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amber_moonlightwavesStoryline: The story takes places during the Sengoku era where Hideyoshi Totoyomi rules over a peaceful, unified Japan. Enju Ueno is the daughter of Kando Ueno, the leader of the Koga shinobis, and Kagari, who was the sister of the late leader of the now extinct Iga clan. She spends most of her days quietly being sheltered within the Kouga village and hones her skills to be a ninja, hoping she can be useful to the Kouga village. When she is assigned a mission to go to Kyou, the capital of Japan, she gets more than she bargained for and becomes entangled in a complex web of politics, violence, and dark secrets. It is then she must fight for her life, figuring out what future she must fight for.
Do you like tragedy, suffering, ninjas, and romance? If you do, then this is the game for you! Originally released for the PSVita in 2016, and later rereleased on the PC in 2017 and for the Nintendo Switch in 2018, this game is rooted in Japanese history but not as much as the popular game, Hakuouki. So, no need to worry too much about historical context for this one.
This game has been a long time coming. I saw this one available on the Switch for quite some time. I spotted it since last year (2019), but I did not pick it up until a friend of mine started playing the game. She raved about how good it was, so I played it out of curiosity. And then, I could not put down the game and finished it within a week. Unfortunately, the review somehow took a little longer to get out there ^^;
For most reviews, I tend to write it in the order I played the routes in, but I’m doing things a little differently for this game. I will start from what I think is from least spoilerly to the most spoilerly. I will still try my best to avoid mentioning any specific-related plot/spoiler points.
As always, this review contains my opinions only and no one else’s. So, please take it with a grain of salt ~^^~
This game contains blood, violence, suicide, and death, so if these don’t appeal to you, then you might want to turn away from this game.
To be honest, I have not fallen in love with an otome game this much since I last played Hakuouki on the PS3, which was four years ago. (Although, I have a long history with Hakuouki. Something I will dig into more when I get to that game on the PSVita/PC.) Now, do not get me wrong. I love all otome games I play whether the quality was outstanding or a hot mess. However, after I finished the game, I ended up replaying it again because I couldn’t get enough of it.
The artist, Teita, who also served as the artist for the otome game, Norn9, drew such artistically pleasing and beautiful characters. The overall character designs and the artwork were splendid, and the smooth coloring made it easy on the eyes. While playing this, I could not help but gaze at the characters’ gorgeous hairstyles. They looked so stunningly attractive that I was half-tempted to cosplay as one of them. I also commend the game for having character animations which appeared in some otome games. Unlike other games during this time, the animations (for the most part) did not appear awkward or strange to look at. It flowed effortlessly with the rest of the game. However, there are moments when the game takes time to load these animations, but it’s nothing detrimental to the overall playing experience.
Also, the music! The music for this game was absolutely phenomenal, striking an even balance of calm and intensity that struck at the player’s heart. Whether it was during the confession or the action scenes, the instrumental tracks managed to entice players and transport us into the world of Nightshade. It not only reflected the tone and time period of the game, but it also magically captured the atmosphere and mood of the characters.
One of the main themes in this story is the meaning of being a shinobi versus being a human. Each route utilizes a different lens to dive into this issue, representing the complexities and hardships involved in being a shinobi. It is also reflected in each of the guy’s characteristics, emotions, and personality as well as in Enju’s. Thus, even though the overall plot does not widely vary between the routes, there is something distinct and memorable each time you experience the journey.
Speaking of relationships, the romance in this game was emotional yet teeth clenching. Each route had me at the edge of my seat, anxiously wondering how things would unfold within the story and between Enju and her chosen man. Even in my least favorite routes, I was still cheering on for Enju and the guy because of how well-written and crafted the relationship was.
Lastly, but not least, the voice actor lineup in this game is a gift from heaven. There are many famous voice actors that it makes me squeal with joy. I’ll list the main love interests and their voice actors as follows:
Even the side characters such as Ieyasu Tokugawa had been voiced by prominent voice actors. This stellar cast is the cherry on top of this excellent game!
