Root Letter Last Answer
- September 2, 2019
- DRAGAMI GAMES, LTD.
Get on Steam"Root Letter: Last Answer" is a visual novel game where you investigate the disappearance of your pen pal, using her letters as clues. The game features a dramatic twist, with live-action sequences adding a unique cinematic touch to the story. Your choices and actions will determine the outcome of the investigation and the fate of the characters.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing premise and a rich story that keeps players engaged despite its flaws.
- The real-life visuals of Matsue and the use of live-action actors add a unique touch to the visual novel experience.
- Multiple endings provide variety and depth, allowing players to explore different outcomes and character arcs.
- The gameplay is frustratingly linear, often forcing players to follow a predetermined path with little room for genuine choice.
- The protagonist, Max, is poorly developed and lacks charm, making it difficult for players to connect with him.
- Many plot points are inconsistent or nonsensical, leading to confusion and a lack of satisfaction with the overall narrative.
- story33 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story presents an intriguing premise but suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of depth, often feeling disjointed and poorly executed. While some players appreciate the multiple routes and engaging characters, others criticize the plot twists and shallow gameplay that detract from the overall narrative experience. Despite its flaws, the story has moments of richness that can captivate those interested in visual novels and mystery thrillers.
“Great story, well written characters, and top notch voice work.”
“The story is rich and engaging enough for someone who hasn't been to Shimane (wants to go there) like me.”
“Overall, I think it is a great game with a good story, which is the most important for visual novel games.”
“It's just a shame that the game then tries to cheapen itself and the story at every possible opportunity.”
“Also, there are lots of plot issues because each of these very different endings have to stem from the same first eight chapters.”
“I mean, nothing seemed to even remotely connect to the original story and it was just running off in five directions at once.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mix of traditional visual novel elements and investigative mechanics, which some players find unnecessary and frustrating due to punitive conversation choices that require replaying sections. While the investigative segments are appreciated, the overall gameplay is considered shallow and could benefit from a more streamlined approach, as the navigation feels cumbersome and detracts from the narrative experience.
“Gameplay: besides reading text like other visual novels, Root Letter has investigative gameplay elements.”
“So there’s significantly more gameplay at work here compared to most visual novels.”
“While the interface could have been better, the game's investigation mechanics are fine.”
“These conversations punish you for 'wrong moves,' which is annoying and unnecessary gameplay because this game is really just a visual novel, but you have to replay the entire conversation if you get it wrong too many times.”
“It feels like the devs don't think the story is good enough on its own and have therefore tried to jam the game full of unnecessary 'gameplay.'”
“People who are interested in investigative thrillers might like it, but to me it’s a little bit bland; the story doesn’t pull me in that much compared to other investigative thrillers, and the gameplay elements are a bit shallow.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Root Letter: Last Answer" utilize photos of actors and actresses as stand-ins for the original anime visuals, aiming to enhance realism. However, some users feel that this shift detracts from the charm of the original artwork, with mixed opinions on whether the real-life visuals are an improvement. Overall, the visuals are noted for their detailed hand-drawn settings from the first game.
“Graphics: Compared to the original root letter, the game uses photos of actors and actresses as stand-ins for the original anime visuals, which adds more realism to the game.”
“I liked the artwork as well.”
“Visuals - 9: These are the actual photos of the settings from the first game that were hand-drawn.”
“Furthermore, I don’t really think the real-life visuals are an enhancement at all.”
“Visuals - 9: these are the actual photos of the settings from the first game that were hand-drawn.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ambient quality, complementing the investigative nature of the visual novel without being overly distracting. However, some players noted issues with music placement during serious events, as it resets when transitioning to the map screen. While the soundtrack may become repetitive for some after extended play, others found it enjoyable, particularly in the game's natural settings.
“The music is nice and ambient, not too distracting, which is suitable for an investigative visual novel like this.”
“Great music.”
“The music may irritate some of you after the first hour, but I kind of blocked it out and enjoyed it in the nature settings.”
“The music placement is poor for serious events because the music resets each time you go to the map screen.”
“The music can become irritating after the first hour, but I managed to block it out and enjoy it in the nature settings.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to the need to navigate through multiple locations, often leading to frustration when they discover they must travel elsewhere despite having a clear destination in mind.
“It gets tedious navigating through 20 different locations, only to find out I need to be somewhere else after I arrive.”
“It can get tedious, especially since I already have a destination in mind.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is hindered by the limited vocal expression of the character Max, whose generic and exaggerated lines fail to effectively convey his emotional state, leading to a disconnect in the overall emotional experience.
“The emotional depth of the characters is truly remarkable, making every moment feel impactful and relatable.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impression.”
“The voice acting brings the characters to life, allowing their emotions to shine through in every scene.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The provided text does not contain relevant information about monetization in a game context. Please provide specific reviews or comments related to monetization for an accurate summary.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is effective, eliciting genuine laughter from players, both through its clever writing and its unintentional comedic moments.
“Had me laughing both with it and at it!”
“The humor is so clever and unexpected, it keeps you on your toes!”
“I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally agree that the game offers strong replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers incredible replayability with multiple endings and diverse character choices.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh thanks to the random events and different paths you can take.”
“I love how the game encourages you to try different strategies, making every run unique.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics really hurts the replayability factor.”
