Info about TAISHO x ALICE episode 3:

Official game description:
DUALICE(TAISHO x ALICE episode III) is a fairytale visual novel in which YOU must save your Prince Charming!  
The game is fully voiced in Japanese (excluding the main character).  
As you progress through the story, you will be asked to make choices at key points that will lead you to different endings. You will take on the role of the fairytale heroine in order to rehabilitate your chosen love interest and guide him to his "happily ever after"!  
At the end of the prologue, you will choose your prince and enter the Looking-Glass World. Each love interest has his own standalone story set in an alternate universe where the relationships between the characters will vary.  
\*Episode 3 features two love interests: Snow White and the Wizard.  
\*It is recommended to play "TAISHO x ALICE episode 1" and "TAISHO x ALICE episode 2" before playing this game.  
\*"TAISHO x ALICE episode 3" can be played as a standalone game.  
\[Content Warning\]  
This game contains content that may be disturbing to some players, including themes of mental illness, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation.  
\[STORY\]  
Once upon a time, in a topsy-turvy world...  
In the beginning, you find yourself lost within a world of utter darkness. Your memories are gone; even your name is a mystery.  
But just when the bitter loneliness threatens to break your spirit, you meet Alice—a blond-haired, blue-eyed young man who promptly christens you "Arisu."  
Like you, Alice cannot remember anything beyond his own name. Ignoring his protests, you drag him along with you through the darkness... until you happen upon a massive mirror made of crystal.  
You stumble through the glass and into the Looking-Glass World, an antiquated fairytale dreamscape that feels oddly familiar...  
There, amid a colorful cast of gender-swapped fairytale characters, you take on the role of the heroine and join them in their twisted tales.  
How will the story end? It's up to you!  
ONCE UPON A TIME, you meet a handsome prince who rescues you from a sticky predicament.  
It's love at first sight—assuming you can get past your overprotective brothers, that is! Everything about him is a mystery...  
Can you solve his riddle and melt his frozen heart? Be warned: it'll take more than a kiss!  
ONCE UPON A TIME, you live in a fine mansion with five handsome brothers: Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Kaguya, Snow White, and Gretel, all of whom are currently engaged to you.  
But then you receive an anonymous threat: If you don't choose to marry one of the five by the next full moon, you're dead meat! Naturally, you hire a private detective to get to the bottom of this case.  
Can the two of you work together to find the culprit? And in the end, who will you choose?  
\[VOICE\]  
CINDERELLA -- Daisuke Hirakawa  
RED RIDING HOOD -- Tomoaki Maeno  
KAGUYA -- Toshiki Masuda  
GRETEL -- Takuya Eguchi  
SNOW WHITE -- Syouta Aoi  
WIZARD -- Wataru Hatano  
ALICE -- Yoshitugu Matsuoka  
WOLF -- Natsuki Hanae  
HUNTSMAN -- Tomohisa Hashizume  
MOTHER -- Yu Shimamura

Release date: Mar 3, 2021

Categories: Visual Novel, Otome, Multiple Endings, Branching Narrative, Psychological Horror, Mystery, Romance


