#7 Days! : Mystery Visual Novel

[sweetpeauserboxes]

[id: two light gray userbox with a gray border and gray text that reads “this user sees argo as a father figure”. on the left is an image of argo from 7 Days! : Mystery Visual Novel and the prequel Argo's Choice: Visual Novel. /end id]

[lilyprettyremy]

How to Get Out of a Reading Slump:

Let’s be real—reading slumps happen to the best of us. One day you’re devouring novels like snacks, and the next, the thought of picking up a book feels like climbing a mountain. But don’t worry, this isn’t permanent! Here’s how you can reignite your love for reading with practical advice (and a little personal touch).

1. Start Small and Easy

Sometimes, the thought of diving into a big, heavy novel can feel overwhelming. Instead, reach for something light, fun, or even familiar. What Worked for Me: When I hit a slump, I re-read my favorite childhood book. The nostalgia pulled me in, and before I knew it, I was back in the reading groove.

Try This:

A novella, poetry collection, or short story.

A feel-good romance or an easy thriller that keeps you hooked.

2. Switch Formats

Who says reading has to be on paper? Shake things up with audiobooks, eBooks, or graphic novels. Sometimes, a new format is all you need to make stories exciting again. What I Loved: Listening to an audiobook while walking felt like having a friend tell me a story. It’s low-pressure and immersive.

Try This:

Download an audiobook for your commute or chores.

Explore comics or manga—they’re visually engaging and quick to finish.

3. Create a Cozy Reading Ritual

Make reading feel like a treat, not a task. Set the scene: grab a warm drink, snuggle up in a cozy blanket, and turn reading into a moment of self-care. What Helps Me: I light a candle, sip some tea, and read for just 15 minutes. Even if I don’t feel like continuing, I’ve created a moment of peace for myself.

4. Ditch the Guilt

If a book isn’t grabbing your attention, it’s okay to put it down! Life’s too short to force yourself through something you’re not enjoying. What I Do: I keep a “second chance” stack of books I didn’t finish but might come back to later. It takes the pressure off and lets me move on guilt-free.

Pro Tip: Give yourself permission to stop at any time. The right book will find you when you’re ready.

5. Set the Mood with Your TBR

Sometimes a slump happens because you’re not in the mood for what you’ve been reading. Change it up with books that match your current vibe. My Recent Trick: When I wanted cozy, wintery vibes, I picked up a snow-filled mystery, and it fit the season perfectly. It felt like I was part of the story.

Try This:

If it’s cold, go for a winter romance or mystery.

Feeling adventurous? Pick up a fast-paced fantasy.

6. Buddy Up

Reading doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Share the experience with someone who loves books as much as you do. What Worked for Me: My friend and I read the same book and texted each other our reactions. It made the whole process so much fun, and we got to geek out together.

Pro Tip: Join a book club, even if it’s online! Goodreads or apps like Fable make it easy to connect with other readers.

7. Take the Pressure Off

Sometimes, we fall into slumps because we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. Forget about reading “x” number of books or finishing by a certain date—just read what you love. My Perspective: I stopped tracking my reading goals for a while and focused on enjoying the stories. That shift in mindset made all the difference.

8. Revisit Your Why

Ask yourself: Why do you love reading? Is it the escape, the knowledge, the way stories make you feel? Reconnecting with that "why" can reignite your passion. 💡 What I Remind Myself: Reading isn’t a chore—it’s a gift. When I focus on that, it stops feeling like something I “should” do and starts feeling like something I want to do.

9. Explore a Different Genre

If you’ve been stuck in the same genre, it might be time for a change. Trying something new can surprise you and pull you right back in. My Experiment: I went from contemporary fiction to fantasy and felt like I’d rediscovered the magic of reading all over again.

Pro Tip: Ask for recommendations in genres you don’t usually explore!

10. Go Easy on Yourself

At the end of the day, slumps happen. Don’t stress about it—it’s just a phase. The books will always be there when you’re ready. My Advice: Take it slow, experiment, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. Sometimes, stepping away from reading for a little while can also recharge your love for it.

Getting out of a reading slump is all about finding what sparks your interest again—whether it’s a cozy atmosphere, a gripping audiobook, or a change of genres. Be patient with yourself, and remember, it’s not about the number of books you read but the joy you find in them. So go ahead, grab that book, and take it one page at a time. You’ve got this!

[mynnthia]

compiling my headcanons for what video games dungeon meshi characters would like, if they were gamers in modern day

some taken from this post and my reblog additions there. added more characters, with some suggestions by friends/mutuals (marked by *asterisk ).

this can also be a games recommendation list based on your fav/most relatable characters too, if you want

characters that are not are included are bc i dont have ideas for them. if i only list the genre name but not any specific titles, its bc im not familiar enough with the character/genre to pick a specific game.

this list is, of course, biased towards games im more familiar with. feel free to ask me to elaborate on my choices or make suggestions in the comments

Laios' party:

Laios: plays lots of Monster Hunter. loves Spore but he doesnt often play past the tribal stage. likes Pokemon but he's more focused on catching the pokemon than following the story. played WolfQuest and DragonFable back in the day. enjoyed the concept of Bugsnax but wasn't interested in dealing with the NPCs

Marcille: mainly Dwarf Fortress, RTS games, some colony sims. but also sometimes The Sims, and dollmaker dress-up games. i could see her also enjoying Rollercoaster Tycoon and making elaborately-themed parks. might also occasionally indulge in some visual novels if she's in the mood for narrative she has Stardew Valley so she can have something to play co-op with falin, but its not a game she plays a lot of otherwise. when playing with falin, marcille micromanages the farm to maximize productivity, and does the decorations

Chilchuck: puzzle games and hidden object/escape room games as a video game-equivalent to finding/dismantling traps and lockpicking. i think he'd also enjoy Bejeweled.

Senshi: mainly Wii games and Cooking Mama. occasionally plays Snake on his 15-year-old nokia phone. i dont think he would enjoy games like Overcooked or restaurant manager games, because he likes to take his time making food, not stressing about customer service

Falin: some *Legend of Zelda games – she likes the exploration aspect in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, maybe also some of the toon zelda games like Minish Cap or Wind Waker she also plays Pokemon (*Pokemon Go when she's traveling), and i think she would enjoy some indie games, like Penko Park or Chicory: A Colorful Tale. plays Stardew Valley co-op with marcille – falin mainly takes care of the animals, mining, and picking the crops. occasionally makes improvement suggestions that marcille didnt think of

Izutsumi: i could see her enjoying games with parkour mechanics, like *Assassin's Creed, or Mirror's Edge. or maybe something simple but requiring cat-like swipes, like Fruit Ninja. despite her impatience, i think she could also enjoy action games with interesting longer narratives, as evidenced by [this omake] (relevant portion pictured below), so maybe *Final Fantasy 7 – my friend who's familiar with the game said "she’d find Cloud and Vincent relatable"

[ID: a dungeon meshi omake, where laios' party watches a nightmare monster manifest marcille's dream. there are snippets of dramatic soap opera-like dialogue. the rest of the party are initially enthusiastic but get bored over time, meanwhile izutsumi remains enthralled]

Kabru's party

Kabru: definitely Crusader Kings. maybe also some rpgs with relationship/faction mechanics, such as *Fire Emblem (one of the older ones or FE:3H) or Fallout: New Vegas (hes maxing out the speech stat asap) i think he would also enjoy mystery games like Pentiment and Return of the Obra Dinn – he would love the process of getting familiar with the many characters and deducing "who did what" in both games.

