Because We’re Here - Act I
War isn’t about middle grounds, and neither is Because We’re Here. It’s a game that may well prove to be polarizing (and I’m glad the dev took the risk). You could find this otome game a complete waste of time, or unusual but worthwhile. I’ll tell you why I’m in the latter camp as I go through different aspects of the game.
Older fans have probably played the demos (both super old and now defunct) that constitute what is now Act I, and might be wondering if it’s still worth it to buy this part of the game. Plot is the same but there’s been a pretty big glow up in other aspects. The biggest plus for me was how the other guys aside from August now feel much more fleshed out - nothing big, but little changes in the writing strengthen the characterization. There’s also longer ending scenes (with CG!) that make for better closure.
– Real player with 62.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Alternate History Anime Games.
I first encountered this visual novel a day before it was released, and immediately I was excited – I love historical settings, and WWI doesn’t get nearly enough media attention, and the characters looked very varied and setting-appropriate, so I had high hopes. Having played the first act now, I can say that the VN delivered everything I wanted and more.
Firstly, this is a very well-researched story. Everything from the details of the trenches to the many different wartime roles that were available to the different kinds of reactions people had to the war – and how they changed over time – are replicated here perfectly. But it doesn’t feel either overwhelming or confusing – apart from a brief explanation of the political history of the war early on, there’s no exposition, instead allowing the reader to familiarise themselves with the world by watching it unfold. It’s worth noting now that this story isn’t technically based on the real WWI – the countries and their geography are different, with some interesting results – but if you want something that captures the spirit of WWI in a very personal, in-the-trenches way, I can’t fault it.
– Real player with 48.1 hrs in game
Made Marion
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What do you do when your best isn’t good enough?
Lady Marion of Glastonbury is going to have to figure that out, and fast. Removed from her position of power and thrust into an unwanted arranged marriage, she finds herself careening through Sherwood Forest toward the troubled town of Nottingham.
Released from the confines of her previous life, who will Marion become? A freedom fighter? A knight-at-arms? A reluctant spy? Will she help create peace in Nottingham or hasten the coming confrontation between the strict Sheriff and the rebel Robin Hood?
And will a woman who resisted marriage end up finding love where she least expects it?
Find out when you’re… Made Marion.
A Romantic Action-Adventure Story
Made Marion is an otome visual novel - a romantic story primarily aimed at women, though of course all genders are welcome to play! It’s inspired by the tales of Robin Hood, but with many of its own twists.
Welcome to Avalon, an alternate-world Medieval kingdom in which humanity exists in a sometimes-uneasy balance with the mystical fae folk. Avalon’s hero-king Richard has gone missing, the nation is deep in debt from a recent war, and the commoners are agitating for more representation in government.
Step into the shoes of the proud young noblewoman Marion and guide her adventure in a richly-detailed fantasy world thick with political machinations and mystical intrigue. Decide who to trust and who to love. Can Marion make the right choices to save Nottingham from a dire fate?
Features:
Gorgeous Graphics with a Celtic Flair: Enjoy our beautiful, expressive characters and a unique world inspired by a variety of Northern European cultures. Celtic design elements are threaded through our character and background designs.
Proactive Heroine: Her name is in the game’s title for a reason! Marion isn’t just along for the ride; she drives the plot forward in many ways and has her own goals and desires.
One Big Choice, Two Different Worlds: After the game’s prologue, you’ll make a big choice that either sends you to Sherwood Forest or the city of Nottingham. Each side has a different cast to romance, and the two sides have a different feeling to them. Sherwood is a swashbuckling action-adventure, while Nottingham has more political intrigue and spy hijinks.
Role-Playing Choices: Instead of using a traditional affection meter, you’ll be making major role-playing choices in each route that lead to two possible happy endings. Choose to be clever or straightforward with the flirtatious Robin. Make idealistic or pragmatic choices with Geoffrey and Gui. It’s up to you, and you won’t be punished with a bad end for your personality choices.
Meaningful Bad Ends: Our bad endings are designed to be logical and interesting, giving hints about the wider story and world or showing a different side of the game’s characters. They’re also easily reversed, as they come from one-off choices.]
Made for Adults: We’re a sex-positive, LGBT-friendly otome game aimed at adult readers, with an over-18 cast. We aim to be mature without being “edgy” and to portray sex as a part of the characters' developing relationships.
New Features Incoming
Thanks to our successful Kickstarter (we love our backers!), Made Marion will be receiving a number of enhancements beyond what’s shown in the demo. We’re already implementing them in the full game, and we’re very excited about them!
