Fatal Twelve

Overall, my experience with Fatal Twelve could be represented with a bell curve. The game starts somewhat rough with a number of underdeveloped characters, but once that weight is shed, it really takes off and becomes a great experience. The handling of some of the final story revelations, though, manages to cool my opinion of the game a bit. Even with those complaints, though, I can’t say I was ever bored while reading through this story. I found myself constantly enjoying the tale being told, even through the weaker moments. The plot isn’t an Earth-shattering game changer in the slightest, but it was still a fun and occasionally thrilling read from front to back. At a budget-friendly $20 at the time of writing, Fatal Twelve is easily recommendable as a quick and entertaining read between more intensive games or stories. It’s not the greatest take on a death game story I’ve seen, but it’s a great 'popcorn flick'-style story with some interesting characters and themes.

90%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay, atmosphere

94% User Score Based on 263 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Fatal Twelve is a single player casual simulation game with drama, mystery, anime and violence themes. It was developed by LYCORIS and was released on March 29, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Shishimai Rinka was a high schooler who ran a small café named Lion House in place of her grandmother. She lived her life much like any other person her age, but one day, she was caught up in an explosion while returning home on the train alongside her friend, Hitsuji Naomi. In an attempt to save her friend's life, she shields her on instinct the moment the explosion goes off, losing her life in t…

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 263 reviews

story117 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging and emotional story with well-developed characters that keep players invested.
Beautiful art and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Strong themes of fate and personal growth, making players reflect on their own lives.

Some characters feel underdeveloped or follow typical anime tropes.
Limited choices that can lead to predictable outcomes, reducing replayability.
Translation issues and minor typos that detract from the immersion.

story
322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The story of "Fatal Twelve" is a compelling blend of a death game narrative and character-driven arcs, featuring strong themes of fate, morality, and personal growth. While the romance between the main characters, Rinka and Miharu, plays a significant role, it is not the central focus, allowing for a rich exploration of each character's backstory and motivations. Despite some pacing issues and limited player choices, the narrative is praised for its emotional depth, engaging twists, and well-developed characters, making it a worthwhile experience for visual novel enthusiasts.
- “This was a well thought out story with consequences and significantly different pathways at critical junctures.”
- “The story is very interesting, and after a while, you get hooked to see how it ends.”
- “The characters really made the experience for me, and I loved the foreshadowing and twists the story leads you on.”
- “This is a so-called 'visual novel' where choices are limited and have no effect on the story whatsoever.”
- “The game just constantly feels like it's going through the motions instead of telling an actual story, which is odd since the game's pacing is perfectly fine.”
- “The story treated fate a lot worse than I expected it to, considering this was such a key theme to the visual novel.”
music
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling, while others criticize it for being repetitive or poorly timed in certain scenes. Some standout tracks are noted as memorable and impactful, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere, though there are complaints about the use of bland or royalty-free music in parts. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered good to great, with a few detractors highlighting inconsistencies in its execution.
- “The music is really amazing as well.”
- “I absolutely love the characters, and the soundtrack is just stellar.”
- “The art and music are both great.”
- “The music sucks; it just sounds like a bunch of bland royalty-free music, which sort of takes you out of the scenes.”
- “Especially in one supposedly intense scene, it switches from a very dynamic and intense track to elevator music and back.”
- “Some scenes really benefitted from it, but other times it felt like the music was doing nothing but harm the experience.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and detailed art style, blending Japanese and Western influences effectively. Many reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and overall production quality, noting that the artwork is emotive and well-composed, although some inconsistencies in character designs can be disorienting. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its immersive atmosphere and storytelling.
- “Gorgeous art style.”
- “The graphics for Fatal Twelve are absolutely beautiful, every scene is beautifully detailed and I could look at them for hours.”
- “Beautiful graphics.”
- “Though detailed and well designed, certain characters seem to follow different art styles which makes it disorienting when looking at them together with other characters.”
- “My most subjective negative part of this game is the art style.”
- “No appropriate ambient noise to complement the visuals that tell the characters are in a park or a crowded subway, for example.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players highlighting its deep, heart-wrenching narrative and strong character connections that evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to sadness. The soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, often coinciding with pivotal moments in the story. Overall, it is described as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a profound and heartfelt gaming experience.
- “While this game does have intrigue and action, its primary focus is on the emotional connections between characters and the many different nuances and swirling emotions concerning eliminating another person just to protect your own life.”
- “Everything had real emotional weight, and the narrative impacted me emotionally in ways that are very, very rare, because I am a broken husk of a person, dead to the world.”
- “A beautiful and sometimes very heartbreaking story got me many times.”
character development
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for being engaging and well-executed, with many characters having rich backstories that enhance their motivations. While the character designs are generally considered beautiful and distinctive, some critiques mention that a few characters lack depth in their development. The combination of strong character design and development contributes to a captivating experience for players.
- “The character development was on point leading up to each character from their past to present.”
- “Thanks to its beautiful art, interesting story, and good character development, Fatal Twelve delivers a great experience.”
- “Relatable, badass, and diverse characters, some with great character development; insight into the characters' motives.”
- “I understand the need to give characters motivations, but many of these backstories serve merely as substitutes for actual character development.”
- “The character design, while nothing special and tropey, can be quite nice in some places.”
- “- the characters and character development are very sound, though there are a few that don't get that treatment.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative, as it is a visual novel with minimal interactive elements, featuring choices that influence the endings. While the story is engaging and offers multiple endings, some players may find the lack of traditional gameplay mechanics and sudden scene transitions detracting from the experience. Overall, it caters more to those who appreciate storytelling over interactive gameplay.
- “If you're someone who doesn't really care for story alone and prefers gameplay or interaction, it honestly may not be for you - the story only really branches when it's time for an ending, but if you're a story enjoyer like me, make sure not to miss out on this visual novel!”
- “I would say it's about 40 hours of gameplay when everything is completed.”
- “I got around 23 hours of gameplay out of it; there are multiple endings and choices to make.”
- “Keep in mind though, this is purely a visual novel, and there is no gameplay aspect to it whatsoever, only some choices that can change your outcome.”
- “If you're someone who doesn't really care for story alone and prefers gameplay or interaction, it honestly may not be for you - the story only really branches when it's time for an ending.”
- “You don't interact with the death game's mechanics.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, with users appreciating the effective use of graphics, music, and color to enhance the experience. While some expected a more serious tone, the overall ambiance is considered decent and fitting for the game's scenarios. The soundtrack, though not the standout feature, contributes positively to the atmospheric quality.
- “The game's definitely worth playing - story, graphics, music, and atmosphere were either great or at least decent.”
- “It definitely adds to the atmosphere.”
- “Expected a serious atmosphere due to the battle royale concept, similar to Mirai Nikki.”
- “I cherish the use of colors that represent the situation and atmosphere.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently engaging, with jokes and funny moments sprinkled throughout the playthrough, effectively balancing the otherwise grim backdrop. Players appreciate the comedic elements, noting that they often elicit genuine laughter.
- “I never felt bored during the playthrough because there are jokes and funny moments sprinkled throughout.”
- “They definitely made me laugh genuinely.”
- “Aside from the rather grim background, I appreciate the humor that pops up here and there.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the early game to be slow and tedious, characterized by extended periods of grinding interspersed with occasional bursts of action.
- “The early game is quite slow and tedious, with periodic bursts of action.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with optimization, noting that while some players enjoy smooth graphics and solid performance, others encounter significant frame rate drops and graphical glitches. Many suggest that further patches are needed to enhance stability and improve the overall gaming experience.