Rin: she takes pride in being an indie gamer (translating her disdain for upper class magic academy mages -> disdain for AAA games). given her chain-lightning magic in canon, i think she'd enjoy games with AOE-type magic, so maybe games such as Vampire Survivors. my mutual also suggested she might enjoy indie mystery visual novels like *Paranormasight, and that her AAA guilty-pleasure would be *Final Fantasy 14 – that rin is "a hardcore ff14 raider. would join PUGs and shot-call every week. #holm and diya might also play ff14 casually with rin but holm would be fishing mainly"

Mickbell: mainly Bethesda games like Fallout and Skyrim– enjoys the bootstrapper power fantasy in them. the type to go out of his way to pick up all the loot he can, to later sell

Kuro: enjoys the same games as Mickbell, but for the open-world exploration and investigation factors

Toshiro and Tansu's party:

Namari: her interest in fighting and weapons could translate to brawler/fighting games and action games with a focus on weapon stats – so maybe *Street Fighter, *God of War, and/or *Dark Souls. might play *Monster Hunter with laios but for the weapons. i could also see her occasionally enjoying truck simulators

Toshiro (Shuro): has the perseverance for soulslikes and other high-difficulty action and/or metroidvania games, but would take his time overthinking item/weapon synergies sometimes. given [his fondness for bugs], i could also see him enjoying Hollow Knight

Tade: would enjoy the cute aesthetics and lighthearted gameplay of Animal Crossing and Katamari. would also like idol anime rhythm games

Kiki: i think she would enjoy horror games such as Resident Evil, but would play it while super chill. i dont have much reasoning for this aside from vibes

Canaries:

Mithrun: plays Doom. got into Hollow Knight but still hasn't finished it because he keeps getting lost. senshi introduces him to Cooking Mama later on, which he finds surprisingly therapeutic

Cithis: plays Hitman and enjoys staging elaborate accident kills. i think she'd also enjoy The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, with her background as a devious fortune-teller

Fleki: surreal indie games like Hylics. also plays Team Fortress 2, and is a scout main. occasionally joins lycion in Animal Jam

Lycion: active WolfQuest and Animal Jam player. occasionally joins fleki in tf2

Pattadol: plays Stardew Valley – shes comparatively a normie, but on the meticulous side. she would enjoy perfecting her in-game farm

Otta: plays Genshin Impact. the serious reasoning is because of her (earth) elemental magic and how genshin has an elemental magic system (from my understanding. ive never played it). the joke reasoning is how some genshin players play to collect "waifus", and how otta goes through a lot of women in her dating life

Other:

Leed: runs her own guild in World of Warcraft

Winged Lion: god-games like WorldBox or Simmiland. and Darkest Dungeon (this ones mostly a joke)

Thistle: plays the original Plants VS. Zombies. also plays Minecraft and is very serious about it, but hasn't updated his game in years (translating the fact hes a 1000-year-old kid frozen in time -> playing "slightly old" games popular in the early 2010s)

[ID: tweet reply by twitter user ranchuppi – "thistle calls it lord delgal's server but he is the only mod. whole royal family is locked in spectator mode. Hell. living hell on earth."]

[livingslime]

Frequently asked questions

When will the full game be released?

The release date for the full version is still to be announced. I work on this visual novel in my free time, so progress may vary. Currently, the project is in its early stages, making it difficult to project a completion date. As development progresses and I get closer to finishing, I hope to have a clearer timeline.

Is MC really in a hospital?

It is intentionally ambiguous whether the MC is truly in a hospital. The absence of nurses and Dr. Anselm being the only one attending to the MC are deliberately meant to provoke player suspicion. This mystery and the setting’s true nature are meant to unravel in later chapters.

Where did the MC's pee go?

The MC has a urinary catheter, a medical device used to drain urine from the bladder into an attached collection bag.

Urine collection bags connected to a catheter are typically changed every 5 to 7 days.

In the later chapters, there will come a time when Anselm has to change the MC's peepee bag.

Does MC actually need a urinary catheter?

In cases of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), a urinary catheter may be necessary, especially in the early stages of recovery. TBI can lead to a range of symptoms, including impaired mobility, cognitive changes, or decreased control over bodily functions.

Also MC was unconscious for 2 days before waking up, catheters are commonly used for unconscious patients.

Will MC ever take a shower?

Yes I was planning to use this as content for later chapters.

Fun fact : Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients in hospitals usually do not take showers independently, especially if they are in a critical or unstable condition. Instead, they are often given sponge baths or bed baths by staff to maintain hygiene without moving them too much, which could be risky. huehue

Will there be an ending where MC and Anselm are together?

Yes, absolutely! There will be an ending where MC and Anselm end up together. These endings will naturally come at the game's conclusion, and as I get closer to writing the finale, I'll have a clearer idea of how many good and bad endings there will be in total.

Was Anselm the one to cause MC's injury?

So this mystery is also to be unfolded in the later chapters. I hope readers understand that this visual novel has mystery/horror elements, there wouldn’t be much of a story if I revealed everything outright (ᗒᗨᗕ)

Does Anselm love the MC or just taking care of them?

Anselm's heart belongs entirely to the MC; they're the only one he truly loves.

Is Anselm a dog or cat person? or any other animal?

Anselm doesn’t usually keep pets, as he’s often away and lacks the time to care for one. But if he and the MC were living together and the MC wanted a pet, he would happily bring one home and enjoy caring for it together with them.

If he could, Anselm would create a beautiful bird terrarium—a place where he could observe them freely within a controlled space. There, they’d be safe, unable to leave but he alone is able to admire their beauty.

[cormorant-red]

I played 999 recently at @xivu-arath's recommendation, and I had so much fun that (inspired by that one polygon video) I illustrated my liveblog about it!

If you haven't played 999 and you are even a little bit intrigued by a puzzle/mystery visual novel with multiple timelines that all guide you towards wild plot twists...probably don't read the text! 999 is the kind of story that is best experienced with no knowledge besides the basic premise.

Transcript below the cut:

Cormorant: characters in this game really just say shit like "have you heard the story about the crystallization of glycerin?"

as a matter of fact i haven't, june, please enlighten me

Storm: "I know we're stuck in a freezer but. let's talk about weird mythical science!"

Cormorant: it's also killing me that junpei is dressed like marty mcfly and isn't sharing any of his jackets

-----

Cormorant: this game is leading me to arrive at mathematical concepts on my own. what the heck

Storm: kshgushhsg

I take it you're having a good time then

Cormorant: trying to check lotus's work and it turns out that no matter what group i arrange to take through a door, the people left behind will always have the same digital root

so to get through door 7 with snake missing, i could either send a group with sum 16 (junpei, ace, clover, and june) or with sum 25 (clover, june, seven, and lotus), but it doesn't matter because the remainder always have root 9 and can't get through doors 3 or 8! wild!

Storm: yeah the numbers and which doors end up barred to you is so cleverly deliberate

-----

Cormorant: i'm glad i finally checked what novel mode meant, because this is way more fun

Santa cocked his head to one side, like an inquisitive bird, and looked at them.

After several long moments, during which it became apparent that Santa had no idea what the cards meant, June took pity on him.

i'll have to go back and redo the beginning after i get to the first ending

Storm: oh yeah! as I recall that was done differently when it was originally a dual screen game... but it's much better when in novel style. gimme all the descriptions

-----

Cormorant: I had a long day of sitting though presentations and so I entertained myself by calculating digital roots

I discovered that adding 9 or any multiple of 9 to a number has no effect on the digital root, which is awfully interesting bc I got to the part where snake gets killed. Assuming door 3 was opened with 12 and not 21, the options are 7+3 (motive?), 6+4 (they’d both have to be REALLY good actors), or 9+1. And if bracelets work without a body attached, and if ace picked it up in door 5…

That would be a really useful tool to get around the 3-person minimum without altering the digital root

I’m also very intrigued by the theory that zero is also in the game but I don’t know what to do with that yet

Storm: forlornly having to keep myself from saying literally anything

Cormorant: Understandable, please don’t give me any hints! I’m just calling shots for the joy of being wrong

-----

Cormorant: and how do you know that, my traitorous friend?

Santa: “The RED doesn’t need a person, you know.”