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 7.9h
  - Story completion: 7.9h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence directly states 7.9 hours to complete episode 3, and another review says '7 or 8 hours' to finish, which align and support game completion and story completion times. The mention of 4.5 hours per route is consistent with two routes totaling ~9 hours, but the explicit 7.9-hour figure is used as the primary metric. No evidence supports a single session length or endgame playtime, so those are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The visual novel starts with deliberately slow pacing that builds atmosphere and character relationships, eventually rewarding players with natural emotional beats.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: slow deliberate pacing; atmosphere takes time to build; character relationships develop slowly
  - Unlock drivers: emotional beats unfold naturally; atmosphere and character relationships develop fully
  - Conditions: players accustomed to more dynamic or interactive visual novels may find pacing slow; players used to longer visual novels with extensive branching may find routes shorter than expected
- Player Archetypes:
  - Meta Narrative Devotee (sale)
    - Motivation: Unraveling the overarching meta narrative and experiencing its emotional payoff.
    - Playstyle: Completes all routes and bad endings, follows recommended play order, focuses on plot and meta twists.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Amnesia; Collar x Malice
  - Romance-Critical Purist (sale)
    - Motivation: Seeking satisfying romantic development and character attachment in an otome frame.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on character routes for romantic payoff, becomes critical when plot overshadows romance, and may rationalize disappointments.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: INFJ
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Wizard route reveals story truth (weight 0.68): Multiple clusters highlight that the Wizard's route is crucial for understanding the overarching plot, providing lore, and revealing the truth. This route appears to be emotionally impactful and ties the story together, making it a key part of the narrative experience.
- Plot twists are shocking (weight 0.34): The game is repeatedly praised for its surprising and well-executed plot twists, which keep players engaged and provide mind-blowing moments. The twists are described as unexpected and well-integrated into the story, contributing to an overall shocking experience.
- Overall story intriguing (weight 0.3): The game's story is consistently described as interesting, well-written, and engaging, with pieces that come together nicely. The narrative is praised for being well-crafted and providing a satisfying experience.
- Snow White character appealing (weight 0.2): Snow White's appearance and voice are highly praised, with reviewers noting her ethereal and captivating design. She is described as charming, making her a standout character in terms of visual and auditory appeal.
- High-quality character sprites (weight 0.19): The character designs and expressive sprites are highly praised, along with beautiful CG illustrations. The art direction is described as delicate and top-notch, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- Heroine Yurika well-written (weight 0.15): The heroine Yurika is praised for being well-written, brilliant, and adaptable, with a likable personality. Her character adds depth and is a positive highlight.
- Wizard character compelling (weight 0.13): The Wizard is noted as an attractive and sympathetic character, with a design that is compelling and interesting. His character adds depth to the story and is a highlight for many players.
- Episode 3 writing improved (weight 0.12): Reviewers mention that the script quality in episode 3 is better than the first two episodes, with improved writing and engagement. This suggests a positive progression in the series' storytelling.
- Game genius and addictive (weight 0.09): Some reviews describe the game as genius, mind-blowing, and addictive, with unexpected twists that keep players engaged. This highlights the game's strong impact.
- Story deeper than typical otome (weight 0.09): The game is noted for having a deeper and more complex story compared to typical otome games, offering more than just romance. This makes it stand out in the genre.
- Music and atmosphere well crafted (weight 0.09): The music and overall atmosphere are praised for being well-crafted, contributing to the game's immersive experience. This is a notable positive aspect mentioned by players.
- Voice acting excellent (weight 0.09): The voice acting is highlighted as excellent, particularly for the Wizard and Alice, adding to the game's quality. This is a specific detail that stands out to reviewers.
- Magician route good story (weight 0.09): The Magician's route is noted as a good story, with engaging narrative elements. While similar to the Wizard route, it also contributes to the overall positive reception.
- Foreshadowing clear and satisfying (weight 0.09): The game's foreshadowing is noted as clear and well-explained, effectively clearing up earlier questions and providing thorough explanations. This contributes to a satisfying story experience.
- Plot builds with layers (weight 0.09): The plot is noted for becoming increasingly layered with many twists, providing a complex and intriguing narrative structure. This adds depth to the overall story.
- Dialogue and banter humorous (weight 0.09): The banter between characters is found interesting and hilarious, adding a layer of entertainment beyond the main plot. This is a specific element that players appreciate.

