New Releases (5/24/2016)

Well my friends, I hope you are well. We’re starting to pick back up into regularly releases now that we’re in between game jams, so let’s take full advantage and see what the VN realm has in store for us starting with one Michaela Laws. Ms. Laws and her group have been very busy since we last saw them with the first Seduce Me (the Otome) game. While the group has been working on the sequel, they released several smaller projects as well as a few audio productions based on their work, all of which you can find on the Itch.Io page.

After a few delays due to personal issues, Seduce Me 2: The Demon War is upon us. What can we expect this time with our young maiden and her devilish suitors? Let’s find out:

Seduce Me 2: The Demon War is the sequel to the popular free-to-play otome game, Seduce Me the Otome. It follows the story of Mika Anderson as she is suddenly thrown into the Abyssal Plains right before she is about to be married to one of the five Incubi Brothers featured in the first game. What’s even worse is that she is thrown there in the middle of a Rebellion against the Evil Demon Lord and must not only assist Diana and the Rebel Leaders in the war, but must watch as the man she loves fights alongside them after he comes to rescue her.

You can get your copy of Seduce Me 2 on either Itch.Io or Steam for $9.99.

Every year, no matter what, there’s always one or two games that due to talent and ambition, never stay within the time limit. These games are inevitably released, but not in the original format and well after April 1st. And I’m not saying that this description always fits Cyanide Tea, but I am saying it fits them this year. Where We Lay Our Scene continues in a similar vein to last years The Blind Griffin with a focus on relationships rather than any larger (read: bloodier) narrative. Here’s the synopsis:

Christian Marino has become a household name, what with his face and body always visible when you open a magazine or look out your subway train window. But now famous model Christian Marino finds himself at a crossroads. What will he do with his life once his well-known and much-cherished looks fade? Is there even anything more to him below the surface that everyone else sees? As he considers these issues of future and identity, he’s suddenly cast as the lead role in a film based on a bestselling novel. With fresh new challenges to face in an unfamiliar environment, this just might be the solution Christian was looking for—to more problems than one.

You can get Where We Lay Our Scene on Itch.Io for $4.99.

After another strong year with the release of Black Closet, Hanako Games is moving forward with another adaptation. A Little Lily Princess is based on A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, although with a different direction clearly intended. Outside of being an adaptation, another interesting tidbit about the title is that the artist for this game has recently worked with Winged Cloud and did the work on Sakura Beach, Sakura Beach 2 and Sakura Santa. I’m sure that won’t impact ANYTHING here…let’s go to the synopsis before Georgina has me sniped:

Sara Crewe was raised like a princess by her doting Papa, always given the best of everything. Now that she is old enough, she must be sent away to boarding school in a foreign land, relying on her love of books and fairy tales to help her make friends. 

But not all smiles can be trusted, and fortune can turn cold and hard at any moment. What would happen to a little princess if she lost everything?

You can pick up A Little Lily Princess on Hanako Games’ site for $14.95.

This one was kind of buried on Steam, but being a fan of mysteries it managed to stand out just enough for me. Detective Hunt – Crownston City PD seems to be as straightforward as a murder mystery can be, but more often than not with this games, the journey is more important than the destination. We’ll see how they manage it, but first the synopsis:

You are Damien Hunt, a junior detective of the Crownston City Police Department. Together with your partner, you are to investigate criminal activities around the city. You grew up hearing that the city is so safe, so beautiful… but is it?

Detective Hunt – Crownston City PD is available on Steam for $4.99.

The Otome series Mystic Destinies: Serendipity of Aeons continues it’s march forward with a new DLC pack this week. For those who aren’t aware, the title is taking a pretty common tactic in Japanese otome market and separating each love interest route into DLC. I haven’t done my due diligence to see how that’s coming, but hopefully the Otome faithful among us are enjoy the series so far. So, what can we expect from the megane (Tatusya) route? Let’s find out:

If you’re in trouble, choosing a reliable partner is the most logical choice, right?