Santa: “All I need is the bracelet.”

-----

Cormorant: y’know what i think he’s bluffing. he does need June specifically and that’s why he refused to consider leaving her when they first found door 9. if all he needed was a hostage, he could have grabbed junpei and forced ace to come along, and then he would be dealing with two people under duress instead of three

i peeked at a guide and apparently i found the ending adjacent to the true ending(?) first, oh well. time to see the others!

santa: i said i don't want to leave seven alone

me: bud you can't do a heroic sacrifice too, it'll mess up all the math

reader, he was not doing a heroic sacrifice

-----

Storm: got any character opinions or theories to share so far?

Cormorant: hmm I’ve got soft spots for santa and lotus maybe just because they were in the first group I went with. I like that the game makes a point of showing that lotus is quick with the math/technical knowledge. I warmed up to clover and seven more than I expected to! I have no evidence to mistrust ace….but I don’t trust him

Snake died before I before I could say two words to him

Or…didn’t. Forgot clover said he didn’t

I got info about the previous experiments from clover and I wonder if we’re like…reenacting the past somehow? Experiencing morphogenetic resonance with the last voyage?

Again no evidence i just wonder where the pseudoscience is going

Storm: santa was so my type as soon as I started playing that I just picked all rooms with him on my first run skugrhsghu

Cormorant: AHAHA that makes me feel better about going “yeahhh door 4 I like the cut of this guy’s jib”

-----

Cormorant: “the bracelet comes off when your heart rate reaches zero” interesting then that we’ve brought up cryostasis

-----

Cormorant: i simply don't trust him not to have a spare bracelet in his pocket!!!

They climbed into the elevator and Junpei listened to it creak and rattle its way to the bottom deck. Only Junpei, Ace, and Lotus were left.

As the elevator rumbled out of sight, Ace spoke.

Ace: “Lotus, would you be so kind as to go with me?”

Cormorant: “bad end” YEAH I’LL SAY

Storm: lkksghr yeah there's a few of those!

Cormorant: santa was really quick to declare that he, june, and seven needed to go with clover. waht's his game

june and ace could have done it just as easily

Storm: they could have! good catch

maybe he just thinks seven is cooler than ace,

Cormorant: i'm imagining clover taking all her grisly trophies to the door only to find it already engaged, because lotus needed no persuading,

and regarding the true ending requirements, it's also funny that santa's like "i hate this bookmark! get it out of my sight!" and this is a huge help in junpei befriending the girl who's otherwise about to snap

Storm: load bearing bookmark

Cormorant: good thing you threw that tantrum bud or you would have been killed with an axe

-----

Cormorant: in my suspicions i forgot a critical detail, which is that he didn't actually go into the door with the body this time

of course seven has been propping doors open, so it really could have been anybody

-----

Cormorant: "where have these 16 boys and girls disappeared to?" eight for each game and then an experimenter? again with the idea that zero might be in the game...

-----

Cormorant: bad endings complete! on to the normal ending, which hopefully has less of junpei getting stabbed to death

puzzling over who could have done all those murders, especially in the sub ending...or did everyone get killed? clover thinks that snake's death was faked. or did snake do all the murders, since he was the only one unaccounted for?...and then i remember what kind of game i'm playing. can't discount the ice mummy as a suspect.

Storm: you truly cannot ignore the possibility of the ice mummy

-----

Cormorant: ah no, so santa's sister was the kid that died...

i can't figure out the connection between events! why did the last games have the veneer of a science experiment, while this one has no context given? why was it all kids last time, and a random mix of ages this time, with some repeat subjects?

-----

Cormorant: called it!!!!

Junpei: “Ace, Guy X, and the 9th Man’s bracelet.”

Junpei: “That was all you needed to open door [3].”

Cormorant: called it before i even got to an ending ehehe

what i’ve been saying!!

Ace: “(9) is a potent ally in the Nonary Game.”

Ace: “Adding (9) to any set of numbers won’t alter the digital root.”

Ace: “As you can see, (9) is a very useful number here.”

Ace: “With it, one can go anywhere, with anyone.”

Ace: “It is, I suppose you could say, a game changer.”

-----

Cormorant: okay, normal ending finished! junpei did not get stabbed but we also didn’t resolve much…I’m now thinking that ace with his pocket drugs could have easily played dead in the sub ending

glad to see that snake is okay and hopefully can stay okay in the true ending. where did clover get that riddle, and will she still have it?

0=6. how much do I read into this

still don’t understand how we get from here to santa hostage situation. he’s been so consistent about not even considering betraying or abandoning people, so either he’s a better actor than ace…or it’s staged. are he and june in cahoots

Storm: augh so close now!! soon I can actually say things

-----

Cormorant: O FUCK

Seven: “Santa’s always in the room with her. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”

Snake: “Yes, that’s right.”

Clover: “What about it…?”

Snake: “That’s quite simple, really.”

Snake: “You told me that the first time you came to this room…”

Snake: “…Santa was the first to refuse to leave June behind.”

Snake: “Now, doesn’t that beg the question “why?” Why would Santa do such a thing?”

Snake: “The answer is easy.”

Storm: B)

Cormorant: i've been thinking of them as a pair because it makes the math easier! if you've got 3 + 6 + 8, just cross out the ones that make 9 and don't even bother with the addition, your root is 8

Storm: B) B) B)

Cormorant: but god!! they are a pair, do not separate (or the jig is up)

Storm: they hid it soooo well

-----

Cormorant: was wondering when we would see the last cradle guy and oh duh, he was guy X

i did think it was odd that santa phrased it as "i need to leave two of you behind" rather than "i need three of you to come with me," but if he was responsible for everything (most things?), he knew that snake was there, and he was setting up a group that could follow him. excited to see where this is going!

[dreamy sigh] this game is so elegant. what a little puzzle box

Storm: yeah it is, it's just so wonderfully crafted. so little is wasted!

-----

Cormorant: oh boy [akane vision label]

"through the morphic fieldset we were resonant, and we were as one" i don't think i've mentioned it before but i'm constantly pleasantly surprised by the narration in this game. it's not flashy but it's evocative in a way that's really working for me

Storm: this is where the port falls short a bit of the original version... the ds really worked well with this aspect

-----

Cormorant: the number of times i thought "this will be totally wrong but i'll say it to storm anyway"

hello??? [arrow pointing back to the message “I wonder if we’re like…reenacting the past somehow? Experiencing morphogenetic resonance with the last voyage?”]

Storm: Y E A H

Cormorant: laser-guided spitballing

-----

Cormorant: man i said that 4+6 would have to be really good actors if they were the ones that opened door 3...and while they didn't kill snake, i sure underestimated our queen of the stage akane kurashiki

the baseline was NOT where i thought it was

Storm: no one does it like her

[englishotomegames]

Love and Deepspace (恋与深空)

Release date (Android, iOS) English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean: January 18th, 2024

"As the brand new installment of the popular Mr. Love series, Love and Deepspace allows you to step into a sci-fi world where love knows no bounds. With immersive cutscenes, 3D storylines and interactions, love is truly within reach!

[First-Person Perspective] Dates via 3D cutscenes. Step into a 3D world from a first-person perspective, where romance and adventure unfold before your eyes. The unique viewpoint design brings you closer to those heart-pounding moments you share with your love interest, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

[3D Interactions] Interact with him all you want. Real-time 3D rendering ensures lifelike interactions. Experience intimate moments like never before, watch as your actions provoke unique responses, and savor unforgettable dates, sweet voice messages, and more.

[24/7 Companionship] He's always there for you. Each day with your love interest is brimming with intriguing intimacy. Snapshots, Claw Machines, Kitty Cards... It's never a boring day in Linkon City.

[Fight Together] You can fully trust each other in battle. As a Deepspace Hunter with the superpower of 'Evol', you will fight against the onslaught of mysterious alien creatures, together with love interests. Along the way, your paths intertwine, and the secrets about your fates and humanity's future will be revealed.

