Written By: JP Developer: NaviGames Platforms: PC, Mac and Linux Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy Release Date: March 2, 2013 Official Website | Music and Love. The two go together like Lamb and Tuna Fish…or if you’re like me like oil and water. Yes kids, I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear that your favorite old timer doesn’t put a lot of stock in either music or romance. Most of the time when a radio’s on, it’s on sports talk radio and my history with romantic fiction is well documented by now. That doesn’t make me a ‘love hater’ as I’ve been recently accused of (although there are worse things to be…right hipsters?) it just means that I was born with a heart of ice. I can’t help the frozen wasteland that exists between my liver, spleen, cockles…possibly below the sub-cockle area and somewhere to the left of my lungs: that’s just the way I was born. |
Let's just get to the review of a2~a due.
Story
Before I get into any harsh critiques, let’s just quickly go over what this EVN does right. The major plus it gets is that Hao, the male lead here, rarely speaks English. This is important not because it’s not done in the English otome fandom, but because it forces the characters to connect beyond language which, if you followed my attempt to inject logical into love earlier, is kind of what love is. So, certain moments in the EVN feel more genuine and organic than if both character spoke crystal-clear English. That was a sound narrative decision that I think made the game a bit more interesting.
Secondly, and for the most part, Sona’s character is well handled. Hao is…a subject I will deal with shortly. Sona on the other hand is, when you boil it down, a spoiled brat using a childhood incident to justify pissing away her life. Granted it's a pretty rough incident, but it ultimately isn't enough to justify her lack of drive or indebted to organized crime. Many writers would make it easy to justify Sona’s actions and life with the same excuses she does at first. However, as the story rolls on, it’s clear that she alone is responsible for where she is in life and she accepts it. She is, in the actual sense of the word, flawed. Not otome/young adult fiction ‘flawed’ in the sense that it actually makes the girl more unrealistically perfect: actually flawed.
Someone kick me in the balls. I must be dreaming.
Sona’s flaws and her turn around pay off in the True Ending of the game. That is exactly how a2 needed to end and itbrings Sona’s character arc full circle while keeping the veneer of the romance. I liked that ending and as I have griped privately in the past I wish more romance games ended on that kind of note and I’m glad to see it used here. The True Ending highlights another really strong point in a2's favor: the fact that the romance isn't even really there. This is, for lack of a better description, the most unromantic otome visual novel you will ever play. a2 spends so much time developing Sona and Hao's characters that you never get the feeling that there is more to their feelings than friendship until the literal last five minutes. It can be jarring but at the same time it is refreshing to see both characters grow closer as they mature THEN realize they might be falling for each other, rather than fall for each other then mature and grow closer. It's a small difference, but one that helps a2 stand out just a little from the rest of the Girl-Chases-Boy Conga Line of Hellfire and Brimstone.
Now, that’s what I liked. So, what didn’t I like? Well, how about the fact that it uses tropes like a diabetic uses insulin? While it is true that this is the most unromantic otome EVN I've played, when you look at it as the story of a rebellious girl growing up, you have read/watched/heard/lived this story before. I can, from time to time, shut off my brain and enjoy stories that have a way of retreading familiar ground, but by the second chapter of a2 I had the entire story all the way up to the ending figured out, knew exactly how their romance would twist and turn and wasn't surprised when each and every one of my predictions came true. And I sincerely wish it was as simple as, 'These two argue all the time. That's in no way going to turn into BST.'
You kind of expect that with the genre anyway.
I mean things like Sona's job in the orchestra is to pick the music for their big concert (music from her heart...ugh) and Hao's job is to direct the big concert in a game in a genre designed to force its character into fangirl-screeching situations. Tell me what you think will happen at the concert: just take a wild guess, but keep in mind everything I just said about otome games. Or, for a bit better of an example, Sona and her Dad didn't get along because Sona believed her Dad didn't approve of her own musical attempts that weren't 'classical'. She thinks because of this, he hated her. Considering the genre A) Do you thinks she's right and A2) (No irony there) Did her Dad hate her music? Guess the answers: just a wild guess.
Yeah, a2 it got that agitating with me. Nothing kills a narrative faster than when you see every little twist and turn coming and it's mind-boggling how the characters can be so good, yet the story they're in can be so tedious. That isn't to say that predictability kills every scene. There are some moments of genuine tenderness and it does save itself and stick the ending. But those moments don't erase the time I spent confused and, honestly, snarking during a scene I saw it from a mile away. I wish I could explain it better, because I know as I type this what I'm telling you doesn't make any sense. 'Are you saying that the story isn't that great, but the characters in them are? JP that's not how fiction works!' I know; believe me I know. I still don't understand how it happened, but I'm honestly not sure how to grade this one. It's both frustrating and misses the mark hard...but at the same time its good and worth your time to read to see the two play off each other.
....What the Hell?!
YEAH! WHAT HE SAID!
Presentation & Gameplay
Obviously with the self-imposed time constraints (the team decided to completely do this game in the month of February...for Valentine's Day and all), meant that some things had to be left on the cutting-room floor, however considering that the bulk of a2 takes place in one location, the practice room for the orchestra, with a few scenes sprinkled into the city streets the only actual reason I can think of the lack of background art is that it would've sucked. Which, if the backgrounds of the CGs are any indication, is an accurate judgment. The pictures do suffice though for the most part, although the chapter where Hao and Sona have a vital conversation in animated rain clashes hard with the photographic background, but it's an area that could use work in the future.
The music, however, is pretty good. a2's theme song matches its world well and the dominance of classical works makes perfect sense. So while it isn't perfect there is are some good spots. Choice in this one is fairly cosmetic as doing the True path eats up about 70% of the total EVN. it's obvious that the goal was to tell a very straightforward tale and there is no effort to pretend your choices will deter from that goal. The honesty is appreciated but a2 would've probably been better served as a kinetic novel with all illusions of choice removed. Other than that, I do like how it gives you an translation option once you've hit 100% completion because while Hao's dialogue makes sense in context, it's much funnier when you understand what he's trying to say.
Ah UST...Where Would Otome Be Without You?
Replay Value
Overall
Final Score
6/10 | + Characters Are Complex and Entertaining - Story Is Predictable + Shout Out To Gerald Ko! - Presentation is Hit or Miss |