Nightshade

It isn’t often that I find a game comparable to one of the great Otomate IFs, but this game definitely could manage to stand toe to toe with Hakuouki. Right from the start, it threw me into a fit of nostalgia, except this time we are dealing with shinobi (ninja), not samurai. I would feel like the Shinsengumi would be there to snatch me up at any moment, some of the scenery looks remarkably similar (it is the same location, Kyoto, after all). MC is a pretty badass shinobi herself, and is on her first assignment in the capital as things unfold. Most of the twists were somewhat unpredictable, so the stories were satisfying in the end.

I did have some notes. Such as their weapons, I can’t imagine a ninja hiding a gigantic sword in their garb, imagine how awkward that looks. Where exactly is that enormous sword stored as you’re jumping through the trees and hiding in the shadows? Also, no shinobi would yell “here I come” before attacking. I don’t know much about being a ninja, but announcing an attack of any kind seems to defeat the purpose. Small gripes aside, I enjoyed the characters and the stories. I laughed, I cried a lot, almost threw my laptop square across the living room – and in spite of my minor misgivings, it was absolutely beautiful. Oh, and if you ever desperately hoped to find a Japanese Arsene Lupin…my dear, have I got the game for you!