There are few developers who are as consistent as Otomate when it comes to thoughtfully pushing the boundaries of the stories videogames can tell. The framework of an otome game is perfect for exploring the depths of the human soul at its best and worst, and Otomate has long made …
Otomate’s “divine romantic comedy” otome game Cupid Parasite is set for release in the west this November, Idea Factory International announced this morning. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch on November 2 for North America, and November 5 for Europe (and, presumably, Australia and New Zealand, given its recent Australian Classification …
Aksys Games has unveiled another three otome games for Nintendo Switch it will be bringing west next year: Olympia Soirée, Dairoku: Ayakashimori, and Variable Barricade. All three games comes from Otomate, the studio behind the likes of Hakuoki and Collar X Malice, and came out in Japan last year. Here …
It was inevitable that sooner or later, Otomate would turn their attention to the Nintendo Switch—after all, their specialty is visual novels, visuals novels are a perfect fit for handheld consoles, and the Switch has dethroned the Vita as the premier handheld. What is, perhaps, surprising is just how many …
Despite being the first half of a two-part remake, last year’s Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds stood on its own surprisingly well. It expanded greatly upon the original Hakuoki, with six new romance options and narrative routes, and three entirely new characters among them. Even though the original routes were “cut …
Although it’s almost certainly a coincidence, the timing of the release of Collar X Malice couldn’t be more apt. Particularly in America, but across the globe, there’s a growing distrust of law enforcement by the very people the law is meant to protect. We’re seeing fascist movements gaining prominence, civil …
Many will come to Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds for the beautiful boys, but what struck me most about the game is its attention to detail and historical accuracy. Note: There are some minor spoilers in this review. It’s bizarre to me that video games haven’t really tapped into the potential of …
