Collar X Malice Review (Nintendo Switch)
Oct. 27th, 2020 02:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amber_moonlightwavesStoryline: Set in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the city finds itself in a lockdown due a series of murders and events perpetuated by a terrorist organization called Adonis. Adonis claims a huge event will take place on the 1st of January in the following new year. This proclamation has the police department racing against time to find and stop Adonis. Ichika Hoshino, a rookie police officer, finds herself involved when she is tagged by Adonis with a deadly poisonous collar around her neck. In return, she becomes involved with the Adonis investigation, meeting five unlikely people who will forever change her life.
A friend of mine who looked at the game’s story told me to check it out, and I’m sad that I didn’t get into this game earlier! I had such a great time playing this game, and I can see why many people praise this as a phenomenal otome game in the same league as that of Hakuouki and Code Realize.
As always, this review contains my opinions about the game and doesn’t reflect anyone else’s. So, please take it with a grain of salt ~^^~
This game contains blood, violence, and death, so if these don’t appeal to you, it may be best to turn away.
When my friend introduced me to the game, I wasn’t sure what to expect and dove right in. I came out, feeling elated to have played it to completion. The character designs, the voice acting, and the music blended in perfectly, helping players become fully immersed in the real city of Shinjuku against a fictitious backdrop.
One of the best aspects to this game is the story. It falls under the crime and detective genre, but I think once you add in the bolder aspects of the plot, Collar X Malice becomes much more than a typical crime mystery game. It has players exploring the psyche behind human behavior, the idea of justice, good, and evil, and the criminal justice system, mainly examining the police department.
There were also mini-games, which consisted of investigating crime scenes and shooting down “targets”. These were harmless and not mentally taxing, so I didn’t mind. I rather applauded having these in the game as they further integrated the player into the universe of Collar X Malice. Players weren’t simply reading through a visual novel but were also taking part in the investigations as well.
On top of the romance, this game has proven itself to be intense, thrilling, and jaw-dropping in every route. It will take expectations you have and throw it right out the window even if it’s playing to certain tropes and clichés. For me, these factors within the game made it impossible to put it down. And when a route finished, I was elated but also disappointed because it felt like it was over too soon!
I played his route first, and right off the bat, I am making a huge disclaimer: his route and character are my favorite. When going through his route, I didn’t think I would come to love his devious yet seemingly oblivious but powerful character. Once I dug deeper into the story, my heart and mind had been stolen by the overall picture his route had painted.
Kei Okazaki, is a Special Protections, or SP, officer who acts as a bodyguard for VIP (i.e. important people). In doing so, this job requires officers to give up their lives in the line of duty for the sake of their charge. However, as you play the route, we see that Kei seems to take this to the extreme. For what purpose? And for whom?
During the game, he is charged with protecting Aiji Yanagi and his group of private detectives. But what is his real purpose, and what are his motivations? His character is blanketed in mystery despite the uncanny smile he wears. However, as players progress through his route, we discover there is more to him than meets the eye.
Kei is a bit of an oddball, who does not seem to have a grip on real life but excels in his job with having interests in judo and shooting. Obviously, this makes him the perfect SP officer, but a horrible person at almost everything else. A neat facet to him is his love for horror movies. There was a super cute moment in which both Kei and Ichika ended up watching a horror movie together since we got an extremely fluffy scene that made me want to empty out all the chocolate candies I had in my drawer. I also find that his taste for eating strange-flavored foods is another interesting part of his quirky but loveable character. I’m not sure I would ever try out his recommendations, though, lol.