Meet Goemon Ishikawa, loosely based on the real-life thief who steals from the rich and helps the poor. He is best equated as the Japanese version of the historical figure, Arsene Lupin. (Perhaps it is just me, but Goemon from Nightshade feels similar to Arsene Lupin from Code Realize in certain ways. I mean, they both did “steal” the girl, right? XD)
When players first meet him, Goemon initially introduces himself as Goro. In fact, he calls himself a libertine who wantonly spends his days doing as he pleases. He acts friendly, kind, and suave towards all those he meets especially when it comes to the ladies. However, he takes a keen interest in Enju when he encounters her in the capital of Kyou. It is not until later that we learn his true identity, and his fate then becomes inevitably tied to Enju’s.
As with most otome games, one route tends to be the more light-hearted, comedic route, and for Nightshade, Goemon’s was that route. However, that did not mean there were serious and even downright depressing scenes, which almost made me tear up. There were moments that doused me in cold water and had me anxious for what would unfurl next. But there is no denying his route was also filled with fluffy and tender moments. This perfect mixture resulted in a delectable and satisfying route.
His route tackled the idea of living your life how you want without being tied down to someone else’s ambitions. It partially explains why Goemon is a wanderer and a thief despite being a formidable and highly skilled fighter. He differs from the other four guys who, in one way or another, dedicate their life in being a shinobi.
To him, he hates killing others and has his own sense of right and wrong. Inevitably, this runs afoul with what it means to be a shinobi where one is stripped of their humanity. But this does not make him a coward. In fact, he is quite the opposite. He is a smart, crafty, and intelligent guy who never backs down from his principles even in the face of danger. But he despises seeing people give up on life due to societal demands. In the words of Hanzo, he is too kind to be a shinobi. For me, the clash between the paradoxical nature of Goemon’s past and his personality made him a highly intriguing character. In a way, he reminds me of Rurouni Kenshin or Vash Stampede, both of whom despise taking life needlessly as they are both haunted by their pasts, but they are still willing to lend a hand to others.
We see different facets of his personality when he is around Enju. Around her, we see him lower his guard and, overtime, he unconsciously develops feelings for her because he is clearly touched by the kindness she possesses. My favorite moment was when he began to question himself as to why he felt drawn to her and why he had spent such a long time with her unlike with other females. And I think, it is in this moment, when the players can see him consciously acknowledging that he may have more feelings for her than just being a nice guy.
Initially, Enju is wary of him due to him being a libertine and a thief, but she begins to warm up to him when she discovers more about him. She ends up cherishing the life Goemon saved and finds the will to live instead of giving up. This change within her character signaled how much of an impact Goemon had on her just like she had on him. As such, their relationship becomes endearing and heartwarming.
One of my favorite CGs in this game is when Goemon and Enju are quietly sitting underneath the cherry blossom tree and viewing the flowers bloom. It is a small moment, but it is an important one because we see Enju enjoying his presence without shying away from him, and we see Goemon be a tender and kind guy who only wishes to see Enju beautiful smile.
Of course, these wonderful moments are piled on top of the hilarious ones such as when Goemon suggests to Enju that they pose as a married couple, which freaks Enju out. At one point, Goemon teases Enju and tries to sleep in the same bed with her at the inn, so they can practice being a couple. Understandably, Enju panics in a frenzy, vehemently refusing his advances. It becomes even more hilarious when Gekkamaru is informed of this incident and is ready to rip Goemon to shreds. It was scenes like these that had me bursting into tears of laughter.
However, when the major plot twist rears its head into Goemon’s route, this makes Enju (and the player) feel heartbroken and betrayed because of how much she ended up trusting and loving him. I believe it also reveals how much the players felt invested in him as a character and in their romantic relationship.
I have seen others who do not like him as much, but I think his route was fantastic, and I dearly loved it. It was not only gentle and heartwarming, but it was also hilarious and eye-opening.
Loosely based on the real-life ninja, Hanzou Hattori is a renowned ninja and commands wide a respect from all shinobi due to his reputation and skills. He has no equal and represents the perfect shinobi. His character is best described as a kuudere. He acts cool, quiet, and reserved on the outside, but as Enju (and the players) spend more time with him, we unearth a blunt but kind person.