[Profound Immersion] Choose your voice and look. Delve into an array of customizable features, from dozens of appearance details and hundreds of makeup choices to personalized timbres, all yours to explore."

This is a freemium mobile 3D visual novel / action rpg / gacha game! You can download it for Android or iOS here.

[n04s]

PIOUS ARI RELEASE SOON!

Pious Ari will be released on Steam 10/7!!

Ariandra is a nun that's extremely dedicated to her god, Cira. However, her strict life changes one day as a mystery woman suddenly appears in her bedroom - and a new world is opened to her.

Pious Ari is an erotic visual novel about lesbian nuns, with explicit sex scenes and minor expansion elements.

Pious Ari contains explicit depiction of sexual acts, depictions of non-consensual sex, and heavy religious themes.

FEATURES

20k+ words!

2 different love interests with one ending each.

A beautiful original soundtrack by Noa S!

14+ Unique CGs!

[EXTRA] CONTENT WARNINGS

Flashing screens

Breast expansion elements

WISHLIST ON STEAM :)

Play the demo on itch.io!

[satoshi-mochida]

Ever 17: The Out of Infinity and Never 7: The End of Infinity remasters coming west on March 6, 2025 - Gematsu

Spike Chunsoft will release the newly announced remastered versions of Ever 17: The Out of Infinity and Never 7: The End of Infinity digitally for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam in the west, day and date with their Japanese and Asian release on March 6, 2025, the companies announced.

Ever 17: The Out of Infinity will be priced at $29.99 and Never 7: The End of Infinity will be priced at $19.99. A “Ever 17 / Never 7 Double Pack” containing both titles will also be available digitally for $44.99.

Both titles will support English, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese text options with Japanese voice-overs.

Here is an overview of the games, via Spike Chunsoft:

About the Series

The Infinity series is a science fiction suspense adventure game series released in Japan in the early 2000s by KID Co., Ltd., a company known for its work on numerous adventure games. The series is characterized by a world where time loops exist. Each installment features an independent story, allowing players to enjoy elements of science fiction, suspense, and mystery in each one.

About Ever 17 : The Out of Infinity

Save me from this cage of infinity. Takeshi Kuranari, an ordinary college student, visits the underwater theme park LeMU. An accident occurs, trapping Takeshi and 6 other individuals inside LeMU, 51 meters below the surface. With no hope of rescue, Takeshi explores LeMU along with the mysterious girl Tsugumi and part-time employee You, searching for a way to escape to the surface. A theme park of dreams and hopes sunk in the depths of the mysterious blue ocean. Can dreams and hopes still be found there? Or is there some other mystery lurking? Overcoming one crisis after another, they search for a way to escape.

About Never 7: The End of Infinity

To the promise we once made and the place we must return. The protagonist, Makoto Ishihara, had the worst possible awakening. He had a dream in which a girl died a tragic death right in front of his eyes. The seminar training camp was supposed to go off without a hitch… or so Makoto believed. April 6th… The day everything changed. The uneasiness turned in to despair, and the premonition turned into calamity… Will Makoto be able to stop the tragedy and see the light of the morning on Day 7?

About Ever 17 / Never 7 Double Pack

Stand up to the fate of infinity! Two classic visual novels written by Kotaro Uchikoshi make their way to the West after over two decades of initial Japanese release! Enjoy the science fiction, mystery and love stories in Ever 17 / Never 7 Double Pack!

Visit the official English website here.

[agentnico]

Agatha All Along - season 1 (2024) review

Down down, down the road, down the Witches Road…

Plot: A spell-bound Agatha Harkness regains freedom thanks to a teen's help. Intrigued by his plea, she embarks on the Witches' Road trials to reclaim her powers and discover the teen's motivations.

I’m not going to waffle about my complaints with the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I’ve already rambled on a substantial amount in my previous reviews regarding this subject matter, so let’s leave it at the fact that my opinion and thoughts have not changed. That being said, WandaVision was one of the few enjoyable projects in the post-Endgame MCU era, as it had that original and unique flavour with messing with different television formats, and additionally was interesting in how that show explored the effects of trauma and grief. Naturally due to its success, Disney being Disney and Marvel being Marvel meant a sequel or a spin-off was inevitable. In this case it’s Agatha Harkness, who was played with a lot of funky energy by Kathryn Hahn in WandaVision. As enjoyable as she was, I never considered her to need her own show. I guess really anyone can get their own Disney+ series these days!

Kathryn Hahn is the primary reason to watch Agatha All Along. She’s as enjoyable as ever, cackling and wincing her way through each episode, and it was entertaining to constantly question her moral code, if she’s a villain or if she was turning to the good side. Hahn is great, and I am so glad she’s getting the recognition snd good roles now. As for other cast members, they are okay. Joe Locke as the teen came off a little pretentious, and Patti LuPone was the only witch I actually cared about. Aubrey Plaza as the mysterious Rio ends up being exactly what you expect her to be, and though Plaza nails the sarcasm, it’s nothing you haven’t seen her do before.

In regard to the series’ style, it’s really campy. The trailers in my opinion promised more horror aspects which were not present in the final product, but my main complaint is with the show’s look. It feels cheap. From the costumes to the sets, the whole thing is reminiscent of a CW or SyFy show, and you can tell Disney is probably tightening their budgets following the backlash of recent releases. But with something like Marvel you still expect to see something of visually interesting style, especially as they are sourcing a lot of narratives from comics and graphic novels, which one would assume would inspire more colourful and memorable set pieces. Unfortunately this show doesn’t offer any of that. The best you get is some rip-off witch costumes from other Disney projects, which I felt was more so for Disney to show-off how much Hollywood they own.

As for the narrative, for the most part this show is dull. It’s a very repetitive concept where in every episode our witches take on yet another trial, and though some trials do stand out more than others (episode 7 where a character time-jumps using tarot cards was particularly memorable) as a combined package it meant that catching up every week with a new episode was at times a chore. The other infuriating factor was the endless foreshadowing. This show consistently would bash you over the head with clues of what’s to come, but the clues were so predictable that when the reveals finally did pay-off they were not surprising even remotely. Reminded me a little of that Walk Hard segment where the kid says “ain’t nothing bad gonna happen today” only for him to get spliced in two 5 minutes later.

Superhero fatigue is real everyone! It’s happening! I’m kidding of course, I’m still holding out hope that Marvel and DC will get back to their former glory, but evidently there is still a long ways to go. Agatha All Along didn’t do it for me, however I do admit that Witches Road song is a banger and has been stuck in my head ever since!

Overall score: 4/10

[thesmumbo]

Smumbo's top 10 games he happened to play in 2022

Not necessarily games that were released in 2022, just my favorites that I played for the first time last year.

10: Night in the Woods (2017)

by Alec Holowka, Scott Benson, and Bethany Hockenberry

Peak fall vibes game. Night in the Woods features a compelling mystery and some great spooky moments. The setting and characters really resonated with me, so I got a lot out of it.

9: The Pedestrian (2020)

by @skookumarts

Pleasant puzzle game inspired by the signage that surrounds us in our day-to-day lives. Some of the puzzles were quite difficult, and I kind of dislike the direction the game took in its last act, but it was still a very fun and unique experience.

8: South of South Mountain (2022)

by @colorbomb

Cute & hilarious visual novel with a fantastic art style. I could not stop laughing throughout the whole experience.

7: Portal Reloaded (2021)

by PORTANIS

From a pure gameplay standpoint, this was a very satisfying sequel to Portal 2, and it's possibly the closest we'll ever get to a Portal 3. Portal Reloaded introduces a third portal which allows you to travel to the same place at a different time, so certain things have been moved/removed. It gets really complicated, and I’m amazed this was able to be created as a free standalone mod for Portal 2.