Kei also has a hilarious sidekick called Yoshinari who is a newer SP officer but has a golden sense for romance and wins the award for best buddy ever. I was afraid the story might turn him into the ‘fake idiot who turns on his colleague’, but I’m glad they made Yoshinari the best friend a guy could ever ask for. Even if Kei abuses him a bit too much. It’s all out of love, right? XD
The romance between Kei and Ichika starts off typical where Kei is being nice to her and she ends up loving that kindness from him. However, the internal conflicts Kei faced and Ichika’s feelings for him created not only a worthy, gut-punching dramatic relationship, but also a hilariously cute dynamic between them. In turn, the romance felt as if it progressed naturally like the rise and fall of a hill. Awkward and rocky at the start, smooth and cheerful in the first middle half, shaky at the second middle half (the climax), and warm but secure at the end towards a brighter future.
The villain in this route was badass and perfectly matched the tone of Kei’s route. For me, it was like a match made in heaven. And can I add how the confrontation between Kei and the villain oozes with coolness and suspenseful vibes like an intense action movie? The CG for the clash was perfect. Well, I’ll admit that I thought the CGs with Kei were just too awesome, lol.
For me, Kei’s route struck the perfect balance of comedy, action, seriousness, and romance. It’s my favorite for sure. However, that doesn’t mean the routes of the other guys are bad by any means!
Mineo Enomoto used to be a police officer at the Field Operations department within the Shinjuku Police Department. However, he quit the force and later joined up with Aiji to continue investigating Adonis. If there is one way to describe Mineo, he is the young, hot-blooded ex-officer who, on a superficial level, serves as the comedian of the game. However, once you spend time with his character, players will find that he is a cute dork who has a big admiration for Japanese history with his role model being Date Masamune. Hence, the eyepatch.
From Takeru’s viewpoint, he is an idiot. But we find that Mineo is a wholesome, honest, and straightforward guy who can be very shy and awkward around women especially Ichika. And when the going gets tough, we see him not only kickass with the power of his fists, but also with the strength of his mind. In a hilarious sense, he resembles a superhero who comes to save the day.
As Ichika and Mineo are closer in age, they naturally get along well, and their personalities are very similar. They want to help others without any regards to their own well-being. This, of course, helps to propel the romance between the two of them.
One note I wanted to make was Mineo’s issue of trust, which he implies in the common route. Once we start his route, Mineo is hesitant to work with Ichika despite her enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a very good issue for his character to have, and Mineo’s reaction towards her in the beginning is understandable since they aren’t familiar with each other. However, when Ichika decides to win his trust and help him overcome his troubles, the overall plot (investigation into Adonis’s crimes) for the most part seems to be put on hold.
This weird pause at the start made the story a bit weaker for me. I guess it was intended to get the ball rolling for Mineo’s and Ichika’s relationship. But I think this could have been executed somewhat better. With that being said, I admired the way Ichika never gave up trying to earn Mineo’s trust. No matter what Mineo did to push her away, it only made her even more desperate to prove herself as a trustworthy partner.
As a whole, Mineo’s route was absolutely fantastic. There were many comedic and tense moments on top of the incredibly cute romance between them. I mean, how many times did we see Mineo panic and blurt out stupid things because of his feelings for Ichika? Or how he made the completely wrong comments at the completely wrong time? It was moments like these that had me cracking up so much throughout his entire route.
Also, who can forget how awesome Mineo was acting as the bridge and mediator between Ichika and her younger brother, Kazuki? This part of Mineo’s personality and route made me love him ten times more. He could naturally talk and easily connect with others, showcasing how much of a genuine guy he is. I already liked his character from the first moment I saw his character design but seeing his true personality shine through was like icing on top of the cake.
Compared to Kei’s route, the villain in Mineo’s route could be seen as a step backward. But, as I thought about it, I think it was the perfect one for the story in his route. Despite Mineo’s route being somewhat lighter than Kei’s route, I don’t think it was any less nerve-wracking. The story manages to throw in a wrench, causing players to grip onto the Switch in fear of what will happen next.
A random comment, but based on the tone of Mineo’s route, did anyone expect that bad ending? Honestly, I felt super depressed after watching it. In a way, it was like a reversal of roles. It took me by surprise, but it also was devastating to watch.