As opposed to Chojirou, Kuroyuki, and Gekkamaru, Hanzou serves the famous daimyo, Ieyasu Tokugawa. An interesting tidbit is that Hanzou, Chojirou, and Goemon were, at one point, all in the Iga clan, training under Chojirou’s late father, Tanba Momochi. According to Chojirou’s father, Hanzou was praised as the ideal shinobi, living your life only for the mission and nothing else. Failure of that mission was the ultimate disgrace for a shinobi. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Hanzou believes in this same idea.
When I dived into his route, I had no idea what to expect. To my surprise, I fell in love with his route and became captivated by how well-rounded and realistic it was. When I think back on it, I feel as though he would have been my favorite ultimate character if I played his route first. In this route, it’s not only Enju who morphs, but it’s also Hanzou who dramatically transforms. And this, for me, might make Hanzou’s route one of the best in the entire game.
When Enju first encounters him, she felt frightened by him because of how he spoke, acted, and thought. However, as she spent time with him, she found a man who is honest, straightforward, and careful. It is most interesting when she makes the initial comparison of Hanzou being like her father who never said much and looked down on her. Unlike Kando, though, Hanzou does not demean her and only encourages her to do better. In fact, he even helps her to train, admiring the firey determination in her eyes.
In Hanzou’s route, players witness Enju fully develop into a competent, badass shinobi compared to the other routes. At one point, Hanzo even comments that she has become better than most of the Tokugawa shinobi who work under him. Not only did Enju build more confidence in herself by spending time with Hanzou, but she also became a strong shinobi who could hold out on her own. I got a kick out of seeing Enju and Hanzou working together instead of Hanzou simply defeating the enemies on his own. It was a thrill, knowing that they were in sync, which further cemented how much Enju had grown and how familiar they became with each other.
For Hanzou, as he travels with her, he naturally becomes confused by her actions, not understanding her rationale. However, it is this confusion of his that eventually turns into romantic feelings, something he, as a dedicated shinobi, is not supposed to have. It culminates into a moment when he realized that he has grown feelings, a heart even. But it seems a part of him remains hesitant to tell Enju for reasons he justifies in the story. He also stops killing others for Enju’s sake and even says to Gekkamaru, at one point, that she isn’t fit to be a shinobi, and for that, she is foolish. But to me, I think this belies how he feels and the exact impact she made on his heart and mind.
By the way, one tidbit I enjoyed in this route was how we got to see more of Ieyasu Tokugawa and his character. He holds much power and owns the most land out of the five daimyo (feudal/military lord), and he does not hesitate to use any opportunity when he sees one. Hanzou’s route provides insight as to how cunning and sly he is not only as a daimyo, but also as a politician.
What I find even more fascinating is how Hanzou knows exactly Ieyasu’s line of thinking, which demonstrates the amount of time he has dedicated his life to serving him. It’s not a major plot device in the scheme of things (except towards the end of Hanzou’s route), but it was intriguing to witness since most of the other guys serve the Kouga village. It was also hilarious to see how Ieyasu constantly teased Hanzou and joked around with him while Hanzou either felt embarrassed or gave him a stone-cold face. To me, this was one of the more interesting dynamics outside of the romantic relationships.
He is a serious ninja who hardly shows his emotions and devotes his life in being a shinobi. Not only is he the strongest one in Kouga village, but he also serves as a mentor and teacher to Enju, Gekkamaru, and the other shinobis as well. Thus, everyone treats him with respect and dignity for his skills and knowledge.
Now, I have seen people talk about him, and he tends to be the least favorite out of the five guys. I can see why since, unlike the other routes, he tends to take a backseat to the events which happen before his very eyes. Instead of immediately jumping into the fray to save her, he retreated, stating that he cannot go against orders. Of course, he is not an emotionless robot who does not want to help Enju, but it goes against his duties as a shinobi.
Now, I will admit that he is not my favorite character, but I think the creators might have written him this way because of the concept of honor and loyalty – traits which are still highly valued in modern Japanese society. I believe he feels he cannot go against Kandou Ueno’s orders because he feels indebt for the Kouga village taking in the people from the Iga village even if Kandou was the guy who helped to destroy Iga. As such, he does not want to see the remaining Iga people killed by Kandou. Thus, he follows the rules and acts cold-hearted for the sake of being a shinobi, for the sake of the mission, and for the sake of his people. It is important to note that he does feel greatly conflicted on the inside about his duty versus his humanity.
