Recent reviews by KAGUYASAMA

Split Fiction: Where Virtual and Reality Intertwine

Fragmented Thoughts

Rather than calling this a game review, it is more of a soliloquy from the depths of my heart, a record of emotions, a whisper of memories.

In 2021, It Takes Two emerged like a meteor streaking across the night sky, illuminating countless hearts. It is not just a game, it is a ritual of companionship, a journey of love and growth.

Some say that the best gaming setup is not the most powerful GPU or the shiny flexing peripherals, but a friend willing to step into a virtual world alongside you. That special person in your life, perhaps your closest friend, perhaps your dearest lover, perhaps your family member. The essence of gaming has never been just about simple entertainment. It is, at its core, about companionship.

In the reviews of both It Takes Two and Split Fiction, I have seen countless warm stories, fleeting yet eternal moments. Players from all over the world share their laughter, their tears, their quarrels, and their reconciliations. These games teach us patience, love, acceptance, and growth. It allows us to find warmth in the digital world, warmth that echoes into reality. Maybe not only this game, but every other games too, what really matters is WHO you play with.

That Winter Night

Here is a little story of mine. In the winter of 2020, I was living in Leeds, England. A city cloaked in mist, its streets seemingly forgotten by time. The streetlights flickered hazily through the fog, whispering an indescribable loneliness. COVID swept through like a silent storm, reducing this once-boisterous, beer-loving city to empty void streets and the occasional murmur of the wind. Still, I remember that night, I walked alone through the city. The air was thick with an eerie silence, as if the entire world was holding its breath. Pubs were closed, their signs swaying gently in the wind, like silent farewells. I had never seen Leeds like this, had never imagined a time like this.

The mist lay over the streets like a gossamer veil, and each step felt like crossing into an unknown dimension. I passed familiar corners where laughter and the clinking of glasses once filled the air, now swallowed by silence. Occasionally, I paused, looking up at darkened windows, wondering if those inside felt the same solitude.

At last, I returned home. The moment I stepped through the door, the warmth inside stood in stark contrast to the cold outside. Shedding my coat, I powered on my computer, the screen’s glow cutting through the dimly lit room. As the game loaded, a familiar voice echoed through my headset,

"You're here."
A lighthearted chuckle followed.

We met in this digital world, keeping each other company, as if the outside world no longer mattered. Our characters ran, fought, and laughed on the screen, through worlds and worlds, games to game. While in reality, we were separated by mountains and oceans. But in that moment, distance felt meaningless.

We talked, we joked, sometimes we even discussed the world beyond our screens. Someone mentioned their city was just as empty as Leeds. Another said they hadn’t seen the sun in weeks. Yet, in this virtual space, we found a sense of belonging, companionship, warmth that reality seemed to withhold from us.

That’s the short story.

The Intertwining of Loneliness and Companionship

Sometimes, I wonder if it is precisely this loneliness that makes us cherish the boisterousness and noise we once had. That night, when I finally turned off screen, dawn had already begun to break. The mist remained, lingering like an unfinished plot, but I knew, a new day had started. And somewhere in this world, my cherished friends would log in once more, and we would continue our journey together.

Forgive me if I have strayed from the topic, I did not intend to write so much. I truly hold dear the connections between people, and those who share a game with me must be the ones I truly treasure. By the time I reached this point, my eyes were brimming with tears. Perhaps it is nostalgia, perhaps it is the comfort of knowing that somewhere out there, someone shares in my love for this game, share my affection of having someone to enjoy the game with. Words are pale, emotions too complex, please forgive my sentimentality, my struggle to express what lies in my heart. Feels were feels.

If fate has brought you here, thank you for reading. I hope that you, and the person you share this game with, find happiness in the days ahead. No matter what form your relationship takes, may warmth always accompany your journey.

Split Fiction, as its name suggests, is more than just a game, it is a meeting point where the virtual and the real become one. It allows us to find companionship in solitude, flames in the coldest nights. And maybe, this is the greatest gift that games can ever offer us, to help us discover our truest selves within a digital world.

A Reverie I Long to Linger

I know that time will carry all of this away.

The streets will come alive once more, bars will open their doors again, and people will gather as they always have. But that night, that mist-shrouded night, that night when I wandered the empty streets alone, that night spent lost in a world of pixels and voices with my friends, will all remain etched in my memory forever, like a dream that can never be relived. A fleeting illusion I yearn to make eternal.

Rating: 10/10

May every player find their own story within this world.

Conclusion first, this is a brilliantly crafted text-driven adventure with room for localisation improvements.

Narrative and Gameplay Strengths

At its core, the game tells a heartfelt story about modern identity, human connection, and the struggles of work-life balance, so on and so forth. The protagonist is relatable and multi-faceted, and her interactions with different unique characters are shaped by many interesting choices. Though you can't just type anything you want when chatting and get an according response, cus the text and answers were preset, the enjoyment remains. This narrative depth, paired with tactile keyboard-based mechanics, creates an engaging and immersive experience. Players type, multitask, and navigate Miki’s chaotic life, which feels both challenging and deeply personal. Why? Because that's the life most of us common people living in a modern day, and in the year of 2011 maybe.

