Go! Go! Nippon!: My First Trip to Japan
- February 21, 2014
- OVERDRIVE
- 3000h median play time
"Go! Go! Nippon!: My First Trip to Japan" is a guide game that offers a virtual tour of Japan with beautiful tour guides. Visit famous Japanese sightseeings spots, try local cuisine, and grow closer to the sisters throughout your journey. To unlock achievements, you'll need the 2016 version DLC. This game provides a memorable experience of traveling through Japan without leaving your home.
Reviews
- The game provides a fun and educational experience about popular tourist locations in Japan.
- The characters, especially the two sisters, are charming and add a light-hearted element to the story.
- The integration of Google Maps to view real locations enhances the immersive experience.
- The story is quite shallow and lacks depth, making it feel more like a guided tour than a traditional visual novel.
- There are limited choices that affect the outcome, leading to a lack of replayability.
- Some information is outdated, which may mislead players planning a trip to Japan.
- story249 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of this visual novel is generally perceived as simple and somewhat cliché, often taking a backseat to its educational content about Japan. While it features a lighthearted romance between the protagonist and two female characters, many reviewers note that the plot lacks depth and complexity, making it more of a guided tour with a romantic subplot rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative. Despite its shortcomings, the charming characters and fun interactions provide an enjoyable experience for those interested in Japanese culture.
“The storytelling of this game is honestly mind-blowing and constantly keeps you in suspense of what will happen next until it reaches its great crescendo as the game draws to a close.”
“Just a cute little story about a boy who goes to visit Japan, and stays with two beautiful girls who want to show him all Japan has to offer, with some flirtations and feelings forming as the story progresses.”
“The story is full of information about Japan while also having an engaging visual novel side story.”
“The plot in the game is paper-thin and very poorly written.”
“The entire attempt to put in a light romance plot or even to try to develop the characters feels extremely ham-fisted and just distracts from what the game should have focused on.”
“The story itself, while occasionally sweet, is filled to the brim with annoying and tired tropes and falls firmly in the weeb pandering category.”
- graphics48 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and appealing art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted that the visuals are not groundbreaking, they are considered well-executed and fitting for a visual novel, contributing to a heartwarming atmosphere. Overall, the artwork is appreciated for its quality and ability to complement the storytelling, making it a visually enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
“The game has such a cute art style!”
“Stunning visuals, an amazing guide to many sights around Tokyo (and elsewhere), great characters, and an amusing plot.”
“The visuals in this visual novel are also quite breathtaking; I've never seen such brilliant stylizations since Crysis.”
“The audio and visuals are nothing special, but passable.”
“Especially considering the point of the game, I really expected more visuals at times.”
“There isn't much by way of visuals - you see a few pictures of places, with maybe three 'splash pages'.”
- music44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly in specific locations like Kyoto and Ikebukuro. While some players describe the soundtrack as amazing and nostalgic, others find it generic or only moderately enjoyable, noting that it fits the scenes well but lacks emotional depth. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its atmosphere despite some criticisms of repetitiveness and limited variety.
“I need to make this the soundtrack to my life.”
“The final point I would like to make is on the soundtrack, since it is one of the best soundtracks to any video game I've played.”
“The soundtrack is amazing (I would have the game on in the background just to listen to the tunes), the visuals are great, and if you're actually trying to learn Japanese, it's great because in the dialogue, you can view the Japanese right above the English!”
“No voice acting to speak of and the music works but doesn't inspire any emotions.”
“The music in the game is fairly generic sounding, though certainly not bad.”
“By the way, they reused most of the soundtrack from their other leading visual novels.”
- humor33 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many players finding it amusing and light-hearted, often likening it to comedic moments found in anime. The writing includes funny situations and interactions that enhance the overall experience, making it entertaining despite some criticisms about content depth. While some humor may not resonate with all audiences, it generally adds charm and enjoyment to the gameplay.
“The 2016 version of the game has an impressive amount of content, pushing a lot of useful and interesting information onto you in a graphically appealing and sometimes funny/amusing form.”