In any case, if it weren’t for Kei’s route, I think Mineo’s route would steal the top spot in my heart, haha.
Takeru is a genius with computers who, like Mineo, worked at the police department but then quit to continue investigating Adonis on his own. However, instead of making him the typical quiet and awkward “tech” guy, Takeru is blunt, snarky, and not afraid to speak his mind. Initially, he seems evil and mean. But as you plod along, you’ll find a very different kind of person.
Takeru’s love for donuts had me craving for donuts the entire time I played through his route, lol. But I think it was a cute part of his character. Despite acting serious and wearing a cold façade, he has a soft heart. In fact, he genuinely cares for the city and the safety of Japan. Honestly, when I dived into his route, I had no idea what to expect. But as you claw your way deeper, his character becomes mighty appealing and complicated like the other guys.
My favorite part in his route was when Ichika was at his place and was forced into close contact with Takeru who had fallen asleep on the bed. It made for a hilarious scene when she woke up again, creating a funny but confusing mess for her since Takeru had been hugging her. Her embarrassment only further increased when Takeru teased her about the situation. It’s a tiny incident in his route, but it demonstrated how his character was much more than what he seems.
There is also a particular moment in the game when Takeru has to face up to what he fears most. And, at the end, it was Ichika who gave Takeru the emotional and physical support to carry on. This moment stood out so much since stories usually have it the other way around. This game took on that daring choice to have Ichika act not only as a crutch for Takeru, but also as someone who he could rely on like a real partner.
As for the romance, I felt it had an amusing start where Takeru “tested out” Ichika to see if she was a competent human being. Unlike with the other guys, Takeru wasn’t nice or accommodating for her in the beginning. While this took me by surprise, it only made their romantic development even more satisfying in the end.
Like with Kei’s and Mineo’s routes, Takeru’s route also had a main villain. Unlike the previous villains who seemed to plan incidents in advance and utilize the situation to their advantage, the villain here felt the opposite. He appeared to be a shouting, uncontrollable maniac who had no other desire than to play his mobile phone game. But make no mistake, he became equally imposing and threatening when backed into a corner.
Overall, I enjoyed Takeru’s route and appreciated his character. It wasn’t my personal favorite, but I can see why he would be a favorite among fans.
Unlike the other guys, Shiraishi works as a psychological profiler within the Shinjuku Police Department. Not much is known about him other than he doesn’t care to get close to others, making him an insensitive person to most people. Now, when I first saw him, I didn’t quite like him because of how creepy he initially came off. But once I played his route, I couldn’t believe how much I came to respect and love his character.
His adoration for cats was freaking adorable. He even wore cat paraphernalia to express his love for them. The game homed in on the cat motif when Ichika and Shiraishi traded phone straps of cats, and that scene was so fluffy and cute like cotton candy. It was also a precious moment that resembled the two of them becoming closer. However, this doesn’t mean Shiraishi stops scaring the crap out of her. But I admire how Ichika didn’t let it get to her, and instead, shot back at Shiraishi, hitting something close to home for him. This dynamic made the romance captivating since it differed so much from the other guys, and I appreciate that the game makers did this. In the end, this made me love Shiraishi’s route.
One of my favorite CGs is when they show Shiraishi as a young child. Not only was it beautiful and full of hope, but it was also sorrowful and full of loneliness, making it one of the most memorable CGs I’ve encountered in a while. And the way Shirashi’s route wrapped up had me shed a tear because of the implications. The ending managed to be more bittersweet than anything else. I left happily satisfied but melancholy.
I would recommend leaving Shiraishi’s second to last since it contains lots of heavy spoiler material to the game. It’s definitely a route you don’t want to miss playing!