Common complaints:
- Story dark and distressing (weight 0.39): Many reviewers highlighted the game's dark and psychologically damaging content, including disturbing backstories, bad endings, self-harm, and unsettling character portrayals. This caused emotional distress and even physical discomfort for some players.
- Wizard route ending unsatisfying (weight 0.38): Several reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with the Wizard's happy ending, describing it as emotionally unsatisfying, not truly happy, and even devastating. The route was criticized for lacking a genuine happy ending and for its painful conclusion.
- Snow White route poorly received (weight 0.35): Multiple reviewers found the Snow White route to be poorly written, uncomfortable, and overly long. The route was described as bland, tedious, and failing to evoke romantic feelings.
- Wizard route contains NTR elements (weight 0.35): The Wizard (magician) route was heavily criticized for including NTR (netorare) and cuckoldry elements, where the protagonist is treated as a tool or non-person, and the male lead's true love is another character. This was described as hostile, malicious, and ruining the experience.
- Romance lacking in game (weight 0.31): Reviewers consistently criticized the game for insufficient romance, describing it as less a romantic otome and more of a suspense-horror story. The development of romantic relationships was deemed minor and unconvincing.
- Characterization and romance flawed (weight 0.26): The male leads were criticized for lacking charm and appeal, and the protagonist's behavior was sometimes frustrating, self-sacrificing, and submissive. This diminished the romantic aspect and made the romance feel unconvincing.
- Writing quality criticized (weight 0.22): The writing was criticized for being childish, melodramatic, and lacking authorial skill, with repetitive and disjointed storytelling. The script was deemed not brilliant and relying on information gaps.
- Achievements have bugs (weight 0.2): Several reviewers reported bugs with achievements, noting that they sometimes do not trigger properly, especially when switching language versions. This technical issue was flagged repeatedly as needing fixing.
- Translation quality poor (weight 0.2): Reviewers reported translation issues, including Chinese localization losing quality, unpolished wording, misuse of terms, and typos. Some also found the excessive use of Japanese tone words uncomfortable.
- Story pacing and structure (weight 0.2): The pacing was criticized as slow, with routes feeling repetitive and assembled from previous content. The story lacked memorable highlights, and explanations were crammed into the last half hour of flashbacks.
- Emotional impact negative (weight 0.19): The story left many reviewers feeling hurt, toyed with, and psychologically damaged. The lack of healing from earlier episodes and the emptiness felt after finishing contributed to a negative experience.
- Technical issues noticed (weight 0.17): Various technical issues were reported, including visual bugs, characters' voices disappearing, slow Auto option, opening movie problems, and background art appearing as filtered photos.
- Wizard route locked and brief (weight 0.17): The Wizard's route is locked until previous routes are completed, which can cause initial indifference and requires significant time investment. Additionally, the route ends too quickly after the buildup, leaving some players disappointed.
- Unpleasant romance tropes (weight 0.12): Some reviewers found the romantic tropes distressing, such as unrequited love, NTR, and the protagonist being a substitute for another person. These elements triggered negative emotional responses.
- Required prior knowledge (weight 0.12): Reviewers indicated that playing previous titles is necessary to fully appreciate the game, especially the Wizard route. Not having played them may reduce the experience due to lack of emotional buildup.
- Prior routes padded and cryptic (weight 0.09): The five previous routes were criticized for having low information density, padded daily life segments, and cryptic metaphors that were hard to understand. This made reading them feel like a chore.

Gameplay feedback:
- Visual novel with multiple routes (weight 0.94): The game is consistently described as a visual novel featuring multiple character routes and branching narratives, with a strong emphasis on reading and choices. This core structure is highlighted across many feedback entries.
- Otome game with route progression (weight 0.91): Players note it's an otome visual novel where story routes are locked initially, forcing progression through Snow White's route before unlocking the Wizard's route. This linear progression is a common point of feedback.
- Truth line and bad endings (weight 0.67): There is a truth line that explains the plot, alongside multiple bad endings that are integral to the story. The game encourages collecting endings for 100% completion.
- Character roles and agency (weight 0.56): Characters have specific roles and traits, with the heroine exhibiting strong agency. The story includes a reverse harem situation in the Wizard's route, with multiple male leads.
- Multiple perspectives and reveals (weight 0.27): The narrative uses multiple viewpoints and includes significant reveals about characters and the story, such as the true protagonist Alice and multiple personality systems. This adds depth and complexity to the plot.
- Wizard route reveals truth (weight 0.22): The Wizard route is specifically highlighted for uncovering the truth and featuring detective-style investigations, contributing to the mystery and psychological themes. This route is often cited as key to understanding the plot.
- Third episode in series (weight 0.21): This is the third episode in a visual novel series, and playing previous episodes is recommended for understanding the story. Each episode can be played standalone but is interconnected.
- Two routes with different tones (weight 0.2): The two routes, Snow White and Wizard, differ in tone, with one being more chaotic and the other revealing most of the truth. They are intertwined and necessary for full comprehension.
- Bad endings unlock content (weight 0.15): The game includes many bad endings that are part of the story and unlock additional content, such as extra scenes or conversations. Collecting both good and bad endings is necessary for full exploration.
- Complex and layered plot (weight 0.13): The plot is complex and becomes more layered, with twists and deep narrative reveals. Players must pay attention to details and replay to understand foreshadowed elements.
- Unique gameplay elements (weight 0.13): The gameplay diverges from previous episodes and includes word puzzles and save/skip options, but is not mechanically complex, focusing on immersion. This is a niche aspect mentioned in individual feedback.
- Replayability and content (weight 0.1): Replaying is encouraged to understand foreshadowing and collect all endings, with achievements and extra content unlocked. The playtime for the third episode is about 7.9 hours.
- Meta and psychological elements (weight 0.1): The route includes meta elements where the player is addressed, and the story involves dream settings and resets. These psychological horror elements add uniqueness to the narrative.
- Fairy tale inspiration with twist (weight 0.07): The game is inspired by fairy tales but gender-swaps characters, featuring a princess saving a prince. This unique take is noted in the feedback.
- Prologue and dream entry (weight 0.04): The game features a prologue where an amnesiac protagonist enters a world through a mirror, setting up the story. This is a specific narrative element mentioned in feedback.

