Game Review : Oblivious Garden ~ Carmina Burana ~

opening

Trust me once more

Conflict

Dear All, 

Now I would like to review another game. Yes, it's not a long time since my last review. I feel like my love for visual novel have come back little by little. Hopefully I can keep it so. Anyway, today review is another lovely game called Oblivious Garden ~ Carmina Burana ~. It is a game published by Digital EZ. I think this is my first time playing game published by Digital EZ. Because of that, I don't have high expectation. Anyway, the game is quite lovely. 

The game is about hero who was exiled by his emperor because of his failure to defeat the enemy. After 3 years, the emperor give him another chance to redeem his failure by going to the garden to prepare for miracle play. In this place, he meet with 3 princess and so the story begin. Anyway, first I have to say that I am quite surprise with the voice acting. This is my first time playing visual novel with Chinese voice acting and it is quite lovely. I really like most of the voice especially princess Leira and Marian. I can feel the emotion. 

The art itself is nothing extraordinary but still nice one. You can say that it is quite simple. The song is also quite good and fitting with the theme. Personally I quite like instrumental "conflict" because it's different from ordinary visual novel song. Like many visual novel, it has some route that you better follow in order not to get spoiled with the story. My route is Lin, Leira, and Dyanna. There's another route with is Finn (the maid) (to be honest I don't play it). One nice addition with the game is making tea mini game. I don't know why but it's quite refreshing to be able to make lovely tea for the princess and being praised for it. Just make sure you find the recipe and make S rank tea. 

Anyway, as with many visual novel the story is the most important aspect. I have to say that it can be much better if it was not too fast in the beginning, especially Lin route. I feel like there should be an explanation or rapport first. It is unrealistic that all princess can share their secrets and inner feeling with the hero after just several days. The ending is also quite anti climax which is a disappointment (to be fair many visual novel also make anti climax ending). Fortunately some mystery was explained later in the game. Still it will be much better if there was good pace and good plot. Anyway, this is quite short visual novel so it doesn't take much time. Hopefully there will be more and more visual novel with Chinese voice acting. More choice is always better for visual novel industry. 

Overall, I recommend this game for people who like to try light visual novel with Chinese voice acting and simple but enjoyable story. 

Rating : 7.5 of 10 stars

Regards, 

Angela

Game Review : Steam Prison

opening

Distant home (tittle theme)

Dear All, 

It's been some time since my last post. Now I would like to make review about another lovely otome game. My last otome game is Cinderella Phenomenon. I really love it. This other otome game is also very good. The game is Steam Prison. 

Otome game is one genre of visual novel in which the female protagonist will romance one of several male characters in the game. Usually, they have route order that you better follow in order not to spoil the story. This is also the same case with Steam Prison. 

The story is about female protagonist (that you can name her first name) who live in The Heights. The Heights are a gorgeous utopia. But there are also another world in The Depths, a filthy industrial wasteland. The heroine has nothing but contempt for the The Depths until she was sent into the Depths. 

First I would like to say that I really like the story. The idea of two world is a big sell for me. I mean just based on the summary, you can feel that it is quite interesting. With addition of great art, music, and voice acting, it was a big treat for whomever playing this game. The story is simple and yet deep at the same time. Of course, it could have been better but it is still much better than many visual novel game. I really like most characters except maybe the female protagonist. It's not that I hate her but she is quite shallow I think compare to other characters. Even the bad guy is still better than her. Character I like the most is Ulrik. He is childish but also dependable at the same time. I cannot help but want to tease him most of the time. 

The music is also quite suitable for the game. Of course, there are more games with better music but I think this is also quite good considering the theme and the story. For the music, I really like The route order that I recommend is Eltcreed, Ulrik, Adage, Ines, Yune, and then grand ending. Otherwise, you will get spoiled with the story. The best route, of course is grand ending in which everyone (except the bad guy) have happy ending and the closure to their own problems. It makes sense that you have to complete all the ending first before being able to play grand ending because many mysteries only get answered in normal ending. So, it doesn't get addressed again in grand ending. Still I think some questions remain. 

I really recommend this game for people who like otome game with good story. Even if you don't like otome, I still recommend that visual novel lovers try this game for the story. 

Rating : 8 of 10 stars

Regards, 

Angela