GENBA no Kizuna

About

"GENBA no Kizuna" is a murder mystery visual novel where players assume the roles of four crime scene investigators, each with their own area of expertise. Interactive elements allow players to examine the scene, body, and interview parties involved, and evidence presentation helps unravel the truth behind the murder. The goal is to work as an effective team to solve the case.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features well-written characters with depth and motivations, making it easy to become attached to them.
The art style and music are praised for their quality, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
The mystery is engaging and well-structured, with logical motives and a fair amount of clues, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate detective stories.

The pacing suffers from excessive filler dialogue and exposition, leading to a feeling of dragging and boredom at times.
The mystery's twists and turns are often predictable, reducing the suspense and challenge for experienced players.
The lack of a backlog feature and the inability to see current questions during evidence presentation can hinder the gameplay experience.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
11%
The story is well-crafted and engaging, drawing comparisons to detective shows like "Monk" and "CSI," with a unique twist that incorporates dinosaurs. Characters are well-developed, with clear motivations and backstories, and the narrative benefits from thorough research that enhances its credibility. While it may lack high-octane action and can feel convoluted at times, the overall presentation, including art and music, is polished and enjoyable, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “As for the characters, I feel as though they're all well-written and have some sort of depth to them. They all have a motivation established for why they act or commit the actions they do through the story, and I appreciated the epilogues given for all of the detectives that helped establish their backstories more.”
- “The art is gorgeous, the music is superb, and the story hits just the right spot between complex enough to make you feel like you've got your money's worth, while contained enough to be easily digestible.”
- “Really excellent and deep story, even if it does drag a little here and there.”
- “The game feels a lot more like an episode of 'Monk' or other crime/cop/detective-adjacent shows than it does something like your traditional murder visual novel. While I have a guilty pleasure for a good episode of 'Monk', it's not going to be this action-packed visual novel with huge chases or twists.”
- “I'm not finished yet, but how in the world did Himatsu become a police officer? It feels like she only exists in the story to present theories that are obviously wrong, so you have someone to present evidence to and refute.”
- “With changed settings and characters, it's still a convoluted detective story filled with traps and misconceptions, along with dark themes and sad stories.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
25%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to capture the tone and setting, with a mix of calm and catchy tracks that resonate with players. Many reviewers highlight the memorable soundtrack, noting that some songs are particularly catchy and have a lasting impact. Overall, the music complements the game's art and narrative, enhancing the overall experience.
- “I also think the music did a good job at capturing the tone and setting of the game, and while it was calm at times, it matches the overall pace of the game.”
- “I enjoyed most of the music, too; there are some really catchy tracks that ended up getting stuck in my head.”
- “The art is gorgeous, music superb; the story hits just the right spot between complex enough to make you feel like you've got your money's worth, while contained enough to be easily digestible.”
- “The OST is disgusting; half of the time I get shrieked at by dinosaurs.”
- “The OST is disgusting; half of the time I get shrieked at by dinosaurs.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is notably improved, with a broader distribution among the entire cast rather than being limited to a few comic relief characters, enhancing its effectiveness. While the humor is described as interesting and memorable, it also leans towards the vulgar and can feel prolonged at times, yet it avoids one-dimensional tropes. Overall, the humor adds a significant and enjoyable layer to the experience.
- “There's also a significant uptick in humor, spread more throughout the entire cast instead of being relegated to two or three characters specifically designed to be comic relief, which helps the humor land more effectively.”
- “They have funny lines that are memorable, and no character feels one-dimensional or like a blatant trope.”
- “Interesting and funny, with a unique blend of humor that keeps the experience engaging.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay is generally solid but suffers from excessive filler content, reducing the actual playtime to around 8 hours instead of the advertised 12-16 hours. Players have noted the need for a backlog feature to revisit questions and evidence, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Most of the actual gameplay is sound, other than the fact that, as other reviews mention, it could really benefit from a backlog feature or at the very least the ability to relook at what question is being asked in case you blanked out or had to walk away for a second during evidence presenting.”
- “This game claims to be 12-16 hours long, but with the amount of filler and unnecessary dialogue, it leads to only about 8 hours of actual gameplay, making what was thought to be evidence feel like it's being thrown out the window.”
- “Most of the actual gameplay is sound, but as other reviews mention, it could really benefit from a backlog feature or at the very least the ability to revisit what question is being asked in case you blanked out or had to walk away for a second during evidence presentation.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of Shinrai have been praised for their polished and charming art style, which enhances the storytelling and overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the memorable visuals that complement the engaging narrative and unique setting, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I already really enjoyed the art style of Shinrai, so seeing a more polished and cleaned-up version does the story provided justice.”
- “If you're looking for a charming cast of characters, a memorable art style, a catchy soundtrack, and a well-written murder mystery with some very nice twists and turns, all in a pretty unique setting, you can't go wrong with this one.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is critiqued for relying heavily on foreshadowing elements, such as the hair clip and raptor claw, which could have been more effectively integrated into the narrative to enhance the reveal of the killer. Reviewers feel that these elements could have been presented in a more subtle, "show don't tell" manner, similar to the use of blood stains in the first game, to create a more impactful character arc. Overall, the potential for deeper character exploration is noted, but the execution falls short.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "Shinrai" is highly praised by users, who appreciate its engaging concept and immersive environment. Overall, it contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I enjoyed the idea and atmosphere of Shinrai overall.”