Performance notes:
- Playable on Steam Deck (weight 0.09): The game runs well on Steam Deck, with no crashes or major issues reported. This indicates good optimization for the handheld platform.
- Visual glitch in scene (weight 0.05): There is a visual bug occurring during a specific scene, though it does not affect overall performance or stability. This is a minor issue that may need fixing.

Recommendations:
- Play episodes in order (weight 0.48): Many reviewers stress that prior episodes should be played first for better understanding and to avoid spoilers, especially before episode 3.
- Strongly recommend the game (weight 0.44): Several reviewers highly recommend playing the game overall, often praising its story and emotional depth, with some explicitly saying to just buy it.
- Avoid if sensitive (weight 0.34): The game contains heavy, tragic, and potentially distressing content, including NTR and cruel twists; reviewers advise caution for those with low mental tolerance.
- Not for romance seekers (weight 0.19): Reviewers warn that this episode is less focused on romance and may disappoint those expecting a romantic or engaging story, with some noting it is plot-driven instead.
- Buy on discount (weight 0.15): Several reviewers recommend waiting for a sale or buying the game in a pack, suggesting it is better value at a reduced price.
- Not for male-lead fans (weight 0.12): Those who liked previous male leads may be disappointed or should skip this episode, and expectations of a strong female protagonist are discouraged.
- Recommended for series fans (weight 0.12): Players who have followed earlier episodes or appreciate the world-building are recommended this installment to conclude the story.
- Good mystery psychological VN (weight 0.12): Fans of mystery and psychological visual novels will likely enjoy this game, which is recommended for its storytelling and character-driven experience.
- Recommended for plot twists (weight 0.11): Fans of plot twists and trope subversions will appreciate this episode, especially the third installment's truth revelation.
- Play all routes (weight 0.09): Some reviewers advise not skipping any routes, including bad endings, to get the full experience and avoid missing key story segments.
- Spoiler-free recommendation (weight 0.09): Reviewers suggest playing without spoilers to fully enjoy the plot revelations, and recommend playing earlier episodes first to avoid spoilers.
- Accessible for newcomers (weight 0.08): While richer in sequence, the game is an accessible entry point for newcomers, though it is advisable to start from the beginning.
- Refund request (weight 0.07): One reviewer demanded a refund and advised against buying, indicating a negative experience.
- Translation support (weight 0.07): Urges players to buy the game to support developers and translators, and recommends it to Russian speakers with intermediate English skills.
- Second part skippable (weight 0.04): Some reviewers indicate that the second part can be skipped, but this is a minority opinion.
- Not for pretty art (weight 0.04): The game is not recommended for those expecting a visually appealing art style or a well-told story that meets typical standards.
- Avoid imitating protagonist (weight 0.04): Warns against imitating the protagonist's behavior, suggesting it may be harmful or unrealistic.