That’s Tsubasa’s thinking when she chooses the ever-serious Tatsuya. But she soon finds out that nothing is as it seems. Forced to take sides even as she tries to control her unstable powers and emotions, Tsubasa is pulled into large scale business negotiations and the politics of the ancient Ryu clan.

Can you navigate a path wrought with mysteries and drama to find happiness?

You can pick up Tatsuya’s route on Steam or Itch.Io for $4.99.

I have to say, I am very intrigued by some of the titles MangaGamer is putting out now. Umineko couldn’t be hyped enough at this point and even some of their more explicit, but not quite insane titles like Gahkthun of the Golden Lightning look legitimately good. It doesn’t hurt that I think they’re a decently run company either, but what has really caught my curiosity is this: The House in Fata Morgana. Everything about it screams exquisite, high quality horror and I am looking forward to trying it out in the near future.

You awaken in a decrepit old mansion. A woman with eyes of jade stands before You, informing You that You are the Master of the house, and she Your Maid. However, You have no memories, no concept of self—or, indeed, any certainty that You are even alive. The Maid invites You to join her on a journey through the mansion’s lifeless halls, to behold the numerous tragedies that have befallen its residents. She suggests that among them, perhaps You will find some trace of Yourself.

The House in Fata Morgana is available on Steam for $24.99.

Outside of Nekopara, Sekai Project has put a lot of time and effort in the Fruits of Grisaia series.Not only has the group worked to get the entire visual novel trilogy here, but also the side stories and extra content. While it’ll be interesting to see how the next few official chapters of the series goes, I am pleased to see Sekai trying to build on one of its licenses that don’t feature catgirls instead of just tossing it out and hoping for the best. To the synopsis:

This side story to “The Fruit of Grisaia” is a character-driven visual novel featuring some of the same characters. This time, it’s Michiru who takes the lead role in this slapstick comedy. She tries to decide on a new club activity with the help of Sachi and her other friends, but it’s harder than it sounds…

You can get The Leisure of Grisaia on Steam for $2.99.

I have been a fan of fighting games since I first picked up a control and tossed my cousin around as Vega in Street Fighter 2. Since the very inception of this site, I wondered how the two genres could be merged together and, as some can tell you, my ears always perk up a bit whenever someone even hints that it is possible. And while this exactly what I hoped for, Koihime Enbu may be as close as I can get for the foreseeable future. To the synopsis:

Based on the Koihime Musou visual novel, Koihime Enbu features a reimagining of the Romance of Three Kingdoms where the majority of characters are girls. Originally an arcade fighting game, Koihime Enbu draws upon this pedigree to offer players accessible and exciting mechanics that will draw in beginner and veteran players alike.

See, now I’m just imagining an EVN-based fighting game. Can you imagine it? Shuuki Amamiya from BCM vs. Trash from Aloners. Or even Aki Mizutani from Yousei vs. Madeline Valois from The Royal Trap. B) You know you would pay to play that match-up. If you have an idea on the roster of an EVN fighting game let me know. Until then, you can get Koihime Enbu on Steam for $39.99 (currently on sale).

Finally, AJ Tilley’s Dharker Studios has released Starlight Drifter this week. Having only played three of AJT’s titles (Beach Bounce, Divine Slice of Life and Highschool Not Cross dressing Romance) I’m not fully ready to throw in the towel yet a la Winged Cloud, but I am planning an exit strategy just in case we hit another quagmire. I’m thinking we’ll know by Army Gals or Echo Tokyo proper, but we’ll have to see.

Other than that, Starlight Drifter is currently in Early Access, so it isn’t completed yet. But you can get in on the ground floor, invest your money now and watch it grow into Dharker’s largest game to date! No kidding; that’s how this is being billed:

We are pleased to announce that Starlight Drifter, a game that was funded back in 2014 is finally seeing the light of day, via steams Early Access. The game is currently in Early Access and will be expanding its current intro with a daily update taking the game to over 250,000 words, our largest game to date. The game follows you, as the protagonist, as you set out to make your mark on the universe. With your very own star ship you will be the captain and make the decisions that decide whether your crew live or die in the vastness of space.

I think I’m just going to keep an eye on this one for now. Yeah; that’s the ticket. JP3: OUT!