We got to pick a route 🤧 and spent most of the time with our crush 🤧 plus Scholar acing the exams 🤧 and new juicy hints to their mysterious background 🤧 with this chapter I feel like this game finally reached its full potential (almost, we only got two group illustrations and some crushes were even missing).
This type of content is the reason why I started playing this game in the first place, a lightharted game about first love, friendship, with a smart MC and a bit of mystery. Yes, it’s not deep, it can get a bit silly sometimes, but it’s part of its charm, not improbable mafia plots and ED drama.
Anyway, I’m really happy about this chapter, I had a big smile on my face the whole time.
I have only one tiny complaint to make...
The jealousy scene (the LI is the one who gets jealous HALLELUJA)... it happens with the second character you have the highest affinity with... and you know who that was for me (on my Axl account)...
if you have read any of my previous reviews you know where this is going....
...........
IT WAS EFFING CLAIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😡🤬😡🤬🤢🤬
The list of grudges I have against her gets longer and longer.
She stalks me, this must be harassment at this point... what do I have to do for her to leave me alone 😭😭 she’s just way too easy to please 😭
Other than that, this chapter gets a 9/10 from me, it would’ve been 10 if we’d had a cute illustration with the crush. I demand a kiss illu next chapter, come on they both want it, they are going to be on vacation for two days, and there is this awkward misunderstanding, jealousy is always a good catalyst... please, pretty please 🙏 they don’t need to get together immediately after the kiss, there’s the holidays right after, they won’t see each other for a while, plenty of chances to throw some other misunderstanding in and keep them single for a while longer.
And of course I’m super curious about Scholar’s family situation. I have my theories about it, but we’ll see...
Too bad I’m afraid it’s going to take a long time for chapter 13 to come out 🥺
So... I’m late, I know. I have been very busy but also I think a part of me pushed this off as much as possible because this chapter was the second and final part of Karolina’s arc and, honestly, I really didn’t care about it. Now that I’ve played the episode, I can say... that I still don’t care.
Sure, anorexia is terrible and I read her explanation for the way she acted, but that’s not an excuse for me, lots of people have much harsher lives and don’t grow up to become jackasses. Also, she’s the cause of her own failures, accusing others is just cowardice, at least she grows up enough to realise that. I do have to say that I appreciate her motivations for getting better, not wanting something like that controlling her anymore, I think it’s commendable, and she’s smart.
Neha dropping out of the competition just because she had to wait in the infirmary doing nothing was a really stupid move for me, she could’ve brought the prize home for both her and her friend. It payed off somehow in the end, but only because she’s talented and it deserved to be recognised at least a litte.
So yeah I was neutral enough about the episode, and as usual we had just one or two brief moments with the crush. There are two things I really liked though.
The first is that, while I very much hate when crushes are into each others in these games, the way it was written was well done because Neha and Karolina or Karolina and Tadashi do not get together if you’re not on their routes, so the player doesn’t have the feeling they are breaking up a couple who is supposed to be together. At least this is the situation at the moment, everyone was rejected, I hope it will stay this way.
The second thing is that Scholar aced the math exam and came on top of everyone, I reeeeeally appreciate that, as usually math is always written as the impossible hated subject, and it’s really refreshing to see the MC being the best, especially if she is a girl.
One thing I have to say though, this
is wrong. Math, especially at a certain level, is all about creativity. A good prof would never say those words.
Anyway, I hope that we’ll get a lighthearted chapter next, we deserves it.
I reckon I’ve never done one of my big episode review for SE, so here I am, seat tight because there’s lots to unpack. Thus I’m putting everything under a cut.
Episode 6 left us with the meanest cliffhanger ever: we found out that Tadashi’s father has been arrested for colluding with the yakuza. Now we’re waiting in front of Lady Arlington’s office to learn about Tadashi’s destiny at the academy. When he finally comes out, he tells us that Lady A (unwillingly) asked him to start packing because unless he can prove he has no hand in his father’s illegal business, he has to leave.
Now, this part leaves me confused. First of all, no one not even Tadashi suggested that this might be a mistake and that his father is innocent. Aren’t people innocent until proven guilty? There’s been no trial yet. At the end of the episode we find out that there are many proofs against him and he sounds like a total asshole on the phone, so he is (almost certainly but you never know) guilty, still someone should have at least wondered about his innocence.
Also, Tadashi is a minor, fifteen/sixteen years old, he should not be under any scrutiny. Yes we know that he works with his father, but he’s still technically a kid in the eyes of the world. I understand the whispers and damages to his reputation, but I find it kinda absurd that he gets immediately kicked out of school, even if he’s there under “special circumstances”.
Anyway, we spend the whole episode talking with people about what they think about the situation and thinking about a way to help Tadashi. After talking with everyone, we meet Tadashi who shares with scholar about his situation and reveals that his parents are sort of blackmailing him into testify to his father’s behalf (he has pleaded not guilty). Apparently even though there are toooons of proofs including videos and witnesses, somehow Tadashi’s testimony is the key to his father’s freedom (?) Again, I am confused.
By the end of the episode, it seems that we are part of the Save-Tadashi squad which officially includes scholar, Karolina and Alistar, but Raquel also wants to help and Tegan has kinda been thrown into the mix by his sister, who asked him to hack Nakano’s Corp network (🙄 easy peasy right?)
I have to admit, I am not a big fan of this arc, it seems a little illogical from my point of view. But maybe that’s the point? We are normal people who identify with scholar who is a normal person surrounded by extraordinary people in an extraordinary environment. Maybe we are supposed to feel dumbfounded by everything that’s happening? I want to have faith in the team and believe that this story is going to make sense by the end.
