Hira Hira Hihiru
- November 16, 2023
- BA-KU
Get on SteamIn "Hira Hira Hihiru," a visual novel set in a fictional Taishō Era, you explore a world where the dead return to life as hihiru, individuals with depleted cognition and memory. As Dr. Shūhei Katori, you'll conduct field studies to enhance living conditions and support systems for Aerodema patients, who are both shunned and revered by society. This game explores themes of life, death, and societal acceptance through its unique narrative.
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful and emotional story that sensitively addresses important healthcare issues, particularly regarding mental health and the elderly.
- The artwork and music are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the narrative.
- The writing is engaging and thought-provoking, offering multiple perspectives on the struggles faced by patients and their families.
- The pacing can be slow, leading to moments of boredom, and the game may not fully utilize the visual novel format to its potential.
- Some characters are perceived as unlikable, which may detract from the player's emotional connection to the story.
- The music is used sparingly and may not always match the scenes effectively, leaving some players wanting more auditory engagement.
- story18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is a beautifully crafted and emotional exploration of healthcare issues, particularly focusing on mental health and the care of the elderly, through the lens of a fictional disease called aerodema. It features well-paced narratives that follow two protagonists navigating the challenges of illness, supported by stunning visuals and music that enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is praised for its sensitive handling of serious themes, making it a compelling and uplifting journey despite its somber subject matter.
“This is a beautiful and emotional story where the game's premise (a condition called aerodema) serves as an excellent metaphor for problems in healthcare in the world today, especially when it comes to mental health and care for the elderly.”
“Beautiful story about people dealing with illness and how it affects their lives.”
“I do enjoy how the story talks about this fictional disease and presents it in a way that is similar to how most of the modern world still treats mental illness.”
“The other story follows a young man, Tenma Takeo, whose whole life gets turned upside down when someone close to him is afflicted by the disease. It subsequently goes into vivid detail about the daily mundane slog and all the trials and tribulations of having to deal with sickly people.”
“A bit of a rant here, but to this day I still find the visual novel underutilized as a medium for storytelling despite its capabilities to combine sound and visual arts to enhance the reader experience.”
“I thought that there were some interesting themes explored, and overall I'd say that it's a pretty uplifting story even though it's about the oppression and mistreatment of those who are mentally ill.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling, with some reviewers highlighting the excellent original soundtrack by Manyo. However, there are mixed feelings about the sparing use of background music, with some suggesting that more music could have improved the experience. Overall, the combination of music, art, and writing creates an engaging atmosphere that captivates players.
“The music and art are beautiful, and the story is well-paced, with the sensitive subject matter appropriately handled.”
“Visuals are great and the music supplements the story well.”
“The graphics, music, and voices that support this story are all wonderfully done.”
“The music is used extremely sparingly, and when there's actually background music, it somehow doesn't match very well with the scenes.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning artwork and beautiful backgrounds, complemented by excellent music and voice acting. However, there is a notable absence of CGI, leading to a reliance on narration that detracts from the overall experience and makes the writing feel dull.
“The artwork is extremely good; the backgrounds in particular are simply gorgeous.”
“Visuals are great and the music supplements the story well.”
“The graphics, music, and voices that support this story are all wonderfully done.”
“I feel like I would be enjoying this a lot more if this was just an actual physical product without audiovisuals.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game presents a poignant narrative that uses the condition of aerodema as a metaphor for contemporary healthcare issues, particularly in mental health and elder care. While it offers a unique emotional depth compared to typical visual novels, it may not appeal to those seeking more conventional themes. The portrayal of family members grappling with their own emotional exhaustion adds to the story's impact.
“This is a beautiful and emotional story where the game's premise (a condition called aerodema) serves as an excellent metaphor for problems in healthcare in the world today, especially when it comes to mental health and care for the elderly.”
“The family members who support the patient but are also emotionally drained.”
