Please Be Happy
- November 21, 2022
- Studio Élan
Get on Steam"Please Be Happy" is a visual novel game that follows the story of Aoi, a shut-in NEET who accidentally summons a mythical creature named Elan. Together, they navigate Aoi's messy life while also uncovering Elan's mysterious past. The game features a heartwarming story with choices that affect the relationship between Aoi and Elan, leading to multiple endings.
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Reviews
- The storytelling is a masterpiece, with deep characters and personal growth that resonates emotionally.
- The game features beautiful artwork, a fantastic soundtrack, and excellent voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
- It offers a heartwarming and wholesome narrative that explores themes of love, kindness, and self-discovery.
- The pacing can be slightly slow at times, which may not appeal to all players.
- Some players may find the branching choices limited, with only a few impactful decisions throughout the game.
- There are occasional inconsistencies in art and scenery that detract from the overall visual experience.
- story392 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of *Please Be Happy* is a heartwarming urban fairytale that intricately weaves fantasy elements into a modern setting, focusing on themes of love, self-discovery, and personal growth. Players follow the journey of Miho, a fox girl, as she navigates relationships and emotional challenges, with the narrative praised for its depth, character development, and emotional resonance. The game is celebrated for its beautiful writing, engaging characters, and a soundtrack that enhances the storytelling experience, making it a standout title in the visual novel genre.
“Please be happy is a heartwarming urban fairytale with casually interwoven fantasy elements, set in a modern society with a subpopulation of naturally integrated mythological, mostly human creatures, supplying a backstory to a fictional world closely resembling our own.”
“Studio Elan crafted an incredible story full of love, pain, and nostalgia. The narrative, both the main plot and the side stories, surprised with how down-to-earth they all felt despite the supernatural setting.”
“This is a story about a person learning how to be human and how to have relationships with other people, both romantic and otherwise; and although it's a heartwarming tale in the end, it tackles some heavy subjects, including dealing with grief, loss, and anxiety.”
“The story makes liberal use of time-skips, so I suppose we're meant to just assume the relationships between the characters deepened in that unseen time, but as a reader I was unsatisfied.”
“Now, I will admit that the game may come off as boring to some, and not just due to lack of gameplay: there isn't a lot of conflict to drive the narrative forward, and it often strays into 'slice of life' scenes that have no real plot significance; but in the end, those were things that contributed heavily to why I liked it so much.”
“The overworld map which lets you pick a destination in Wellington was neat, though it feels kind of half-baked in its utilization in the story; most of the locations you can visit amount to little more than a few lines of text.”
- emotional146 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sadness. The storytelling is described as heartfelt and touching, featuring relatable characters and themes of love, self-discovery, and personal growth, which resonate strongly with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's capacity to make them cry, laugh, and reflect on their own relationships, marking it as a truly impactful and wholesome experience.
“One particular moment hit me really hard (not saying what to avoid spoilers) for a variety of personal reasons and I had to close the game for the night and sit on my bed trying not to cry for an hour because of how it made me feel, and that's amazing to me.”
“The story resonated so strongly with me, it made me cry multiple times.”
“Ready yourself for an emotional roller coaster ride as this game teaches you to understand your fear and tells you that it is okay to grieve and embrace it, that it's okay to break down, that it's okay to feel lost and angry--- yet everything is just perfectly so because it's a part of the process to find yourself when you're lost in the phase of finding yourself.”
- music136 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Sarah Mancuso, is widely praised for its beautiful melodies that enhance the emotional depth of the story, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature. The integration of music with the narrative is seamless, creating a cozy and immersive atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, elevating the overall experience of the visual novel.
“With beautifully composed OST by Sarah Mancuso synchronized with the plot beats and strong theme melodies for the protagonists, there's feeling in every step of the journey.”
“The music composed by Sarah Mancuso fits so well in every scene and elevates the emotions in the story.”
“It's heartwarming in a way that hit me far harder than I could've expected, accompanied by a lovely music score.”
“The music composed by Sarah Mancuso fits too well in every scene and elevates the emotions in the story.”
