JQ: Beautiful Japan
- August 23, 2018
- Snkl Studio
Get on SteamJQ: Beautiful Japan is an educational visual novel game that explores Japan's history, culture, and traditions. As the first foreign student in a Japanese high school, players will interact with classmates and teachers, attend classes, and participate in cultural events to deepen their understanding of Japan. The game features a variety of minigames and challenges to keep players engaged while they learn.
Reviews
- Visually beautiful game with well-drawn characters and pleasant music.
- Good for practicing and memorizing Hiragana and Katakana characters, especially for beginners.
- Quick and easy achievements make it appealing for achievement hunters.
- Lacks variety and replay value due to fixed question order, making it repetitive.
- Not a comprehensive learning tool; better free alternatives exist for learning Japanese.
- Achievements cannot be showcased, which disappoints players looking to display their progress.
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its pleasant and thematic quality, particularly the Japanese-inspired tracks by Erwarda Savitnaag. However, some users note the limited variety, citing only two backgrounds and music selections, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, the soundtrack is engaging enough to encourage repeated playthroughs, especially for those interested in easy achievements while learning Japanese.
“The soundtrack is good, making me willing to open it and do the test again and again, even though the game is just choice questions in a certain order.”
“If you're interested in some super easy achievements and nice Japanese/Japanese-like music playing in the background while learning Japanese, this is the game for you.”
“Pleasant music.”
“With only two backgrounds and two selections of music, the game lacks any substantial content.”
“At least the music track fits with the theme.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from a poor user interface, which detracts from its overall experience and significantly limits its replay value.
“The user interface is poorly designed, and there is no replay value.”
“I found the game to be lacking in replayability, making it feel like a one-time experience.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users highlight that there are several free educational apps available, such as Akebi, Kotoba, and Memrise, which offer similar learning experiences without any monetization or advertisements. These alternatives provide comprehensive learning tools, including randomization for quizzes, making them appealing options compared to monetized apps.
“The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players into spending money, allowing for a more enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate that the monetization is optional and doesn't hinder gameplay; I can still enjoy the game without feeling forced to make purchases.”
“The in-game purchases are reasonably priced and provide meaningful enhancements without being necessary to progress.”
“There are plenty of free apps like Akebi, Kotoba, Genki, Memrise, Obenkyo, and Drops that offer similar learning experiences without any monetization, making this game feel overpriced in comparison.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, especially when there are free alternatives that provide the same educational value without the constant push to spend money.”
“It's frustrating to see a game that could be educational turn into a cash grab, especially when there are so many free resources available that don't bombard you with ads or in-app purchases.”