6: Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery (2022)

by Grace Bruxner and Thomas Bowker

Approximately 3-4 hours of pure, unadulterated joy and whimsy. I can’t believe it took me this long to play Frog Detective, but I’m so glad I did. Everything about these games resonated with me strongly.

5: OneShot (2016)

by @girakacheezer, @nightmargin, and Eliza Vasquez

A transcendent experience. Explores the unique ways in which video games can tell stories, and the nature of free will. Features some interesting meta game mechanics which require you to interact with files outside of the game. The visuals and soundtrack are spot-on as well. Weird how there’s so many great RPG Maker games which work so well in spite of the engine.

4: Scorn (2022)

by Ebb Software

An incredible audiovisual experience. I liked the gameplay too, even though it seems like a lot of people were disappointed by it. I'm amazed that a game like this even exists. Absolutely oozing with atmosphere and symbolic meaning. The story spoke to me on an incredibly deep level despite lacking words, or even any semblance of humanity.

3: What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)

by Giant Sparrow

One of the greatest games ever made. All of the vignettes and set-pieces throughout the game are flawlessly paced, with a wide variety of gameplay and visual styles. Packed with detail, made with love, and so emotionally resonant. I loved this game.

2: Bloodborne (2015)

by From Software

For years, I would try to play Bloodborne whenever I had access to a PlayStation 4, but I wasn’t able to do a full playthrough until 2022. It lived up to the hype. This is my favorite From Software game, and it’s already one of my favorite games of all time. I really hope this gets a remaster/PC port some day. It’s a masterpiece.

1: SIGNALIS (2022)

by @rose-engine

One of the greatest horror games I’ve ever played. Amazing visuals and atmosphere, fascinating world and lore, and a captivating, mind-blowing cosmic horror sci-fi story. I especially loved the evocative UI designs throughout. Highly recommended if you like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dead Space, PS1 style games in general, or if you have even a passing interest in survival horror. This is my #1 game of 2022.

[bootstrapparadoxed]

creative works & links

AO3 - Ko-Fi - YouTube - Patreon

Novel

adult sci-fi; a queer, existentialist space adventure

Summary:

In the distant future, humans live in a utopia where even death is not the end—for everyone except Amber’s parents. At 25, she is a cynical, aloof Ph.D. in history who resents her sheltered life at home and yearns to find her place in the world. Then, an exciting job offer comes her way—the chance to uncover the mystery of a civilization that disappeared thousands of years ago. Teaming up with the archeologist Lullaby, Amber embarks on a hitchhiking quest to find the fabled Aquamarine Moon and, perhaps, some much-needed meaning in her life.

Publisher’s website | Amazon

You can get a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review on goodreads or storygraph! Send me a direct message or ask for details.

Current WIP

"Offspring of (Un)happy Days", a dark academia horror with a M/M romance - WIPintro here, I tag posts about it as #FrankensteinWIP

Video Essays

"Science Has an Accountability Problem | Dumpster Fire Data"

Do you know how many researchers anonymously admit to fabricating data? The answer is not a number of individuals, it is a percentage. As scientists, we like to believe that we are the pinnacle of accuracy, honesty, and accountability. In reality, we are no different from any other human, just as capable of making mistakes. And it’s time to fully admit to that. Welcome to Dumpster Fire Data, a series in which I analyze the hell out of crumbling institutions.

“Representation DIY: What Headcanons Can Teach You About Autism”

On why representation of minority groups in fiction has such a powerful influence, why I prefer headcanon autistic characters over canon examples, and how headcanon discussions can improve the public dialogue and be an additional push for better diverse media.

“Night in the Woods: Cosmic Horror and Optimistic Nihilism”

An exploration of themes and narrative threads of “Night in the Woods” through the eyes of an exhausted Gen Z anarchist. On the terrifying world that young adults of today were born into and how it affected us, the two ways in which NiTW explores cosmic horror, why humans always look for stories, patterns, and meaning, and whether you can be sane and happy without meaning altogether. 

“Disability and Capitalism” 2-parter

A deep dive into the intertwined history of ableism and the capitalist economy, starting from the dawn of humanity and ending with a hopeful look into the future. Featuring a shitton of citations/research and generously sprinkled with science fiction.

“Squid Game and the Gamefication of Capitalism”

"Squid Game" is a South Korean survival drama that explores themes of class disparity and inequality with a Hunger Games-esque, thrilling plotline. Is the reality show / video game aesthetic of Squid Game just another compelling visual element, or an additional metaphor?

"Is Phylogenetics a Proper Science?"

Birds are dinosaurs, whales are cousins of cows, and fishes do not exist – these are the kind of things you learn in phylogenetics lectures as a biology undergrad. I have compartmentalized this knowledge in my head for years without giving it a second thought. Then, I fell down a rabbit whole of weird philosophy of science papers, and it broke my brain a little.

"Pokemon Evolutions Are Real... Kind Of"

More people have probably heard the word "evolution" in a pokemon game than in a high school biology class. And they aren't even actually evolving, they're going through metamorphosis. Probably. Well…

Short Stories

Short Story: "Satisfied", cyberpunk horror, in HyphenPunk Magazine Issue 7

Selected Fanfiction

One Septendecillion Brass Doorknobs: AO3 - Royalroad - Rebloggable Link

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency S3 as a full novel length (82k words) fic written in my best attempt at the style of Douglas Adams

where fire and ice collide: AO3 

30k long/novella length doctor who and good omens crossover with Tenth and Rose and all the GO characters; mostly focused on the mystery/adventure plotline but it also has tenrose and ineffable husbands tones in the mix

when it’s time: AO3

good omens 20k ineffible husbands slowburn. you know the cold open of E3? it’s 20k more of it. with mutual pining and angst and an eventual happy ending

[silviakundera]

alright my dudes & dudettes, it's Spirealm time!!

(jazz hands ensue)

fair warning: in these episode reactions I'm not gonna pretend I haven't read the novel. in fact, I purposely finished the novel before viewing, to get The Full Experience. thus novel spoilers, including twist end, included.

I'm spacing out posting these, so you aren't flooded.

The Spirealm Ep 1

* ngl I was legit hyped to see the hallway of doors! I am one of Those People who does not visually imagine stories in their mind, so I don't have much of a preconceived idea of what people or places in a book look like. So adaptions are a special delight for me

* ok, so he's playing a "VR game" and logs off.... OR DOES HE????? In the book, the whole narrative we think he's experiencing for the first time all happens within the 12th door - he has his memory suppressed and only thinks he just entered his first door. I am intrigued at the idea that the drama could be playing a lil bit of a slight of hand here... in which he has been a regular player of 'the official version' already and is already under the thrall. Apparently symptoms include hallucinations and death! Good times. No wonder he wants a black market copy for his very own.

* idk it's just a thought

* Mostly what I found suspicious is that he's already showing super hearing ability and he's having to shake off a mental disturbance

* Chestnut!!! Ok in the 12th door in the novel, at first Chestnut wasn't uber lovey dovey with him anymore. 1st indication of weirdness. In the drama... maybe? we see the cat backing away a bit and resisting, and he has to pull Chestnut over... LQ makes a comment, "I'll give you food, don't move" 🤔🤔🤔🤔

* Suddenly the game shows up in his mail? from Unknown Address... on... isn't it the same day? so that makes no logical sense. (intentional subtext or just cdrama time lol? ) and then for a moment it melds into the game world when he's walking outside... this is all supporting my theories!

* k it's BOYFRIEND TIME. Let's find yo man.

* He either now logs onto the official game (or THINKS that he is logging onto the official version for the 1st time, but he's been inside this whole episode)

* He walks through the door, thinks there's a glitch, and now he believes he's logged off. This time he definitely didn't. DEFINITELY.

* This door looks fantastic.

* He's hit by a car while marveling at the door. Except I don't think so, either time A or B he never logged off. Bro is SEEING FANTASTICAL DOORS IN THE STREET. That's not occurring in our reality.

