Charade Maniacs - Day One Edition (Nintendo Switch)

Product Information

I agree with most of what you said and with the review. I actually quite enjoyed this game despite the art not being that outstanding compared to other releases around the same time. I liked discovering bits of the truth through all of the different routes. I must say, Dazai didn’t stand out to me before I started playing, but oh my 😍 I’ve found my next favorite VA. I actually also liked Akase a lot despite his route being the first one I completed. Saito Soma is always good, plus, I agree that they had good chemistry. I thought they were cute together even if their relationship was a little “basic.” I actually had high expectations for Gyobu because of the review, but was kind of underwhelmed. He was fine, but nothing was too memorable. I ended up liking Ebana more than I expected to, and was very disappointed with Futami despite the warning, as Seki Tomokazu is one of my favorite VAs 😅 One of the unique aspects of Charade Maniacs is that each individual route reveals hints about the overarching plot, keeping you guessing not only the identity of the “traitor” but also the motivations of each character. Are these dashing gents really on your side? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s lying? Who do you trust most?

Trying to avoid spoilers, I only read this review after I finished the game (bar one less important route that I really didn’t want to play, but I read a summary and it didn’t have many reveals). Charade Maniacs’ system and overall interface were remarkably comfortable, at best. I particularly loved the inclusion of a flowchart system, although I would have preferred the ability to access it during the story progression rather than solely from the title screen. Furthermore, the interface showcased a nice touch of a somewhat futuristic theme that’s easy on the eyes.They were also made aware that a traitor walked among them... What could be the motive of this traitor? And why are they all being forced to act? Fans can wishlist the Charade Maniacs Standard or Limited Edition on the IFI NA Online Store today! The music was actually pretty catchy and to my taste. The OP was sung (and probably produced) by DJ Tekina aka Yuyoyuppe, who I used to listen to when I was still into Vocaloid–ah the nostalgia 😌 CG wise, I agree that I wish some of them had better kiss CGs. Overall, I’m glad that I followed the walk-through, as the pacing was the best it could’ve been that way. I spent about 45 hours all in all. Although I’ve been playing otome games since Hakuoki on DS, I actually haven’t beaten too many, and this one is only the 2nd one I’ve actually completed all the endings and obtained all CGs to, so I feel super accomplished 😆 There are nine potential love interests in Charade Maniacs, ranging from ‘age appropriate cuties’ to ‘okay, that’s not too bad of an age gap’ to ‘um… no thank you’. Each of the LIs is divided into three teams: Information Team (Akaze, Chigasaki, and Dazai), Cooking Team (Ebana, Iochi, and Haiji), and Cleaning Team (Futami, Gyobu, and Tomose).

On a lighter note, I did enjoy the character-driven nature of this game. By the end, I found myself warming up to all the characters, and they eventually grew on me, which I really appreciate. However, in terms of the romance aspect, I would say, as a whole, it falls a little bit on the lukewarm side. While there were routes that effectively built up the relationship between the love interest and the heroine, there were others that just made me go huh?? (pikachuface.jpg)😨What is the traitor’s aim and the real reason this drama series is even happening in the first place? I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have a major weakness for death game-style, social deduction adventure games. I'll choose to replay the Danganronpa or Nonary Games series in a heartbeat over the latest Souls-like or shooter. So, when the words “death game” came out of a character's mouth in the first hour of the otome game Charade Maniacs, I was excited. Giddy, even. The boys were cute, the premise intriguing, and the genre one of my favorites; I knew I was in for a good time. And indeed, a good time was had. Perhaps a general complaint that I have was the absence of a “Skip to the next choice” option. This feature would have greatly improved the user experience. Although a skipping option was available, its speed fell slightly short in comparison to other Otomate games. Compared to indie visual novels, otome games have a long way to go when it comes to LGBTQIA+ rep. And after playing their route, I can say that while the execution at times leaves a bit to be desired—Otomate’s writers might wanna take a look into some indie otome games and amare titles for a guide on how these characters should be treated in-universe. But, it’s a step, so I’ll give Charade Maniacs some grace here. Takumi Haiji (CV. Nobuhiko Okamoto) – A childish, softpoken boy who doesn’t quite grasp the situation everyone is in. He joins the Cooking Team.