Rhapsody Black Thunder R (Free, Visual Game) Introduction and Review

This is a review article of "Kyōshisei Black Thunder R," a visual novel by Tanchi that was unveiled at "VIPRPG Kouhaku 2022."
This game was created using RPG Maker 2003 Steam.
His work "Children's Country -Magic Children-」「PRECIOUS - Why did Shaw challenge God? -I found those games and others very interesting, so I was determined to play this one as well.

The completion time was approximately 6-7 hours.

Game Overview (No Spoilers)

This story features fierce competitors, each with their own aspirations, battling it out in a tournament format at the "Imperial Tournament," a no-holds-barred (vale tudo) battlefield.
You won't be asked to perform any actions or make any choices; the game progresses simply by reading text.
The game fully utilizes the walking graphics, which are a key appeal of visually appealing games, to deliver enjoyable action scenes.

While there is a main character, the story doesn't unfold from the perspective of a single character; instead, it's told in a more ensemble-like format.
The more of his previous works you've played, the deeper your understanding of the characters will become.
If you have the time, then a deeper connectionChildren's CountryWhile we recommend playing "[Title of previous game]" first, we are not discouraging you from starting with this game.
(I believe that the best way to play free games is when you feel like playing them.)

In terms of the system, it's easier to play than previous visual novels.
Since chapters can now be selected in detail from the title screen, there is less need to manually manage separate save files.
To save or load, press the 5 key and the 6 key respectively, and you will be taken to the file screen at the point where the message ends.
In effect, you can save and load almost anytime, so you can comfortably read through the game as if you were using a bookmark.
Additionally, it features a message skipping function by holding down the Shift key, as well as a function to increase or decrease the frame rate.

Review (no spoilers)

I read through it almost non-stop and finished it.
It feels like I've watched an entire season of a really interesting foreign TV series in one go.

This game doesn't have any gameplay elements, so the main things to impress the player are the scenario, direction, graphics, and music.
Compared to novels, it appeals more to the visual and auditory senses, giving me the feeling of watching a movie.
In fact, I think the way the players' backgrounds are depicted and presented is inspired by cinematic techniques.

Overall, I think it's a work that depicts human drama, but since it's a work that uses battles as its theme, people who like battle works such as "Baki" or "Record of Ragnarok" will probably find it easy to get into.
Since battles take place in a world where the laws of physics are different from reality, I think what's necessary for strength in battle is a bluff that sounds impressive even if it's not fully understood, and the ability to make those bluffs believable.
Many top players provide commentary during the matches, allowing you to truly appreciate the players' skill.

While battles are the main focus, the process and episodes leading up to them are also shown in great detail.
Rather than providing detailed background information for each match and each player, it felt like the author chose a player to focus on for each match, set a theme, and then depicted that theme.
I feel that the pacing and balance throughout the entire work, in particular, were thoughtfully considered.
The gags and lines, delivered with such outlandish word choices that make you think, "Why that choice?", almost feel like an attempt to hide the underlying calculations behind them.
During the climactic moments of matches, I myself have shed tears more than once or twice.
I don't think it's been a while since I played a game that made me cry this much.

This work is not one that meticulously explains everything in great detail.
There are many unexplained settings, such as characters and relationships that you might not be familiar with.
That's precisely why the world within his works feels expansive, and why it makes you want to pick up his other works.
This is a game that I would definitely recommend to both players who are familiar with VIPRPG and those who have never played it before.

Review (contains spoilers)

This section focuses on each match, and I've freely written down my impressions, including memorable scenes and lines.
Please be aware that I will be posting spoilers and screenshots without any hesitation.
If you plan to play this game, you'll probably enjoy it more if you don't read this.

Match 1: Black Thunder vs. Gomez's Son

As it was the first match, the content was relatively straightforward.
Gomez's son was by no means weak, but Black Thunder's strength was far superior, and he gave the impression of having plenty of power left.
As this is the first match of the Imperial Tournament, it serves as an introduction.
Black Thunder impressed me with its speed, magical precision, and unconventional tactics.

Match 2: Saint II Kuro vs. Karateka

"Only the technique remains alive."