In a way, I think of his behavior something akin to the samurai bushido. You must follow your master’s and/or lord’s orders. Going against those commands means forfeiting your life, your loved ones, and possibly your honor. Now, I think this concept is demonstrated in all the routes in some fashion, but I think this was the main emphasis in Chojirou’s route, and I believed it worked for his route.
Thus, when the plot thickens, he is not there for half of the “adventure”, and I think this serves as a huge letdown when compared to the other routes. There also are not any mind-blowing twists when compared to the other guys. Unlike the other routes, Chojirou, for the most part, remains relatively the same on the outside. Of course, on the inside, he is torn, wondering what he should do as opposed to his feelings for Enju. I appreciated that he had this struggle during his route.
Nonetheless, I think Chojirou’s route is more about demonstrating this concept of honor and loyalty that a shinobi is supposed to have for their clan and village, and how far are you willing to give up your humanity to complete the mission. The closest concept I can think of in the Western hemisphere is the idea of chivalry during the medieval times. Unfortunately, I do not think it serves as an exact equivalent since Japanese culture differs a bit from the West, especially in this aspect.
In any case, there were adorable incidents between him and Enju, and I found it heartwarming how he acted like a confident big brother to many. Sadly, I think the lack of “exciting moments” put a damper on his route and the way he is viewed. I do think, though, his route was quite depressing from the chain of events that occurred, and it made me sympathetic for what he had to go through.
Overall, I still think it is worth playing through his route because of what happens. And he is also voiced by Kousuke Toriumi, who has a spectacular voice, and brings Chojirou to life.
Kuroyuki is the younger brother of Gekkamaru. He is the same age as Enju, meaning that they have a friendly relationship, and they were both raised by Kagari, Enju’s mother. Both Kuroyuki, Gekkamaru, and Enju spent a lot of time together as children due to being relatively close in age, and the two brothers are Enju’s adopted brothers since they lost their parents at a young age. However, when Kuroyuki is about eight years old, he is sent away on a mission, and he does not return until eight years later when the story kicks off.
I really loved his route because of what it demonstrated and even highlighted the tragic backstory for Kuroyuki. I also adored his mischievous and impish personality especially when he attempts to sleep with Enju who freaks out, unsure of why he does so. Or when he tries to kiss her, but she comically becomes startled by it. Also, the dynamic between Kuroyuki and Gekkamaru was super hilarious! They bickered and fought like brothers despite being separated for so long. It was hilariously adorable to watch.
Despite all of this, I think this is the one route where I felt Enju was the weakest as a character. I understand Kuroyuki is the guy who helps her, but unlike in the other routes, Enju acted wishy-washy and indecisive. Not to mention, she also felt a bit complacent, letting things run their course without really saying anything. As such, I think Kuroyuki’s route suffers greatly because of this. While I highly enjoyed the heart wrenching details and greatly empathized with Kuroyuki, I think this factor weighed his route down by a lot.
However, I did think it was neat we got to dig into Kuroyuki’s emotions, thoughts, and feelings, and by the end of this, I also greatly disliked Kandou himself, lol. I was afraid his route might end on a depressing note based on how things were going throughout, but I was relieved when things ended up for the better for both Kuroyuki and Enju.
Gekkamaru is the older brother of Kuroyuki and serves as Enju’s bodyguard due to Enju’s position as the “symbol”, or “princess”, of the Kouga village. As such, he can be seen as being too overprotective, almost to an extreme degree that some might find bothersome or annoying. However, he bears no ill will, and he has a kind heart underneath his serious, practical exterior.
Now, let me put out a huge disclaimer: I played his route first, and I think it might have been a mistake for the freaking whirlwind of emotions and spoilers it put me through. I did not hate his route in anyway. In fact, he became my favorite character in the game. However, it is a route I would possibly recommend not playing first, lol. Personally, I did not regret it at all, but it might be something to consider, haha.
In his route, he falls into the bodyguard archetype in which he places his duty of protecting Enju even higher than serving the village. This contradicts with his duty as a shinobi where one is supposed to obey and serve the village without question. For me, I think this makes him an interesting character because it provides another angle of being a shinobi versus being a human issue.