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5 CG illustrations per love interest (35 total)
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Ambient Sound
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Cut-in illustrations to add interest to longer scenes
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Sprites for animals and fae creatures (hug a greatstag!)
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Animations to spice up (literal) magical moments
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Improved glossary
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More accessibility options (always planned, but now being implemented)
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Alanna’s bard songs now have professionally recorded backing tracks and will be recorded in a sound studio instead of on an at-home mic.
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And more!
Meet the Love Interests
Robin of Locksley: A deposed lord who is leading a rebellion against the autocratic Lord Geoffrey of Nottingham. A strong and capable leader with a tendency to hide his true feelings behind a wall of jocularity.
John: Robin’s second-in-command, a gentle giant of a man battling inner demons from his tragic past.
Will, the Scarlet Blade: John’s half-brother, a daredevil swordsman with several large chips on his shoulder.
Lord Geoffrey: Known locally by the derogatory nickname of “The Sheriff,” this stern lord is determined to rule by law, even if the law entails some very onerous taxes. Can Marion uncover the reasons behind his harsh policies?
Meissa: A mysterious, mischievous sage from an enemy land. Kind and compassionate, they harbor a dangerous secret.
Alanna Dale: A merry bard in Geoffrey’s court. Easy to fall in love with but difficult to truly know, she guards herself with layers of lies.
Gui la Londe: A gorgeous, graceful chevalier who is a confidant of Lord Geoffrey’s despite their very different worldviews. He would like to recruit Marion for an important mission of behalf of the Crown.
Read More: Best Alternate History Fantasy Games.
Queen’s Revolution ~ the romance in upheavals ~
Romance game for girls. You, a high school student, become a worthless queen with zero magic ability. A magician fiancé weaving plans to usurp the throne; a werewolf knight with strong desires to execute; an elf ranger stirring up rebellions against the system…When the turbulence of Magic Empire inevitably comes, you decide to take up your last resort, a weapon named “science”.
in development
★Story
By the time I woke up from that perfectly normal sleep I had in my bed, “I” have already been transported mythically to a magical world. Prior to that nap, I was nothing more than a regular high school student; yet now, I am gloriously recognized as a worthless queen with zero magic ability.
“How can we ever have queen that know absolutely no magic?” “The Kingdom is doomed!” “Only a best magician shall be qualified enough to reign our realm!” In this world where magic appears to be everything, people say so.
To ensure a stable transition of the power after his decease, our beloved former emperor engaged “I”, the princess and heir of the Kingdom, to the only son of the great mage. But after his death, the overbearing ambition of the fiancé unfolded gradually: to collude with the supreme association of magicians, seize the power of the new queen, and hopefully, without any surprise, claim the throne that is still temporarily mine.
In such a precarious situation, perhaps the only person “I” have on my side is a werewolf knight. However, unable to integrate into the elite class of magicians and thus having no say or title, he seems to be in the same boat with me - dream and visions in the head, yet no cards to play in the hands.
One after another, uprising broke out, organized by a half blood elf ranger. However, the almighty magician association has so far extinguished every attempt of revolt with fierce suppressions. A few hot-blooded rebels among all who actually master magic may never rival the association, not to mention bringing progresses to the war. Will someone take the lead in their fight, and show them a way out?
Plague, natural disasters … more misfortunes are on their way. To save this magical empire from the turbulence, it appears that “I” only have one thing left in my armory to wield - a weapon goes by the name “science”!
★Guys
William
Human, the only son of the great mage, genius of magic, the childhood sweetheart and fiance of the queen.
Considered one of the more talented new generation of magicians, William is second to none in the Kingdom. People seems to be more in favor of his lead compared to that worthless queen.
“It’s not like what have been intended… I wanted to protect her… "
“Nothing is on par with a taste of power.”
Caught in the middle of convoluted power and desire, he has his own choice to make.
Louis
Werewolf, an abandoned child of minority descendant, highly proactive, knight of the queen.
In the Kingdom, ethnical minorities who share close ties to the wild animals are always looked down upon, as if only those who master magics are worthy of power.
“Please forgive me for overstepping your majesty, but I always feel that… we are very similar…”
“We’ll prove ourselves, right?”
In endless malice, we advance jointly, no longer alone.
Noah
Half-blood elf, rangers who have wandered this Kingdom for hundreds of years, senior leader of civic rebellions.
After hundreds of years roaming around a dull magical realm, he decided to bring some brighter elements to not only his long-lasting life, but the society as well.
“At first it seems to be merely a bad wish of mine, but you let me know that sickness is haunting this land… "
“If you are on it, this could never fail.”
He seems to find some real goals in the helpless chaos.
Read More: Best Alternate History Text-Based Games.
