Apprehend;Girlfriend
- June 16, 2020
- Yume Creations
Get on Steam"Apprehend;Girlfriend" is a yuri-themed game featuring original anime art and soundtrack. Rikka, a freelance artist, lives in a share house in Tokyo and grows closer to her housemate Sena, leading to romantic feelings. The game includes choices that affect the story's outcome, with different endings, achievements, and a CG gallery, available for Windows and Linux.
Reviews
- The art style and character designs are appealing, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- The romance is sweet and feels genuine, avoiding many of the unfortunate implications found in other visual novels.
- Dynamic choices add an interesting layer to the gameplay, allowing for different endings and some humorous moments.
- The writing is often criticized for being poor, with numerous typos and awkward phrasing throughout the game.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of only 1-3 hours, leaving some players wanting more content and depth.
- Some characters, particularly Rikka, are perceived as unlikable, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the story.
- story21 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story is a simple and short yuri romance that many find enjoyable, featuring a hikikomori and her roommate, with some humorous moments and well-written romance. However, opinions are mixed, as some reviewers feel the narrative lacks depth and emotional weight, with certain plot elements deemed unnecessary and the main character's backstory criticized for its disappointing payoff. Overall, while the story is straightforward and pleasant, it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or dramatic narrative.
“A cute story about a 'hikikomori' and her roommate.”
“The story includes some quite funny moments, which is a credit to the writing quality.”
“This backstory is meant to explain why the character is a shut-in, who has such a fear of being outside that she'll literally pass out if she's out too long, as well as why she's become estranged from her family.”
“Some plot elements seemed very optional; the story wouldn't have lost anything without them.”
“At times, with how fast the story progresses, the characters almost feel like iron balloons when it comes to emotional conflict, unaffected by serious things that they should at least contemplate for a few minutes.”
“The main character's backstory has something of a disappointing payoff.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with strong character designs and artwork, though some users noted a lack of consistency in art styles, particularly with the switch to chibi for certain scenes. While the character visuals are praised, the backgrounds are considered basic. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's aesthetic.
“The character designs, artworks, and music are all excellent; nothing to complain about here (other than the absence of a full-body Rikka artwork, heh).”
“The art style is great, and while the backgrounds are very basic, the characters look fantastic.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is a focal point for players, particularly regarding Rikka's growth in the storyline, though some express a desire for more visual representation of her character. Overall, the game's character designs, artwork, and music receive positive feedback, enhancing the overall experience.
“Character designs, artworks, and music are all good; nothing to complain about here.”
“I guess I wanted to see how things developed for Rikka after her character development in this timeline.”
“The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, leaving me unsatisfied with their growth.”
“I was hoping for more meaningful interactions that would enhance the character development, but it fell flat.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its clever writing, featuring amusing moments that enhance the story, including a memorable scene where a character confronts the protagonist about her obliviousness to her own emotions.
“The story includes some genuinely funny moments, showcasing the quality of the writing.”
“On a humorous note, this game features a character who comes in and tells the main character off for being oblivious about her own feelings.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with users appreciating its quality alongside the character designs and artwork. However, some players noted a lack of background music during reading segments, which they felt could enhance the experience.
“The character designs, artworks, and music are all excellent; I have no complaints here, except for the absence of a full-body Rikka artwork, heh.”
“I did miss some sort of background music or something similar while reading it.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the emotional moments in the game are often rushed, lacking the depth and contemplation typically found in other visual novels. This rapid pacing leads to characters feeling emotionally detached, as they do not adequately process significant events.
“Big emotional moments feel like they're rushed by, moments that another visual novel would spend more time exploring and showing the after-effects of.”
“At times, with how fast the story progresses, the characters almost feel like iron balloons when it comes to emotional conflict, remaining unaffected by serious events that they should at least contemplate for a few minutes.”
