Chuusotsu! 1st Graduation: Time After Time
- April 24, 2018
- Studio Beast
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Chuusotsu! 1st Graduation: Time After Time," follow the story of Arue, Koiro and Marius, three girls with no memories living in a world that values success and productivity. They must navigate societal expectations, discrimination, and their own personal struggles to find their place in the world. Gameplay includes visual novel style storytelling and decision-making that affects the outcome of the story. The game explores themes of self-worth, ambition, and society's definition of success.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Chuusotsu features a unique blend of humor and philosophical themes, making for an engaging narrative that resonates with players.
- The game is well-crafted with a lovable cast of characters and a compelling story that explores deep themes like redemption and self-acceptance.
- It runs smoothly on low-spec hardware, supports controllers, and includes quality voice acting and a great soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
- Some players found the writing style to be overly verbose and boring, leading to a lack of engagement early on.
- The pacing can be inconsistent, with sudden flashbacks that disrupt the flow of the narrative and some explicit moralizing that feels out of character.
- While the game has a lot of depth, its humor and quirky elements may not appeal to everyone, potentially alienating some players.
- story12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is a well-crafted narrative set in a dystopian near-future Japan, exploring themes of hard work, identity, and redemption. While it features relatable and compelling characters, some reviewers noted that the overarching message felt familiar and the pacing was occasionally disrupted by flashbacks. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a meaningful and immersive storytelling experience.
“The main story is well constructed and has many positive themes such as hard work and being who you want to be.”
“The game itself is basically a story of redemption over your past mistakes. Will you keep running from your past mistakes, or will you try to come to terms with them?”
“The story is set in a near-future Japan after a massive global conflict has nearly destroyed the planet, leading to a dystopian society not unlike the worst nightmares of sci-fi writers, including branding everyone with nanomachines that act as seals that determine what they'll do in life until they expire.”
“That one artist with a small team can create such a bright, meaningful, sincere story that easily makes anything from AAA studios feel about as immersive as a DMV application: low-effort filler created by a dilettante just to call it done before the free tacos are served.”
“If there's anything I have to say about this game, it's that Arue's shut-in backstory hits so close to reality.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players may find it annoying or odd, many others appreciate its core comedic elements and enjoy the characters, leading to a fun experience. Overall, those who resonate with the humor are likely to have a great time.
“It is not for everyone, as some may find parts of it annoying or just weird, but I had a blast and think others can too if you vibe with the humor and characters.”
“This visual novel is funny to the very core.”
“I rather enjoyed my time with Chuusotsu, which really helped because of the wonderful humor.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, featuring an excellent soundtrack that combines chill and energetic vibes, making it a worthy addition to a full package purchase. The opening song, in particular, stands out as a highlight.
“The soundtrack is excellent and worth warranting a full package/bundle purchase for it.”
“Most of the music is fairly chill and energetic, and the opening song is great as well.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional depth of the narrative in "Chuusotsu" is praised for its heartfelt and moving messages about growing up, though some reviewers felt that the explicit delivery of these themes in an out-of-character moment diminished their impact. Despite this, the overall experience is recommended for those seeking a touching story.
“The messages conveyed through this exploration of the story were heartfelt and moving, but their impact was slightly dulled when unnecessarily stated explicitly in an out-of-character moment at the very end of the visual novel.”
“However, I still enjoyed my time with Chuusotsu, and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a touching story about growing up.”