Unlike Gomez's son, who seemed like a pushover in the first match, this match allows us to hear about each other's backgrounds and understand what motivates them to compete.
Although it's a no-holds-barred match, it's structured as a showdown between karate practitioners.
The battle between a former hero and an old veteran, a fight between two people who have the weight of life experience, had many moments that I found myself empathizing with.
In a match where winning should have been the priority, prioritizing a "good match" was typical of them.

Match 3: Brian Panman vs. Millie

It was a match where you could see opposing forces such as old weapons versus new weapons, movement versus stillness.
While the story is primarily told from Millie's perspective, it also provides material for explaining the background of Brian Panman in his younger days.
To withstand all attacks, including poisoned cigarettes, and still win must have been a matter of pride for these exceptional individuals.
But more than that, it seems that Brian Panman saw parts of his past self in Brian Panman, and therefore felt that he couldn't lose to his past self.
I feel that the phrase "I want to beat you" expresses both a determination not to lose to one's past self and admiration for Millie.
After the match, Brian Panman acknowledged Millie's efforts behind the scenes, saying it wasn't something to show, which I think allowed Millie to accept defeat gracefully.

Match 4: Ashley vs. Tenuki

This is a showdown between two rivals from the same school.
Unlike the previous matches which were primarily physical attacks, this one will be a magic-based battle.
Each match so far has had a completely different feel, and you can really feel the intention to always show players a fresh and exciting game.
The vocal track used as background music during the game (Hide-and-Seek) matched the image of the children being used, creating a unique atmosphere.
Like the Kuro vs. Karateka match, it took the form of a battle that transcended the boundaries of a match, and it made me feel the lingering effects of the Zeus Spark War from previous works.
I was surprised when Ashley, whom I had always thought of as a model student, started her own fight with unwavering determination.

Match 5: Windio vs. Boom-kun → Agnefire

It was a match with a premise that could easily be made into a movie: an ordinary-looking fighter teaming up with a top-notch second to defeat a formidable opponent.
Among all the characters in the story, Windio gives the strongest impression of being the main character.
Just as I was thinking that, I was convinced when I learned from the making-of video that Windio was indeed portrayed as the main character.
Since he was originally a hero from RPG Maker DS, his performance is understandable.

Match 6: Sho vs. God of War

It was a straightforward battle of speed versus power.
Although he had the air of a weakling, the god of war was a formidable opponent, as befitting someone bearing the name of a god.
The fact that being the protagonist of a previous game doesn't automatically guarantee victory perfectly illustrates the harshness of this tournament.
I loved the scene where the figure of a friend who was supposed to be dead briefly appeared near the show.
I've been wanting to play the older games again.

Match 7: Arken vs. Mobius

The dynamic between the proud demons' pro-wrestling style and the ruthless strategist who relentlessly tries to neutralize their strengths was fascinating.
The eerie-looking Arken came to crush us with a cunning, almost unconventional, tactic, and demonstrated his strength by defeating us in an instant, just as planned.
It was an exciting match, highlighting Arken's unsettling nature and the fact that you never know what he's going to do next.

Match 8: Dark Alisa VS Splendid

"—The human me never existed in the first place..."

This is a showdown between a highly skilled, almost insane swordsman and a rare judoka who could be considered Blasam's rival.
However, there were no upsets, and the match left a lasting impression of the formidable Splendido's strength.
The final scene, with its weight adjusted to the music of "Pomp and Circumstance," was a fitting end for the deadly character.

Match 9: Black Thunder VS Hero Kuro

The match will be the second round, and both teams will be competing against each other who have advanced through the rounds.
In the fight between the fighter and the karateka, Kuro seemed to be at a disadvantage, but thanks to Black Thunder's courage or determination, the fight was conducted under conditions where neither side was at their best (i.e., fair).

I think this match was clearly focused on Hero Kuro, not Black Thunder.
This match was filled with various emotions, including stories about his sister, and, like the Karateka match, it was impossible to watch without shedding tears.

"Life is coming."Kuro's powerful straight punch, which put all his energy into it, was so strong that it made his formidable opponent, Black Thunder, break out in a cold sweat. It was a scene that brought tears to my eyes.

