TAISHO x ALICE episode 1
- November 27, 2019
- Primula
- 11h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Taisho x Alice Episode 1," players enter a fantasy world based on classic fairy tales with a Japanese twist. They assume the role of Arisu, a modern-day Japanese girl who must help cure the ailments of various storybook characters, including Primula, the titular character of this episode. The game combines elements of visual novels and adventure games, offering multiple choices that impact the story's outcome.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a witty and proactive main character, Yurika, who breaks the mold of typical otome heroines.
- The writing is humorous and engaging, with clever twists on classic fairy tales that keep the story interesting.
- The art and voice acting are of high quality, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The game is relatively short, with only two routes available in this episode, which may not justify the price for some players.
- There are instances of awkward translations, including the use of Japanese phrases in parentheses that can break immersion.
- Some players may find the pacing of the story uneven, particularly in Cinderella's route, which can feel dragged out.
- story253 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Taisho x Alice" is described as lighthearted and engaging, with a unique twist on classic fairy tales, though some players find it initially confusing and lacking in high stakes. While the first episode serves as an introduction, it hints at darker themes and deeper narratives in future installments, making it essential to play through the series to fully appreciate the unfolding plot. Overall, the writing is praised for its humor and character development, despite some critiques regarding pacing and coherence in certain routes.
“Taisho x Alice is one of the best otome visual novels I've ever played in my entire life because of the amazing story, characters, voice acting, music, and art-- everything.”
“The story managed to surprise me with its reveals I did not see coming, but when I thought about past scenes, the direction the story will go was hinted earlier on and perfectly made sense to me.”
“The story is engaging and keeps you on your toes, with unexpected plot twists that make it a great read.”
“Overall, it's a very lighthearted story with no high stakes, no interesting hooks, and not much drama that makes you anxious.”
“The story also doesn't make sense in certain areas, likely due to information being withheld from the player until they play further episodes.”
“I read so many good things about it just to feel incredibly disappointed at the lack of actual story as well as the fact it's not even written that well.”
- humor133 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue and comedic interactions between characters, particularly the main character (MC) and love interests. While some found certain jokes and translations cringe-worthy or overdone, the overall consensus is that the humor effectively balances lightheartedness with emotional depth, making for an engaging experience. The MC's unique personality and the humorous take on classic fairy tales contribute significantly to the game's appeal, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of specific comedic elements.
“The mc is hilarious and her personality is a nice change of pace from typical otome mcs.”
“The banter between characters is perfect, the humor was genuinely funny, the romantic pace was realistic, and the plot was really, really good.”
“The humor in the game is also extremely funny - it's mostly very modern and lighthearted, and doesn't take itself too seriously.”
“The dialogue is unfunny, unromantic, and frankly unengaging.”
- music53 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in "Taisho x Alice" is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and fitting background scores that complement the story. While some noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music, including catchy opening and ending songs, significantly contributes to the immersive experience of the visual novel. Additionally, the voice acting is frequently mentioned as exceptional, further elevating the game's auditory appeal.
“The music is pleasant to the ears and the voice acting is amazing as well.”
“The game was able to preserve a wonderful story-book-like fantasy atmosphere throughout, aided by the beautiful music and watercolor-esque art.”
“Entertaining plot, stunning graphic design, and the soundtrack is like heaven to one's ears, 100% recommended.”
“The background music and sounds do get repetitive after a while but they are nice to listen to.”
“The music was decent, but it can be improved to fit the mood of the story, as there were some scenes where the music and the mood of the story didn't completely go together.”
“I wish the voices were louder than the music (yes, even after fiddling with settings) (but I suspect headphones would help).”
- graphics33 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and ability to match the setting and mood, with many reviewers highlighting the gorgeous art style and character designs. While some noted the reuse of locations and a limited number of CGs, the overall visual presentation, along with the soundtrack and voice acting, contributes to a captivating experience. Despite some criticisms regarding the story and mechanics, the artwork remains a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
“The artwork is gorgeous, the soundtrack is pleasant, the voice acting is great, and the writing is excellent.”
“Even though several locations have been reused in both routes, the graphics in this game are excellent and perfectly match the setting and mood.”
“Entertaining plot, stunning graphic design, and the soundtrack is like heaven to one's ears, 100% recommended.”
“Game-breaking mechanics, subpar story writing, subpar art style.”
“I could only recommend it on a sale if you are really into the setting, the art style, and going in expecting harsh dialogue.”