“It incorporates the most essential tourist spots and Japanese cultural elements into a 7-day short trip, and at the same time remains a good (but short) story with hilarious moments and moving moments.”
“Play when drunk, preferably with friends around, and there's definitely moments you'll die laughing.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming story, touching moments, and immersive experience that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, from joy to heartbreak, particularly through its character relationships and cultural insights. While some found the narrative lacking depth, the overall emotional impact left a lasting impression, often leading to tears and deep reflection.
“A very touching story that would really make you cry.”
“The game made me cry, I never cry.”
“It's like...every time I play a visual novel game, I get very drawn into the characters and the story....and then I get all emotional...and that's what happened here.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is primarily text-based, resembling reading a picture book or watching a stage play, with minimal interactive elements. Players can make a few choices regarding sightseeing and food, but overall, the gameplay is limited and lacks depth, resulting in a short experience with little replayability. While the story is praised, the gameplay itself is often described as non-existent or very basic, focusing more on narrative than on interactive mechanics.
“The gameplay is full of options, from choosing where you wish to go, to what you want to eat.”
“As someone who has just been to Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised by the things they said, because I imagined it to be 90% gameplay/storyline and 10% fact, but it isn't.”
“Is that it's a pretty basic visual novel, which is a game genre that is very plot heavy and very light on gameplay, which is usually limited to choosing one option out of a given set of choices.”
“Literally only two characters that have sprites, only eleven CGs, terrible background art, a handful of mediocre tracks, just a few hours of gameplay on offer, and only enough fanservice to be awkward.”
“No gameplay or decisions.”
“The gameplay choices are pretty light, even by visual novel standards.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety of events, locations, and multiple endings that encourage multiple playthroughs, others criticize the limited choices and interactions that ultimately reduce replay value. Visual novel fans may find some enjoyment in revisiting the content, but many agree that once all endings and locations are explored, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly.
“Good replay value for the variety of events and locations as well.”
“Another thing I liked about the game is the replayability since there are lots of locations to visit.”
“Even if the game itself is more like a digital comic (only a few interactive parts), the little options to choose from and the two different endings bring up a nice replayability lacking in similar games.”
“The only downside is once you have seen every place and seen the different endings... replayability is very low.”
“In Nippon's case, there's next to no gameplay as there are about five points where you are given a choice, which doesn't give you much replayability.”
“I would give this game a 7.5/10 rating; it does what it's meant to do and does it well, however its rather limited choices for player interaction in general limit its replayability.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its relatability, particularly as characters navigate personal struggles and relationships within a challenging setting. However, while the character designs and overall aesthetics are well-received, some reviewers note that the depth of character development may not meet the expectations of those seeking extensive interaction and growth typical of more complex visual novels.
“The character development of the game is amazing, as the characters can be easily related to as they battle with their struggles not only under the oppressive regime of North Korea, but also with their relationships with each other.”
“Also, the nice little romance aspect adds depth, but don't expect a grand plot with extensive character development.”
“If you are into visual novels with significant character development and impactful character interaction, then this game may not be for you.”
“Also nice little romance aspect, but don't expect some grand plot with a lot of character development.”
“If you are into visual novels with lots of character development and character interaction that leaves an impact, then this game is not really for you.”
“End of character development.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as charming and immersive, particularly appealing to fans of visual novels and those interested in Tokyo's culture. The romantic and engaging setting enhances the experience, making it a worthwhile choice for players seeking a narrative-driven journey.
“Enjoy the date-like atmosphere as Makoto and Akira take you on a tour of famous sites.”
“If you're into the whole visual novel thing and want to know more about Japan (Tokyo specifically), while you also want a story that gives it a good atmosphere... then buy it!”
“Feel the love, the atmosphere, and the food.”
“The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real depth.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere fails to immerse you in the experience.”
“The overall ambiance is underwhelming and doesn't evoke the intended emotions.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on monetization are mixed, with some users perceiving it as a greedy cash grab, while others argue that the game does not exploit players financially.
“I don't like this greedy cash grab.”