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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game presents a beautiful and emotional story that sensitively addresses important healthcare issues, particularly mental health and care for the elderly.
- The artwork and music are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the narrative.
- The characters are well-written and realistic, providing a thoughtful exploration of the struggles faced by those dealing with illness and societal stigma.
- The writing can be incredibly dry and filled with walls of text, leading to a dull reading experience that may not engage all players.
- There is a noticeable lack of visual content, such as character CGs, which detracts from the visual novel format and can make the storytelling feel more like 'telling' rather than 'showing.'
- Some characters are perceived as unlikable, which may hinder emotional attachment and investment in the story.
- story34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story is a beautifully crafted and emotional exploration of the fictional disease "aerodema," serving as a poignant metaphor for contemporary issues in healthcare, particularly mental health and elder care. Set in Japan's Taisho period, it intricately weaves personal narratives that highlight the struggles of both patients and their loved ones, all while being supported by stunning visuals and music. Overall, the narrative is well-paced, thought-provoking, and resonates deeply with players, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate serious storytelling.
“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.”
“At its heart, this visual novel is a story of how mental illness affects the people who suffer from them and those around them.”
“Beautiful story about people dealing with illness and how it affects their lives.”
“Outside the main doctor having a 'likes to treat his patients very well', I was given little reason to get emotionally attached to the story and characters.”
“However, these things are not so much shown in the story as they are auditory.”
“This is not an easy story to experience, but for those that like serious, pull-no-punches content with great voice acting (Japanese only but very well done), then I recommend this story.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their stunning artwork and beautiful backgrounds, featuring a unique blend of realism and a watercolor palette. However, there is criticism regarding the lack of CG visuals, which detracts from the storytelling experience in a visual novel format. Overall, while the visuals and accompanying audio enhance the atmosphere, the inconsistent use of graphics leaves some players wanting more.
“Visuals are great and music supplements the story well.”
“I don't mind the art style itself; it has that nice mix of realism with a kind of watercolor palette.”
“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 book without audiovisuals.”
“The inconsistent lack of visuals... for a visual novel.”
“Ambient sounds such as the wind whistling, shuffling of feet, and knocking add life to the otherwise mostly static artwork.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many noting the excellent original soundtrack by Manyo. However, some users feel that the music is used too sparingly and occasionally mismatches the scenes, suggesting that a more consistent musical presence could have improved the experience. Overall, while the visuals and music are well-executed, there is a desire for more musical content to complement the engaging narrative.
“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 music is used extremely sparingly, and when there's actually background music, it somehow doesn't match very well with the scenes.”
“The graphics, music, and voices that support this story are all wonderfully done.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game presents a poignant narrative that effectively uses the premise of aerodema to explore significant issues in healthcare, particularly mental health and elder care. Players can expect a compelling and heartfelt experience, with a mix of light-hearted and deeply emotional moments that foster strong attachments to the characters and their struggles. Overall, it stands out from typical visual novels by offering a more profound emotional depth.
“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.”
“It is such a compelling and heartfelt novel that has all the key ingredients for an anime series.”
“The story was so touching.”
