Maitetsu
- June 29, 2018
- Lose
"Maitetsu is a single-player casual game with an intriguing story, fabulous graphics, and an excellent soundtrack. Returning home to Ohitoyo, Sotetsu discovers an android-like being, Hachiroku, and forms a deep connection with her. Together, they work to restore Ohitoyo's former glory and find an alternative solution to the proposed industrial factory that threatens their beloved river."
Reviews
- The game features stunning production value with beautiful artwork and fluid animations, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story is heartwarming and engaging, focusing on themes of love, family, and the revitalization of a small town through its railway system.
- The characters are well-developed and likable, each with unique personalities and routes that add depth to the narrative.
- The game lacks meaningful choices, making it feel more like a kinetic novel rather than an interactive experience.
- Some routes feel rushed and underdeveloped, particularly the sub-heroines' routes, which may leave players wanting more depth.
- The availability of adult content is complicated by the need for additional patches, which can be frustrating for players seeking the complete experience.
- story121 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of Maitetsu is a heartwarming and immersive narrative centered around the revival of a small town's railway system, intertwined with harem elements where various female characters develop romantic feelings for the male protagonist. While some players find the plot engaging and well-written, others criticize it for being tedious and overly focused on trains, which may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of character development, charming visuals, and a soothing soundtrack, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
“Truly a heartwarming story with great characters and art.”
“The story itself is well-written and quite enjoyable.”
“World-building was amazing, characters were top-notch, and the story was wonderful – all adorned with gorgeous visuals and lovely sound.”
“As much as I respect the work that was put into this and want to like it, I just can't get past the fact that the story is intensely boring.”
“But actually reading through the story bored me to tears.”
“It's not a bad story per se, but it can get a bit tedious.”
- music33 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the visual novel is widely praised for its soothing and beautiful tracks that enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the variety of themes, including character-specific songs, and appreciate the relaxing piano melodies that make the game enjoyable even outside of gameplay. While some noted minor issues with looping and background sounds, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
“I think Maitetsu has one of the loveliest music tracks of any visual novel I've ever played.”
“The music is soothing and makes the visual novel story a relaxing game that even made me play the songs while walking my dog or listening to it in the car.”
“The music perfectly supplements the peaceful nature of the story, and all songs can be relistened to in the BGM gallery.”
“The soundtrack really didn't loop into itself well (maybe because of Linux).”
“Music: 5/10.”
“The soundtrack is somewhat simple but always enhances the situation.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their stunning visuals and dynamic animations, particularly through the use of Live2D technology, which enhances character expressions and interactions. Reviewers highlight the elegant art style, detailed backgrounds, and the overall aesthetic appeal, making it a standout feature of the game. While some noted a lack of visuals in certain explanations, the overall impression is that the graphics significantly elevate the storytelling experience.
“The art style is also great and has a big bonus for even adding some animation when they are talking and blinking.”
“There was an incredible amount of detail in the animations and visuals.”
“Featuring live2D animation, gorgeous visuals, and lots and lots of trains, it is a wonderful game for all fans of visual novels.”
“A lot of what was being explained about train setups and mechanisms was really interesting, but the lack of visuals made it a bit tough to understand.”
“The music is incredibly chill, and I love how the animations work - while quite crude, they complement the art style and general feel of the game in a rather beautiful manner.”
“The artwork, paired with the 3D figure, is really great.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming story and well-developed characters, creating a unique and wholesome experience that resonates with players. Many reviewers express a deep connection to the narrative and characters, often feeling invited into the game's world, while some note that the emotional depth can be overshadowed by more absurd elements in certain routes. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke warmth and joy, making it a delightful experience for those seeking a feel-good narrative.
“Truly a heartwarming story with great characters and art.”
“It was such a warm, wholesome experience that ended up being more unique than I imagined.”
“Playing it made me feel like I had a personal invitation to be a part of Ohitoyo, and as weird as it may sound, I felt so connected to the characters.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its cute and funny portrayal of trains and quirky character interactions, often leading to hilarious moments, especially in certain storylines. While some players appreciate the lightheartedness and comedic elements, others feel that the humor could be more prominent, as the narrative sometimes drags and lacks engaging funny or dramatic moments. Overall, the blend of humor with decision-making and romance paths adds a unique charm to the experience.
“The trains look cute and funny!”
“There is decision making and romance paths to explore, with some humor mixed in.”
“Following the resurrection of a steam railway, the dialogs often deal with funding and maintenance of trains filled with various character interactions, side stories, and funny-moe moments.”
- character development5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development is a significant aspect of the game, enhancing the storytelling experience and allowing players to engage deeply with the main characters. While some supporting characters contribute meaningfully to the narrative, they receive less focus and development. Additionally, the character design is praised for its appealing aesthetics.
“They offer more opportunities to dive into the story and witness character development.”
“In addition, the other characters don't vanish at all; they all still contribute meaningfully to the main story, even if they have less screen time and don't undergo significant character development.”
“In addition, the other characters don't vanish at all—they all still contribute meaningfully to the main story; they just have less screen time and don't really undergo any character development.”
“They offer more opportunities to dive into the story and watch character development.”
“As you can see, character development plays a huge role in the game.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted for its impressive mechanics and dynamic graphics, providing an engaging experience. Users report minimal technical issues, with only a rare crash noted during several hours of play.
“The mechanics of this visual novel are definitely impressive.”
“The mechanics are very impressive with dynamic graphics.”
“I can't recall if it really crashed on me once; I think so, but it was just once long ago in several hours of gameplay.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when it comes to farming hours and dealing with excessive information in secondary routes. While the story has its merits, the repetitive nature of grinding can lead to frustration.
“I'm just farming hours currently.”
“The infodumping is often tedious and it gets aggravating in some of the secondary routes.”
“It's not a bad story per se, but it can get a bit tedious.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is functional on Linux via Proton, though it experiences some bugs and occasional crashes. Additionally, there are minor glitches in character animations, but they are brief enough to be easily overlooked.
“Note to Linux users: it is fully functional using Proton, although it is a bit buggy and occasionally crashes.”
“There can be some glitches in the animation of the characters, but they are so brief that you'll think you were just imagining things.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere, likened to the comfort of a first-class train journey, where players can relax and enjoy the scenic surroundings as they progress through the experience.
“Playing through the game feels like sitting back on a warm first-class train carriage, looking out the window as the scenery moves past and soaking in the atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized due to performance issues, with users reporting four random crashes during gameplay.
“Performance: I've experienced four random crashes so far.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent performance issues.”
“The game runs poorly on my system, despite meeting the recommended requirements.”