The music and aesthetics also has the charm, standout retro-futuristic styles and soundtracks fits my taste much.

Localisation Challenges

Despite its strengths, the game’s localisation efforts highlight some potential pitfalls. One is the somewhat awkward or inconsistent translations can break immersion, especially in a text-heavy game. Poorly adapted humor or emotional nuances may fail to resonate with global audiences. Given the fact that some references or slang from the original language (Chinese) may not connect with international players. Localisation efforts should adapt these elements to ensure accessibility and relatability, instead of simply translate the literal meaning from one language to another. Not denying the efforts they made, actually you can see they've already tried their best to convey the thoughts, yet still opulent rooms for improvement.

Engaging professional localisation experts who possess the knowledge in different languages and their cultures (especially the language available in this game: English, Chinese and Japanese). With some polish, this game could cement itself as a beloved classic. I believe.

Rating: 8.5/10
Exceptional creativity hampered slightly by localisation hurdles.

Generally a great game for me, albeit with a sometimes tricky difficulty and bot thingy (but i believe they've improved it a lot though).

Stunning visuals, apt atmosphere under different maps and settings, fine details w/ arms and tactical movements, love geeking out all these.

Recommend to play with your friends and better make it a full 4 or 5 member team, so u can fully experience it.

Lovely cute little game, first 90-ish cats were pretty easy to locate while it took me a bit more time to find the last three kitties lol. Anyways, love the aesthetic and art style, and everytime u catch a cat there's a "meow" with it which was ngl so heart-melting. Would recommend for a casual 5-10 mins experience.

Heard they have a series of other 100 Cats games as well, would love to try them too <3

Myria neverlasting,
perhaps your journey through.

Eda,

It's me, Jun. It's been sometime... 66 years have passed since I first met you. Memories we created are still echoing in my head relentlessly till this moment, words are pale. Remember you asked me, if one day I would like to see the sea of flowers... I said, if it's with you, I would love to see it.

It says, lumen can carry emotions and thoughts, if you're missing someone, so long as you follow the lumen, one day you will see them again. Now that I made it, to the Full Blooms. If only I could hear you sing again.

I too, am very fortunate to have met you, Edalune.
Neverlasting paths... Meeting you was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Should we find each other in the next life, let us live on a planet of our own. I will plant flowers among the valleys, and sing for you into old age and death. I want your voice by my side, when I return to Taiyang, where my face my end with peace.

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Remi,

Hope I took good care of ya, like I promised Eda. To be honest, I kinda miss you now, those "old days" when you still hated me much like you do, still flashing. Ahh... now the quarrels and fights seemed become treasures as well...

Say hi to Eda for me, if you ever get a chance to meet her, tell Eda I miss her so much too.

May the radiance of East Ocean greeted you upon your return. Rest in peace, Remi, my fam.

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Kay,

I promised you one day, I will become the clan master, and protect you from harm. Now I can proudly say, I did it. The young little boy fulfilled his wishes. I restored the pride and honour to our clan, made a good life for everyone.

By Taiyang's mercy, don't worry Kay, I will keep shoulder the responsibility, before, now, and future.
Thank you for everything you do. I will meet you there.
Till then buddy o7


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I just wish... wish you were all here.
My families.

In memories of,
Eda, Remi, Kay and "Red Chamber"

A wholesome and heartwarming little game, the bond between Bea and Ethan are illustrated really well in the story. A lot to talk actually but imma keep it spoiler-free here, enjoy the game with your own heart is the CURE, like the name Cureocity.

With the lovely artstyle and simple soothing tracks, for a free game I highly recommend u give it a try. Especially if ur feeling down lately or life has been treating u dirty. Two hours into this game will bring back the shiny bright wholesomeness I believe, and props to Bread On Board and GCORES o7.

Poke... what, sorry what u say?
Nahh bro never heard of that.
I was growing up watching Pal ma friend.

Decent as a fishing simulator, mild on difficulty and the stories are quite compelling to explore.

Been playing this game for more than two years since its Steam release, gotta give props to Saber for still blessing us with sporadic content updates (big or minor it doesn't matter :/), and personally im pretty hyped for the new map to come on Dec.

All that said, I recommend this game especially if ur wanna play with friends o7.

Nice game friendly for non-pro :p
and by the time i post this comment
im not able to get a bloody 30 series for myself, anywhere
from late last year's to the newly came out ones like 3080ti
from founder's edition to customized
not a single left, pathetic, poor gamer need to rise up.
This game in a way comforts me, bc i can just buy and get whatever i want within clicks online
(thats y its a perfect game XD)