9-nine-:Episode 1
- January 31, 2019
- PALETTE
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn 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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features great character design and voice acting, making the characters feel lively and engaging.
- The story, while slow to start, sets up an intriguing mystery and builds anticipation for future episodes.
- The animated H-scenes are well done and add a unique touch to the overall experience.
- The episodic format leaves the first episode feeling incomplete, with many plot points unresolved and a lack of closure.
- The humor and romance elements can feel forced and detract from the overall narrative, making parts of the game feel like filler.
- The writing quality, particularly in the English translation, has been criticized for being awkward and poorly executed.
- story171 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with many praising its engaging characters, humor, and intriguing plot that combines elements of romance, mystery, and fantasy. However, some reviewers note that the episodic format can lead to a lack of resolution in individual episodes, making it essential to play through the entire series to fully appreciate the overarching narrative. While the first episode sets a solid foundation, it often feels like a prologue, with the promise of deeper storytelling and character development in subsequent installments.
“The story is really captivating; a shame this episode ends so anticlimactically.”
“Great story that just keeps getting better over the course of the 4 episodes with good humor and artwork and everything from sweet to horrific and heartbreaking moments along the way.”
“The characters are interesting, the plot is superb, and I love the voice acting.”
“The story just kind of stops and the main problem in this episode is resolved off-screen without our characters doing anything.”
“The second half of the story is taken up mostly by the two's romance with each other, to the point that the main mystery plot gets almost discarded in favor of it.”
“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.”
- music36 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Several reviewers noted standout tracks and a polished soundtrack, but also mentioned that certain pieces are overused, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the music is generally considered decent, with a few highlights, but it doesn't consistently excel.
“Also, I cannot stress enough how amazing the music in 9-nine- actually is.”
“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.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in "9-nine-" are widely praised for their high-quality artwork, detailed character designs, and captivating visuals that enhance the storytelling experience. While the character visuals are consistently highlighted as impressive, some users noted that the visuals related to story elements could be improved. Overall, the art style is described as attractive and immersive, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The artwork is very good and only looks better upscaled with Magpie.”
“The art style is very nice with the large detailed eyes and good facial expressions, and the overall feel is high-budget.”
“Impressive visuals for a visual novel, music that truly creates a mysterious atmosphere, and an intriguing story from beginning to end.”
“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.”
- humor17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the likable characters and their funny interactions, particularly the main character's sister, Sora. The blend of humor with romance and mystery is noted as effective, with many finding the comedic elements both refined and appropriate. Overall, the dialogue is praised for its wit, contributing to memorable and engaging moments throughout the story.
“The art is great, and there are really funny scenes every now and then.”
“Great story that just keeps getting better over the course of the 4 episodes with good humor and artwork and everything from sweet to horrific and heartbreaking moments along the way.”
“The mc’s sister Sora totally steals the show with her funny dialogue and mannerisms.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it veers into teenage fantasy rather than genuine romance, while others praise its blend of humor and heartfelt moments. Many reviewers highlight the charming character interactions and the ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to heartbreak, particularly noting the impact of the game's more tragic endings. Overall, it offers a unique emotional journey that balances cute and heartwarming elements with darker, more poignant themes.
“I thought I would find a slice-of-life and heartwarming story, but I found something even more amazing.”
“Great story that just keeps getting better over the course of the 4 episodes with good humor and artwork and everything from sweet to horrific and heartbreaking moments along the way.”
“Characters and the chemistry between them were very charming: I found myself both bursting from laughter from their ridiculous antics as well as smiling in earnest from the more emotional scenes.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in 9-nine- is praised for its depth and integration into the overall narrative, enhancing the engaging story and appealing visuals. Reviewers highlight that the combination of strong character arcs and attractive voice acting contributes significantly to the game's quality and enjoyment.
“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.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay experience is marred by character disproportion, leading to dissatisfaction, and many users feel the price does not justify the short gameplay duration, suggesting waiting for a sale. However, Episode 1 is praised for effectively introducing players to the world and gameplay style of the 9-nine series, making it a worthwhile starting point.
“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, so spoilers ahead.”
“At the same time, the occasional disproportion of the illustrated characters also makes the gameplay experience unsatisfactory.”
“If you can afford it, then fine - you'll have a quality visual novel to read, but the price alone per the amount of gameplay is absolutely not justified for those not of affluent means, especially considering how easy it is to make visual novels relative to video games.”
“For the price, I recommend waiting for a sale because of the short gameplay.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by impressive visuals and a captivating musical score that effectively creates a sense of mystery, complementing the intriguing storyline throughout.
“The music also sets the atmosphere quite nicely.”
“Impressive visuals for a visual novel (I was always wondering what the actual resolution of those pictures was), music that truly creates a mysterious atmosphere, and an intriguing story from beginning to end.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has not been explicitly discussed in the provided texts, as they focus on discouraging spam and advertisements rather than addressing in-game purchases or monetization strategies.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
“It's frustrating that essential game content is locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
“The constant barrage of in-game ads and offers disrupts the gameplay experience and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of cooking in the game tedious and feel that their efforts often yield subpar results, leading them to prefer easier alternatives like takeout or convenience store options.
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate anticipation for improved optimization in episode 2, particularly with Sora as the main heroine and enhanced voice acting by Sawasawa Sawa-san.