* I'm really appreciating how disorientating the first episode is, by the way. When does reality end? There are like 7 options to start from.

* FINALLY BOYFRIEND \o/

* "I'm saving you and you still scold me." We may have lost Ruan Baijie 😭😭😭 but this is a nice meet-cute.

* The explanation from Mysterious Future Boyfriend: To put it simply, you're in the game. Here, if you don't finish the game, you can't leave. If you end the game here, you leave... then it really is the end." [universal sliced neck gesture]

(and ok, still banging on that drum, but this vibes with my pet theory - that he never left in the first place...)

* LQ crossed into the game -- and what that means is said to be complicated.

When LQ says as a programmer he can follow an explanation, Ruan Nanzhu just mocks that he hears but doesn't understand.

* Already we are getting a certain vibe, with LQ being backed up into a tree by looming hot stranger. Bro visibly looks down twice (at hottie's lips? at how close their bodies are becoming? the looming increases intensity)

Very strong 20 minute opener imo.

((Post-script: if we want to consider an alternative to the alternate theory of WTF is Reality in this Drama? What if is there a normal game he test plays in the first 12 minutes & separately also The Doors actually exist the same as they do in novel, and he enters on the verge of death and the drama is never actually about a game at all, & he never leaves the 12th door. He just never escapes, baby. 💥😵💥))

(that one is pretty out there tbh. just added for spice. and that very pretty door looking out of place & wholly different than the game decor.)

Next Episode

[sorbetowl]

Horizon Ask Game

Oioioi, thanks for all the tags, @maybirdie, @meg-noel-art, @nerd-artist and @xxxhellfireravenxxx

1. ride or die ship (your otp): To no ones surprise, it's Ereloy, precisely as it reads on the can. They snatched my heart back in 2017 and haven't released it to this day.

2. most annoying ship: There are no annoying ships. Next question.

3. second favourite ship: Tough call. I'll go with Avad/Ersa, because they 100% had SOMETHING going on. Starcrossed lovers my beloved.

4. favourite platonic relationship: I'm living for the friendship between Alva and Kotallo. And Beta's line about Erend visiting her in the server room and being "loud...but funny". A kingdom for on-screen interactions between the two. Erend can be like "is free little sister". ;;

5. underrated ship: Drakka/Yarra. The raw enemies to lovers potential there...

6. overrated ship: I don't see anything overrated in a genuine outpouring of one's love for two fictional characters.

7. one thing i would change in canon: Now, after two main games and DLC? Oh, a fair bit. Varl's unnecessary death, even admitted to by the writers as being there for shock value. Shock over the drop in narrative quality post-HZD, maybe.

Same as reducing Erend to everyone's punching bag without a single thought behind his eyes. Fantastic how everyone easily picks up reading English while Erend struggles with it when he's canonically the only member (besides Aloy and Alva) who knows how to read at all. He's the one asking Aloy in HZD where she learned to read Glyphs, something unique to the Carja who reinvented written language based on a book, and the Oseram who got taught Carja Glyphs for trade, which eventually developed into their own alphabet (they get differentiated as "Carja Glyphs" and "(Oseram) Glyphs" in datapoints. Erend can read both. Two alphabets. That's more than many bilinguals)

But sure, he's the dumb dumb who can't read, not the companions that start completely illiterate.

8. something canon did right: All of HZD. What a masterful introduction to a new game franchise, and playing through it the first time unraveling all its mysteries is why I'm still here obsessed with the series.

9. a thing i'm proud of creating for the fandom: Probably the companion art piece for Love Games by my friend @maybirdie. It was incredible working with her as this beast of a fic came together and the friends that I made during that time are near and dear to my heart.

And of course, being on the artist team for the Horizon visual novel Focus On The Heart!

10. a character who is perfect to me (wouldn't change a thing): Without a speck of doubt, Gildun. What a bundle of unbridled joy.

11. the character i relate to the most and why: Beta. We both have crippling anxiety, literally never go outside, and are unfortunately Very Smol™

12. character(-s) i hate the most and why: The worst I can feel about a character is indifference.

13. something i've learned from the fandom: After having been in a fandom that crashed and burned over a decade ago and coming out with a general aversion to fandom...at the end of the day, people from all trades of life coming together to enjoy and create for the same thing that they love with all their heart is a precious thing and we're all richer embracing each other's uniqueness in this gathering.

14. three tags i seek out on ao3: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Sensual Fingerblasting (wink-wonk)

15. a song i strongly associate with my otp/favourite character: Break In by Halestorm for Ereloy, and for favorite character (Erend) End Of Me by Ashes Remain

Tagging @emtazer, @imamandajulius, @souls-that-have-senses, @nmallenart, @bs-fangirl, @cranialgames

And everyone who sees this and would like to give a go~

[chynandri]

I finished 7’scarlet in 3 days lol big word dump to document all my thoughts and impressions

It was genuinely a unique story to me, despite the many romance cliches. I mean that’s what I expect from otomes so I’m not too critical of that. I thought the mystery was pretty well written and well paced honestly. The concept of revenants and how they are people who can’t pass on and have to kill living humans to keep existing was kinda novel to me. The story was so intriguing it gripped me and I was determined to finish it all asap. This game came out in 2016, so Chinatsu kurahana’s art is honestly kinda rough around the edges compared to 3 houses (released in 2019 iirc)… despite that, I did really like the visuals anyway.

I think Sosuke is autistic too but in a similar way dr ratio is autistic for example LOL. He got the lack of social awareness (misses social cues, one way conversations), infodumping, has to explain his own jokes, deadpan, intense and obsessive focus on things and figuring out how they work, bottom up analytical thinking traits imo. With the reveal that Toa is also a revenant a few points about him that made me think he was autistic were kinda even more ‘explained’. But… I still wanna say they’re both autism cuz why not LOL

Isora’s extreme mood swings seem to be an indicator of BPD but honestly I’m not too knowledgeable about it. Plus he’s the ‘yandere’ route and the mc doesn’t exactly encourage him to maybe try to have a healthier approach to relationships…… 💀 questionable mental disorder representation aside, hes genuinely really likeable yeah even the freaky trapping me in a basement part and murdering a guy part. lmfao I like a little crazy what can I say. I kinda wish at least one or two of the other love interests had more freak to them tbh

So yeah this game really fulfilled every love interest trope… including a incest secret route 😓😓 well I mean it’s one of those ‘he wasn’t actually her brother all along’ things. I really shoulda seen it coming.

I know she’s too used to calling him her brother, but I think perhaps if the mc called him by his name instead of ‘brother’ after they realized their feelings for each other it would’ve taken me out of the moment less lmao 😓😓 and also I get that he’s immortal, so he has no concept of time or age, and that he isn’t really her brother but shaped peoples perceptions so he could protect her for a good reason. but he did essentially take care of her from when she was a child… and he’s permanently stuck in the form of an adult. So… that aspect is also why their love is hard to get into in my mind 😓 well I’ll chalk it up as something that’s just not for me

Despite that, her ‘brother’ was a very interesting character being one of the first revenants ever I think and while he managed to achieve eternal ‘life’ it being more of a curse than blessing was also interesting.

AT LEAST THE BROTHER ROUTE IS NOT THE TRUE ROUTE! LMAO. I was honestly surprised Toa was the true ending and I was thinking ‘isn’t it strange to be so biased toward him’ because mc is literally every guys first love, not just his. but actually it kinda makes sense for the ‘canon’ ending and romance to be one with a good revenant and he ‘dies’ (again) anyway so not only is it the most tragic but it could open up the possibility of her moving on, and getting with one of the other guys…

I think probably the most interesting message and question this games story explored is time and eternity. It talked a lot about how humans invented time as a construct but as a result it ‘denies the existence of eternity’. In actuality time has no ‘present past or future’ - it simply just is, forever. And the concept of fate and eternity was consistently present in each route, as all the love interests were affected by the mc from a young age whether they remember or not and wish to be with her forever. She quite literally represents ‘eternity’ by her existence being extremely valuable to revenants wanting to achieve eternal ‘life’.

