9-nine-:Episode 1

About

9-nine-:Episode 1 is a single player casual simulation game with fantasy, romance, mystery and erotic themes. It was developed by PALETTE and was released on January 31, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

In 9-nine-:Episode 1, a series of mysterious incidents known as "the Calamity" plague a Japanese town. The player assumes the role of Miyuki, a high school student with the ability to sense invisible wings, as she investigates these occurrences with her friends. The game combines visual novel storytelling with detective elements, offering multiple endings based on the player's choices. This first episode sets the stage for the larger story, focusing on establishing characters and intrigue.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 222 reviews

story83 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and expressive character designs that enhance the overall experience.
The voice acting is top-notch, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life, including a voiced protagonist.
The story strikes a balance between lighthearted romance and darker supernatural elements, making it engaging and emotionally resonant.

The pacing can be slow, with much of the first episode dedicated to world-building and character introductions, which may frustrate players looking for immediate action.
The game is primarily linear with limited player choices during the first playthrough, which may feel restrictive for those expecting a more interactive experience.
The episodic nature of the game leaves many plot threads unresolved, which can be unsatisfying for players seeking a complete story in this installment.

story
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The story of "9-nine-: episode 1" is set in the mysterious town of Shiromitsugawa, where a broken artifact leads to a blend of supernatural elements and emotional character development, particularly between the protagonists Kakeru and Miyako. While the narrative is primarily linear and serves as an introduction to a larger episodic saga, it effectively establishes themes of power, responsibility, and human connection, leaving players eager for the continuation of the story. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and the episodic format, the engaging characters, strong voice acting, and visual storytelling contribute to a memorable experience that invites further exploration in subsequent episodes.
- “The relationship between Kakeru and Miyako forms the emotional center of the story—what begins as a reluctant partnership soon evolves into a bond grounded in mutual trust and vulnerability.”
- “Its visual elegance, strong voice performances, and emotionally grounded storytelling make it a memorable entry in the visual novel landscape.”
- “The story unfolds in the tranquil yet enigmatic town of Shiromitsugawa, where a mysterious artifact housed within a local shrine shatters after a sudden earthquake.”
- “Gameplay-wise, 9-nine-: episode 1 operates primarily as a kinetic novel, with limited player interaction for much of the story.”
- “This episode accomplishes nothing noteworthy in the game's story and you have to get the rest to finish the story.”
- “The plot hasn't really captured me so far, especially since it takes a back seat to the romance in the second half and ends on a cliffhanger with nothing resolved.”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of scenes, featuring a mix of serene melodies and suspenseful tracks. However, some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive and may not always align with the on-screen action, leading to moments where the music feels out of place. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered decent and contributes positively to the experience, it lacks standout elements that would elevate it to exceptional status.
- “The background music features a blend of serene piano melodies, ambient tones, and suspenseful tracks that enhance the tension of investigation scenes or emotional climaxes.”
- “The music also sets the atmosphere quite nicely.”
- “Impressive visuals for a visual novel, music that truly creates a mysterious atmosphere, and an intriguing story from beginning to end.”
- “The music is fitting, but some tracks appear so often that they get annoying.”
- “They were fine during the beginning, but as the story continues it feels like I'm listening to the same songs on repeat.”
- “I found the music extremely boring and repetitive, which makes it funny to me that they added the currently playing track title on the upper right of the screen.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
14%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of witty dialogue, memorable character interactions, and situational comedy, particularly through Kakeru's introspective monologues and Sora's quirky antics. While some players found Sora's humor annoying, many appreciated the overall comedic tone, which balances lighthearted moments with serious themes. The refined humor in the Japanese dialogue and the well-crafted character dynamics contribute to a fun and engaging experience throughout the episodic narrative.
- “Kakeru’s internal monologues provide moments of humor and introspection, while Miyako’s combination of confidence and empathy makes her one of the more memorable heroines in recent visual novels.”
- “The mc’s sister Sora totally steals the show with her funny dialogue and mannerisms.”
- “The story scenes are serious when it’s necessary, but overall this game is very humorous.”
- “Apparently she's supposed to be this quirky doofus gremlin of a little sister, but I found her humor incredibly annoying and unfunny. Knowing I had to deal with her for a whole episode later in the sequel destroyed my motivation.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced, making it hard to enjoy the lighter moments of the game.”
- “I expected a lot of clever humor, but instead, I was met with tired clichés and predictable punchlines.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The graphics of 9-nine-: episode 1 are widely praised for their clean, expressive artwork and high-quality anime-inspired aesthetic, featuring detailed character sprites and beautifully rendered backgrounds that enhance the storytelling experience. While the character visuals are particularly impressive, some users noted that the visuals related to story elements could be improved. Overall, the artwork is considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and emotional depth.