“The visuals and music of studio élan need no introduction - they are consistently the best of the best.”
“The music is well worth listening to on its own.”
- graphics48 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork and high-quality visuals, with many reviewers giving scores as high as 10/10. The art style is described as stunning and engaging, effectively complementing the emotional storytelling and character development. Overall, the visuals, along with the captivating music and voice acting, create a charming and immersive experience that enhances the narrative.
“The visuals and music of Studio Élan need no introduction - they are consistently the best of the best.”
“This game has a beautiful art style and the voice acting does an excellent job of conveying the emotions of the characters; I would highly recommend this visual novel to anyone.”
“Let's start by... talking about the game's graphics and its overall look:”
“If this happens to be your first time trying or even seeing a 'visual novel', bear in mind that that's basically all it is: a novel that also comes with some visuals.”
“Whether it's character models, backgrounds, or CG illustrations, the visuals are all a treat to look at.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a simple visual novel engine with modern quality-of-life features, offering limited branching choices that impact the story paths. While some players appreciate the consistency and narrative depth, others find the lack of traditional gameplay and conflict may lead to a slower, more mundane experience. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some rating it highly for its charm despite its shortcomings.
“Mechanically a fairly simple visual novel engine with modern quality of life features.”
“Despite its mixed execution in terms of branching mechanics, it deserves great praise for its consistency across paths.”
“I rate the game's gameplay as 9/10 (there could be more choices).”
“There's no gameplay in the traditional sense, and although you get to make a few choices that affect what path the story will take, you're mostly just along for the ride.”
“Now, I will admit that the game may come off as boring to some, and not just due to lack of gameplay: there isn't a lot of conflict to drive the narrative forward, and it often strays into 'slice of life' scenes that have no real plot significance.”
“Mechanically, it's a fairly simple visual novel engine with modern quality of life features.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, creating a deeply engaging experience. Players appreciate the clever writing, top-notch voice acting, and stunning visuals that enhance the comedic and heartwarming moments throughout the story. Overall, the blend of humor and emotional depth contributes to a memorable and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The writing is funny and amazing, the voice acting is top tier, the sprite work is extremely good, and the music is universally evocative.”
“Not only is the art in every scene absolutely stunning, the story is beautifully written with wild moments that genuinely shocked me, made me cry, and burst out laughing.”
“The story is equal parts cute, funny, and heartwarming; and each of the two romance routes come with hours of unique and quality content.”
- character development10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that it is well-executed and engaging, making it a joy to witness. The combination of polished writing, memorable voice acting, and stunning visuals enhances the overall storytelling experience, contributing to the game's status as a favorite among players.
“It looks and sounds amazing, but the storytelling and character development are just as impressive.”
“Her character development is really well done and just great to witness.”
“Another stellar soundtrack from Sarah Mancuso, well-polished writing from Josh and Adi and Loveland Isle, comfy backgrounds, beautiful CGs, lovable character designs, a pretty interface (including the voice lines on the home screen), and unforgettable voice acting make this one of my favorites of all time.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its engaging and fun design, as well as the inclusion of multiple choices that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the extended gameplay, which contributes to its lasting appeal.
“This game has great replay value.”
“Which brings us to the game's replayability.”
“It was also cute and fun, and longer with more choices, so it should have more replay value.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning art design, well-crafted characters, and relaxing music that complements the overall experience. However, some players noted instances of missing music that detracted from the immersive quality, suggesting potential bugs that could impact the atmosphere. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a cohesive and engaging environment.
“The characters, the atmosphere, the story, the art, the music... everything feels so right.”
“Art is amazing, characters are extremely well designed, and the music is very relaxing and fits the atmosphere perfectly!”
“The art style and music were fitting the game perfectly in my opinion, though there were some parts where no music was playing at all for me, which hurt the atmosphere.”
“The art style and music were fitting the game perfectly in my opinion, though there were some parts where no music was playing at all for me, which hurt the atmosphere (if that was a bug, feel free to correct me).”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users noting that every character delivers strong performances that enhance the overall experience. The combination of excellent writing and fantastic vocal work contributes significantly to the game's success.