Match 10: Brian Panman VS Tenuki

Before the match, the scene depicts Tenuki, who is in stark contrast to Kuro, who is surrounded by everyone even though he is losing.
I felt like the defeat flag was raised even before the fight began.
The battle was expected to be a clash between modern weapons and necromancy, but it seems the difference in skill level was fundamental even before that.
It might be more accurate to describe it not as a match, but as a place for the execution of exceptional individuals.
While I felt some sympathy for Tenuki, her end could be seen as karmic retribution for choosing a sorcery that desecrated the dead.
The silent revenge of the spirits within her, who reflected the healing magic directed at Tenuki, was terrifying.

Exhibition Match: Amelia VS Necro

This is a suddenly arranged exhibition match between law and lawlessness.
The unpredictability of the game, where unexpected events occur just when it seems like the matches are progressing as planned, is one of its charms.
Necro, as befits the boss of an evil organization, ended the fight while still appearing to have plenty of power left.
Necromancy, which can turn any opponent into a one-on-many battle, becomes increasingly troublesome the more undead spirits one controls (like Geto from Jujutsu Kaisen).

Match 11: Windio vs. Blizzard II

It gives the impression that the drama between the fighter and their corner team is continuing from the previous match.
I found the damage to Rakuten Cardman's reputation quite severe to be amusing.
The story unfolds as Windio battles Blizzard II, who has also lived in the extreme cold, interspersed with episodes about his upbringing.
The fact that he is tormented by survivor's guilt for being the only one to survive reminded me of Shirou Emiya from "Fate," making him feel even more like a protagonist.
It's a precarious way of thinking, but the idea that because he survived, he must be able to do something, that he must do something, is what I believe is the very source of Windio's strength.
I couldn't help but shed tears during the scene where the message from his parents written on the shield was revealed.

Match 12: Arken vs. Splendido

While I expected Spredendid to win, it was an interesting match to see how Arken, a skilled fighter who had instantly defeated Mobius, would fare.
The match itself ended surprisingly quickly, but Arken's departure was unsettling, in true Arken fashion.

Exhibition Match: Spark I VS Cactus

Spice had always managed to snatch victories against superior opponents, and this time was no exception.
It reminded me of the battle against Starlight III in "Children's Land," where we managed to win despite being on the defensive.
As a character in a protagonist-like position who is still growing, I was genuinely happy that he was able to win.
It feels like I've finally reached a conclusion here, precisely because I've been playing "Children's Country."

Match 13: Black Thunder vs. Brian Panman

This is a battle between two five-time champions, and both are master strategists, resulting in a high-level exchange of attacks and defenses where every move requires commentary.
The commentary interspersed throughout the video slightly disrupts the pace, but it effectively highlights the high level of the exchanges and battles that necessitate such commentary.
Brian Panman's background was described in detail, including the reasons for his strained relationship with his brother.
You can't climb with things you don't need, you have no choice but to cut back and sharpen, you lose in order to become stronger... I was surprised to learn that the reason my body ended up like that was entirely my own doing.
In the end, it felt like they were filled with the joy of being able to give their all.
"(Let us offer it to God. Let us lay bare our—the swirling vortex of our—worthless lives.)"
I was struck by the inner monologue, which, while expressing gratitude for Black Thunder having reached the same heights, also had a somewhat self-deprecating tone.

Match 14: Windio vs. Spredendido

This is the final round of the drama between the fighter and their corner.
As always, I was deeply moved by Windio's continued fighting, even as he risked his own life in the process.
"We have to be prepared for the possibility of dying, don't we?" "It's the usual thing."This suggests that he has been trapped by the constraints of being a survivor all this time.

As expected, Splendido won, but Windio and Cancel certainly gained something from their loss.
The song "Obokuri Eeumi" playing as background music evokes a sense of nostalgia, which I thought suited the image of Windio reminiscing about his now-vanished hometown.

Match 15: Black Thunder vs. Spredendido

It was a long battle series, and a magnificent final match.
I feel a sense of accomplishment in having depicted the rivalry between the two characters head-on.
The competitors displayed advanced techniques, and the gallery provided plenty of detailed commentary.
It felt less like a battle and more like lovers flirting (the author also wrote the same thing in the making-of section, so I was convinced that was indeed the case).

In a match where either player could have won, the difference ultimately came down to a subtle difference in their inner qualities.
However, as Alex says, I think that small difference can be the deciding factor in a fight at this level.
The conflict between the two has been resolved, but I want to continue to see how Spredendid will live his life from now on, and what awaits Black Thunder at the end of his journey.
We too are creatures that fight 365 days a year.