Gakuen Club
- May 9, 2017
- OperaHouse Corporation
Get on Steam"Gakuen Club" is a Japanese visual novel game that follows the story of the protagonist, who transfers to a new school and joins the school's drama club. The game features multiple character routes, each with their own unique stories and romance options. Players will make choices throughout the game that will affect the outcome of the story and their relationships with the other characters. The game is fully voiced in Japanese and features beautiful illustrations.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The art and voice acting are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience.
- Each love interest has a unique story, providing varied routes that can be enjoyable.
- The game offers a light and entertaining break from more intense otome games, making it accessible for casual players.
- The gameplay is largely linear with very few choices, making it feel more like a kinetic novel than a visual novel.
- The storylines are often predictable and formulaic, lacking depth and engagement.
- The game is considered overpriced for the amount of content and replayability it offers.
- story84 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story is generally described as enjoyable but simplistic, featuring a main character, Akane, navigating her life at a prestigious school while serving at a secret night cafe. Each of the six love interests has a unique backstory, but many reviewers find the overall plot predictable and repetitive, often mirroring common tropes found in shojo manga. While the art and voice acting are praised, the lack of interactivity and depth in the narrative leads some to suggest that the game may not be worth its price unless on sale.
“The main character named Akane, the characters you can choose from for the route, I love seeing that each male character has their own personal story.”
“The storylines were interesting, the characters were unique, the art and voices were lovely, but I couldn't help feeling the romance just didn't hit the mark for me.”
“I personally loved this one and enjoyed the storylines and characters across the board.”
“The story is so simple and cliché.”
“Well, the plot was kind of bland and predictable.”
“Every route repeats the same story pattern, and the story is so plain that you can see this kind of story in every shojo manga or soap opera.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with background tracks and voice acting praised for their quality, though some users noted instances of repetition and mismatched moods in certain scenes. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, earning a score of 4/5, but some feel it lacks uniqueness, particularly in specific character routes.
“The arts, music, and story are all good.”
“The CGs, sprites, and BGs are all lovely, and so is the background music.”
“Background music is well done, and the voice actors were clear and articulate, though at times it seems like there was a slight echo to them.”
“Repetitive music, nothing special even for Renji's route where he played several piano pieces.”
“The background music is well done and the voice actors were clear and articulate, though at times it seems like there was a slight echo to them.”
“It's a nice game, but it's full of tropes and it's too expensive in my opinion for what you get. The amount of money spent on voice acting, art, and music aside, the story doesn't feel interactive enough even with six romance options to justify the steep price tag.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for feeling overly guided, with players feeling that the game makes too many decisions for them. Many reviewers believe the experience does not justify its $30 price tag, and the absence of a skip button is seen as a negative aspect that unnecessarily prolongs gameplay. Overall, the game mechanics received a mediocre rating of 3/5.
“Game mechanics 3/5”
“It's like the game is deciding half of the gameplay for us.”
“Gameplay-wise, I don't really think this game is worth $30.”
“I guess the lack of a skip button could make the gameplay a little longer, but that's not really a good thing.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their beautiful art style and stunning visuals, contributing to an overall appealing aesthetic. Additionally, the quality of voice acting enhances the immersive experience.
“The art style is really pretty and the voice acting is amazing.”
“Pretty visuals”
“The artworks are beautiful.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the developers' efforts in creating a strong emotional anchor for the characters, highlighting how one character serves as a pivotal touchstone and the foundation of the group's dynamics. This emotional depth enhances the overall narrative experience.
“I felt the developers did a great job of making her an emotional touchstone and the rocky foundation of the group.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making the story feel personal and impactful.”
“The game masterfully captures the highs and lows of human experience, leaving me with a profound sense of connection to the characters.”
