Return to Shironagasu Island
- March 2, 2020
- HYOGO ONIMUSHI
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Return to Shironagasu Island" is a mystery adventure game and visual novel where players step into the shoes of detective Sen Ikeda, who receives a mysterious invitation to an isolated island from a millionaire. Together with his assistant Neneko Izumozaki, they explore the island, solve numerous murders and mysteries, and uncover the sinister secrets and hidden truth of Shironagasu Island. The game features captivating characters and a thrilling story, with a focus on survival as players try to escape the ominous island.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The story is engaging and keeps players hooked from start to finish, with well-timed music enhancing the immersive experience.
- The characters are interesting and well-developed, particularly the dynamic between the main character, Sen Ikeda, and his assistant, Neneko.
- The game features timed decision events that add tension and require careful attention to detail, making it a thrilling experience.
- The game suffers from some logical inconsistencies in the plot and a lack of character interactions, which could have benefited from more development.
- There are issues with the English translation, leading to awkward dialogue and occasional confusion in the story.
- The extra content includes unnecessary sexualization of minors, which detracts from the overall experience and may be uncomfortable for some players.
- story578 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mix of engaging mystery and horror elements, featuring a detective and his assistant navigating a complex plot filled with twists and character interactions. While many players found the narrative intriguing and well-paced, some criticized it for logical inconsistencies, over-the-top moments, and a lack of character depth. Overall, the game is seen as a charming yet flawed visual novel that successfully captivates players despite its shortcomings.
“The story is great, it had me intrigued right from the beginning.”
“Superb voice acting, great story, really good character development and depth plus most of the characters are very interesting, good dialog, and it has a very well written plot for a mystery-detective visual novel.”
“The story is the definitive highlight of the game.”
“The game, or at least the English version, is horribly plagued by bugs which change the core gameplay from 'figure out the correct choices based on the story' to 'save and reload a million times during every single conversation until you figure out the exact order of irrelevant dialogue options that won't crash the game.'”
“Maybe I should have expected it, but the fact that this game attempts to tackle a topic as heavy as child trafficking while also contriving one sexual moment after the other between its middle-aged protagonist and every underage girl in the story felt so gross and insulting to me that I couldn't keep going after a certain point.”
“The weakest point of the game is the story that it is trying to tell.”
- music94 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively setting the tone for various scenes, from eerie and suspenseful to calm and relaxing. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is well-composed, avoiding repetitive loops common in visual novels, and features memorable tracks, including a few with vocals. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience and complements the game's compelling narrative and character dynamics.
“The music can be very poignant and intense when needed and is overall pretty great.”
“This game has a very good soundtrack which fits the atmosphere entirely.”
“The great: awesome soundtrack - easily setting mood of scene to feel dreadful, urgent or sensual when necessary.”
“The music varies between suitable and odd.”
“Very hard to play due to the music; it's really scary.”
“I think jump scares are a poor way to frighten the player, especially here since this visual novel already does a great job making you feel unsettled with its soundtrack and backgrounds.”
- gameplay72 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel features a mix of dialogue choices and point-and-click mechanics, which some players find engaging while others describe as frustrating and tedious. Many reviews highlight issues with bugs and inconsistent pacing that detract from the experience, though the story and character interactions are generally well-received. Overall, the gameplay can be hit or miss, but it offers a unique blend of mystery elements that may appeal to fans of the genre.
“The gameplay consists of investigating scenes (like point and click games) for clues and asking questions through clicking on dialog options.”
“The gameplay is very engaging without being super stressful, as this is more of a visual novel than a horror game.”
“Limited time events gave a great feeling of urgency, and broke the monotony of normal gameplay - loved the moment of finding a solution for a certain situation in the radio room.”
“The game, or at least the English version, is horribly plagued by bugs which change the core gameplay from 'figure out the correct choices based on the story' to 'save and reload a million times during every single conversation until you figure out the exact order of irrelevant dialogue options that won't crash the game.'”
“This is exacerbated by the fact that the gameplay outside of the novel itself is really tedious and nonsensical.”
“Sadly, the gameplay is very frustrating.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the variety and quality of character artwork while others find the overall art style simplistic or cartoony. Many note that while the visuals are decent and occasionally enjoyable, they lack the impact seen in promotional materials, and some panels appear less polished. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the game's low price, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate its unique style.
“The storyline is very interesting and the artwork is well done.”
“The cast of characters are incredible, the storytelling is magnificent and the visuals are quite nice.”