I feel that the game is at a crossroad. I know there have been many changes this past year in the team and I really appreciate how they are all juggling life, school, work while at the same time making this amazing game. I bet it’s draining both mentally and physically.
This kinda reflects in the game, because the past two episodes have felt somehow rushed and not at the same level of the previous ones. Episode 7 is basically one objective: find out what people think about Tadashi’s situation. That’s it. Nothing happens in the plot and you spend your whole time just going back and forward trying to talk to people about what just happened. Considering that this is an otome game, you basically have one conversation with your crush and that’s it. I like talking with all the guys, but having one-on-one with everyone made more sense when we were trying to get to know them. I know that technically it has been just around one month or little more of school in-game, but we players wait months between one episode and the next, to just get one short conversation with the crush. Talking as someone who plays loooooooooots of otome games, I would find much more interesting if I could chose with whom to spend time, and spend the whole episode only with those few selected people, 10 LIs are too many to equally divide time with, you end up spending very little with each.
Now, I don’t want to sound like an ass, the game has these few problems that I think could be easily addressed, but it has also lots of potential.
I loved the previous art but I think they are finding their dimension with these new artists, the first look at the new sprites got me excited and the redraw of episode 6 illustrations and the one from episode 7 are really promising. I think they are all moving in the right direction.
Also, the main reason I play this game is neither the plot nor the art, but the writing. I LOVE how each charater is so different and well-characterised and just the way they talk to each other. The dialogues are funny and engaging and even scholar who is supposed to be a blank canvas, is actually a really cool and smart character and a pleasure to identify with.
So, here is the list of my favourite moments of the episode (which I’ve played twice so far, on Axel and Tegan’s routes):
Cheeky Tyler:
Tyler don’t make me fall for you! I already like your new sprite waaaay too much. Also, I’m already playing 4 routes, I can’t add a fifth!
Savage scholar:
The dude deserved it.
Flirty Raquel:
👀👀👀 So much sass... I love this girl!
Axel plagiarizing John Legend:
😂😂😂 babe this song already exists, changing a few words is not enough 😂
Scary Ellie:
This girl would be able to stab you with her trusty screwdriver while still sweetly smiling at you. ROLE MODEL.
Holding Alistair’s hands:
You too Alistar... stop acting so swoony, I can’t play anymore routes!
Now, the piece the resistance. What I really loved about this episode, is seeing how the writing changes according to the route you’re on. I love looking for all the little differences and, since I really love this game’s writing, I had a blast during the couple of minutes we got to spend with our crush.
As I said, I played only Axel’s and Tegan’s routes so far (I also play Tadashi’s and Karolina’s but I’m a few episodes behind).
Axel’s scene in the garden is to fall for. First of all, when you correctly guess that he has issues with his family, he simply tells you that he doesn’t have time to talk about it now if you’re not on his route. But if you have high infinity meter he also acts bashful and cute
I LOVE the fact that when he gets embarrassed and shy he also looks mad ❤, it almost seems like he can’t fathom why he’s feeling like this. Too cute! I hope this is going to be preserved in the new sprites.
And then, afterwards, when he complains he has to write a love song (makes me wonder what he’s written about so far) and doesn’t know how, he decide he’s going to look for some couples around the school to stalk/interrogate. But if you have high meter he basically serenades you 💕💕 I’M DEAD! Looks at scholar in the eyes and just starts creating the song on the spot.
I wonder how aware he is about his own feelings. What I would give for a change in POV!
Now... Tegan... my sweet dork... he’s such a sweetheart.
You meet him in the corridor, he’s in a rush and you apologise for being in his way. If you’re not on his route, he simply tells you that he can spare you a few moments. If you have a high meter instead, this is what happens:
Also, when you afterwards tell him that he is also a great friend, if you have low meter he simply thanks you and leaves. If you have high meter, scholar adds that he is kinda jealous of his friends and he gets flustered.
What do I have to do to smooch this cute stupid genius? If scholar doesn’t literally jump on him I bet he’s never going to make a move.
Anyway, these are all my thoughts about the episode. As I said, I have a few issues, but there’s also lots I liked. I trust the team and I’m sure the’re going to do great things in the future.
The people over at Klebstoff sent me an amazing little package with their Stickermagazine included within.
Klebstoff is a bit bigger than a CD Cover and is printed on thick, exquisite Vinyl-Stickerpaper. Each page, cover included, was individually cut so that you can use the stickers after reading wherever your heart feels to post them.
The magazine contains art from 19 different artists from all around the world and includes over 150 stickers. What's not to like about that? The magazine is a limited edition printing with only 1000 available, so get yours here before they run out.
Rotopol Press in Germany sent me a copy, recently, of Anton Van Hertbruggen's fantastic Memoires of a Suburban Utopia. The fold out book is a testament to the stories of every day life but told with a tinge of remorse and longing for memories. Each panel (the book folds out to a whopping 260cm) shares a little glimpse of suburban life and shows the beginnings of tales to come leaving the reader to dream of what might be. Available at Rotopol Press!
Nobrow's 7th installment is subtitled, "Brave New World" as the editors asked the 45 contributing Illustrators to ponder Aldous Huxley's novel as their theme in the work they submitted. However, this volume speaks for itself as the brave, new world of Illustration luminaries. I've rarely held in my hands a treasure of collected artwork so well curated and so finely printed. The edition boasts a double cover - one side comics and one side illustration - but it should be respected as an effort to bring the two art forms closer together. Just as Supersonic Electronic is striving to close the gap between illustration, comics and fine art, Nobrow has done this difficult procedure without an ounce of misjudgment or flaw. The very large, 8.6" x 12", volume spans 128 pages and is available for purchase here.