Aiji, like the others who work with him (Takeru and Mineo), used to work for the police but then quit to investigate Adonis on his own. You cannot play his route until you finish the other four guys. Of course, this makes his route the “canon” route of the game. I was quite looking forward to playing his route because I enjoyed seeing him in the other ones. He is a kind and strong-willed person who also has a streak of sarcasm and humor. And the game implies to the player that he has a bigger tie to Ichika’s past as well.
Unfortunately, I think his route felt like a huge exposition and plot dump in order to tie up all the loose ends. I commend the game for nicely wrapping up the story unlike some games which don’t quite achieve this. However, in doing so, I think the romance took a backseat in his route. It was certainly there, but compared to the other guys’ routes, it felt lackluster. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Ichika, I don’t think there would be any romance between the two of them.
One part of his character I liked was the inner conflict he faced within himself. This struggle lent his character depth and color, allowing the players to witness various shades of his personality. The romantic development became intimately tied up with his troubles, and in doing so, the relationship between Aiji and Ichika could blossom into the passionate love they had at the end. There’s also a little detail of him being a chain smoker, and the game used it to its advantage to create a scene in which Ichika pesters him not to smoke too much. Ichika’s concern makes Aiji grumble at the thought. A small incident, but it highlights how adorable their relationship became.
As expected, Aiji gets the big bad villain, and I found the villain to be intriguing. I wished they explored more of the character in Aiji’s route, but what we got was decent, too. I know you get an extra chapter, learning more about the villain, so I’m not really miffed about it. The faceoff between Ichika and the main villain was super nifty as it was Ichika who had to save Aiji. Usually, in most stories, it’s the guy who rescues the girl, but the game flipped that expectation around, and it was a detail I commended.
The ending to his route was a bit cheesy but welcoming after everything that happened. Everyone in the end gets a good ending and the true perpetrator of Adonis is caught. It’s especially comical when Aiji basically proposes to her, and everyone nosily spies in on them from the door. Even though it was an expected ending, it was great to see how everything turned out.
It’s been a while since I’ve loved a protagonist in these games, and I think Ichika has become one of my top favorites. She makes jokes, complains, kicks ass, and chugs down alcohol. However, she’s also got her own fair share of issues, making her more humanistic instead of a simple damsel-in-distress.
Even though she might not be experienced as a police officer, she isn’t afraid to work hard, helps others, and never runs away from the terrifying situation put in front of her. For me, she felt like a relatable protagonist especially when she faced issues with her younger brother, Kazuki. Thus, when she developed a relationship with each of the guys, players felt as if we really were in Ichika’s shoes, sharing the same pains, happiness, and frustrations that she experienced. When she stood by her lover’s side instead of sitting on the sidelines, we were rooting for her all the way due to who she is.
Because of her kind-hearted nature, she makes friends easily and befriends quite a few people within the police department. She also takes her job seriously. Even though she cannot lie very well, it demonstrates how much of a good heart she carries with her. She isn’t a perfect character by any means, but she truly moves the story forward alongside her chosen man.
Overall, I loved this game to death. The story is amazing, the characters are memorable, and the artwork is fantastic. For sure, this game is a titan among otome games. The plot wrapped up quite nicely and the villains were also sympathetic. As a result, this lush cast of characters makes for an all-around heartwarming but also heart wrenching and spectacular game.
Also, a quick mention: the typos, for the most part, were not bad. Most of it wasn’t too noticeable, but there were some jarring ones, which made for some awkward reading. In the end, it didn’t really take away from the story. It is something to keep in mind when playing the game.
I would highly recommend this game to every otome and visual novel fan. It has the perfect amount of hilarity, seriousness, and romance bundled all into one neat package. It’s a game where you become emotionally invested because of the story arcs and the characters. Thankfully, this one has been translated into English, so even those outside of Japan can play it as well! And don’t forget to pick up the sequel/fandisk, Collar X Malice -Unlimited, as that one has also been translated and released in English as well!
Let me know if you have any comments, questions, and/or thoughts about the game through here or on Twitter (monkeybanana)! I’d love to hear your thoughts~!