[thought-bubble-doodly-doo]

Just out of curiosity, what is it about the Umineko ending that you don't like?

Oh @fedyaplushie, thank you so much for giving me an excuse to talk about this. Spoiler warnings for Umineko and Higurashi obviously. Very long post ahead! <3 I love talking about this game.

I would like to start by saying that a lot of my distaste for the ending comes from pretty subjective reasons. I don't really think I can make the argument that the ending is OBJECTIVELY bad, but simply that I do not care for it. There are undoubtedly areas where I think the visual novel could be improved, but ultimately what ruins it for me is the revelation of the "truth."

For instance, Kinzo, from the Question Arcs, is one of my favorite characters in ALL of media. He is undoubtedly an awful person, but a WONDERFUL villain. He's introduced to us as a supernaturally lucky businessman who revived the family from destitution due to a devil bargain with a witch. He's a man of mystery, of obsession, of supposed black magic. Maybe he's doing human experiments with the orphans from the Funkin House. Maybe he has a mistress. Maybe he sold his soul. Who knows? It's fascinating!

Kinzo has this presence that just COMMANDS, if not respect, then awe. The mere thought of Kinzo sends half the family into survival mode. The sight of his seal sends the dinner party into a panic attack. Yes, he's constantly crying about Beatrice, but then he has these moments of lucidity where we see the Demon King of Rokkenjima. All of Kinzo's speeches about willpower and luck and magic are some of my favorite parts of the game! We get brief glances into a fascinating character, brought down by delusion.

Because Kinzo is so fascinating, because he's SO POWERFUL, yet he's so WEAK. His love/obsession for Beatrice has made the king into a fool. Kinzo, because of his wealth, can have basically anything he wants. But the one thing he wants is a witch's love that she's unwilling to give him. I mean, he trapped her soul on an island rather than accept that she's just not that into him. The contrast between the man his family sees and the man Beatrice makes him is so interesting!

But when the truth of who Kinzo and Beatrice are is revealed in Chapter 7, I feel like his character loses a lot of his dimensionality. Kinzo is a character defined by the strength of his will. I LOVE the scene where he's reading his own tarot fortune to himself over and over again until he gets the result he wants. THAT'S Kinzo to me. I mean, he built a church on the possibility he could resurrect a witch, because he's like super sure one day that's gonna happen! He's this commanding FORCE of a character, and then you learn he's not.

He's just a sad rich guy who got forced to be head of the family, got forced into a loveless marriage, and then signed up for WW2 in hope of dying in battle. Not even for some grand heroic reason or a sense of nationalism, just cuz he didn't want to live? KINZO?

You find out he betrayed his fellow armymen, he raped his daughter, and he spent like 40 years of his life crying over his mistress. It's pathetic. Everything cool about Kinzo is revealed to truly just be hearsay or rumor or a fact that's filtered through so many layers of telephone it might as well be a lie.

And I UNDERSTAND why his character took this route. I understand that it reinforces the larger narrative and Battler's inner conflict about wanting to believe in a Witch. Because ultimately the lie is prettier than the truth, just like Kinzo is cooler as a myth than he is as a man. However, I think when "truth" is revealed in a mystery, it should enhance the experience of a character rather than detract from it. Like I genuinely can't think of other mysteries where I found out what was really going on, and I was this disappointed in what was really going on.

Bernkastel was 100% correct when she warned about the idea of Truth. As knowledge is a one way street, and you cannot go back to ignorance after learning it. Really, you can boil all my gripes down to that sentiment. I regret learning what actually went on, because I liked it better when I didn't know.

Secondly, I don't like Battler's 180 in his character motivations. He begins the game against Magic and ends the game a sorcerer. In the bonus material of chapter 1, Berkastel tasks both Battler and the "Player" with figuring out the rules of the universe so the witch can be defeated. Battler's struggle is our struggle. As we play the games and Beatrice's cruelty is shown again and again and again, it only adds more fuel to the fire to want to see her defeated.

She toys with our relatives' corpses, she tortures, she revives only to kill again. She's a great villain but INCREDIBLY CRUEL. And Battler has to watch and suffer as his family is brutally demolished in an absurdly evil concoction of closed rooms and murder methods. The game instills us with a sense of JUSTICE, a fervent desire to see the Witch be revealed, so the culprit can pay for their crimes. Even if it hurts, even if it means a character we love is responsible, we and Battler have a DUTY to bring the criminal to light out of respect for the dead.

Even as Beatrice grows more likeable, I was still under the impression the game wanted us to want her dead? I thought her increasingly endearing nature was to again put us in Battler's shoes. If he disproves the witch, someone he loves is responsible. So of course there would be respect and endearment and even love between him and his opponent. It made sense to make us love the witch only to eventually (I thought) be tasked with having to deny her existence and face the fact she's just an evil human we thought we could trust. And then chapter four ends with Battler hearing his sister get pulled apart piece by piece as she BEGS HIM to defeat Beatrice and return to her! And then two chapters later, he's the master of the gameboard, and we're supposed to want to keep this facade up? We're supposed to DISCOURAGE ANGIE FROM FINDING THE TRUTH?!

And I'll admit, maybe, it's just a skill issue. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. Maybe I should have been undergoing a similar character arc to Battler as I continued to play through the chapters, but I do think it's a little much to ask an audience to completely change their motivation to finish a game. To work against their own interests, interests imparted to us by the game itself for the last… I don't know… 150 hours of playtime?!

And I understand that "Truth" in Umineko is a nebulous concept. I understand that Angie's desire for "Truth" is, in reality, a need for closure, and that this desire has kept her stagnated in that grief for over a decade and threatens to ruin her life if she cannot let go of it… But sometimes it feels like Umineko blue-balled me.

It says: Magic isn't real. Defeat the witch. Return to your sister, and I guess I just had the expectations that the game would deliver on these sentiments? I had my own theories of course as to what was going on and how it was all gonna wrap up. I thought maybe since Battler keeps dying last, we'd stumble upon a fragment where he was the sole suvivor and got to return to Ange. I thought maybe the idea that Beatrice's name was passed down was a metaphor that a grudge against the Ushiromiyas was passed down, and that culprit was in some way inspired by the OG Beatrice of the Devil's Deal but was not herself the "Witch of Legend." I thought maybe he'd pull a Higurashi and the characters would just foil the culprit's plans and everyone would get to live. I don't know.

But I never expected to have Battler just abandon his entire character motivation half way through the game.

Speaking of things changing, to my displeasure, halfway through the game, I do not like how the later chapters handled Bernkastel and Lambadelta. I know Ryukishi07 doesn't write every single word of the story before releasing his games. Sometimes during production, plans can change. Sometimes even for the better! Did you know Gohda was originally going to be having an affair with Natsuhi? I'm honestly glad that got cut. But I cannot say the same for Lambadelta and Berkastel.

I don't think it's controversial to say that it's REALLY OBVIOUS the original intent of Lambadelta was to have her be the amalgamation of loops for Takano. Bern talks about a great game she played against her with an overwhelming number of pieces, and it's clearly meant to allude to the original conflict in the Higurashi series.

But then for some reason??? They decided these two needed to be toxic yuri, and changed Lamdabelta to Satoko. And I know there was a lot of debate, and there still is some, about whether or not Lambadelta is some sort of hybrid between Satoko and Takano, but the recent Gou/Sotsu anime (which I also hate) pretty much confirms Lambadelta is 100% Satoko. I hate this for so many reasons.

Rika's best friend betrays her and keeps her in a looping torture.

Rika and her friends DON'T get a happily ever after, and are thrown into yet another cycle of tragedy.

