Re:Stars And Lights (Free Game - Visual Novel) Introduction and Review

Preface

I played "Re:Stars And Lights," a game created using RPG Maker 2003.
This is a so-called "spectator game," a VIPRPG, and not a game where you play by controlling the characters yourself.

I recently encountered a visual novel called "Shika wo Tanoshimu Re" and was deeply impressed, which made me feel more comfortable with visual novels in general.
I first learned about this game, "Re:Stars And Lights," through a promotional tweet on Twitter, which piqued my interest, and I decided to play it.

I think it took me about an hour to complete the main story.
Including the bonus content in the development lab after clearing the game, I think it takes about two hours in total.

Game Overview

This story centers around Darkness I, who tries to make a living running a shop on a dangerous back street, and Starlight I, who is both his best friend and family.
The story begins with the protagonist struggling to raise money for the unreasonable protection money demanded by a violent organization.
Meanwhile, in the Potato Chip Kingdom, a very powerful magical artifact called the "Magic Crystal" is stolen, and an investigation into the culprit begins.
The unfolding storylines on both sides will eventually lead to an event that shakes the kingdom to its core.

Some scenes contain violence, bloodshed, grotesque depictions, and sexual content.
Please be careful when playing.

The game consists of five chapters, each divided into sections lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you finish a chapter, you can proceed to the next chapter.
Since you cannot save at any point, when you resume the game, you will always start from the beginning of each chapter.
However, since you can change the text display speed and skip settings in the options, you should be able to play without stress.

When it comes to visual games, one of the highlights is the visual presentation, such as characters moving around on the map.
In this game as well, the battle sequences and other visual effects are incredibly well-crafted and very enjoyable to watch.
The drama starts off with a focus on dialogue between characters, but the latter half delivers plenty of action scenes to impress.

Review (contains spoilers)

It was like watching a battle action movie, and it was very entertaining.
I liked how the story accelerated and became more exciting towards the end, with the dialogue-heavy drama in chapters 1-3 and the battles from chapter 4 to the end.
I was very excited to see various characters fighting in various situations.
The scene where each individual is prepared to die against a formidable enemy, determined to inflict as much damage as possible for the sake of those who will follow, was incredibly exciting and really got me fired up.

The story was simple and easy to understand, in a good way.
I think the biggest highlight of this film is definitely the battle scenes, and I appreciate that the story isn't overly complicated as a result.

In the early stages, Yamichi's struggles to avoid causing trouble for others were carefully depicted.
The player's perspective is one of wanting them to "talk to someone!", but they are unable to do so due to past trauma, and this conflict is portrayed with a sense of understanding.
The truly unfortunate thing is that, due to a series of unfortunate coincidences, Yamichi finally reached his breaking point, and at that very moment, all the means to carry out the massacre became available.
As mentioned in the bonus section of the development lab, there were many chances to save him, but perhaps due to his unfortunate disposition, things always went in a bad direction.

As Lychee said, no matter how much Yamichi was suffering,If the person themselves doesn't say anything, there's no way of knowing.
Lychee extended a helping hand several times, but ultimately it was the person themselves who refused to accept it.
While it might be understandable given Yamichi's circumstances, saying "You should understand how I feel!" would likely come across to those around her as selfish and unreasonable.
Lychee's cry of "There's no way you can understand that!!!" is perfectly understandable.

現実においても、自分が弱い人間だと思われるのが嫌で、声を上げられない人は大勢います。
However, if a genuine relationship of trust has been established, wouldn't you believe that you wouldn't be disliked for something like that?
I think Yamichi's greatest misfortune was having a trauma that prevented her from fully trusting others.
Family is a classic example of a relationship based on unconditional trust, but that's something Yamichi was never able to have.

Ultimately, Yamichi, unable to accept the goodwill of those around him, commits a massacre, but is defeated in the end.
The story concludes with the protagonist using a magic crystal to reverse the consequences of his actions, and in exchange, he himself disappears.
Since everything is back to normal, the aftertaste isn't too bad.

If we were to draw a lesson from this work, it would probably be something like, "When you're going through a tough time, don't hesitate to ask for help."
If you don't say it, no one around you will know how you feel.
I understand the feeling of wanting others to understand without you having to say anything, but you can't gain someone's trust unless you trust them first.

The bonus room you can access after clearing the game was packed with content.
Rather than playing it immediately after clearing the main story, I think it's better to read it after you've had some time to calm down, as it will allow you to recall and reminisce about the game in a more pleasant way.

The book includes detailed explanations of each character, commentary from the creators following the progression of the scenes in the main story, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes about the challenges faced during production.
As a player, I learned a lot from hearing about the difficulties and challenges that are often not apparent to others.