Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab The PlayStation Vita was renowned as the visual novel machine, from many titles never coming outside Japan due to how poorly it sold. But Aksys Games has yanked out yet another game previously confined to Japan, and that is the otome rom-com, Variable Barricade. And, oh boy, T-minus 10 minutes in, I already need a handkerchief to wipe off all the tears from my laughter. Great. This is bound to be a fun game. Variable Barricade starts you off by introducing you to Hibari Tojo, the sole heir to the Tojo family, one of the most influential groups in Japan. However, she is pretty reserved, refusing to interact with anyone but her butler and two of her close friends. Then, out of nowhere, as she’s about to begin her school semester, four guys suddenly propose to her! ROMSLAB.COM Best Switch Games

Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Flustered, she, of course, ignores them, only to find out that this is all a stunt so that she can get married. That being said, however…those men are personally hand-picked suitors by her grandfather, and she must choose one of them or face dire consequences. As it just so happens, every single one of the love interests that her grandfather picked has some significant issue in one way or another. And while I’d hate to bring up comparisons, this is sort of the same vibe as to how Cupid Parasite’s love interests were all unable to marry. Still, you start to honestly wonder if any of them have common sense this time. Instead, you got a “walking debt generator,” a man that was accused of marriage fraud, a French guy who doesn’t even know the ABCs of common sense, and finally, a gambling-addicted punk.

ART AND MUSIC

Gosh, what a selection. But as you play through the game, you’ll slowly but surely start to understand what the heck is up with them. A member of a prestigious family and heir to a fortune, Hibari learns that her eccentric grandfather is determined to find her a husband. He arranges to house her in a luxurious villa along with four handsome, hand-picked bachelors and her private butler. As her suitors try to win her hand by any means necessary, Hibari endures endless everyday trials and temptations. Has her grandpa chosen poorly, or could there be more to these fellows than first meets the eye? Through all of this, Hibari has two important goals: frighten off each of these marriage candidates, and absolutely refuse to fall in love. Gear Club Unlimited Switch NSP

Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

One of the main highlights of Variable Barricade that may have caught everyone’s eyes at first glance is its incredible art. All the game CGs were mesmerizing. I could cry! We have none other than the illustrator Kageroo Usuba to thank for making VariBari’s CG artwork such a glorious spectacle. Their previous works in the otome department include the titles; Will O’ Wisp, Reine des Fleurs and Wand of Fortune. While Kageroo worked on VariBari’s CGs, the artist, Kiichi, was responsible for the game’s chibi illustrations. Fun Fact: Kageroo Usuba is also the artist behind the new upcoming Otomate title in Japan, Radiant Tale. Variable Barricade’s soundtrack was also pretty fun, and it matched the game’s comedic tone, which I can appreciate.

Allies, friends, confidants

The character themes weren’t that memorable to me, except for Ichiya’s sax solo tune, which always made me chuckle whenever it played in the BG (listen to the sample below!).The team behind VariBari’s BGM were composers; Kenji Kaneko (who also did Hakuoki Reimeiroku’s BGM) and Mari (from QuinRose). Mari was the previous lead composer for the (otome game) company QuinRose, who transferred to Idea Factory Co. when the former closed down.Each of the hunks has a unique backstory and personality, and it’s not easy to choose a fiance. Will you go for the overly flirtatious older man, the male model who’s never worked a day in his life, or the bad boy with a penchant for gambling? Gear Club Unlimited 2 Switch NSP

Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Fortunately you’ve got some time to get to know them first, with the first half of the game dedicated to spending time with each before you make your first big decision. You aren’t alone in your quest to find the perfect man in Variable Barricade. Despite her sheltered life, Hibari has a few allies in her corner. There’s her loyal butler Kasuga, her best friend (and hardcore Otaku) Tsumugi, and a few new confidants you’ll meet along the way. The entire cast of characters is generally engaging and charming, and I was almost always happy to see them. My favourite part of the Variable Barricade narrative are probably the relationships between the suitors. You’d think that competing for your affection would make for a real tense time back at the house, but the boys are so supportive of each other.

Nineteen endings…

Even once you choose your man, the others do everything in their power to ensure you have a happily ever after. It’s just so adorable. Variable Barricade is a traditional Visual Novel through and through. Don’t expect to investigate evidence or solve mysteries, you’re here to read a story and make some choices along the way. If this doesn’t appeal to you then this simply isn’t the game for you, just don’t expect any Ace Attorney or Danganronpa shenanigans going in. The only real “game” elements outside of the choices you have to make are the barricade boards. These flow charts essentially allow you to choose what scene you view next. They’re set up so you obviously still see everything in an order that makes sense, but you at least get to pick what you see next. Gelly Break Switch NSP

Variable Barricade Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Between scenes there are also a few other activities you can partake in. Reading and answering text based “WHIS” messages is one of them. Also fairly early into the game you are given a robot called Rabi, who you can leave in the house to record what the suitors are up to. Although probably slightly unethical, the footage you record is generally pretty hilarious. As you might expect from a game based around choosing a partner, there are a ton of endings to unlock here. Each of the nineteen endings will require you to play through the game multiple times and choose different options. Thankfully there are a bunch of options to skip dialogue and whole sections of the game, so replaying never feels like a slog.

Add-ons (DLC): Variable Barricade Switch NSP