“I’m rather fond of the simple but visually distinct artwork, which definitely stands out among many of the generic looking visual novels in my collection.”
“But the graphics aren't all that amazing.”
“The simple art style wasn't exactly bad, it just didn't have the impact it could have had if it was as good as the cards.”
“Not a huge fan of the art style either, just a personal preference.”
- humor34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a well-balanced mix of humor, emotional depth, and suspense, with many players highlighting its funny dialogue and quirky character personalities. While some moments may come off as immature or vapid, the overall comedic elements are well-received, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable experience. The humor effectively complements the story's darker themes, making for a roller-coaster ride of emotions that keeps players invested.
“The characters are so amazing and the sentimentality, action, humor, all of it was so well done.”
“Went into this completely blind and just about died laughing on numerous occasions.”
“There's a good balance of humor in the story as well, makes for an enjoyable read.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong sound design and effective soundtrack, which enhance the overall mood and suspense. While the initial half establishes a compelling tone filled with personality and creepiness, some reviewers note that the latter half becomes overly extravagant, challenging the player's suspension of disbelief. Overall, the game successfully creates an immersive and atmospheric experience, filled with tension and engaging lore.
“The atmosphere is great; I was creeped out a few times and jumped in my seat twice!”
“There were many things that Shironagasu Island nailed: it was atmospheric; it knew how to create suspense and keep you on the edge of your seat; it had buildup and it had proper payoff.”
“All of those factors and tiny details lead to a very atmospheric game oozing with soul and lore.”
“I expect visual novels to be a bit over the top, especially one that was apparently inspired by ryukishi07's work, but in the later half this one strapped on a jetpack with afterburners and ascended far enough into the atmosphere to suffer severe oxygen deprivation before exploding in a shockingly grisly display.”
“On the good, or at least okay side of things, the first half or so does an okay job of establishing tone and atmosphere.”
“There's also very solid atmosphere with the music, sound effects and occasional jumpscares.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a roller-coaster of emotions, blending horror, humor, and heartfelt moments, with a surprisingly beautiful and touching story that captivates players. However, inconsistent pacing and a lack of genuine character reactions to dark themes diminish the emotional impact for some, leaving a mixed reception regarding its deeper messages. While there are standout emotional scenes, many players feel that the potential for a more substantial emotional experience is often lost.
“Also has some really funny moments, tons of emotional moments, some scary moments, etc. Basically, it will take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.”
“Without revealing too much, I will say that the story is surprisingly beautiful and heartwarming, while also having twists that I never saw coming. It's easy to fall in love with the game and its characters.”
“You are solving a spooky mystery that progresses into a horror and finishes with a very touching ending.”
- character development16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and the interesting nature of the characters, supported by superb voice acting and a well-crafted plot. However, some players feel that certain character arcs, particularly after pivotal events, fail to evolve meaningfully, undermining the overall development. Additionally, while character designs are noted for their appeal, they also draw criticism for being overly focused on a specific aesthetic that may border on fetishization.
“Superb voice acting, great story, really good character development and depth plus most of the characters are very interesting, good dialogue, and it has a very well written plot for a mystery-detective visual novel.”
“Quite good character development and background.”
“Great character design and story.”
“After [spoiler] Giselle died [/spoiler] and told her to be nicer, yet she still acted like a jerk to everyone, which threw any hope of character development out the window.”
“While the game does touch on a number of very dark topics including [spoiler] child prostitution [/spoiler], there is actually no meaningful character development to accompany these themes.”
“The character designs are fetishized to a point, which detracts from any potential depth in character development.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be particularly tedious and outdated, with excessive trial-and-error mechanics that hinder progress and enjoyment. The requirement to interact with numerous objects before advancing leads to frustration, overshadowing the potential for engaging mysteries and meaningful choices. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a significant detriment to the experience.
“I've played mystery VNs before where I had to click around, but in this one it felt especially tedious.”
“The timed events are tedious, the fanservice is particularly cringeworthy, and every time you think the plot couldn't possibly get any more ridiculous, it one-ups itself.”
“However, the game won't allow you to proceed until you've interacted with all the other objects first, which makes these segments just a tedious waste of trial and error.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to its linear structure, with only a few avoidable bad endings to explore. However, players find the engaging writing, memorable characters, and overall experience justify the initial playthrough.
“Unfortunately, there isn't really any replay value since it's pretty linear outside of a few avoidable bad endings, but the experience, witty writing, characters, and length are worth the price tag.”
