Variable Barricade - Nintendo Switch

Product Information

Shion Mayuzumi (VA. Kenji Nojima)– Professional sugar baby. That’s the impression. This man thinks simply basking in his presence is “the greatest, most enviable benefit” to a union with him and it was at this moment that I bumped him to the very bottom of my character ranking. While my opinion of him is pretty low, I will admit that he seems to be the most pragmatic of the LIs. He’s surprisingly pretty astute and while he’s lazy AF he seems to be pretty self aware. While he seems like he has his stuff together, Shion is actually terrified of animals, especially cats…and the game takes full advantage of it. Also what is it with half French LIs all being blonde? Can I get an “foreign” LI with dark hair? Please?! The voice acting is likewise excellent. Hibari is even voiced, which is unusual for an otome protagonist, but welcome and adds a lot of expressiveness to her character. Her bashful whispers when she finally starts to open up and express her feelings simply pull at the heartstrings. The love interests are all well-acted too, from Nayuta’s machine-gun cadence to Ichiya’s schmaltzy chutzpah. Go to Gallery and open Ichiya’s Level 1 Barricade Board. Select Bistro ICHIYA Finally Frank with Each Other

Atsushi Tamaru “ Kasuga“– Ichigo Hitofuri (Touken Ranbu), Tsukioka Tsumugi (A3!), Kohei Natsume (Kitty Love), Semi Tokitaka (Dairoku), Azul Ashengrotto (Twisted Wonderland) Kosuke Toriumi “Ichiya Mitsumori”– Mikazuki Munechika (Touken Ranbu), Saito Hajime (Hakuoki), Poyo-Poyo (Period Cube), Shuu (Diabolik Lovers), Kagiha (Psychedelica BB), Rei Mikuni (CollarxMalice), Chojiro (Nightshade), Cecil (Utapri)Variable Barricade’s love interest routes vary in their themes and the dynamic of the romance, but all have a similar structure. The opening is lighthearted and sees Hibari and her love interest grow closer. The humor continues to shine here. Banter is even better now that you actually like the cast, and Hibari’s tsundere tendencies lead to cute and funny misunderstandings. She also has fun girl talk with her friends Tsumugi and Noa. Tsumugi is a hopeless romantic eager for juicy morsels she can squeal over, while the more level-headed Noa serves as a practical mentor. The beginnings of the love interest routes were consistently my favorite portions of Variable Barricade and where I felt the game hit its stride. While still surprised they were given a villa, and on the premise of a marriage proposal they started living together. For the alternative endings titled Another End, we have marked in our walkthrough where you should save during the routes to more easily bag these endings by selecting REASON UP responses from thereon.

You’d assume that Gramps would choose the best of high society to marry his only granddaughter, but Hibari soon finds out that isn’t the case. In actuality all of the suitors are currently unemployed, and have a slightly shady past. There’s nothing Hibari can do to escape this situation though, and thus begins her quest to see if there is more to these potential partners than meets the eye. Kenji Nojima “Shion Mayuzumi”–Akagi Kazuyuki (TMGS 2), Tuxedo Mask (Sailor Moon Eternal), Chiyo (Shinigami to Shoujo), Nobuchika Ginoza (PSYCHO-PASS), Odoriko (Dot-Kareshi) Variable Barricade” is a highly entertaining, fully voiced, character driven romantic comedy game. The cast of characters are all so quirky and ridiculous that every scene and dialogue they exchange with each other induces non-stop laughter. As if you are watching a trashy reality TV dating show, enjoy multiple points of view in the game too. Another aspect the game excels at is its portrayal of female friendship. The level of support our heroine gets from her friends make them the best wing women you could ask for. Also, the growing bromance between the suitors is another plus.Finally, Kenji Nojima Kenji completes the love interest pool as the stunning and delicately speaking Shion. He’s likely to be the most unfamiliar to western players, with his role as Odoriko in Dot Kareshi being the only familiar credit to me, at least. From what I’ve already played, though, he seems to put on a great performance with a voice fitting for someone as perfect-looking as Shion, and I’m excited to find out how he will portray a more vulnerable side to the character.