Lost in Secular Love
I noticed this game long time ago while searching for cute backgrounds and it’s finally translated into English! I’ll say right off the bat the translation is very decent. It’s my first voiced Chinese visual novel. It sounded quite new and peculiar for my ear but soon enough I really fell for it! I know one developer who is creating a Chinese learning game right now and I’m eager to try it, that’s how much I enjoyed the voice acting here. Not only the language but also music (the opening is amazing) and visuals are creating a unique atmosphere of a different culture.
– Real player with 17.7 hrs in game
Rating: 7/10 (“Good”)
Recommended for: People who enjoy romance. I would recommend this for a first time VN reader.
My route order: ZhiKong ZiQing HuiHai. I didn’t have a least favourite guy, but my favourite route was probably ZiQing’s.
Lost in Secular Love is a Chinese visual novel where you play as QiYe, a young girl from a noble family. Unfortunately, her family has fallen in status and become quite impoverished. As a result, QiYe disguises herself as a man and works at a restaurant. Her mother devises a plan to get her married to a monk; this would bring status back to their home as well as ensure that QiYe does not live on the streets. In addition, QiYe will be able to support her family by sending them an allowance.
– Real player with 16.7 hrs in game
Tell a Demon
Tell a Demon is the second part of the Asher series, which is set to be a trilogy of visual novels taking place in the eponymous fictional city. While playing the first game, Asher (which can be downloaded for free on the developer’s blog), is not mandatory to play this stand-alone game, it can help get a stronger grip on the lore and the motivation of a couple characters, and I would recommend playing it beforehand of after your first ending. Now, onto Tell a Demon. It is undoubtedly one of the strongest visual novels I’ve played yet, both in terms of visuals and story. The art is totally unique, more reminiscent of paintings you would see in the 16th century section of a museum than classic VN art. I can’t express how much I love the attention that went into little details in the sprites: sometimes the only observable alteration comes from a raised eyebrow or a bitten lip, and yet the change in expression is striking while conveying a subtle shift in emotion. The CGs are also phenomenal, but seeing as the video in this page gives a pretty good sample on what you can expect art-wise when playing Tell a Demon, I won’t expand on the subject.
– Real player with 51.7 hrs in game
Tell A Demon is such a great VN that I wish more people knew about! It introduces a genuinely original story and world, and even though it can be a bit rough to find your bearings in it, it’s definitely worth it.
The artstyle is great, fits the tone of the story perfectly, and really serves the writing well - not that it really needs it. So many scenes are just… really, actually well-written, and don’t need the help of the art of the music (both of which are still very good) to leave a strong impression.
– Real player with 14.7 hrs in game
Ambition: A Minuet in Power
I almost fainted when I saw Ambition’s premise. A choose-your-own adventure? With political intrigue and love interests?! Taking place in the French Revolution!? It seemed perfect for me - and, oh, it was!
You play as Yvette Decaux, a woman who travels to Paris on the eve of the French Revolution to rendezvous with her fiance, a baron named Armand. But oh no! He’s missing! You have the option to try and find him, and/or abandon him for one or more of the five other love interests. Each of those love interests are part of a faction - the Crown, the Church, the Military, the Bourgeoisie, and the Revolution. To build your power, you must go to parties thrown by these factions to meet your romance options, collect gossip, and participate in a randomized and vast array of entertaining minor intrigues. The gossip you get can be sold for money (used to buy dresses, pay rent, bribe the authorities, and purchase coffee - the usual!) or bend the factions to your will. You can increase or decrease their power, or nudge the middle factions towards the Crown or Revolution.
– Real player with 146.2 hrs in game
First and foremost: this game gets my recommendation. Its content is deep, compelling, and interesting. Despite having limited hours to do so, I wanted to keep playing. The historical perspective seems incredibly well researched and founded (though I admit I am not a good source to weigh in on historical legitimacy), the characters were diverse, and the story was compelling.
That being said, I found numerous issues. The most frustrating being that many of the randomly generated interactions kept appearing “out of order” in such a way that the story felt massively interrupted and disjointed. I’m honestly not sure if it’s some strange series of choices I made to cause this, but I kept accidentally running into one of the main characters in the game in side missions at parties in which she would act as if we had some very contemptuous history, when in reality, I had never even seen her before let alone (to my knowledge) upset her before. As I found from playing the entire game, I believe she was destined to be an adversary, but I was SO confused when I was playing. There were several other instances in which I found that interactions I had already had with characters didn’t jive with interactions I went on to have with them subsequently, and honestly, this is my biggest issue with the game.
– Real player with 48.2 hrs in game