Monday 24 June 2013

Area-X Review

Area-X - A Time Traveling Otome Game

FINALLY Area-X is released and ready to play! Like X-Note (If you haven't played it yet – you really need too) the game is more about the story and not so much the romance. Not to say there isn't any at all, but if you're the type that likes to see the MC get at least a kiss you may be a little disappointed with this game. None-the-less I would recommend playing it either way – it's a great visual novel!



So... What is Area-X? For those of you who don't know...


AREA-X - A Time Traveling Otome Game 
In the far future, people live 1000 meters deep underground. Technology is abundant, but life is a constant struggle. An organization sought to end this by sending people back in time to recover lost natural resources. Elcia is one of such people. As a Time Negotiator, it's her job to travel across various dimensions and negotiate with people of the past.
However, in a strange twist of fate, Elcia accidentally stumbled upon an unknown dimension known as "Area-X" during her very first mission. Following its discovery, more bizarre incidents and conspiracies awaited her one after another - all of this eventually led to discovering the uncanny nature of the world and how it all ties to Elcia’s very own mysterious past...
GAME OVERVIEW:
Area-X is a blend between a Visual Novel, a Dating Sim, and an Adventure Game. Follow the story of Elcia as she travels through time and unravels the true nature of her mysterious surroundings. The game spans six chapters, of which you can explore multiple dimensions, complete missions and make choices to determine Elcia's fate.

Developer: Zeiva Inc Production
Spec: Flash, 170 MB, 800×600
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction
Rating: Teen 13+
Release Date:16 June 2013


Just to warn you, this will probably have a lot more spoilers than my other reviews. 

http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_01.jpg
You play as Elcia. She's young, beautiful, strong willed and a sadist... Yep – that's right, a sadist and boy was it fun to play as her. Elcia is also very special in several ways. First – unlike most Time Negotiator's Elcia is able to stay in other dimensions for a lot longer than most, she also isn't limited to travelling to only one era. Throughout the game you will also discover more and more secrets about her as you play through the different routes but I don't want to give to much away right now.

http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_04.jpg
I started with Belph and if I'm completely honest, before the game was released he was the guy I was least interested in. I didn't actively seek out his path but seeing as you can only choose between him and Yuras until you've completed both of their good and bad routes and I didn't really have a clue what I was doing at first, it just kind of worked out this way.
Belph is a pretty laid back or should I say a 'lazy' guy who spends his free time either playing video games or drinking.
He also attended the same school as Elcia where they caused so much mischief that they got the nick-name “Sadistic duo”. I'll leave you play the game to find out why that is :3.
On Elcia's first day at her new job she finds out Belph will be her operator, they spend a few minutes “strengthening their bond” via jokes and laughter much to Irina's (Elcia's best friend) dismay before Elcia heads out on her first mission. Almost as soon as she reaches her destination Belph makes a joke that a normal person probably wouldn't find funny in that situation (although I thought he was great) then proceeds to talk half-arsed nonsense before leaving her to do her job. By this point I was already enjoying myself. His half-arsed, lazy but witty attitude carries on like this for a little longer until Elcia finally arrives back in her own era.
I don't really want to write to much about the novels story as it might somehow discourage some from actually buying it and that would be a shame, but yeah, Belph's witty attitude really does give him a nice characteristic and you can see that Elcia and him get along quite well.
Belph's bad ending was... I suppose it was a little sad considering how it turns out but I didn't really feel any strong emotion for it. You can see he's doing his best to protect Elcia by sacrificing his own freedom in many ways and still I only felt a tiny bit sorry for him – nothing more.
Belph's good ending however, I found to be really fun, he's still mischievous but you see it in a slightly different light. The bonus ending via sea path I thought was amazingly done. It's a very small chapter but it brought a smile to my face none-the-less. The Sadistic duo are together and making the most of it. They are care-free, having fun and at the same time, making the world a better place. This also has my favourite Belph route CG in it.


