Is Kana Little Sister the Best Visual Novel?
I’ve been publishing visual novels for a staggering 25 years, having started back in 1995 with the first three JAST USA games, which were Three Sisters’ Story (a story of revenge against the three daughters of the man responsible for your father’s death), Season of the Sakura (a fun school romance game in which you date characters from Evangelion and Magical Knights Rayearth) and Runaway City (a dark game in which you possess a powerful form of luck that helps you to get laid any time you want). Incidentally, you can actually play these games for free online if you’re so inclined, in any web browser, or even on a smartphone.
While these games are interesting for lovers of retro PC and DOS gaming, most fans will prefer the newer, more innovative game titles that feature full character voices, high-quality game music, plus amazingly dramatic stories, like one of my favorite titles, Kana Okari.
The History of Kana Okaeri
When the original Kana Imouto (Kana Little Sister) was first published, it stunned visual novels fans of the era. A game built around the idea of falling in love with your younger sister, and as she becomes ill, the two of you overcoming your sadness that you’ll eventually be separated by reaching out for each other? A “sexual” game with a story so riveting that no one would complain if they ecchi parts weren’t included? Fans barely knew what to make of it, but it was a hugely successful title.
When the remake Kana Okaeri (Welcome Home Kana), was announced, I jumped at the chance to publish it under the JAST USA brand, because I knew what an amazing and important story it was. The only downside was, as the publisher I knew I’d need to play through the game 30-40 times or so as I test the new build, during which time more than a few unmanly tears were shed.
In Kana Okaeri, you play the role of Takamichi, older brother to your sweet sister Kana. She’s been sick all her life, and has spent many months in and out of hospitals, making it difficult for her to enjoy a normal school life. As the game unfolds, we see the relationship of you and Kana grow in various ways as the drama of the story comes to fruition.
Kana Okari is unique from other visual novels because of the multi-year scale we get to see: the early days of Takamichi and his little sister, an episode in elementary school in which Takamichi expresses his feelings for his classmate Yumi only to have his heart broken, plus the later years when he and Kana have both grown up. The are many story elements at work, including the main story between brother and sister, the secret he discovers about Kana, the side story of Yumi as she comes back into Takamichi’s life, plus the decision that Kana and Takamichi must make as they see the reality that awaits them.
The Kana Okaeri remake is frankly outstanding, something every classic visual novel should be lucky enough to receive. The new game includes full voice (something the original lacked), plus high-res art painted from line art of the original game, and fun animation for the ecchi scenes. The game is 100% faithful to the original, with all six endings recreated perfectly, plus a seventh bonus ending. The game was created by the famous Romeo Tanaka, who worked on other legendary games such as Family Project (a game so cool, it features Norio Wakamoto in a voice role) and Yume Miru Kusuri: A Drug That Makes You Dream.
Should you pick up Kana Okari either on digital download from JAST USA, or in physical product form from J-List? Well, if you like epic stories of love across a whole lifetime, if you like stories of redemption and love that transcends all boundaries, I’d say definitely yes!
