Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue Extra1
- November 6, 2020
- sprite
Get on SteamIn Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue Extra1, a visual novel narrative unfolds as characters explore the world of flying competitively with the aid of special shoes. This Steam game is an expansion of the original, featuring additional story content and routes for secondary characters. Gameplay primarily consists of reading through dialog choices that lead to various endings.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a heartwarming and adorable continuation of Mashiro's character arc, filled with cute moments and high production values.
- Fans of the original Aokana will appreciate the quality of the visuals, music, and character interactions, making it a delightful experience.
- The focus on romance rather than action allows for deeper character development and a more engaging relationship between Mashiro and the main character.
- The game is relatively short and lacks the competitive sport aspect that made the original Aokana unique, which may disappoint some players.
- The translation includes unnecessary rewrites and cultural references that may not resonate with all players, detracting from the original text's charm.
- At its price point, some players feel it doesn't offer enough content compared to the main game, making it seem overpriced for a fandisc.
- story99 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Aokana - Extra 1" is primarily a wholesome afterstory focusing on the relationship between the main character and Mashiro, offering a light, slice-of-life narrative that lacks deep complexity but is filled with cute moments and character development. While some reviewers noted its generic nature and limited plot progression, many appreciated the charming art, music, and the emotional depth it adds to Mashiro's character, making it a satisfying continuation for fans of her route in the original game. Overall, it serves as a delightful expansion for those invested in the characters, despite being a shorter experience.
“Adorable story with cute art, funny characters, and great music to top it off.”
“The story continues onward, with a large goal of a date that takes place in another island, filled with stunning moments and visuals.”
“This after story further fleshes out Mashiro herself, showing new facets of her and her relationship with the player senpai, Masaya.”
“Not sure why they bothered putting out something so short that didn't add anything to the main story.”
“Being the standalone 'after story' of the (in my opinion) rather side-heroine Mashiro Arisaka, which already had a lighter story on her route in the base game, the story here is solely slice of life, focusing on the romance the main game had rather little of.”
“However, since this is a fan disc, there is little progress in the storyline itself.”
- music18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its high production value, featuring a mix of reused tracks from the original and several new, exclusive compositions that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful main theme and the effective integration of music with the game's art and story, contributing to its emotional depth. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout aspect, with many calling it phenomenal and deserving of recognition.
“Adorable story with cute art, funny characters, and great music to top it off.”
“The music, CG, and voice acting are fantastic, and there are even several exclusive music tracks!”
“I honestly think that there is a good value for money since the story is very well worked, the drawings are very beautiful, and the music encompasses well the universe of the story.”
“Most of the music was carried over from the original Aokana game; however, there are other tunes unique to Mashiro's route that are added to the list.”
“As an expansion or an 'extra', the new OST is rather phenomenal.”
“After clearing the game once, the gallery is unlocked, where the 50 CGs (including some from the main game through flashbacks), 23 SDs, and the entire Aokana OST from the main game plus around 12 new tracks - totaling to 61 OSTs - can be enjoyed alongside the opening and ending movie and the scenes once more.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome storytelling, primarily focusing on the growth of a budding relationship without unnecessary complications. Players appreciate the cute and touching moments, which create a captivating love story filled with genuine feelings, making it a delightful experience for fans of the characters. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke warmth and joy through relatable and believable interactions.
“The whole story is mostly from her perspective and while it isn't that deep or complicated, it is wholesome, which is basically the whole reason we're here.”
“Very good after story of Mashiro's road, with good surprises and very touching moments.”
“If you enjoyed Mashiro during the original game and her route, seeing how much Masaya and Mashiro love each other and try their hardest for each other feels extremely heartwarming.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its lightheartedness and charm, with many funny moments featuring the characters, particularly Mashiro. The translation effectively captures puns and comedic elements, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of cute art and wholesome humor, making it an enjoyable and engaging visual novel for fans of the genre.
“Adorable story with cute art, funny characters, and great music to top it off.”
“It’s short, lighthearted, and sweet while keeping the humor up almost constantly.”
“A lot of funny moments and most of the cast is included and up to their usual antics.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their top-tier quality, particularly with native 1440p support that enhances the visual experience. The art style is exceptional, featuring detailed character sprites with various expressions and outfits, which significantly boosts immersion. Additionally, the abundance of new CG and SD artwork complements the narrative effectively.
“Nekonyan has once again ported the game with native 1440p support, and it really allows all of the visuals the chance to shine.”
“The quality of the artwork is splendid in general, and the characters' sprites contain multiple facial expressions, outfits, and poses which greatly enhance the immersion.”
“The art style is very high quality, and the story along with the character development is on point.”
“Nekonyan has once again ported the game with native 1440p support and it really allows all of the visuals the chance to shine.”
“And of course, it does this with some top-tier visuals in 1440p courtesy of Nekonyan.”
“The art style is very high quality and the story along with the character development is on point.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the visual novel primarily consists of clicking, which some users feel lacks depth, particularly in the absence of competitive mechanics that could enhance the experience. Despite this simplicity, it does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Either way, it doesn't hinder the gameplay in any way.”
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
“However, this 'extra' doesn't have the competition mechanic that brought these friends together.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is notably strong, featuring meaningful romance progression and well-crafted slice-of-life moments, all culminating in a satisfying conclusion. The high-quality art style complements the engaging narrative, enhancing the overall character arcs.
“You get some actual romance progression, a fair share of character development (which is pretty impressive given how much of that was already done in the original), nice slice of life scenes, and an actually satisfying ending to wrap it all up.”
“The art style is very high quality and the story along with the character development is on point.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its impressive visual performance, which is complemented by a high-quality original soundtrack featuring several new tracks that match the main game's music.
“The amazing visual performance is further supported by the gorgeous original soundtrack, which features several new tracks that are on par with the main game's music.”