“I know it's called Taisho x Alice, but the western fairy tale aesthetic coupled with a witty yet liberal translation that uses wildly anachronistic slang makes it next to impossible to maintain the suspension of disbelief required to think this takes place in the 1910s.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt romance and humor, with players noting both touching and funny moments throughout the story. While some critiques highlight issues with character interactions and emotional manipulation, many reviewers found the overall experience to be fulfilling and impactful, evoking laughter and tears alike. The voice acting is particularly praised for enhancing emotional moments, contributing to a charming and engaging narrative.
“The romance was also very sweet and heartfelt.”
“It's emotionally fulfilling and impactful, and you come out truly feeling like you've reached your 'happily ever after', regardless of who your favorite boy was.”
“Both routes were truly delightful; I laughed, I cried, I got butterflies!”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a standard visual novel experience with limited mechanics, featuring two main routes with multiple endings, though the overall experience is relatively short, averaging around 7 to 12.5 hours. Players noted the absence of hints for decision-making, but found it manageable to achieve the good endings. However, the gameplay is marred by game-breaking mechanics and a lackluster story and art style.
“The gameplay is a typical visual novel gameplay, featuring 5 endings in Cinderella's route (5 bad and 1 good), and 4 endings for Red Riding Hood's route (3 bad and 1 good).”
“About the gameplay, you don’t have hints to show you if you’re going the right way or not, but I didn’t find it difficult to achieve the 'good endings' in this episode.”
“It's really short (less than 12 hours of gameplay if you aren't easily distracted like I am), and you only get 2 routes.”
“The gameplay is a typical visual novel gameplay, it has 5 endings in Cinderella's route (5 bad and 1 good), and 4 endings for Red Riding Hood's route (3 bad and 1 good).”
“The game did not implement any special mechanics, but certain characters will communicate with you - the heroine if you went for a bad ending.”
“Its really short (less than 12 hours of gameplay if you aren't easily distracted like I am), and you only get 2 routes.”
- character development13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it lacking, others appreciate the depth and growth of certain characters, particularly Cinderella. The character designs are widely praised for their excellence and humor, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the writing and localization enhance the character development, making it engaging for players who enjoy fairy tales and witty narratives.
“It had great character development and I really grew to love Cinderella.”
“On top of that, the writing and character development is extremely well done, and the localization makes funny, relevant translation choices.”
“Some character development is lacking.”
“I look forward to seeing his character development in his route at some point.”
“Personally, I didn't care for Cinderella, but his character development is well done.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highlighted by its strong voice acting performances, particularly that of Alice, which enhances the overall experience. The chemistry between characters and engaging dialogues contribute to a casual and enjoyable atmosphere, making the game's presentation feel polished and well-executed.
“I think this game's strength lies in its casual and enjoyable dialogues, along with great performance from the voice actors.”
“The voice acting cast is stacked, and they do not disappoint, especially Alice's performance.”
“Her chemistry with Alice (and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu's stellar voice performance) made me want their banter to continue for hours every time Alice appeared on screen.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates solid stability on the Steam Deck despite being labeled as unsupported, but users report notable bugs, including crashes when changing character names and issues with unlocking the last two achievements. To avoid problems, players are advised to stick with the default character name and avoid switching from full screen mode.
“The game runs great on Steam Deck even though it says unsupported.”
“I experienced no crashes or major bugs during my playthrough, which is impressive.”
“The performance is smooth, and I haven't encountered any significant issues.”
“It is also a bit buggy; most notably, I ran into an issue where it would crash every time I tried to change the character's name. I would just go with the default name and avoid changing from full screen when playing the game, and everything else should be fine.”
“The last two achievements are also buggy. I'm sure I've completed all of them, but they wouldn't unlock.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its enchanting storybook-like quality, enhanced by beautiful watercolor art and captivating music. Reviewers highlight the complex characters and a playful tone, contributing to an immersive experience that earns a perfect score.
“The game was able to preserve a wonderful storybook-like fantasy atmosphere throughout, aided by the beautiful music and watercolor-esque art. (By the way, if you haven't already noticed, the game is drop-dead gorgeous.)”
“I liked the complex characters and the constant playful atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere: 5/5”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy appears to rely on introducing gender-swapped male leads as supporting characters, who lack depth and development, making them feel more like promotional tools for future content rather than integral parts of the story. This approach may detract from the overall narrative experience, as it prioritizes potential future sales over character development.
“The monetization system feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
“It's frustrating that the game locks essential features behind a paywall, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the full experience without spending extra money.”
“The reliance on microtransactions detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game, as it feels like a constant push to spend rather than a focus on gameplay.”
