The Actual rating is a 9/10, but since we can't rate half a star, I will settle with 5 stars, more on that later.
So this is a rather short and sweet VN, and I believe the Overview tells you all you to know:
You are dating death, literally.
Now gameplay-wise, there really isn't anything to say...since as a "kinetic novel" you don't really- okay very minor spoilers:
Basically, you are here to enjoy a story about how you (the protag) meet the grim reaper and what happens from then.
Since there is no "gameplay" to write about (this is my first time writing a review on a VN...let's not start on the argument of
"Are VN/KN games?" okay?)
All we have to judge is the art and the writing, so how are they?
The art is fantastic if you dig that anime style shown on the title card, especially the animations.
Yes, animations. This VN has those.
Now in probably other 12 million VNs out there, the character often just has a "paper cutout" of themselves just stand behind the textbox, while in reality, they are doing something far more complex...but just not shown
due to the author being lazy.
But this one is rather special in this department:
There is seldom a scene where the character just stands there and talks. Almost every scene is showing what they are doing when talking, and they are all animated...ofc a lot, I will even say all of them are just looping. But they are done so well.
It basically feels like someone cut out clips of anime and make it into a VN.
Ofc, this includes the sex scenes...and yes, all of them are animated.
With anime grade quality and all very smooth with at least 20+ frames, and not just some 2 frames picture swapping.
So the art is top-notch, how is the story?
Well, this is what this game sort of fall short...yes despite the perfect grade I give, and now I will explain why:
Yes, in most cases. I will argue stories matter in a game. Especially if this is a VN, where there is really no gameplay, and the story is what is left to carry a game.
But porn/adult/hentai games are an exception. Since there is a sizable amount of players who are only in for the porn, they play a hentai game simply because they want porn as fast as possible, and yes, this game provides that.
The base game is already short enough already, more so if you skip everything.
This game really reminded me of that ps4 exclusive game,
The Order 1886...yes an odd as fuck comparison I know, but hear me out:
The Order 1886 is a game that has fantastic graphics, but gameplay and story fell short. With the game being a bog-standard TPS and story hinting on something greater.
Basically, this game has the same premise: Featuring great art and sort of shallow story...except this game won't cost you 40~60 USD. Plus unlike 1886, in which people expect an epic story and shit. You get exactly you want in this game...so this ends up not a good comparison isn't it?
But I digress, my (very minor) problem with the story is this all happens way too fast. Like the game is short, so developments between the protag and Vel (Grim Reaper) is kinda fast even by porn game standard.
Plus Vel is a Kuudere (Google it if you don't know what it means), she is not exactly thrilled about knowing the protag, and seems to not understand a lot of "humans interaction". Oh sure later on- wait, spoiler alert:
But if you don't know that (hell even if you know that), the protag's advancement towards her generally feels kinda wrong...sure Vel said she doesn't really care, but she also doesn't understand what the protag is doing just adds to the creepiness.
Ofc the spoiler part above and- oh another spoiler:
Conforms that their relationship is consensual, but Vel's general Kuudere-ness and doesn't care about how protag is doing with her make this seems the protag is manipulating her for his own sexual needs. Plus the fact this game is, like most other VNs, a first-person narrative of the protag doesn't help.
But you know what? In the end, the above italic paragraph doesn't matter.
This is a hentai game, how many of those have a protag that has a total lack of interest in sex?
I admit it is just me reading too into the protag, a character that is non-existence and suppose to be a player sit-in.
I guess if the protag is supposed to be me (just with an actual day job) if I am in his shoes, I will probably do the same...since I am a 24 yrs old who has been single for 24 years-
ANYWAY, despite I find the story fell short and the protag creepy- NO BAD, STOP SAYIN THAT.
The story itself has no major problem and serves the animations right. Which is superb in the anime VN genre...hell even that very famous one about catgirls with animated talking scene, full voice acting and "P button feature", the sex scene in that is still just CGs... well-done CG, yes. But they don't have animations.
TL;DR
Fantastic art and animations able to show almost all character actions. With a short and sweet story (but with some very minor problems) hinting on something greater.
Also it is worth mentioning that this game is not the end story to Vel. The devs have said that this game is just made to see how the feedback was to his (assume) style...which apparently it is good enough since he (assume) also said this story will go on via sequel or another format.