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 strong and witty protagonist, Yurika, who is proactive and engaging, making her a refreshing change from typical otome heroines.
- The writing and localization are top-notch, filled with humor and clever dialogue that keeps players entertained throughout the game.
- The art and voice acting are beautiful and well-executed, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- 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 some players found dragged on unnecessarily.
- story450 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Taisho x Alice" is praised for its unique twists on classic fairy tales, engaging characters, and a blend of humor and darker themes that unfold as the game progresses. While the initial routes may feel slow and somewhat confusing, players are encouraged to continue through the episodes to fully appreciate the depth and intricacies of the overarching narrative. Overall, the writing, voice acting, and art contribute to a captivating 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 and was super interesting because the heroine's circumstances are different based on the guy's route you choose.”
“The game takes a twist on classic fairy tales which makes it a great story to read through (especially if you like fairy tale storyboards).”
“The story is just boring.”
“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.”
“The plot just kinda meanders about and takes forever to get anywhere; I found myself getting bored about halfway through each route.”
- humor238 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 found the humor to be genuinely funny and charming, some noted that certain jokes and translation choices could feel cringe-worthy or forced. Overall, the game successfully balances lightheartedness with emotional depth, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate 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.”
- music92 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 3 % 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 considered pleasant and fitting, some players noted occasional repetitiveness and mismatches with the story's mood. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, complementing its stunning artwork and engaging voice acting.
“The opening and ending song were both so catchy, I usually tend to sometimes 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 music is pleasant to the ears and the voice acting is amazing as well.”
“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, even after fiddling with settings.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive high praise for their stunning art style and beautiful character designs, which many players find captivating and fitting for the game's themes. While some critiques mention issues with translation and anachronistic elements that disrupt immersion, the overall visual presentation, combined with excellent voice acting and a pleasant soundtrack, contributes to a positive reception. Despite some technical limitations, the artwork is consistently described as gorgeous and a major highlight of the experience.
“The artwork is beautiful, voice acting is excellent, and the music is amazing!”
“The visuals are absolutely gorgeous!”
“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 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 (think of things like 'I know you're #teambread, but why not try some rice' or 'you trying to smash that, dude?') 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 4th wall breaking, as well as some parts making it too modern for a game with an aesthetic rather set in the 19-20th century.”
- emotional56 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both heartwarming and impactful, often eliciting laughter and tears throughout the story. While some moments are described as sweet and touching, others highlight problematic character interactions that detract from the overall emotional experience. Despite these criticisms, players generally feel a sense of fulfillment and connection to the characters, making the journey enjoyable and memorable.
“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!”
“Each route has some kind of deep meaning to it and makes you emotional, so I recommend it, 100%.”
- character development24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters exhibit well-crafted growth that resonates with players, others feel underdeveloped. The writing and localization enhance the experience, making the character arcs engaging, particularly for those who appreciate humor and fairy tale elements. Overall, the character designs are praised for their creativity and expressiveness, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
“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.”
“Personally, I didn't care for Cinderella, but his character development is well done.”
“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.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % 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 manageable for achieving good endings. However, there are criticisms regarding game-breaking mechanics and subpar story and art quality, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players rated the gameplay positively, indicating a mix of enjoyment and frustration.
“Gameplay hours: 12.5 hours.”
“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.”
“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.”
- optimization8 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 engaging dialogues and chemistry between characters contribute to a casual and enjoyable atmosphere, making the game's presentation feel polished and well-executed.
“I think this game's strength lies with its casual and enjoyable dialogues and 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.”
- stability6 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 several bugs, including crashes when attempting to change 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.”
“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 not try to change 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 gone through all of them, but they wouldn't unlock.”
“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 not try to change from full screen when playing the game, and everything else should be fine.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its enchanting storybook-like fantasy quality, enhanced by beautiful watercolor art and captivating music. Reviewers highlight the complex characters and a consistently playful tone, resulting in an overall exceptional atmosphere rated 5/5.
“The game was able to preserve a wonderful story-book-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).”
“Atmosphere: 5/5”
“I liked the complex characters and the constant playful atmosphere.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game appears to rely heavily on introducing gender-swapped male leads as supporting characters, which some players feel are poorly developed and serve more as promotional tools for future content rather than meaningful additions to the story. This approach has led to criticism that the supporting characters feel contrived and lack depth, detracting from the overall experience.