http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_10.jpg
Yuras is found in the Ice ages and I think it fits him perfectly. He can appear cold at times as he has very little to say and doesn't usually speak until prompted too. He does however, speak truthfully without hesitation. Yuras is a strong fighter and can dispatch jaguars instantly. The first time Elcia meets Yuras is just the best. Believing her to be dead after a jaguar attack he tries to bury her in the snow. Needless to say, it's quite a funny scene. Even though Yuras doesn't speak much to begin with, you do learn quite a lot about him, his past and his relationship with his family. He's very close to his older sister and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her. I also found it rather cute how, even though Yuras lives in a world filled with snow he doesn't know what a snowman is, referring to it as more of a monster yet he still loves to make them after Elcia introduces them to him.
Yuras bad ending... I think I was too shocked to feel much other than a great deal of sympathy. You do really see a side of Yuras that you don't want to be on the receiving end of. He's pretty brutal.
His good ending I liked seeing his mature side as well as his childish side. He was so adorable here. That's all I can really say without spoiling it to much though :/


http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_06.jpg
Rexus... Ah how I've been waiting to romance you since X-Note. If you played X-Note you will likely be pleased to find Rexus hasn't changed all that much. He can still be found lurking behind objects much like he was with Essi in the park but only this time he has to face Elcia when he's caught. She doen't have a single problem teasing him with her sadistic humour and I loved it when she can make him blush as red as a tomato. The whole scene in ORZ Corporate at the staircase if you're on Rexus good path is the best thing ever!! That tomato faced Rexus really is something I couldn't get tired of swooning over... ahem. Again as with X-Note he tries to act dumb most of the time but Elcia can always see through him easily, telling him repeatedly that he isn't a very good actor. If anyone is wondering, Rexus path really does fit in nicely around his story with Essi from X-Note and it's done in such a creative, unique was I would never have been able to guess it... although maybe I should have been able too... I dunno. Aaaanyway for something I've been looking forward to for quite some time, this route really didn't disappoint. It may have made me go “eh...?” in a few places but it comes together nicely and it was really great to see all the old characters from X-Note too. I still can't believe it was Elcia who made Anon who he is in that novel but I'd really like to thank her for it heh-heh-heh.
I know I just said the route didn't disappoint but I can't truthfully say the same for the endings. I know Zeiva Inc isn't big on the whole happy ever after romance thing but still, I couldn't help hoping for more here, maybe that's because I've been wanting to seduce this red-haired hunk for what seems like ages. That's not to say I didn't like the endings at all – in fact the good ending is very practical... That's not how I'd have imagined describing a good end to a visual novel but there you have it!


http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_07.jpg
We then come to Livan found in the Middle Ages. He's obsessed with painting and refers to a lot of things as if they were paintings. He's a generally nice person and says multiple times how he receives joy from helping people – He even willingly gives a thief his money knowing that they are lying when they say they only steal because they are hungry. I'm always curious about these overly nice types of characters as I'm always expecting them to be secretly evil or something. I was even waiting for him to poison the king while making cookies but they never happens. I'm not entirely sure if I'm actually disappointed or not. Livan's path has a few strange characters such as a king obsessed with cookies to the point where he will end every sentence with the word “cookie” and another man who is obsessed with bears and the word “fabulous”. At the very least, they are defiantly amusing if not a little annoying at times. I'm still not sure what to make of Livan altogether though, because as soon as I started to think “Oh, maybe he is just a generally nice guy” BAM I'm shown otherwise. Where the hell was he hiding that personality? Even knowing this you can defiantly see he cares a great deal for Elcia and he's willing to do whatever he needs too to ensure her safety.
His bad ending I wasn't too surprised by as the events towards the end played out. It really made me feel for Elcia though.
His good ending was... not really what I had expecting and it's nice to be surprised sometimes – this is no exception. It's a very interesting end for a game and I can say I quite enjoyed it even if it isn't the usual type of thing!

http://zeiva.net/otome/image/area_x_art_12.jpg
Ferim is the fifth and final path in the game. He is located in a place called Area-X. Almost nothing is known about this area and most Time Negotiators that arrive at this place end up there by accident. Ferim originally tells Elcia to call him “Time Manager” as he is the being that transcends time and he is able to oversee all dimensions. Ferim seems to be a complete mystery and is only willing to give the utmost minimal information, encouraging Elcia to figure the rest out by herself. Ferim's path is different from the others as you don't spent your time solely in his era, instead, you spend some time exploring the others eras. Ferim's path feels more like a way to answer any last minute questions and a way to wrap up the game as a whole. Having said this I still think he's well worth the wait. Shortly after my personal most hated mission in the game you get to see what Ferim actually looks like and damn... Why does he feel the need to hide behind that hood? I found him to be the most interesting characters out of the guys as he will sometimes admit to things he probably shouldn't with a straight forward answer and what seems to be pride. All around, he probably is my favourite guy – He's just written so well!! Ferim only has one ending unlike the other guys and it felt more like a reward for finishing the game. It's defiantly what I'd call “bittersweet”.



