Choosing something to give as a gift for the holidays can sometimes be a tough task. The same can be true when it comes to the discerning otaku, whether it’s for others or for yourself. Thankfully, J-List is here to lend a hand with some handy gift guide, and this is the first. Specifically, let me show you the strange new worlds of sci-fi games we have in store.
Japanese sci-fi has a long, varied history, and their visual novels are no exception. With so many out there in the market, however, it can seem daunting to figure out which to get. To help solve that conundrum, here are five works that may scratch your sci-fi itch.
Saya no Uta: The Song of Saya
What if you’re in love with a Lovecraftian entity? That’s the basic premise of Saya no Uta: The Song of Saya (2003). Developed by Nitroplus and written by Gen Urobuchi of Fate/Zero and Psycho-Pass fame, this horror eroge doesn’t automatically scream sci-fi. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find a nightmarish ride straight out of the Cthulhu Mythos.
This VN puts you in the shoes of medical student Sakisaka Fuminori (Hikaru Midorikawa). After surviving a traumatic accident, thanks to a kind of experimental brain surgery, his senses could only perceive a wasteland filled with pulsating flesh and twisted monsters. Despite his friends doing their best to give him comfort, they’re unable to release him from his visions. Enter Saya, a girl who’s the only thing that appears pure and beautiful. Will he follow her, or will his madness seep into reality? That’s for you to decide.
With compelling characters, and a cosmic horror plot full of grim twists in what’s become a trademark style for Urobuchi, Saya no Uta will more likely shock and terrify you than titillate. Yet with so many ways that things can go wrong, and with how gruesome the deaths can be, this game will definitely stick with you for a while.
Deus Machina Demonbane
For those looking to have your cosmic horror mixed with a dash of action, then Deus Machina Demonbane (2003) just might be what you’re looking for. Another Nitroplus production, it’s been popular enough to be adapted into manga, light novels, an OVA, and a TV series, to boot. Moreover, even compared to the excellent Saya no Uta, it has an even stronger connection to H.P. Lovecraft’s works.
Set in an alternate 1930s, the VN follows the exploits of Kurou Daijuuji (Kentarō Itō), a dropout-turned private detective eking out a living in Arkham City. One day, he receives a request from the wealthy Ruri Hadou (Junko Asami) to search for a grimoire in exchange for generous pay. Said magic book, however, had taken the form of a girl named Al-Azif (Rie Kanda). Together with the family’s powerful Demonbane, they find themselves caught up in a war between the Hadou Financial Group and the nihilistic Black Lodge organization, with humanity’s fate hanging in the balance.
While very much an adult VN with all the eroge content you could expect, Deus Machina Demonbane also has quite a few interesting takes on Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos, whether it’s Al-Azif being a reference to the Necronomicon, or the entire plot, with all its twists and turns, having the involvement of none other than Nyarlathotep. Though you can’t directly control the titular robot, the fact that you have the choice to face down the darkness with a mecha makes the game worth trying.
Critical Point
If you’re in the mood for some real vintage sci-fi action, then give Critical Point (1998) a shot. Developed by Sweet Basil, its biggest claim to fame is featuring the talents of Kenichi Matsuzaki, scriptwriter for Mobile Suit Gundam, Macross, and Bubblegum Crisis, and for being one of the first VNs of its kind to receive a licensed translation. There’s more to it, however, than just name recognition.
Taking place in the year 2037, the game’s set amidst a dystopian backdrop, as World War 3 devolves into a new cold war among the surviving world powers. One day, Captain Leiji Osumi is dispatched by the Free Alliance’s High Command to one of its Moon bases to investigate reports of sabotage. While he does this under the guise of being a “Technical Advisor”, he soon discovers that not only is the base manned almost entirely by female officers, but that many of these otherwise upright professionals seem to be gripped by an inexplicable sexual insanity. Hijinks and sexual escapades ensue as he tries to discover the truth, before any rival powers exploit it.
Dated as it seems on the surface, there’s a lot of content to be found in this VN. Whether it’s the tightly-knit story with choices that wildly change the plot, 25 varied endings, and solid character designs, Critical Point has certainly worn its age pretty well. That it’s also rather progressive for the era, especially in how it handles the classic harem setup, certainly helps in making this something worth introducing newcomers to.
Pretty Soldier Wars A.D. 2048
Pretty Soldier Wars A.D. 2048 (2006) is what happens when you combine a VN with an RPG and something like XCOM. While an unlikely combo, Digital Object’s offering is ambitious, if somewhat flawed. Still, it’s an interesting eroge that has a bit more strategy than what you normally find in the genre.
Set after an apocalyptic event known as “The Third” unleashed irradiated monstrosities called the Yoma into the world, this sci-fi adventure puts you in command of the A.S.S.P.: an all-female squad of genetically engineered cyborgs. Programmed with all the necessary tools, they are humanity’s last line of defense against extinction. Whether they actually succeed in finishing the fight, or just delay the inevitable, is entirely up to you.
Granted, Pretty Soldier Wars‘ efforts to meld a VN with a third-person RPG don’t always work, especially with the RPG nature of combat. The game, however, more than makes up for it by having strong production values, as well as having a compelling story and a cast of likable characters that’ll make you think twice about using them as cannon fodder.
Steins;Gate
No collection is complete without mentioning 5pb and Nitroplus’s modern classic, Steins;Gate (2009). While it has spawned a franchise that includes various spin-offs and anime adaptations, the game that started it all still holds up as a benchmark for how to do a solid sci-fi VN. And it’s in no small part due to how it makes the most of its format.
The game puts you into the role of eccentric college student Okabe Rintaro (Mamoru Miyano), who’s adopted the persona of a mad scientist and is obsessed with conspiracies. Everything changes, however, when he and his friends accidentally build a functional time machine, which has mysteriously brought newly deceased prodigy Makise Kurisu (Asami Imai) back to life. Now, they must evade the consequences of changing the timeline, while also surviving the universe’s efforts to kill them all.
Though a conventional VN at first glance, Steins;Gate makes the most of what that genre can do. From tightly woven storylines that can change unpredictably, to seemingly innocuous phone decisions that may or may not have drastic consequences, it succeeds in grabbing your attention. Depending on what happens, that could also include your heartstrings.
These are just a handful of VNs that are in store for you at J-List. Hopefully, these will give you, or your loved ones, something to explore these holidays.
