Developer/publisher: Otomate
Platform: Switch.
Official Site: https://www.otomate.jp/virche/
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v29661
Release date: 2021-10-07.
Since there's not much choice in terms of otome games coming out
and Virche seems like it will be interesting I decided to get it
to have something to play/read while waiting for other games to come out.
I tried going in with relatively low expectations because that's what works best
if anything I think this games synopsis reminded me a little of tierblade.
Things I already knew its gonna be a dark fantasy with sci-fi elements
not to mention the art style gives off this edgy vibe! but that's all.
Like with Kimiyuki Seiyuu cast is a mix of familiar talent and new that I have not heard
before it seems this is becoming a trend and a welcome one at that.
Pro's
- Good worldbuilding and well written story & cast.
- Gorgerous art and music to fit the mood.
Con's
- Not for the faint of heart/don't like depressing or high amount of blood.
- What is a good ending is subjective but real happy ones are hard to find in this game.
- WHO TF HURT THE WRITERS OF THIS GAME MAN...
Opening movie was pretty good, it set the mood of the game pretty well.
This game honestly started out pretty depressing, death really does seem to follow
the heroine Ceres no matter where she goes. Honestly I felt bad for her. :(
Ceres constantly blames herself for everything bad happening because of her curse...
this could get annoying but I had faith the writers would develop this and help her overcome it
and the main cast was pretty nice and supporting towards the heroine so all was well.
She meets Ankou who... honestly I was wary of his words cuz they were extremely honeyed
but if I was in Ceres's position I would probably trust him too but still be ware.
Though if depressing themes and suicide triggers you I suppose to stay clear of this game.
Prologue/common route progression was good to get to know the cast and setting but there
is a bit of techno babbles from a certain character that did go into one ear and out the other.😂
To put simply there's elements of cloning and memory transfer to survive the death at 23 thing.
Most of the characters are interesting, Lukas whom's route is available to do right
from the start was an easy character to like. Anyway it wasn't dark/dreary and depressing all the time
but there was a decent amount of suspense unfortunately there's not much time for fluff or
funny scenes doesn't mean there was none it just wasn't the focus.
I have no strong opinion on Lukas but it has that one meme which made me howl for a good minute
or so. I did enjoy Mathis route in particular it was pretty peak fiction but Scien was just
well nothing against the guy but it honestly left me the most depressed.
Yvess was the poster boy but atleast his route wasn't that disappointing.
Art is gorgeous and music was pretty good too, I hardly complain about bgm's
they usually fit the mood in some way and Shuuen was no expection.
a certain other moist depressing otome game from otomate I once played did.😅
This was interesting to say the least but the type of game is not for everyone
and there were parts where I zoned out, especially when Scien technobabbles.
Kimiyuki had comedy going for it but Shuuen not so much again not to say there wasn't
any funny moments cuz there were, it all was so depressing? this game also doesn't
seem to be very otome but that doesn't mean it doesn't deliver. This is one of those
games that prioritizes its scenario over romance which might make you feel wanting
or with strong feels at the end but it also for better or for worse still manage to deliver classic
otomate tropes my first route did not disappoint in that regard! The names in this game
can be kind of weird though there are some normal ones (Lukas/Mathis/Ceres)
but then there's Yves(Eve), Capucine(Cappuccino), Dahut(Daath) or Camyu(Camille).
Needless to say I just write them down as I spelled it and for some it became meme(Cappuccino).😂
Then there's Ankou i'm pretty sure they meant Ankh, well its made for japanese folks
and they're gonna spell it in engrish how they want but to me it makes perfect sense.
Now this may sound a bit ranty... so you're warned but I try to be honest here:
This is really one of those story driven otome games that one must see through to the end
or better put do all routes to get the most of it. By default a lot of things makes Shuuen worse
than Piofiore or other games because you could avoid bad ends if you wanted, here they're forced
on you for the sake of the overall plot which might be good if you care about it scenario wise.
Well at that point i'd honestly would want to see something happier for once.
Anyway if you want happy ends right off the bat or fluff, its not that type of game
also as listed in my pro's and con's good endings are subjective but you may not find much
in the way of the usual happy ends in this game. There are best ends for all the guys
but they're kind of like an extra or better put a bandaid after the final route
i'm not even sure why they really locked them, there is no reason for it to be so.
I wouldn't be surprised if the despair would get to a person at some point.
I think Shuuen no Virche is great if you did enjoy stuff like black wolves saga or don't mind
going through the bad ends in piofiore as you play the game but even then
those games were nowhere like Shuuen is. If you can't stomach despair/blood
and such better pass. I think this otome game is written by a bunch of sadists!😅
I do not mind characters having to suffer for development but this is on a whole new level
of how bad can it get? well that bad! I hate how it has you think well this isn't so bad
only for it to literally have baited you with a little otome element its like they wrote
the Adolphe route first but then remembered hey what about those guys?! oh yea about that.
The only route I enjoyed by default was Mathis...... I think that says a lot! I do have problems
with the final route and I wish I had known before hand it was gonna be 10 hours instead of
the usual 6 that it took the other routes. In it we spend so much time with characters
we already know trying to get some true end effect but I was honestly a drag for me
but on the positive side I liked Adolphe, Ankh and the underlying plot! there's really nothing wrong
with the cast or plot as its well written enough but yea... this game really hates it heroine
and I got so tired of it like for once I just want her to be happy but every odd is against her
do you blame me for saying OH MY GOD I AM SO DONE WITH THIS WHO HURT YOU?!
Like I don't even mind depressing stuff but this was on a whole other level...
but despite everything it still somehow manages to deliver as an otome game.
At the end of the day I might just have to accept this wasn't fully for me....
because it was so emotionally draining I was just left like this image below when I fullcomp'd
even with the extra endings relieving some of the initial despair.
If this all sounds right up your alley that's good but I think you'll either love or hate this game
you'd have to see it for yourself but I can't guarantee anything at any rate
Shuuen no Virche gets and 8/10 from me, its pretty good if you don't mind despair. >_>;
 |
| This is what PEAK FICTION does to you. |
So my play order was like this:
Lukas > Mathis > Scien > Ives > Final act.
This game has an enforced play order the first 3 routes can be done in whatever
order you want but need to be done to unlock the fourth and final act.
Like with Kimiyuki I won't be posting too many CG's due to request of writers
to not spoil too much so again it'll be my favorites only. Anyway here I will give you
a double spoiler warning so that if you want to play the game then please read no further.
If you're interested, got money and know japanese I recommend to buy it.
AGAIN I recommend to stop reading here cuz the spoiler-free zone ends here
with the jump break and the rest is just spoiler babbles
or more like SCREAMING? cuz I definitely did albeit internally.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
