Chuusotsu! 1.5th Graduation: The Moving Castle
- January 17, 2020
- Studio Beast
Get on SteamJoin Arue and her merry Chuusotsu band on her first visit to a certain doujin event in the Big Site, and share in her struggles as an aspiring manga creator!
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Chuusotsu 1.5th Graduation is a fun and lighthearted follow-up that retains the charm of the original characters, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
- The game poses interesting questions about the struggles of artists in a dystopian setting, adding depth to the seemingly carefree narrative.
- The voice acting is decent and effectively conveys the characters' emotions, enhancing the overall experience.
- The artwork feels unpolished and lacks variety, with no new animations or CGs, making it less visually appealing than the original.
- The story is short and predictable, lacking the depth and cleverness of the first game, which may leave players wanting more.
- The translation has been heavily edited, leading to inconsistencies and a loss of the original's charm, which may frustrate fans of the first game.
- story32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "Chuusotsu 1.5th Graduation" serves as a side narrative to the original, featuring the same three protagonists while introducing a new character aspiring to be a manga creator amidst a dystopian backdrop. While it maintains a lighthearted tone with moments of serious self-reflection, the plot is largely predictable and lacks the depth and character interplay of its predecessor, resulting in a somewhat static experience. Overall, it offers an interesting exploration of the challenges faced by artists but may leave fans wanting more due to its brevity and limited engagement.
“The story this time follows Arue and her newfound friends through the process of creating a doujin manga for a futuristic comiket-like event, all tinted in the same dystopian and extremely dark background of the world they are living in.”
“Ahem, keeping it serious, the story takes a moment to call out the prepotence of artists, criticism over the merciless doujin and commercial battleground involving game, manga, and other materials creation in Japan, and combines it with the even heavier background provided by this very close and bleak future where people are controlled like sheep through nanomachines.”
“The chuusotsu are as adorable and heartwarming as ever, meeting new friends and facing new challenges in this short story follow-up to the original.”
“Overall, barely passable and expensive for the largely so-so quality of the work, and the short story.”
“The first story's appeal and depth, the internal conflict and intricate interplay of personalities ... are mostly collapsed here into fairly static interactions and externalized conflict.”
“Her attitude provided a nice counterbalance to Arue's incessant whining and self-pity in the first story, but now instead she is paired with a character in a loop of fragility and emotional validation which does not really advance a plotline, focusing instead on rhetorical exploration of the artist's dilemma.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's music features a decent quantity of tracks that match the story's mood, similar to the original, but lacks originality and memorability. Additionally, players cannot access the music in an extras menu, limiting replayability of the soundtrack. Overall, while the quality is adequate, it does not stand out.
“There is a decent amount of music included in the game, though nothing new relative to the original.”
“Like in the first game, the soundtrack is of decent quality and accompanies the mood of the story well, though it is not particularly memorable by any means.”
“Furthermore, there is no option to listen to the songs in the extras.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of heartwarming moments and deeper explorations of fragility and validation, though some reviewers feel that the focus on emotional dynamics detracts from plot progression. The interactions between characters, particularly the chuusotsu, are noted for their adorability and warmth, providing a contrast to more self-pitying narratives. Overall, while the emotional depth is appreciated, it may come at the cost of advancing the storyline.
“The chuusotsu are as adorable and heartwarming as ever, meeting new friends and facing new challenges in this short-story follow-up to the original.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their stunning artwork, showcasing a unique and visually appealing style that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the vibrant color palette, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere. Overall, the artistic design is a standout feature that elevates the game's visual presentation.
