t explain much more about the story beyond that. As you progress, you will encounter flashbacks, events, and notes that help piece together what is happening in the world and with the Doctor.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend focusing too much on uncovering everything right away. Instead, just play how you naturally would and do what feels right. You will likely stumble upon important details naturally, and since you have multiple runs, you can always change your playstyle in another run. The main story will still be revealed to some extent even if you spend all day sitting on a bench.

I found the visuals to be really nice and aesthetically pleasing. The character designs looked great in their limited color palette, and the music had a very chill vibe. Overall, I played the game in a very relaxed mindset. The game does have emotional moments, often evoking nostalgia and melancholy, but I wouldn’t describe it as heavy or stressful. In fact, this is a great game to play when you just want to unwind.

There are fun minigames and various activities to engage with throughout. Since I’ve only completed my first three runs, I’m sure I haven’t even seen everything yet. The game also includes a feature to notify it when you’re streaming, which I found super helpful. I was streaming to a friend on Discord, and since the game sometimes times your choices and tracks how long you take to make a decision, this feature is really important, especially for those who might be multitasking. You can even turn it on if you’re not streaming, just for convenience.

I explored the story more on my full article, but I don’t want to spoil the story here. I really enjoyed the game. It’s a unique concept, and everything is executed quite well. I did notice that the Steam rating isn’t in the 90% range. Steam ratings tend to skew higher, with data suggesting that 80% to 84% is average. That surprised me a little, but I suppose some players might not enjoy the passive storytelling approach or the mundane actions. However, I think there’s plenty to do, and the game is meant to be a calming experience. After all, Utsuwa is a robot trying to be human, and humans do mundane things. In that sense, it’s a pretty accurate representation of real life.

Score: 8.5/10

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts.

Metamorph is heavily inspired by Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. Our main character is a high school girl dealing with insecurity issues and a difficult home life, and she is slowly, or in this case rather quickly, transforming into a cockroach. Despite her struggles, she still looks forward to school because her crush is there.

The 2D art cutscenes are beautiful and really detailed, ranging from very pretty to increasingly horrific and eerie as her transformation progresses. I just wish the 2D cutscenes were more visible. Sometimes they were on screen for only a few seconds, making it hard to fully appreciate the visuals. I also wish there was a way to hide the text to better take in the artwork. The actual in-game gameplay outside of the mini-games uses a low-poly PSX style, and I really enjoy it. It is very blocky and aliased, yet it effectively conveys a cluttered and infested atmosphere as she becomes more like the roach she dreads becoming.

I enjoyed the various mini-games throughout the experience. Although they are simple and sometimes a bit janky, like the first-person mini-game, I found them enjoyable due to their unique visuals. I think they were a great overall addition to the game.

I did have some issues with the game however, I feel that some of the dialogue and characters are very shallow. This is probably by design since the game aims to showcase how societal expectations and maintaining a public persona can turn people into unpleasant versions of themselves. I think this idea could have been explored more subtly for greater impact. Sometimes, the issue also works the other way, not just by making characters obnoxious. Take the main character’s crush, for example. He’s always nice and says the right things, but it feels almost inhuman. While you could argue it's an idealized projection, I didn't get that sense while playing.

Another issue, which ties into the previous one, is that you need to restart the game to see certain characters' missions. However, a majority of the characters are just a bit shallow and unlikable, which makes you not really want to put in all the effort to do that. I think it would've been better to just have all the character missions available in one run, personally.

Overall, I still enjoyed the game, and considering that this is the developer's first project, it's impressive. I really hope to see more work from everyone involved, from the 2D and 3D art to the music and writing. It is a very cool visual experience that could use some refinement in its dialogue and writing progression, but it is a promising start, and I will definitely follow their future projects.

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts.

I would like to thank the developer for providing a free copy for my curator group. The timing was also perfect, as I was already looking into this game during the Next Fest (when it had a demo). However, the free copy didn't influence my opinion; I don't always accept review copies if I don't think I will enjoy the game. Spoiler alert for the rest of the review: I loved this, and I even bought the soundtrack to support them.

Hello Girl's visuals caught my eye from the first time I saw the cute, moe characters with animal features. In a weird way, it gave me a feeling that this story would be similar to something like Girls' Last Tour, especially with the contrast of the image of the twin soldiers holding guns. After playing it, I was partially right, and I really loved it even more than I expected.

We play, or rather follow, Ana, who is currently working as a switchboard operator completely alone in the absence of her sister, who she is sure is coming back. It's really interesting to see a more innocent perspective from a world that seems a bit bleak. I wish I could dive more into specific plot points, but I really don't want to spoil anything, especially for such a short game. It’s a very emotional game that does have heartwarming moments but also moments that straight-up kind of gave me anxiety.

There's a lot of mystery presented in the story that might not have gotten its answers, but personally, I was fine with that (though... I wouldn't mind a sequel game). I felt like I was getting a small slice of the world, from the viewpoint of someone who doesn’t know much about what's going on in the grand scheme of things and the war. The story touched on a lot of different themes and elements like resistance to change, the fear of being alone, and how, in order to survive the harsh realities of the world, sometimes the most mundane acts together bring people closer to each other.

The game is in a visual novel format throughout, though there are a lot of cool visual effects during significant moments. The soundtrack was also sooo good. The writing itself was already going to make me tear up at some parts, and the music just added to that.

I loved this visual novel in its entirety, and I really couldn't guess where many of the plotlines were heading, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and the closure from the epilogue (though I am curious, there are 4 slots, but only one is available. Is there going to be more in the extra section eventually?). The story got me emotional, it made me worry for the characters at times, but I came away from it with a warm feeling. If you're into what I would describe as a type of story where there's an underlying avoidance of "something wrong," contrasted with the visuals of a cuter character design that oddly makes it more haunting, like Girls' Last Tour or Alien Nine, I think you would really enjoy this work, just as I have.

Rating: 10/10

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!

My Full Article on Kohi-Break [kohi-break.moe] if you wanted more of my thoughts.

I will update this review when it's all done or if an episode makes me sour on the game. But if I haven't updated it, even with new episodes, it probably just means I'm still enjoying it!

Episode 0 was incredibly well done, featuring great worldbuilding for its cyberpunk setting and an interesting visual style. If you're a fan of Danganronpa or Ace Attorney, you'll feel right at home. Between the two, it's probably more similar to Ace Attorney, but personally, I enjoyed it quite a bit more. I felt much more involved in solving the mystery, I had to pay close attention to notes, and I genuinely couldn't predict how things would be resolved, unlike in Ace Attorney.

I can't say much since this game is a genuine spoiler fest, but I enjoyed it and will buy the episodes as they are released. Hopefully, I'll be able to do a full review in the future!

My Curator Group – If you enjoy my reviews and share similar tastes with me!