Overall I quite enjoyed this visual novel. The story through the different paths connected together nicely and Zeiva Inc didn't forget about X-Note either. It wrapped up nicely in each route and by the time I finished the game all my questions were answered quite nicely. There were tones of interesting characters, both old and new and I especially had fun roaming around in the 'Present'. Although now I do feel a little nostalgic and will probably dust of my copy of X-Note for another playthrough pretty soon.
No expense was spared with the beautiful CG's. You can find many throughout the game and they are all very well done. I laughed at some, chocked up on others and swooned a little here and there... >.> Sadly there isn't a gallery in this version but I've read there will be one in version 2.0. The sprites are the same. Zeiva Inc didn't cut any corners. If they needed a new sprite, they just got on with it and made a new one. Even all of the old characters from X-Note got a nice overhaul and while we're on the subject might I just point out that Loil somehow managed to look even eviller even if he is covered from head to toe in pink... them eyes man!
There were some issues I had with the game such as there wasn't (at least any way that I found) an option to skip only read dialogue so I ended up skipping over some stuff I hadn't read before, especially in Yuras' path because I couldn't for the life of me get his good ending for ages and this just made me even more frustrated having to go back and read most of a chapter again.
I also think the face that you have a play through both the good and bad endings of Belph and Yuras path before you could move on to Rexus and Livan might annoy some people. I personally didn't have a problem with it. If that's how someone wants you to play their game then so be it. But I still wouldn't be that surprised if some people have a mini nerd rage over it.
Before I finish up, I'd just like to thank Zeiva for making yet another amazingly beautiful story – It really has inspired me to try and improve my writing skills!

So... would I recommend this visual novel? Absolutely! If you're not convinced, you can check out the demo and make your mind up from there. The full version can be bought from the official Zeiva Inc website too.

Sunday 23 June 2013

Area-x Walkthrough

Area-X - A Time Traveling Otome Game 
A lot of the answers I found myself, but some I did find on Zeiva Inc's facebook and tumblr so I can't take all the credit!
I have also put together a guide for the missions in this game. It can be found here!

Belph – Good end
Chapter 3
Look for Belph
Switch on the lights – TV
Switch off the lights – Area – Lounge – Bartender
Area – Planetarium – Search Planetarium
Not really.
Area – Lounge – Bartender – Belph
Area – Home – Switch on the lights – TV
Chapter 4
I don't care
Area – Work Station – Talk to agent D for password
Browse the Database – Autopsy Report
Agent D – Browse the Database – Underground cities
Area – ORZ Headquarters – Agent A – Agent B
Area – Botanic Garden – Belph
Wait a minute – Area – Lounge – Bartender – Whatever drink
Area – Thera – Go to ORZ Headquarters
Wait – Area – Lounge – Bartender
Area – Thera – ORZ Headquarters
Chapter 5
I knew it from the very beginning.

To get Belph's bad ending either don't go to the lounge and talk to the bartender or pick an alternative answer whenever given a choice.


Yuras – Good ending
Chapter 3
Stay home
Area – Open Arena – Elder
Is that a giant poop on your head?
Elder
What does Santa hate outsiders?
Elder – Elder (Keep talking to him until he talks about 'beautiful ladies')
Area – Village gate – Yuras
Yes, of course!
Area – Field
Search for signal
Area – Summit
Search for signal
Chapter 4
Area – Open Arena – Eder
What does the 1000-year-old ginseng look like?
Area – Small hut – Ciera
Area – Village gate
Wait for Yuras
Of course!
Chapter 5
Yes, you are.