- “Palette’s signature anime-inspired aesthetic is brought to life through finely detailed character sprites, rich CG illustrations, and beautifully rendered backgrounds that bring Shiromitsugawa to life.”
- “The art style is very nice with the large detailed eyes and good facial expressions, and the overall feel is high-budget.”
- “9-nine- features outstanding artwork and surpasses the art style of the anime we see these days.”
- “This is just a short (8 hours of reading), a bit boring kinetic novel that disguises itself under acceptable graphics.”
- “The graphics are so mesmerizing that they captivate my mind for each scene.”
- “Due to the time travel aspect, you will be forced to see death, and it's usually horrible, kind of traumatic for the protagonist.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional core of the game is anchored in the evolving relationship between Kakeru and Miyako, characterized by trust and vulnerability, while the production quality enhances the emotional experience through visuals and music. Players appreciate the genuine chemistry between characters, the balance of lighthearted and heartbreaking moments, and the exploration of themes like morality and empathy, making it a memorable and heartwarming visual novel. Overall, the game successfully blends sweet interactions with profound emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “The relationship between Kakeru and Miyako forms the emotional center of the story—what begins as a reluctant partnership soon evolves into a bond grounded in mutual trust and vulnerability.”
- “Kakeru’s journey becomes a subtle exploration of morality and empathy, while Miyako’s character arc reveals the emotional cost of bearing both strength and compassion.”
- “The dialogue feels natural, the chemistry between characters is genuine, and the gradual shift from lighthearted moments to emotional confrontation is handled with care.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay of 9-nine-: episode 1 primarily functions as a kinetic novel with minimal player interaction, focusing on character development and world-building rather than innovative mechanics. While it effectively introduces players to the series, some users feel the gameplay experience is diminished by inconsistent character illustrations and question the value given its short length and high price. Overall, it is recommended for fans of visual novels, but potential buyers may want to wait for a sale.
- “While it may not push boundaries mechanically, its strength lies in how it invites the player to care about its characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “The reason I am recommending Episode 1 is because it serves a much larger role in introducing the player to the world and gameplay style of the 9-nine series, which I cannot get into without spoiling.”
- “There's nothing different about 9-nine's core gameplay when compared to basically any other visual novel.”
- “Gameplay-wise, 9-nine: Episode 1 operates primarily as a kinetic novel, with limited player interaction for much of the story.”
- “At the same time, the occasional disproportion of the illustration characters also makes the gameplay experience unsatisfactory.”
- “For the price, I recommend waiting for a sale because of the short gameplay.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The character development in "9-nine-" is noted for its quality and integration with the story, although some players feel it starts off slowly, particularly leading up to the bad ending. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative, appealing visuals, and strong voice acting, which enhance the character development experience.
- “Interesting story, superb visuals, great character development, attractive voice acting!”
- “Sprinkle in some character development into the mix, and you are definitely in for a good ride.”
- “Great story, great character design.”
- “At first, I felt that the character development in this visual novel was very slow, and it continued to drag on until the bad ending happened.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a vibrant, living town that juxtaposes its serene environment with moments of violence and supernatural elements. The impressive visuals and evocative music contribute to a mysterious ambiance, although there are occasional mismatches between the music and the scene's tone. Overall, the setting and sound design effectively enhance the storytelling experience.
- “Impressive visuals for a visual novel, music that truly creates a mysterious atmosphere, and an intriguing story from beginning to end.”
- “The music also sets the atmosphere quite nicely.”
- “The town itself feels like a living, breathing setting—its streets, shrines, and classrooms radiate a quiet atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the game’s bursts of violence and supernatural intensity.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of "9-nine-: episode 1" has received mixed feedback; while the game features visually appealing elements and strong voice performances, some users noted issues with font support that can lead to odd appearances, as well as stuttering during dialogue. Overall, the experience is enhanced by its emotional storytelling, but technical refinements are needed for a smoother presentation.
- “You should pay attention to which ones are supported since you can basically choose any font, but not all of them are optimized for 9-nine-: episode 1, so it might look a bit odd at times.”
- “There is also a lot of stuttering and excitement that sounds natural to the dialog.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of cooking in the game tedious and feel that the quality of their efforts is lacking, leading them to prefer easier alternatives like takeout or convenience store options.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game's replayability to be high, particularly due to the presence of multiple endings, with the true ending offering a more extensive experience compared to the bad ending.
- “Given that the true ending is longer than the bad ending, the replayability of the game was quite high for me to experience.”
- “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to replay it, as the choices didn't significantly alter the outcome.”
- “The lack of meaningful differences in subsequent playthroughs made the game feel repetitive and less engaging.”