The Charming Empire
- April 18, 2017
- OperaHouse Corporation
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"The Charming Empire" is a visual novel game that tells the story of a woman named Aiko, who is suddenly swept into the imperial palace and made a concubine. She must navigate the dangerous politics of the court and find a way to return to her own world. Along the way, she forms relationships with various princes and politicians, each with their own secrets and desires. The game features multiple endings based on the player's choices.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Reviews
- The art and character designs are beautiful, making the game visually appealing.
- The voice acting is top-notch, featuring a talented cast that enhances the overall experience.
- Some character routes offer unique and engaging stories, providing a variety of experiences for players.
- The main character is often seen as annoying and lacking depth, making it hard for players to connect with her.
- The storylines can feel rushed and repetitive, with many plot points being predictable and lacking excitement.
- The game suffers from a clunky UI and translation issues, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- story82 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many users finding it basic, predictable, and at times rushed or disjointed. While some routes, particularly Soshi's, are noted for their emotional depth and well-written moments, others suffer from lack of character development and logical inconsistencies. Overall, the narrative is seen as simplistic and formulaic, often failing to engage players fully despite some appealing character interactions and voice acting.
“While the story itself is not the grandest piece of literature, I found it well-written, well-paced with few to no inconsistencies.”
“I loved the game; each route was pleasant, and although the plot is consistent between them, they were original enough to keep you interested.”
“The overarching plot is relatively simple, with a greater focus on the cute character moments and relationship development for the bulk of the game.”
“The soshi story really started well and then the heroine does something out of the blue that makes no sense outside of a narrative need for it, then spends her days sobbing about the consequences of her stupid actions.”
“The writing is juvenile and simplistic to the extreme with a paper-thin plot that takes forever to get moving, and when it does is so insanely illogical I just want to shoot these characters to end the pain they're putting me through.”
“Individually, each story seems rushed and incomplete and the romance, which is the forefront of its focus, unrealistic and forced.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and not always fitting the scenes, particularly during key emotional moments. While the soundtrack is considered an improvement over previous titles, issues like loudness and looping detract from the overall experience. Some users suggest turning off the in-game music to enhance emotional scenes with personal playlists instead.
“Even though repetitive, I liked the music.”
“The soundtrack is okay.”
“The art is very nice, the music is fine, and the voice acting is honestly wonderful.”
“The biggest issue was the OST in my opinion.”
“Sometimes, the music doesn't feel right for the scene it is played in, and it's been especially true for some endings such as Kei's and Soshi's.”
“Music was an improvement from previous Dogenzaka Lab titles, but still suffers from blatant looping.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and character designs as appealing, while others criticized the inconsistency between the sprites and backgrounds, which detracted from the overall visual experience.
“The art style is good, and the guys are overall handsome.”
“The sprites looked noticeably distinct from the background, which distracted from the artwork itself.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted, heartbreaking story that evokes strong feelings, often leading players to tears. While some moments are deeply impactful, others may feel unrealistic or overly convenient, detracting from the overall emotional experience. Players are encouraged to enhance their experience by pairing the game with a personal emotional soundtrack.
“I'm not gonna say anything more to not spoil it, but if you want to enjoy the endings to their fullest, turn off the game's music and put on some emotional OST from your favorite playlist.”
“The story is really well written and heartbreaking at several moments.”
“Oh, I almost fell and he caught me like four different times... I ran to his room because there was a storm... I cry in every other scene... I need to be saved... I faint from surprise... I run into plot devices like it's my job haha so clumsy... Having all of those traits and then coming out with insightful or shockingly mature revelations out of absolutely nowhere is unrealistic and annoying, and just to further the plot obviously because she just goes right back to her sad, emotional, pitiful, anxious, clumsy, childish self.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game received mixed reviews, with some players noting a lack of growth for the main character and an unengaging story that failed to compensate for this shortcoming. However, the character designs and sprites were praised for their consistency and quality. Overall, the aspect of character development was rated 3 out of 5.
“The character development is clean and crisp, with designs and sprites that are consistent with the CGs.”
“The depth of the characters really shines through as the story progresses, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming clearer as you play.”
“I found little to no character development in the main character, and the story wasn't engaging enough, nor were the other characters compelling enough to compensate.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and monotonous, with some even reporting that it made them feel bored to the point of falling asleep.
“The game is tedious, and I fell asleep while grinding.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive and draining.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is often praised for its engaging mechanics and fluid controls, providing a satisfying experience that keeps players invested. However, some users note occasional pacing issues and repetitive elements that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay strikes a balance between challenge and accessibility, appealing to a wide range of players.
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite its origins as a mobile game, users report being pleasantly surprised by its performance, indicating that the optimization is better than anticipated.
“As this was originally a mobile game, I didn't expect great performance, but I was pleasantly surprised.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game initially appeals to players, but it often relies on clichéd portrayals of female characters as "stupid bimbos," which can detract from its overall comedic value.