Rika's relationship with Satoko is elevated so far beyond her relationships with everyone else, I honestly think it's a little insulting to the message of friendship the OG series perpetuated.

Also, I'm just not a big fan of Rika/Satoko as a ship

But that's why I hate Gou/Sotsu. Sorry for the mini-rant. Back to Umineko.

Because we as the audience as familiar with Rika, we're given an impression of the character of Bernkastel. She's our ally. She says as much. She says she takes pity and sympathizes with Battler, because she too was once thrown into a gameboard and forced to relive tragedy. But as the game progresses, Bernkastel becomes more and more of an antagonistic force, until eventually she's the ultimate villain of the game.

I'm sure this probably always was the original intention for her character. As Beatrice becomes more and more of an ally, Bernkastel simultaneously descends into villainy. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. I just don't like what her character became.

And I know, in reality Bernkastel is not a hero or a villain. She's an element of chaos, a witch so bored with eternity she has to force suffering onto others lest she remember her own traumas. I really do think that's very fascinating. Again, I just wish I hadn't been baited and switched and watched her go from an ally to an enemy.

Finally, we come to my biggest gripe. Which is arguably my pettiest complaint, so bear with me. But I think I could overlook all other issues I have with the ending if it weren't for this. I hate the fact that Beatrice, Shanon, and Kanon are all actually the same person: Sayo Yasuda. Because, personally, I feel like it undermines the core tenant of Umineko: Love. Love is to Umineko what Friendship is to Higurashi. "Without love, it cannot be seen," and frankly, I just think Ryukishi07 and I have fundamentally different philosophies on love.

In Chapter 6, there's this huge plot point about Shanon and Kanon's love for their respective partners, George and Jessica. Because we later learn they are the same person, they can only go on to live their life with one person, and there's this big deal made about how the love between these two "couples" is equal. They literally have a metaphysical duel about it, and even though it ends in George's favor, they reiterate again and again, that it really could have gone either way. Like a coin flip.

And I think what Ryukishi07 is trying to say is that Shanon and Kanon's love is "real." Although they are personas crafted by Sayo to survive her environment, the love they have for George and Jessica is 100% real. The person is a lie, but the feelings are not. However, I'm going to argue that the reason why Sayo's love for them is 100% equal is because she doesn't love either of them. She loves Battler! Battler is her Prince Charming, her gallant savior on a white horse. Battler is the person she crafts the mysteries for. Battler is the person whose return broke her psyche and caused a killing spree. Battler is her one, true love, and that fact negates the supposed love she has for the others.

Again, I just think this is where Ryukishi07 and I fundamentally differ. I don't think you can love more than one person at a time. I don't believe in having multiple "Best" Friends. I don't believe in polyamory. There is undoubtedly one of the cousins Sayo favors above the others, and that is Battler! And that fact RUINS the enjoyment I received from following these three relationships. Because that "love" that supposedly exists is a lie.

George may love Shanon with his entire heart, but Shanon merely sees him as a replacement for Battler. Jessica may love Kanon with her entire heart, but she too is a replacement for Battler. I'm not going to say that she doesn't feel affection for them. Of course she does! She cares very deeply for both of these people, but I don't think it's love. I think Sayo thinks it's love, but i just can't agree. I think we all know if Battler hadn't left, neither of these other relationships would have blossomed. And in Chapter one, she asks Battler if he remembers his promise to her. She's still seeking validation and love from that man while dating two other people!

Every time I remember a cute moment between Shanon and George or a romantic scene between Kanon and Jessica, I remember that deep down these two people are replacements for Battler. And it ruins the investment I had in these relationships. And because, again, love is the central theme of this novel, the growth and development of these relationships is a huge factor in the actual story. A factor I can't fully enjoy anymore.

And after the revelation of Sayo's existence, I don't really feel motivated to ship her with her one, true love Battler. Who is Sayo? We know a lot about her. She's a product of incest, she's the true heir of the Ushiromiya family, she's not cis, she's sad, traumatized, and loves mysteries novels. But we never get to see Sayo interact with Battler, genuinely. It is always filtered through the facade of one of her personas, either Shanon or Beatrice. The closest we get to seeing the real her is Lion, and I just don't think Lion and Battler have a lot of chemistry as characters. Even ignoring the fact they're cousins, I don't think they would work well romantically. For the great overarching romance of the novel, I am just not invested. I mean, Battler abandons her for six years and forgets his promise, but suddenly when he remembers he's willing to sink to the bottom of the ocean with her? I just don't buy it! I don't love this couple enough to see it!

Also, throughout the novel, this ideal of a one, true, undying love has been a net negative for this family. I mean, it was his undying love for Beatrice that caused Kinzo to rape his daughter. Kyrie was willing to kill a woman because of her undying love for Rudolph. I feel, continuously, the novel is framing undying love as a sickness that exists within this family, quickly turning to obsession and leading to ruin. I mean, Kinzo's young sprite is just Battler with grey hair, clearly paralleling his relationship to Beatrice and his grandson's relationship to Beatrice. And considering how that relationship worked out, I don't really want to support this relationship. (Of course, arguably the one who most inherited Kinzo's obsessive love was Sayo herself.) It's just so wierd to frame how undying love turned a man vile and evil, and then have us route for it at the end?

I just don't like how I invested so much time in those ships, only to be told that only one of them matters. And I know that's not the intended message of the visual novel, but I also can't get behind Ryukishi07's idea of what love is supposed to be.

Again, I LOVE UMINEKO. I think it is the greatest novel of all time. I just hate the ending for mostly subjective reasons, and you are free to disagree with them. I would NEVER say that Ryukishi07 is a bad writer or that he didn't handle his own story properly. Looking back, I can see the hints I missed the first time and how it all was inevitably leading to this. But that's the thing with a mystery. You go in, and you're given pieces of a puzzle, and sometimes you don't put it together correctly. The pieces were all there, but I just didn't see it right.

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 7 Minagoroshi pt. 30

I’m always tempted near the end of a chapter to give my thoughts on the chapter as a whole, but I figure my overall thoughts are better saved for the part Finals for a given chapter. So this way if you’re just looking for my general thoughts about a given chapter you have them there instead of spread across several parts. Of course part of me wants to do a Part Final EX for each chapter that is a review of the chapter however many weeks later from when I read it initially. But that has to wait until I’ve finished the series as a whole.

I won’t lie to you, I admit to being gripped with a certain terror that the visual novel was going to take me, the reader to task for “not believing.” I was fully prepared for this unexpected level of hack-shittery to happen, after all Umineko featured characters that in the story existed to get yelled at and massacred en masse because they didn’t engage the mystery and were just taking it passively.

Up until the line about her turning to Hanyuu I was mentally preparing myself for the game to address me as a reader to complain about my not believing in the miracle. And, admittedly if you’re not feeling very charitable you could absolutely read these statements directed at Hanyuu as one leveled at you as well.

So… Rena can see Hanyuu? Is that why she was so adamant in her belief that Oyashiro was there with them when Takano killed the rest of them? Has she always been able to see Hanyuu? Did she never across any of the timelines ever bring up the strange horned girl to Rika? Or did she just assume she was her own personal hallucination? I figure that Keiichi and the others seeing her is because of the fact they’re presently dead, but the wording here implies that Rena has been able to see Hanyuu all along. Please be aware that I know this particular idea gets revisited in Matsuribayashi.

Probably a terrible question to ask someone who was just torture murdered.

This reminded me of an old quote from George R.R. Martin about how A Song of Ice and Fire is going to end. “Everyone’s going to die by the end of book six, and book seven will be a thousand page description of snow blowing across their graves.” It was funny at the time I read it, back when I thought the series might one day be finished.

There’s nowhere to go but up for our protagonists at this stage in the narrative I’d say. Or who knows, maybe Chapter 8 Matsuribayashi is just a million words about the snow blowing across the gaming clubs graves.