Cross Channel
- March 27, 2018
- MoeNovel
Get on SteamIn Cross Channel, players navigate a visual novel centering around a group of students with communication disorders at the Angelic Channel Academy. The story unfolds as the protagonist, Misato, tries to uncover the truth behind the academy's mysterious happenings and the students' unique conditions. Gameplay involves making decisions that affect Misato's relationships with other characters, ultimately leading to one of multiple endings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- CROSS†CHANNEL features a deeply philosophical story that explores complex themes of humanity, mental illness, and personal growth, resonating with players on an emotional level.
- The character development is intricate, with well-crafted arcs that allow players to connect with the flawed protagonist and the supporting cast, making for a compelling narrative experience.
- The soundtrack is praised for its haunting melodies and effective use in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game, contributing to its immersive quality.
- The translation quality is notably poor, filled with spelling errors and grammatical inconsistencies, which detracts from the overall experience and makes the story difficult to follow.
- The protagonist's behavior is often described as overly perverted and immature, leading to discomfort and frustration for many players, which can overshadow the narrative's deeper themes.
- The pacing can feel repetitive and drawn out, with some players finding it challenging to stay engaged due to the looping mechanics and excessive padding in the dialogue.
- story138 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of *Cross†channel* is a complex and emotionally charged narrative that explores themes of mental illness, trauma, and personal growth, primarily through the lens of its protagonist, Taichi. While the plot may initially appear generic, it unfolds with depth and unexpected twists, engaging players with its character-driven storytelling and philosophical undertones. However, the translation issues and the protagonist's controversial behavior may detract from the overall experience for some players, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.
“It's a gripping story of the human condition, and our indomitable spirits.”
“It's a story that showcases mental illness and trauma in their raw, nasty and toxic forms, but it also shows growth, it shows the ability to overcome your nature, your desires, your trauma and it shows that, at the end of the day, we're only human after all.”
“Every little detail ties together, the emotional core and message to the reader resonate and ripple throughout every facet of the story.”
“The story isn't whole in this translation; there's a lot of context, story beats, jokes, and deeper meanings that either could not be properly extrapolated or were just missed by amateur translators.”
“There is a ton of useless jibber-jabber that does not serve much purpose and does not propel the story.”
“By far the most horrendous plot I've seen.”
- music16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its chill and relaxing quality, featuring a diverse and airy soundtrack that complements the story well. Many players appreciate the broad range of tracks, with some even owning the soundtrack for personal enjoyment. Overall, the music significantly enhances the gaming experience.
“The game has an airy and diverse soundtrack that sets well the tone of the story.”
“Soundtrack is very nice, with a fairly broad range of tracks (and those are also good).”
“I actually own the soundtrack and I listen to it on long drives.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of laugh-out-loud moments and cheap gags, with some players finding it enjoyable while others criticize it as lacking depth. The story features a blend of comedic and heart-wrenching twists, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of the humor, with some feeling it detracts from the overall experience. Character development, particularly for Miki and Kiri, is noted positively, while the main character's portrayal has drawn mixed reactions.
“Overall, the story is well written, if not particularly super memorable, with a tone that is mostly funny, featuring quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, along with some rather sad and shocking twists along the way.”
“Generally a fun and interesting visual novel; I’ve seen many people complain about the humor, but I thought it was fairly funny.”
“I loved Miki and Kiri's character development, and Sakuraba was hilarious.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with many appreciating the nice visuals and relaxing soundtrack. However, opinions on the artwork are mixed; while some commend the softer approach, others find it unappealing and struggle to connect with the artistic style.
“The graphics are nice and the soundtrack is chill and relaxing... I don't usually play this kind of game but the moenovel games are really great!”
“I appreciate the devs went for a softer approach; however, I just can't push myself to like the way the artworks turned out.”
“I don't know how to feel about the artworks.”
“Twisted, graphic scenes/pictures.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, showcasing a rich tapestry of sorrow and complexity that resonates throughout the narrative. Each detail contributes to a cohesive emotional core, with moments that range from humorous to profoundly heart-wrenching, creating a powerful and immersive experience for the player.
“It's the manifestation of his sorrow and of his deep emotional world.”
“Every little detail ties together; the emotional core and message to the reader resonate and ripple throughout every facet of the story.”
“Every moment is filled with twists and turns - some funny, others pretty heart-wrenching.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, particularly for Miki and Kiri, whose growth resonates with players, while Sakuraba adds a humorous touch to the narrative. The engaging character designs also contribute to the overall appeal, drawing players into the story.
“I loved Miki and Kiri's character development, and Sakuraba was hilarious.”
“The character designs immediately stuck out to me, and I was hooked; having intentionally avoided the plot synopsis aside from a brief description, I bought the game and decided to give it a shot.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as dreamlike and surreal, creating a sense of ambiguity where it is often difficult to discern whether Taichi's experiences are rooted in reality or fantasy.
“The atmosphere is dreamlike; sometimes it's unclear if the reality Taichi sees is a dream or not.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with excessive and irrelevant dialogue that detracts from the experience. The lack of meaningful choices and tame character development further contribute to a sense of frustration, culminating in a disappointing conclusion.
“The protagonist's persistent asides seem overwrought, tedious, ignorant, and irrelevant; the twists in characterization feel relatively tame by the standards of these days; the effective lack of meaningful choices is constraining; the repeated text is tedious; and the conclusion is disappointing, if not outright infuriating.”
