Go! Go! Nippon!: My First Trip to Japan

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Go! Go! Nippon!: My First Trip to Japan screenshot

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,991 reviews

story128 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game provides a fun and educational experience about Japan, with interesting facts and cultural insights.
The character designs are cute, and the interactions with the sisters are enjoyable.
The inclusion of Google Maps links for real-life locations enhances the immersive experience.

The protagonist is portrayed as overly naive and clueless, which can be frustrating.
The story is quite shallow, with limited choices and a predictable romance plot.
There is a lack of voice acting, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The story of this visual novel is generally described as a light, slice-of-life narrative centered around a tourist's week-long trip to Japan, accompanied by two cute sisters. While some players appreciate the educational elements and the charming interactions, many criticize the plot for being simplistic, predictable, and lacking depth, often feeling more like a travel guide than a compelling story. Overall, it offers a cozy experience with a romantic subplot, but those seeking a rich narrative or significant character development may find it lacking.
- “It's a relaxing and cozy story where two cute sisters accompany you on a week-long holiday in Japan.”
- “The story is full of information about Japan while also having an engaging visual novel side story.”
- “The game has a heartwarming story that, combined with the Japanese art style, leaves you immersed for a good few hours.”
- “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 is boring, you can't choose different roads, CGs aren't worth the price.”
music
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its enjoyable and atmospheric qualities, particularly in relation to specific scenes and settings. While some tracks are described as catchy and fitting well with the game's themes, others find the music repetitive or generic, leading to a less impactful experience. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its ability to enhance the game's ambiance, though opinions vary on its originality and emotional resonance.
- “I need to make this the soundtrack to my life.”
- “The track for landing in the airport, the track for talking with the lasses on the way home in daytime, tracks for night-time strolls, even a track that sounds closer to what traditional Japanese music likely sounded like.”
- “The soundtrack in this visual novel really does bring back the nostalgia of kira*kira, an awesome visual novel from Overdrive.”
- “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.”
- “The music was pretty forgettable for me, though (as in, I honestly don't remember much about it).”
graphics
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their cute art style and impressive artwork, often featuring well-drawn character designs and vibrant backgrounds that enhance the overall experience. While some users noted that certain visuals may appear traced or lack detail, many found the combination of visuals and music to be engaging and immersive, particularly in relation to the game's themes of travel and culture. However, a few reviews mentioned that the graphics could be inconsistent, with some scenes lacking depth or clarity, leading to mixed opinions on the overall visual quality.
- “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 artwork is well drawn and shows a lot about the places of interest, and the music always fits the mood of the place you're visiting.”
- “The art in the original version is just 'okay', so you might want to pick up one of the DLC packs in order to get improved visuals, more scenes, and more possibilities for both locations and relationship-building.”
- “On the graphics side, it's alright though some scenes show a blue sky probably because the scenes were never drawn, so that's really disappointing in my humble opinion.”
- “The plot is as above and the visuals are bare minimum drawings, where half of what's described isn't shown.”
humor
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this visual novel is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of cute, absurd, and sometimes crude jokes that resonate well with players, particularly those familiar with anime tropes. While many found the dialogue and situations genuinely funny, some criticized the reliance on crude humor and repetitive gags, suggesting that it may not appeal to all audiences. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with informative content about Japanese culture, making it an entertaining experience for those looking for a lighthearted adventure.
- “A surprisingly funny, cute, and informative visual novel!”
- “Came in expecting cheesy, cringeworthy dialogue; instead, I ended up with a 5-page essay on why I should go to Japan, and a few lines that made me bust a gut laughing due to how absurd they were.”
- “The game itself, however, is a really good one. While not my favorite visual novel, it does a good job at getting what it needs done in a fancy fashion with humor and interesting facts about Japan.”
emotional
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming story, immersive visuals, and impactful music, which together create a deeply engaging experience. Many players report feeling a strong emotional connection to the characters and narrative, often leading to tears and a sense of personal reflection. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in the plot, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings and provide a wholesome, touching experience.
- “It's a touching game filled with factoids about the land of the rising sun and makes it interactive due to its story, giving the beautiful immersive feeling you get from visual novels that are good.”
- “I cried for 12 hours straight at the end.”
- “I laughed, I cried, it touched my heart, my mind, and my soul.”
gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The gameplay in this visual novel is largely linear and minimal, focusing primarily on reading text with limited interactive choices, which some players find lacking in depth and replayability. While the mechanics are straightforward and accessible, many reviews highlight that the experience is more akin to reading an interactive story than traditional gameplay, with some appreciating the narrative despite the absence of substantial gameplay elements. Overall, the game is enjoyable for those who prioritize story over gameplay mechanics, but it may disappoint players seeking a more interactive experience.
- “Very instructive gameplay experience :) and now I really want to go to Japan in real life, I mean :3”
- “The gameplay is full of options, from choosing where you wish to go, to what you want to eat.”
- “It has solid mechanics and is easy to understand, so it's friendly to new players while still allowing veterans to go for the big plays.”
- “I didn't really like this gatekeeping aspect, as many first-time players would not know this is a mechanic (since it is never explained to you beforehand).”
- “No gameplay whatsoever.”
- “The gameplay choices are pretty light, even by visual novel standards.”
replayability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating the variety of events, locations, and multiple endings that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some critiques highlight limitations in player choices and interaction, suggesting that once all content is explored, replay value diminishes significantly. While many visual novels are designed with replayability in mind, this particular title may not offer extensive replay options beyond a couple of playthroughs.
- “Good replay value for the variety of events and locations as well.”
- “I found that it also has some replayability because you can't visit all parts of Tokyo in your first playthrough, and might get another ending depending on your choices, if you rather go with Makoto or Akira.”
- “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.”
- “Nippon's case, there's next to no gameplay as there's 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 and interaction in general limit its replayability.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with most growth occurring towards the end, particularly in relation to romantic subplots. While the characters are well-designed and relatable, especially in the context of their struggles, many reviewers note that the depth of development is not substantial, often feeling rushed or minimal. Overall, the game offers some charming moments and interactions, but those seeking extensive character arcs may find it lacking.
- “The character development of the game is also amazing, as they 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.”
- “I don't regret picking this game up in the slightest and would like to see a sequel even, to further explore Japanese culture and history, as well as to continue the character development and relationship between the protagonist and the sister.”
- “Character development has enriched the way I view myself as a person, and the world around me.”
- “Of course there are scenes where the characters talk and very minor events happen during this dialogue, so maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but this comes out of frustration. The game runs as a visual novel at the start and then a lot by the end, as you suddenly get a bit more character development on the girl your tourist spot destination has chosen. Yes, that's right, where you go to visit is how your character picks his chosen girl.”
- “Also, it has a typical romance plot with some funny and sentimental moments, despite the lack of further 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.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's atmosphere is described as a blend of casual and engaging, reminiscent of a Saturday morning kids' show, enhanced by excellent background music that evokes emotional depth. Players appreciate the serene and romantic ambiance, particularly during tours of Japanese cities, which is complemented by beautiful illustrations and a focus on local culture. Overall, the atmosphere successfully balances entertainment and education, creating an inviting experience for players interested in exploring Japan.
- “I appreciate the art and music that gently portray the calm and serene atmosphere in the Japanese cities and buildings that the story takes place in.”
- “Enjoy the date-like atmosphere as Makoto and Akira take you on a tour of famous sites.”
- “The bulk of this game has an atmosphere like a Saturday morning kids' TV show where children from other places around the world tell you about local food and places of interest.”
- “Atmosphere - 3/5”
- “I appreciate the art and music that gently portrayed the calm and serene atmosphere in the Japanese cities and buildings that the story took place.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the excessive clicking and dialogue. While there are some interesting cultural insights, many feel that the effort required to progress is not worth the payoff, especially for those familiar with the content. Overall, the experience is seen as a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element.
- “Maybe this is interesting for people who have never left the city they grew up in, but for anyone who has traveled anywhere, it is intensely tedious and boring.”
- “Instead you get a crappy and tedious 'novel' that tries to gag you with exhausting tropes.”
- “There are some interesting aspects of Japanese culture in the dialogue, but pressing the 'next' button gets tedious - that's all you do.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on monetization are mixed, with some users labeling the game as a "greedy cash grab," while others defend it, asserting that it is not exploitative in its approach to monetization.
- “I don't like this greedy cash grab.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant optimization issues, noting awkward stuttering during key gameplay moments such as breakfast scenes, shopping, and emotional declarations, which detracts from the overall experience.