Kunoichi Botan is a mixed bag. Because of its short length (<2 hours), it is inevitably going to be a limited game. Despite that, it offers a different gameplay mechanic to the usual exploring and combat that is prevalent in lazy HRPGM games. However, a lack of content, mechanics and variety of scenes let the game down somewhat.
First things first, the method of exploration and combat is great. It's unique because its far beneficial for you to avoid enemies rather than blunder ponderously into everyone and spam Z to win. Of course, the setting is perfect for such a mechanic. You're a weak shinobi who is skilled at assassinations but doesn't really do head-on fights. So you sneak around, trying to avoid enemies and slitting their throats from behind. However, when you do get caught, you don't have the usual RPGM combat system. Instead, you're greeted by a DnD-esque roll of the dice where quick reflexes and some prescience about when the dice is going to show what number helps. You can breeze through combat. I found it refreshing to not have to fight a million enemies and the lack of a leveling system didn't seem like a drawback at all. Some enemies simply capture you and you have to strategize your escape lest they molest the protagonist. Good timing is key for a lot of the gameplay elements.
My biggest pet peeve with games of the H variety is that a lot of them are lose to view scenes. I hate games that incentivize losing. I would much rather prefer if battles were harder and I lost because of a lack of skill rather than having to throw fights. Kunoichi Botan just tiptoes this line, forcing in some mandatory H-ness into the equation and sometimes making sure that ill-preparedness will result in getting fucked. So it's adequate enough. The game's main source of titillation apart from the scenes is the character art on the side of the screen which accompanies you everywhere in a couple of states of undress. I felt they could have done a lot more with this particular mechanic, some enemies might have stolen some of your garments, you could have had more states of undress. See what I mean about limited? The CG is mostly exciting but my second biggest annoyance with the genre is the use of translucent men. And this game makes sure to annoy me thoroughly there. Barring a couple of scenes, most of them feature our translucent, grew, shadowy villains.
All in all, a tolerable game that is quick and easy and also somewhat exciting. I'm happy about the use of the wooden horse which doesn't see enough representation in the industry. Mixing it with puzzles was exciting. However, I felt the game never took full advantage of its novel combat and exploration idea, nor the clothing damage and capture mechanics. Fun. But limited.