Bokuten: Why I Became an Angel
- December 19, 2019
- OVERDRIVE
Get on Steam"Bokuten: Why I Became an Angel" is a visual novel following the story of a young man named Nazama Hashima. After a series of misfortunes, Nazama becomes an "agent of love" and sets out to save people from their regrets and mistakes. The game features romanceable characters, slice-of-life elements, and supernatural themes. Players will make choices throughout the story that affect the outcome and relationships with the characters.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Bokuten offers a deeply emotional narrative that explores complex themes of love and happiness, presenting characters with realistic struggles and growth.
- The artwork and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and emotional impact of the story.
- The common route is particularly well-written, providing a refreshing structure that integrates side characters effectively into the main narrative.
- Many of the character routes feel underdeveloped and fail to deliver satisfying conclusions, with some endings feeling forced or lacking coherence.
- The game contains disturbing themes and content, including sexual assault and other sensitive topics, which may not be suitable for all players.
- The pacing can be uneven, with some sections dragging on and the true route introducing plot twists that feel out of place or overly convoluted.
- story92 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story is a complex exploration of happiness, love, and the sacrifices required to achieve them, often delving into dark and emotional themes that resonate deeply with players. While it features a rich tapestry of characters and well-crafted narratives, some plot twists may feel predictable, and the pacing can be uneven, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, though it may not appeal to those sensitive to its more distressing elements.
“I liked how it was not some washed down 'just be happy' anime protagonist sort of story, but rather it explored the choices that have to be made and sacrifices needed to achieve that happiness.”
“The story itself was excellently presented where nothing was truly black and white, but rather showed off various struggles and how the characters overcame them not for a perfect kind of happiness but still happiness regardless.”
“The story was amazing with much sadness, yet with hope beyond.”
“The game is an unfortunate case of a decent premise let down by both a failure to follow through on the premise's potential and increasingly ludicrous plot beats that we're supposed to take seriously.”
“The actual story itself, where each arc centers around returning the fractured heart, is very formulaic and does a massive jump when shifted to the heroine routes, which essentially feels like a second story instead.”
“The story is plagued with the concept of destiny, and there are parts where a happy ending could be achieved very easily but the opportunity is lost for the most ridiculous reasons.”
- emotional35 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of this visual novel is described as a profound and intense journey, eliciting a wide range of feelings from joy to sorrow, often leaving players in an emotional wreck after completion. While some routes provide touching and wholesome moments, others delve into disturbing themes, making it essential for players to be mentally prepared for the emotional turmoil. Overall, the game is praised for its impactful storytelling and character development, though it may not be suitable for those sensitive to heavy emotional content.
“Set in a world rife with jarring disharmony, where love and happiness are fleeting and both come at enormous cost, Bokuten features angelic beings who work to heal humans suffering from various emotional and love-related traumas.”
“Now, allow me to share my deep appreciation for Aine's conclusion, which is an emotional rollercoaster guaranteed to leave you smiling, crying, and bearing a heart touched by both joy and sorrow.”
“Bokuten is an emotional and disturbing journey from start to finish.”
- music25 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, significantly enhancing the storytelling and artwork. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the game's themes, some note instances of repetitiveness. Overall, the music is considered a key element that evokes strong feelings, particularly in relation to the game's often melancholic narrative.
“The soundtrack and artwork were all amazing and a great joy to experience as well.”
“Obviously the music is amazing and is probably one of the biggest things the game is known for.”
“The art style is easy on the eyes, the soundtrack is amazing, the characters are very well-written and likable, but most of all, the story feels very real and believable.”
“I found the background music to be off-putting if not distracting.”
“The music was a bit repetitive, and really wasn't anything special.”
“Even the sound of it is very melancholic and you can usually expect something devastating when you hear that particular soundtrack.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their beautiful and clean artwork, which is complemented by an emotionally impactful soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the art style as visually appealing and well-rendered, enhancing the overall experience of the story and characters. The combination of stunning visuals and music creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
“The artwork is nice though, and it's fun to see angels done from a secular, eastern perspective.”
“Bokuten's artwork is clean and beautifully rendered.”
“The game art style is incredibly good and so is the music.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games, making the overall experience feel less immersive.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack the polish that would make them appealing, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, with repetitive textures that fail to create a captivating world.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay involves navigating complex plot mechanics and character relationships, particularly through a series of routes that gradually reveal the story. Players face significant choices that impact emotional outcomes, including the potential for happiness or heartbreak due to a plot device that complicates romantic connections. The experience emphasizes the tension between character desires and narrative constraints, leading to poignant moments of decision-making.
“As for if anyone is wondering about routes, if you want to go from gradually understanding plot mechanics to fully, I'd recommend Yuri, Minamo, Naruko, then the final route.”
“The player's final choice before she goes through with it is to put up a front and pretend she's better off without you so that she can be happy with another guy, or stopping her and loving her despite the plot mechanic standing in your way.”
“The infidelity is discussed as a contrivance to circumvent a plot mechanic so that she can be with the protagonist in the end.”
“The player's final choice before she goes through with it is to put up a front and pretend she's better off without you so that she can be happy with another guy, which leads to the two of you becoming emotionally pained forever, but still friends, or stopping her and loving her despite the plot mechanic standing in your way, which leads to a short period of happiness for you both, before the plot mechanic erases both of your memories forever and breaks you up.”
“You are not technically dating Naruke because of a plot mechanic that would destroy your relationship if you pursued it; however, both Naruke and the protagonist are mutually aware of one another's interest, desire a relationship, and are looking for a solution to the plot mechanic which prevents them from being together.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Bokuten is praised for its incredible atmosphere, which is enhanced by a compelling story, impressive art, and well-developed characters.
“Bokuten is an incredible visual novel with an unbelievable atmosphere, good story, art, and characters.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly as the story progresses, with some plot twists becoming predictable and diminishing engagement.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Yuri's route is noted to start strong but takes a significant downturn in the second half, leading to a perception of it being "hilariously bad."
“Yuri's route started off strong, but the second half was hilariously bad.”
“The humor in this game caught me off guard; I found myself laughing out loud at the unexpected twists.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me chuckling throughout my playthrough.”