To get Yuras bad ending either don't speak to Elder and Ciera or pick an alternative answer whenever given an option. 
Also the password needed for this section of the game during chapter 5 is apparantly 'BUSINESS'

Rexus – Good Ending – Puppy's (Anon) Path
Chapter 1
Area – McMirage – Talk to ???
Area – Dudebucks – Boss
Are you trying to be a chicken, a cow, or a pig?
Area – ORZ Corporate
Examine the building
Contact
Examine the town
Toss a coin
Area – Pedoe Manor
Enter the manor
Chapter 2
When given the option, go to Present
Examine the street
Area – ORZ Corporate
Examine the building
Chapter 3
Investigate on my own
Contact
Change here
Area – Computer Lab
Browse the Database
Area – Loil's Office
Examine the office
Contact
Examine the table
Area – Staircase
Use the staircase
Chapter 4
Staff B
No
Area – Dudebucks
Let's eat here
Pick something for Rexus
Ask Rexus to toss a coin
Go find Puppy
Be more persistent
Chapter 5
I believe in destiny

To get Rexus' bad end pick an alternative answer to any of the options when given the choice.

I will get around to a Yuon route for this at some point...possible.... maybe...*shrug*
Sorry guys I lost my save game data and didn't end up getting around to playing the second Rexus route but an anonymous person posted this guide in the comments so I'm going to update it here for easy access - thanks to whoever that person is! :)
Rexus - Good ending - Yuon path
~Short version~

In chapter 1 ignore everything and go to ORZ Corporate. Follow the guide, but instead of "Go find Puppy" you will see "Go find Yuon". Choose it.

~Long version~

Chapter 1
Area – ORZ Corporate
Examine the building
Contact
Examine the town
Toss a coin
Area – Pedoe Manor
Enter the manor
Chapter 2
When given the option, go to Present
Examine the street
Area – ORZ Corporate
Examine the building
Chapter 3
Investigate on my own
Contact
Change here
Area – Computer Lab
Browse the Database
Area – Loil's Office
Examine the office
Contact
Examine the table
Area – Staircase
Use the staircase
Chapter 4
Staff B
No
Area – Dudebucks
Let's eat here
Pick something for Rexus
Ask Rexus to toss a coin
Go find Yuon
Be more persistent
Chapter 5
I believe in destiny

Livan – Good Ending
Chapter 2
When given the option go to the Middle Ages
Area – Pedoe Manor – Maid A
Talk to all 4 maids and ask about Ursin
Talk to ??? in both Dining hall and Bedroom
Chapter 3
Investigate on my own
Talk to Noble A three times
Talk to Noble B three times
Examine the town THREE TIMES
Area – Orzea Castle
Talk to Knight A and B three times
Area – Silver Mountain
Talk to Traveller three times
Area – Pedoe Manor
Talk to Maid A and B three times
Go to Pedoe Park
Pretend nothing happened
Chapter 4
Examine the town THREE TIMES
Area – Orzea Castle
Enter the castle
Forget about it...
Area – Bedroom – Memme
Area – Dining room – Livan
Chapter 5
Try to do something on your own

To get Livan's bad end either don't examine the town/talk to the people the appropriate numbers of time or pick any alternative answer when given a choice.

From what I can tell, Ferim only has one route so just have fun with it!!



 

Area-X - Mission guide

 Area-X - A Time Traveling Otome Game
I also have a guide for how to get each guys good ending. If interested, it can be found here!

This guide currently doesn't have the missions for Ferim's path. I'll be updating it with them soon!
Now includes Ferim's missions!

Mission 1
From left to right start with Thursday and end with Wednesday
Alternatively see here.

Mission 2
Click around the screen until you find a light (almost white) square, then click that square again.

Belph missions
Mission lll
Main hall – Click the papers and blood trail
Operator room – Click the broken wires
Launch site – Click on the broken glass
Cafeteria – Click the food on the floor (looks more like spilt coffee) and the U-Pad by the chairs

Mission lV
Up x3
Right
Up x2
Right x2
Down
Right x2
Up x2
Left
Up
Left x4
Down
Left x3
Up
Left x2
Down
Left x2
Down
Left
Down x2
Left
Down x3
Right x2
Up x2
Right
Up x2
Or follow the grey path in this screen shot

Mission V
26 black notes on the piano
26 letters in the English alphabet
Click on the music sheet stand for the word.
If you have trouble with the English alphabet/are too lazy to look, I have a screen shot of the order of the numbers to input here.