Otome games are notorious for giving us side characters we can’t date, but Variable Barricade takes it to a whole different level with Hibari’s butler Kasuga. HE IS GORGEOUS and it’s criminal he’s not a love interest (there’s a true end, so here’s hoping its for him). Kasuga is the closest person to Hibari and one of the few people she genuinely trusts and the whole time I’ve been playing all I can think is, Who cares about the suitors? Why the hell can’t I date this one?! Snarky, caring, smart, good looking…He’s my otome ideal! 😭 This is one of the biggest points in favour of the game. The character art and CGs are exceptional, and this is down to who is behind them: Kagerou Usuba, an artist probably best known for Wand of Fortune, Will o’ Wisp and Reine des Fleurs. Their work is widely beloved with good reason — and this is the first otome title with art by Usuba that we’ve seen localised. To say that seeing such high-profile and prolific artwork finally coming to the west is an exciting prospect is an understatement, and we hope to see Usuba’s work again in the future. Please, I’m asking nicely! The mysterious handsome men who appeared in front of Hibari, the only daughter of distinguished Toujou family, were the groom candidates who had been sent by her natural enemy, her grandfather.

Nayuta

My favorite moments where the day to day moments between the characters, the chemistry between the LIs is especially great, they feel more like a group of bros, than suitors competing for Hibari’s affections. They get along really well—they play video games together, joke around, hang out together, and are surprisingly supportive of one another. You could factor Hibari out of the game and turn this into a BL and I’d definitely play play the hell outta that game. So, can I date the butler?! What about the best friend? Variable Barricade’s presentation is top-notch. The art looks great, and the sprites cycle through a range of expressions to complement the writing and voice acting. The UI design is incredibly stylish too. The base of the design is a chessboard and a wall of thorns, symbolizing the battle of love versus reason and barricades around Hibari’s heart, and embracing shapes and patterns gives everything a sleek, modern look. Characters comment when you select options from the menus, which is fun but leads to one small annoyance. These voiced lines are subtitled, and the subtitles sometimes cover the menus you’re trying to navigate. Even if I didn’t like much of the drama, there’s still enjoyment to be found in the different romances. Nayuta’s is cute because he’s innocent in the sense that his heart is always in the right place, he’s just terminally dense. Shion’s presents an intriguing contrast between his and Hibari’s view of work and societal expectations. Shion won’t work but Hibari won’t relax. Is that any better? Ichiya ends up as an interesting take on the prince charming type, though unfortunately the good ending to his route is appalling. Taiga’s romance was enjoyable in a familiar way. The gruff exterior hiding a softer interior is something I’m used to from Western romcoms.

After a tragic accident leaves her an orphan at the tender age of 5, Hibari moves in with her affluent grandfather and is raised to be the heir to the Tojo fortune. Life is not easy for this young heiress, though. Constantly monitored by everyone she meets to see if she’s up to snuff, Hibari has little time for anything that may jeopardize her social standing. So who exactly are these mysterious beauties Hibari’s grandfather has personally selected? Surely they must be men of the highest caliber: scions of industry, masters of high society, and beacons of exemplary character. Hibari is surprised when she finds out they’re anything but and wonders what he could have been thinking. Her grandfather leaves her with only a cryptic hint: each of the suitors has something she doesn’t.Another additional gameplay mechanic layered atop the conventional visual novel action comes in the form of RABI, a robot handed to Hibari to keep an eye on the boys when she’s not home. Morally questionable? Perhaps, but its entertainment value is very much appreciated. You’re able to select which locations you want to set RABI up in; as you progress the story, he’ll collect new footage for Hibari to watch and react to. Fun Fact:Kageroo Usuba is also the artist behind the new upcoming Otomate title in Japan, Radiant Tale. Variable Barricade indeed has a long Common Route. I can’t remember exactly how many hours I’ve spent on the common route alone but it’s def not 30-40 hrs, that’s for sure!😆 Each of the love interests has a short after story. Since the main story focuses on how they got together, I expected the after story to give a window into Hibari and her partner’s life as a couple. I suppose it does, but not in the way I hoped. The after stories consist primarily of Hibari and her partner rehashing and reflecting on important scenes from the main route. I would have preferred to see new material here.