TAISHO x ALICE episode 1

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In "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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 245 reviews

story78 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging story that twists classic fairy tales, providing a refreshing take on familiar characters.
The main character, Yurika, is well-written, proactive, and humorous, making her a standout heroine in the otome genre.
The art, voice acting, and overall production quality are high, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.

The game is relatively short, with only two routes available in this episode, which some players feel does not justify the price.
There are instances of awkward dialogue and cultural references that may break immersion for some players.
The pacing can feel uneven at times, particularly in Cinderella's route, which may drag on in certain sections.

story
225 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of "Taisho x Alice" is widely praised for its unique and engaging narrative, blending classic fairy tales with darker themes and unexpected plot twists. While the initial routes may feel slow and somewhat confusing, players are encouraged to continue through the episodes, as the story deepens and reveals its intricacies over time. The characters are well-developed, and the humor, art, and voice acting enhance the overall experience, making it a standout title in the otome genre.
- “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 was very well written! It has enough mystery behind it to keep you hooked.”
- “I really love all the story and characters that the game dives deep into, and just when I thought I knew what was going on, the plot turned everything around full of surprises.”
- “The plot is nonsensical and the localization is so juvenile it's unbearable.”
- “I read so many good things about it just to read it and feel incredibly disappointed at the lack of actual story as well as the fact it's not even written that well.”
- “In cinder's route, the story dragged on wayyyy too long with unnecessary events after the climax point.”
humor
119 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Taisho x Alice" is a standout feature, characterized by witty dialogue and a clever, engaging main character who often breaks the mold of typical otome protagonists. While many players appreciate the lighthearted and modern comedic elements, some find certain jokes and translation choices cringe-worthy or overdone. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with emotional depth, making it a memorable experience for those who enjoy a comedic take on fairy tales.
- “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.”
- “Taisho x Alice is a light-hearted and funny otome game.”
- “The dialogue is unfunny, unromantic, and frankly unengaging.”
- “The attempts at humor fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I found the jokes to be stale and lacking any real wit.”
music
46 mentions
65 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
0 % 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 catchy opening and ending songs. While the soundtrack is generally described as pleasant and fitting, some players noted occasional repetitiveness and mismatches between the music and certain story scenes. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, complementing its stunning artwork and engaging voice acting.
- “The music is pleasant to the ears and the voice acting is amazing as well.”
- “The opening and ending song were both so catchy; I usually tend to skip them, but this time I couldn't.”
- “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).”
graphics
28 mentions
61 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many users praising the beautiful art style, character designs, and vibrant color schemes that enhance the overall aesthetic. While some critiques mention issues with translation and anachronistic elements that disrupt immersion, the stunning visuals and high-quality voice acting contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, making the game visually captivating and enjoyable.
- “The artwork is gorgeous, the soundtrack is pleasant, the voice acting is great, and the writing is excellent.”
- “The art style and voice cast really outdid themselves and made something beautiful.”
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous!”
- “Game-breaking mechanics, subpar story writing, subpar art style.”
- “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.”
- “Though some things I would have to criticize may be the translation which makes them swear a bit more than they should, the Japanese expressions in romaji implemented in a kind of weird way, then the text abbreviations and fourth wall breaking, as well as some parts making it too modern for a game with an aesthetic rather set in the 19-20th century.”
emotional
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt moments and humor, creating a balance that resonates with players. While some scenes evoke laughter and charm, others delve into deeper emotional themes, leaving players feeling fulfilled and connected to the characters. However, there are criticisms regarding certain character interactions that detract from the overall emotional impact, particularly concerning themes of manipulation and boundary violations.
- “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!”
character development
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters are well-developed and endearing, others feel lacking. The writing and localization enhance the experience, contributing to strong character arcs, particularly for Cinderella, which many players found compelling. Overall, the character designs and humor are praised, adding to the game's charm despite some inconsistencies in character growth.
- “I look forward to seeing his character development in his route at some point.”
- “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.”
gameplay
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered short, averaging around 7 to 12.5 hours, with limited routes and a lack of directional hints, which some players found made it easier to achieve good endings. While there are criticisms regarding game-breaking mechanics and subpar story writing, the gameplay itself received a relatively positive rating from some users. Overall, the experience is described as concise but lacking depth in certain areas.
- “About the gameplay, you just don’t have hints to show you if you’re going the right way or not, but I didn’t find it difficult to get 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.”
- “Gameplay hours: 12.5 hours.”
- “Game-breaking mechanics, subpar story writing, subpar art style.”
- “Gameplay is short: I got only 7 hours in, and I was taking my time.”
- “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.”
optimization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % 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, showcasing effective optimization in character interactions.
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates solid performance 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. Overall, while stability is generally good, players may encounter frustrating glitches.
- “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 stability 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.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % 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”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game 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 emphasizes potential future purchases over meaningful character engagement.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
- “It's frustrating to see that the best content is locked behind a paywall, making it clear that the developers prioritize profit over player experience.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that disrupt the flow of play, making it hard to enjoy without constantly being reminded to spend more.”