Yuras Missions
Mission lll
Iron Ore as the Striker
Fungus as the Tinder
Pentlandite as the Holder

Mission lV
Last row – second one down
Press change twice

Mission V
More or less a game of sudoku

Rexus Missions
Mission lll
Same a mission 3 for Belph's route but check both robots in the launch room as well this time.

Mission lV
Check middle pillow
Chest poster
Check draws under the pot/black box
Check pot
Check black box
Check both draws above pot/black box
Check draws under pot/black box again
Check poster again
Check area on the left side of the plant

Mission V
From left to right
Blue, Yellow, Violet, Indigo, Red, Green, Orange

Livan Missions
Mission lll
Exactly the same as Rexus third mission

Mission lV
The 'note' has all the details for the recipe.
Set the heat to average and time to 40 minutes

Mission V
On the left side, bottom shelf there is a book with a picture of a bear holding a pinwheel. Set the four bears on the bed posts in accordance to it.



Ferim Missions
Mission lV
As a rule of thumb, I'm going to suggest talking to anyone you meet (They all have interesting things to say anyway). This mission seemed to take me far longer than the rest >.<
Go to Main Hall – Area – Cafeteria – Examine the room
Area – Main Hall – Thera – Area – Lounge – Bartender
Go back to Main Hall – Examine the room
Go to Science Lab – Warp – Middle Ages – Examine the town
Warp – Future – Make your way to ORZ Headquarters – Work station – Agent D – Browse the Database – The Red Forest - ORZ Headquarters – Agent A
Warp – Ice Age – Area – Cave – Examine area

Mission V
Speaking to Ferim gives the best solution for completing this mission.
The one where he tells you to use the mnemonic of the seven deadly sins.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Suki Dayo: “I love you” - Review

sukidayo.jpg

A girl named Megumi transfers into an outstanding private school.
Well, she lived a normal life, what will happen when she goes there?!
Inside the school, there is an Enchanted Forest.
Whoever goes there, disappears. Is this rumor true?
Some say it's because of a student who went there.
He kicked various plants and flowers which angered the Guardian of the forest.
After that, he disappeared. Is this true? Or is this wrong?
Megumi is also single, help her find a boyfriend.

Megumi - You. A girl who transferred to an outstanding private school.

Landlord - The Landlord of the dorm you're living in. She is the first person you became comfortable with. She has secrets.

Ayu - You're seatmate in class. She's your friend and she's very close with Arashi. She has a huge brother complex. She's also an airhead. (kinda)

Arashi - You met him on the way to school, he's your school mate. Very close with Ayu. He is nice and princely, very easy to approach.

Gray - Your rude roommate at the dorm you're staying at. He may not look like it but, he is caring in a way.

Naru - The cat person at the forest. He's cute and small in height.

This short visual novel was made in the space of 2 months and is the authors second one completed. For me the story was lacking hugely. None of the characters really had any strong personalities and although some do have defining characteristics none of them felt real. I think that if the author had spent less time making so many endings (about 13 in total) and a little more time on the story and background of each character it could have been so much better as there was a lot of potential but in the end it fell flat. I was left with a lot of questions such as; “Why was the landlord throwing books around in the first place?” and “Why is it stated that the place in which Megumi studies is not only a college but a university as well when it doesn't seem to have any impact on the novel at all?”. Granted I didn't managed to finish this one so my answers may be hidden in there someone but I'm not curious enough to find out. Another thing I found strange was the brother, sister 'true love' story. I... I honestly just don't know how to cover something like that. The story also seems very rushed, such as falling completely in love in the space of 2-3 days... I don't buy it. Maybe I'm just not a hopeless romantic but again, it just didn't feel believable this time round.

Overall it's not bad for a second project and I think it was solo made too – but don't quote me on that! It's probably not something I would go out of my way to recommend but at the same time, the novel does seem to have a lot of positive feedback. However, if you are interested in giving this one a try, head over to Lemma Soft Forums to get your copy.

I've also managed to make a bit of a walkthrough for anyone interested!