Letters From a Rainy Day: Oceans and Lace
- June 29, 2021
- Lily Spinel
Get on Steam'Letters From a Rainy Day -Oceans and Lace-' is a visual novel focusing on a romantic relationship between two girls at a Japanese girls' school. When Shiori is asked out by an older student, Mikoto, she agrees, despite Mikoto's anger and the fact that the invitation seems to be a result of blackmail. The game features beautiful artwork and supports multiple languages.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful and engaging story with well-developed characters, particularly the relationship between Mikoto and Shiori, which is both sweet and heartfelt.
- The art and voice acting are top-notch, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative and providing a visually appealing experience.
- The dual text feature allows players to enjoy both Japanese and English translations, making it accessible for learners and fans of the original language.
- The game is a linear kinetic novel with no choices or multiple endings, which may disappoint players looking for more interactive gameplay.
- The story ends on a cliffhanger with unresolved plot points, particularly regarding the blackmail letter, leaving players wanting more without a clear timeline for a sequel.
- Some players found the pacing slow and repetitive, particularly with scenes being retold from both characters' perspectives, which can feel like padding.
- story118 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging character development, particularly in the context of a sweet yuri romance. While it features a linear narrative with no player choices, many reviewers appreciate the heartfelt moments and the exploration of the protagonists' relationship, despite some criticism regarding pacing and the handling of the blackmail subplot. Overall, it is considered a charming and wholesome experience, especially for fans of the genre, though some find it somewhat generic and wish for more substantial plot developments.
“Mikoto's confession to Shiori by the sea is probably one of the most beautiful parts of the story, pure and innocent, very sweet.”
“The story is engaging, the characters are delightful, and the premise is unique and interesting.”
“It's a lovely, bittersweet, and heartwarming story.”
“The characters were bland and unlikable, the plot was full of holes and clichés, and the writing was dull and repetitive.”
“What I got was a shallow story that used blackmail as one of the most boring excuses to get the two characters together.”
“The blackmail was so weak, I was surprised they managed to drag it on for maybe at least half of the story by having the blackmailee never mentioning the blackmail to the said blackmailer.”
- music17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional impact, featuring a varied soundtrack that enhances the storytelling experience. Many players appreciated the full Japanese voice acting and noted that the music rivals that of other well-regarded titles, leading some to purchase the soundtrack separately. Overall, while some consider the music to be standard, it effectively complements the game's visuals and narrative, contributing to its strong production values.
“With the music, I love the tracks that are presented throughout the story.”
“The artwork and soundtrack were a real treat.”
“Lastly, the art and music that accompanies it all is fantastic, giving it a stronger emotional push at the right moments.”
“Although I bought the soundtrack, I did often end up leaving the game's home screen running for a while, before jumping in, just to listen to 'Gazing at You'.”
“I rarely buy the soundtracks for games, but I did for this one.”
“In addition, this VN also features fine soundtracks.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartfelt and wholesome narrative that balances sweet moments with bittersweet scenes, evoking a range of feelings from joy to sadness. Players appreciate the genuine romance between the characters, enhanced by beautiful art and music, which together create a touching experience that leaves a lasting impact. Overall, the story is described as both relaxing and deeply moving, culminating in a satisfying conclusion.
“There's a good variety, ranging from that investigative mood to the sadder, more heartbreaking moments.”
“10/10 I cried a lot, but now I have the biggest smile on my face ^-^ - their relationship is so sweet and wholesome!”
“It's a super emotional and wholesome story, filled with sweet highs and sad lows, and it had a satisfying ending.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style, character designs, and overall visual appeal, while others find the artwork lacking and not enough to elevate the game's overall experience. The soundtrack is also highlighted as a positive aspect, complementing the visuals. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but not exceptional.
“The artwork and soundtrack were a real treat.”
“+ Visuals; easy on the eye and the character designs are good too.”
“Good artwork.”
“I wish they'd pick another visual for the attract graphics.”
“The artwork was decent, but not enough to save this game from being a bore.”
“The artwork and soundtrack was a real treat too.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is well-received, with advanced options available for fine-tuning performance, such as multi-threading settings. While the main performances are strong, some side characters lack sufficient screen time, but standout voice acting enhances the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a solid balance of technical performance and engaging voice work.
“There are advanced options to really fine-tune the performance, like adjusting multi-threading settings, if that’s what you look for in your VNs.”
“It's the difference between sounding 'cold' and sounding 'intentionally cold' that really elevates her performance and character to another level.”
“Ai Shimuzu’s Aoi Tachibana and Sawa Karuoka’s Yumi are the standout performances among the side characters.”
“There are advanced options to really fine-tune the performance, like adjusting multi-threading settings, if that's what you look for in your VNs.”
“Mai Kadowaki's performance as Shiori is fine; it's completely to character type, but she is overshadowed by how good Reo's voice acting is.”
“Ai Shimuzu's Aoi Tachibana and Sawa Karuoka's Yumi are the standout performances among the side characters.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its subtlety, particularly in the dynamic between Mikoto and Shiori, who influence each other's hidden personalities. Despite a predictable plot, their evolving relationship is engaging, complemented by appealing character designs that effectively reflect their distinct traits.
“I love the subtle but still noticeable character development in both Mikoto and Shiori, as they change each other and draw out the personalities that they normally hide.”
“It's an easy recommendation if you have some time to read, even if the plot is predictable, since the main couple's character development and their relationship are more interesting.”
“The character designs are very appealing and effectively convey the personalities of the individuals, such as Mikoto being cool and Shiori being cute.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the characters don't evolve in a way that feels satisfying or realistic throughout the story.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is largely passive, requiring players to simply click an 'auto' option to progress through a predetermined story, lacking multiple endings or interactive elements. While the experience is enhanced by full Japanese voice acting, some users feel the price may not justify the limited gameplay offered.
“For the asking price, it might be a bit steep with the amount of gameplay; despite that, there's full-on Japanese voice acting, so you can wait for a sale to get it.”
“In terms of gameplay, there isn't really much; you just click the 'auto' option and let the story roll. In other words, this is not one of those visual novel games that have multiple endings; it's more like a predetermined story using a game as the medium to tell the story.”
“For the asking price, it might be a bit steep considering the amount of gameplay. Despite that, there's full-on Japanese voice acting, so you might want to wait for a sale to get it.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its wonderful vibe, enhanced by a well-curated selection of music that effectively complements the watery setting, despite the music being described as standard.
“Wonderful vibe and atmosphere.”
“The music is standard fare, but it features a good selection that paints the mood and watery atmosphere well.”
“The music is standard fare, but with a good selection of tracks that paint the mood and watery atmosphere well.”
“The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be highly enjoyable, with many saving amusing voice clips for repeated listening, indicating that the comedic elements significantly enhance the overall experience.
“Perfectly enjoyable for me, and I ended up saving quite a few voice clips (mostly the funny ones) because they were a lot of fun to listen to.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replayability, but compensates for it with high-quality gameplay and experience.
“If you're looking for replay value, this game lacks it entirely, but it makes up for it in quality.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
“The lack of diverse paths or endings really diminishes the replayability factor.”
