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| Time to use this :D |
It’s time for a new review! This time I’m bringing you another one of my unexpectedly favorite games. It’s called Steins;Gate Elite, and it’s a Visual Novel belonging to the Science Fiction genre. I played the Nintendo Switch version, therefore that one is the version that I’m going to review, although it’s also available on PS4 and Steam. This is the remastered version of the original, which could be found on many consoles such as PS Vita.
Scenario
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| Totally normal microwave oven. |
Art
The artwork the player sees on the Elite version is actually the one from the anime; in fact, they decided to use scenes and screenshots from the anime to replace the original art. In a way, it’s incredibly enjoyable to play, as it looks like an expanded version of the anime, where the characters actually move and act in real-time whilst you read. I recommend using Auto-Mode so that it flows like an anime. Despite the advantages of this artistic choice, it is also true that the player misses out on the original art; the game’s art was purposely drawn in a certain way, and by replacing it we lose part of the original charm. I still decided to play the remastered version as I wanted to play it on my Nintendo Switch. Ultimately, it’s the player’s choice, since both versions are incredibly well-made.
Music
The title screen in this game manages to instantly set the tone of the game; while on this screen the player will listen to Gate of Steiner Piano Version, which in a way could be said to be the game’s theme. I find title screens to be really important to a game, especially the music the developers choose for them; this one is actually a good example, as the emotional and somewhat creepy tune makes the player wonder, will this game be cheerful and positive the whole time? Or will the characters face numerous trials to reach the goal? At this point, the player wants to play the game to find out. The other tunes of the game are generally good, and manage to convey the feelings of the protagonist incredibly well; it’s not advisable to play this visual novel with the music off.
The Main Character
In my opinion, the characters are one of the aspects that make this game stand out. As soon as the player starts the game, they get to experience the main character’s real inner thoughts; this puts the player in a unique position, which is crucial for the story being told.
During the game, Okabe Rintarou, the main character, travels back and forth to many different timelines, where events he’s already experienced instead happen differently. No one has any memory of what Okabe saw, and this eventually causes him to feel detached from causality. As the player, however, we experience everything he sees, sharing his confusion and feelings of disorientation, questioning our own selves while he does the same; thus we become separated from the causality of the game itself as well. In all the times when this becomes a real problem, it is primarily the reader who understands the situation.
Playing as Okabe also proves to be a good idea because of his personality; on the outside, especially at the beginning of the story, he looks arrogant, talks in delusions and his actions feel unexplained and out of context. Would you think otherwise of anyone who says that they are a mad scientist called Hououin Kyouma and the “organization” is coming to kill them? On the inside, however, lies his true personality; it is incredibly common to see that his inner thoughts contradict his actions. In reality, he is an immensely good-hearted person, willing to do anything to save the people he cares about. His friends, though, mostly see his arrogant persona and can’t completely process why he does certain things; however, the readers have no issues with it as they already know his true personality. This makes you ultimately feel connected to the storyline, as it mostly revolves around what Okabe experiences. If there was an outside narrator, this story would not work as well.
Other characters are explained best in the various endings of the game, as they play an important role in their own endings.
Endings
There are three types of endings, but it could be said that none of them are necessarily bad endings. The first three endings the player experiences stem from a specific action that Okabe either did or didn't do; they branch out completely from the game and make it shorter as a result. The first is about the cheerful so-called Part-Time Warrior, Amane Suzuha, who works in the CTR shop under Okabe’s laboratory. The second one is about Faris NyanNyan, the adorable maid who works at the maid cafe the protagonist frequents and plays unique anime board games. The third and final one features Urushibara Lukako, an equally adorable miko at a local shrine, who wants to become a fierce warrior. These are all meant to delve into the backstories of these characters, and are written exceptionally well, so that it would not be out of place if the game ended there instead of going on.
The following two endings are each built upon the previous one. The first features Shiina Mayuri, an air-headed girl who is Okabe’s childhood friend; this ending plays if the previous three didn’t. The second is about Makise Kurisu, a young woman who is a genius scientist; her ending plays depending on who the player decided to interact more with, but shares many scenes with the previous one. These two endings offer a more detailed and complete ending for the story. It cannot be denied that the game deliberately makes it hard for the players to actually choose one; since during each ending, the player will regret not having chosen the other.
The final ending is the true ending of the game. Without delving into unnecessary spoilers, I can state that it was written in a way to reward the player; after having experienced so many trials, the story is finally over. I found it to be immensely satisfying; it was almost written in a way that makes the reader want to restart the game again to notice any details they might have missed.
Final Thoughts
This game manages to take the reader on an unforgettable journey with the protagonist, where they will hopefully learn something important about both of them. If you ever see this game in your video game store, don’t miss the chance to grab it. I am immensely grateful to my past self who bought it and would definitely buy it again.
Pros
Complex storyline
Greatly written characters, especially the protagonist
The ending is rewarding
Cons
The version without the original art is less special
Without Okabe’s inner thoughts the game would have been immensely worse
Grade
10/10
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| Okabe Rintarou being himself as usual :) |
Music
The Main Character
During the game, Okabe Rintarou, the main character, travels back and forth to many different timelines, where events he’s already experienced instead happen differently. No one has any memory of what Okabe saw, and this eventually causes him to feel detached from causality. As the player, however, we experience everything he sees, sharing his confusion and feelings of disorientation, questioning our own selves while he does the same; thus we become separated from the causality of the game itself as well. In all the times when this becomes a real problem, it is primarily the reader who understands the situation.
Playing as Okabe also proves to be a good idea because of his personality; on the outside, especially at the beginning of the story, he looks arrogant, talks in delusions and his actions feel unexplained and out of context. Would you think otherwise of anyone who says that they are a mad scientist called Hououin Kyouma and the “organization” is coming to kill them? On the inside, however, lies his true personality; it is incredibly common to see that his inner thoughts contradict his actions. In reality, he is an immensely good-hearted person, willing to do anything to save the people he cares about. His friends, though, mostly see his arrogant persona and can’t completely process why he does certain things; however, the readers have no issues with it as they already know his true personality. This makes you ultimately feel connected to the storyline, as it mostly revolves around what Okabe experiences. If there was an outside narrator, this story would not work as well.
Other characters are explained best in the various endings of the game, as they play an important role in their own endings.
Endings
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| Okabe and Kurisu |
The following two endings are each built upon the previous one. The first features Shiina Mayuri, an air-headed girl who is Okabe’s childhood friend; this ending plays if the previous three didn’t. The second is about Makise Kurisu, a young woman who is a genius scientist; her ending plays depending on who the player decided to interact more with, but shares many scenes with the previous one. These two endings offer a more detailed and complete ending for the story. It cannot be denied that the game deliberately makes it hard for the players to actually choose one; since during each ending, the player will regret not having chosen the other.
The final ending is the true ending of the game. Without delving into unnecessary spoilers, I can state that it was written in a way to reward the player; after having experienced so many trials, the story is finally over. I found it to be immensely satisfying; it was almost written in a way that makes the reader want to restart the game again to notice any details they might have missed.
Final Thoughts
This game manages to take the reader on an unforgettable journey with the protagonist, where they will hopefully learn something important about both of them. If you ever see this game in your video game store, don’t miss the chance to grab it. I am immensely grateful to my past self who bought it and would definitely buy it again.
Pros
Complex storyline
Greatly written characters, especially the protagonist
The ending is rewarding
Cons
The version without the original art is less special
Without Okabe’s inner thoughts the game would have been immensely worse
Grade
10/10