Throughout the route, we see him treating her kindly and gently in a way that he does not do for others. Of course, this begs the question as to why, then, he forcibly places an invisible wall between himself and Enju during the route. This is something that could become an irritating impediment to their romantic relationship. But here is where I think his actions become somewhat lost in the Western context due to language and cultural differences.
One might be familiar with the term, keigo, or polite/formal expression, in the Japanese language. Basically, this is when one’s speech and actions denote respect towards the person they are speaking to. Normally, the person being addressed is someone of a higher authority or status. English has instances of this, but in Japanese, it is more than saying “thank you very much” or “have a nice day”. Everything, from the very way a verb is conjugated to the very physical actions one uses, is a key factor to carefully consider when using keigo in the appropriate situations. After all, respect and honor are highly valued characteristics within Japanese culture even nowadays.
Now, why is my horrible and oversimplified explanation of keigo important? Throughout Gekkamaru’s route, he views Enju as his master while he labels himself as her servant. This means he puts himself lower on the social status ladder and must show her respect even when simply interacting with her. Thus, unlike everyone else, who speaks to her in a friendlier manner, he utilizes keigo towards Enju to show his respect for her. Gekkamaru does not do this because he wants to be a boring guy or wishes to stop himself from expressing his affection for her. Instead, he feels it is his duty to treat Enju with the utmost deference and attempts to remove any personal feelings he may have towards her from the equation. It is similar to how a samurai would treat and speak to his master/lord.
I think this works in favor of his route because this creates an internal conflict within Gekkamaru, which makes him a paradoxical character. He obviously carries secret romantic feelings for her from the time they spent together as children and from the kindness Enju bestowed upon him. But he hesitates to admit his feelings because he doesn’t want to cross the boundary of master/servant. In a way, he does not feel worthy of being embraced by Enju’s warmth because he thinks of himself as a lowly servant. Ironically, he lets his own emotions get the better of him at times, and this muddles the reasons he does things for her. Is he protecting her because of his duty as a bodyguard or because of his romantic feelings for her?
Thus, I find it fascinating that he is the first one who goes to bat for her when the village commands him to do otherwise. In a way, he allows his duty of being a bodyguard and his personal relationship with Enju blur together. This, of course, gets in the way of being a shinobi, which is to ultimately serve the village despite Enju being his ‘master’. And, for me, this made him relatable and humanistic. We understand what our duties are, but where does our heart wish to be? Each route ponders on this matter to a healthy degree, but the way it was demonstrated in Gekkamaru’s route grabbed my attention the most.
For his route, they utilized the common trope of Enju feeling guilty for holding Gekkamaru back. She often wonders what kind of life he would have lived had it not been for her. I do not think it is bad, and in fact, I think the way the game wrote this trope was well done. It did not feel forced or shoe-horned in for the sake of having Enju be interesting. Initially, she is unaware of any romantic feelings that she may have for him since they have been through almost everything together. But she then realizes how much she depends on him and wants to be with him despite having such a “formal” relationship of master/servant. For her, she wants to be seen less as a master and more as a woman. She wishes to be by his side and never to part from him because of how caring and thoughtful he is as a person.
While it may feel that the romance is stifled by Gekkamaru being obstinate and Enju not being more forceful with her feelings, I feel like the relationship between them managed to grow through the small moments they underwent. For instance, there is an incident when Gekkamaru becomes ill, and Enju must take care of him. This was such a sweet moment because, for once, it was a reversal of roles in which Enju had to protect and watch over him instead of it being the other way around. Of course, during this moment, Enju teases Gekkamaru by tickling him since he is lying down in bed. He clearly feels embarrassed and eventually tackles her to the ground to stop her. It was then that Enju noticed how Gekkamaru looked like another person entirely, but she wasn’t afraid of it. Although the players aren’t privy to Gekkamaru’s thoughts in this moment, we can infer, from his previous actions, that his emotions are more than hungry for her warmth and touch.
Being the “princess” of Koga village, she has mostly been sheltered and has not left the village much. We can see she is naïve, but this does not make her a bad ninja. In fact, she is capable and well-versed in the area of medicine. She also is determined to be useful for the village and does not want to weigh the group down. She cherishes her friends and holds tremendous kindness towards all those she meets. It is this quality that touches every love interest, and I think it was a good quality to highlight since it directly contradicts with the true nature of being a shinobi.
As a heroine, Enju, for the most part, was a wonderful character. She demonstrated development and growth whether it was through her character, personality, or skills as a shinobi. In all the routes, she ends up finding the will to live and, to the best of her abilities, protects what she finds most precious to her. Even though she could be inconsistent at times, she is overall a great character. I am glad she did not turn out to be a blank slate like some older otome games used to do. I was very afraid she would only play the damsel-in-distress trope, but I could not be happier that the game proved me wrong.
Even though events in the routes felt repetitive, I think each route was more about the adventure itself and the lessons learned for both Enju and the guy. Thus, I was not too bothered by it as I was more interested in learning more about the characters, how the characters would develop and, perhaps, change because of each other. Even though some routes were filled to the brim with angst while others were on the lighter side, I think every route is worth playing. The game digs into thought provoking questions, and the lush cast of characters makes this a wonderful story as a whole.
I also enjoyed the little touches in the user interface that reflected the time period of game such as the dialogue/thought box and the sound effects made when selecting options. It’s a minor detail, but I am always a sucker for tiny artistic details like that, lol.
This is definitely an otome game I would recommend to all otome and visual novel fans. The art is full of life, the music is stunning, and the story is packed with action, romance, political intrigue, and mystery. It’s definitely a game you do not want to miss!
Let me know if you have any comments, questions, and thoughts about the game through here or on Twitter (monkeybanana)! I’d love to hear your thoughts~!
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Date: 2020-11-24 05:35 am (UTC)If you're interested in more reactions, Nightshade was game of the month at otome-games for April;; there are some more thoughts there: https://otome-games.dreamwidth.org/18402.html
Hanzou Hattori - Kenjiro Tsuda (Kazama from Hakuouki and Yuan from Piofiore no Banshou -Episodio 1926-)
.:O I love both Kazama's and Hanzou's voices so much, so I'm ready to have Liliana run away with Yuan now. >_>
But this does not make him a coward. In fact, he is quite the opposite. He is a smart, crafty, and intelligent guy who never backs down from his principles even in the face of danger. But he despises seeing people give up on life due to societal demands.[...]For me, the clash between the paradoxical nature of Goemon’s past and his personality made him a highly intriguing character.
This is such an apt description of Goemon, I love it. I think a lot of what works for me about him is the way he questions, as a character, the importance of strength.
One of my favorite CGs in this game is when Goemon and Enju are quietly sitting underneath the cherry blossom tree and viewing the flowers bloom
This was one of my favorites as well. :D They are so lovely and happy together.
When I think back on it, I feel as though he would have been my favorite ultimate character if I played his route first. In this route, it’s not only Enju who morphs, but it’s also Hanzou who dramatically transforms. And this, for me, might make Hanzou’s route one of the best in the entire game.
This is very apt as well! It's interesting to me, because reading your descriptions of how Enju's perpective on the guy changes, I think this is an aspect the game handles very well.
Thus, when the plot thickens, [Chojirou] is not there for half of the “adventure”, and I think this serves as a huge letdown when compared to the other routes.
I've definitely also seen that Chojirou is less popular as well. I've seen this as a complaint about Chojirou's route as well, but this was actually one of my favorite aspects of his route -- it felt like a very bold decision on the writers' part, and it made sense for his character.
As such, I think Kuroyuki’s route suffers greatly because of this. While I highly enjoyed the heart wrenching details and greatly empathized with Kuroyuki, I think this factor weighed his route down by a lot.
Agreed. :(
Is he protecting her because of his duty as a bodyguard or because of his romantic feelings for her?
:DDD This is one of my favorite romance tropes ever, so I really enjoyed that aspect of the route. I think one interesting thing to me about this route is how much both following his heart and his duty cost him -- he has a different kind of arc than Hanzou, I think. He doesn't waver in his convictions or his devotion to Enju, but his convictions cost him so much throughout the route, and there are consequences and implications that he cannot guess.
And the Big Spoiler for his route was very fascinating to me.
I feel like the relationship between them managed to grow through the small moments they underwent.
I love the tickling scene and the one where she feeds him. :D And all the angsty scenes.
On another note -- do you think you will ever write up Hakuouki? I would be very interested in your take on it.
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