Other player notes:
- Third episode in series (weight 0.5): The game is consistently identified as the third installment in a multi-part series, with many reviews noting it reveals the overarching truth and builds on previous episodes. Playing earlier episodes is recommended for full understanding.
- Anticipation for episode four (weight 0.31): Numerous reviewers express strong anticipation for the fourth episode and the fan disc, indicating the series' conclusion is highly awaited. This suggests the third episode leaves the story on a compelling cliffhanger.
- Genre and platform details (weight 0.24): The game is an otome visual novel with anime fantasy elements, available on Steam. It features two routes with different styles and is fully voiced in Japanese except for the heroine.
- Achievement and technical issues (weight 0.22): The game has achievements, but some reviewers mention bugs and issues, possibly related to copyright. Others note the achievements are less buggy than in previous episodes.
- Story structure and length (weight 0.18): Each route takes around 4.5 hours, with the total game length estimated at 7-8 hours. The story is structured episodically, with the third episode providing a complete experience when combined with the second.
- Recurring themes and motifs (weight 0.17): The story uses repetition and dream-fragment themes, which some reviewers find fitting. The narrative includes foreshadowing and psychological horror elements.
- Content warnings and adult audience (weight 0.16): The game is aimed at an adult audience due to its heavy themes and contains multiple personality disorder content based on Billy Milligan. Reviewers advise caution and recommend checking content warnings.
- Spoiler-heavy reviews (weight 0.15): Many reviews include detailed spoilers about the plot and ending, with warnings for players who haven't completed earlier episodes. This indicates the story's twists are significant.
- Series completion and waiting (weight 0.15): Reviewers who played the entire series express anticipation for the final chapter and epilogue, with some waiting for Steam release. This indicates strong long-term engagement with the series.
- Story resolution and truths (weight 0.15): The episode clears up many unanswered questions but not all, setting up for the finale. The truth line is contentious but provides clear hints for observant players.
- Localization and languages (weight 0.14): The game supports multiple localizations including English, Chinese, and Russian. The English translation is by Jast USA and Molly Lee, and some reviewers note the Chinese word order can be repetitive.
- Unconventional love story (weight 0.12): The game is not a conventional love story, and the heroine is unique and carnivorous. This sets it apart from typical otome games, appealing to players seeking something different.
- Comparison to other visual novels (weight 0.12): The game is compared to titles like Amnesia and Collar x Malice, and some reviewers feel those have better plots. This suggests mixed opinions on the narrative quality.
- Standalone playability (weight 0.12): Opinions vary on whether Episode 3 can be played as a standalone; some say it works without losing much, while others insist previous episodes are needed for full understanding.
- Music and asset reuse (weight 0.11): The game reuses music and assets, with some reviewers noting this as a negative. Others appreciate the opening and ending themes, indicating mixed opinions on the audio presentation.
- Reviewer preferences and comparisons (weight 0.11): Some reviewers prefer the writing style of the second game, and others find previous routes pretentious. Personal rankings of love interests suggest subjective enjoyment.
- Character and voice acting praise (weight 0.09): The voice actor for the male lead receives high praise for portraying multiple personalities, and Snow White's voice actor is also appreciated. This contributes to the game's immersive experience.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): The Wizard and Snow White routes failed to meet high expectations, particularly in romance, presentation, and narrative impact. The lack of a satisfying happy ending and issues like translation quality and repetitive elements contributed to a sense of letdown.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): The Magician route's development, plot twists, and revelation of the series' core mystery generated significant excitement. Anticipation for the final episode and Alice's route, along with the emotional depth of the narrative, made this episode a standout experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.05): Low information density, cryptic storytelling, and the locked Magician route led to player frustration. Technical issues like translation errors and achievement bugs, along with passive protagonist behavior, compounded the dissatisfaction.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): The truth route provided clarity and revelation, bringing together the story's threads in a satisfying way. Improved pacing, logical storytelling, and strong character writing made this episode rewarding and resolved many previous mysteries.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciated the deep setting, voice acting, music, and narrative technique that enhanced the story's impact. The polished presentation, effective foreshadowing, and quality of the Chinese localization were also praised.
- Anticipation (weight 0.04): The cliffhangers and unresolved plot points created strong anticipation for Episode 4, the epilogue, and the Alice route. Players eagerly await the conclusion and the fan disk translation.
- Affection (weight 0.04): Players felt affection for characters like the Wizard, Snow White, and the heroine due to their compelling personalities and tragic backstories. The romantic dynamics and cute revelations added to the emotional connection.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): The game delivered unexpected plot twists that exceeded expectations in depth and darkness. Routes that were initially met with hesitancy turned out to be better than expected, while the climax came unexpectedly quickly.
- Shock (weight 0.03): Major plot revelations, including the META moment and the truth behind the dream, left players shocked. The revelation that the male lead was dreaming and the heroine's role as a tool were particularly startling.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): The writer's prose, storytelling, and the emotional depth of the routes earned admiration. High-quality script, voice acting, and translation, along with the heroine's intelligence and selfless love, were highlighted.
- Sadness (weight 0.03): The tragic fates of the Wizard and other characters, along with the emotionally heavy narrative, brought players to tears. The unrequited love and suffering depicted throughout the routes were deeply affecting.
- Disgust (weight 0.03): Players felt betrayed by plot twists involving NTR elements and the premise that devalues previous games. The excessive bad endings and repulsive aspects of the Magician's story evoked strong disgust.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): The mystery elements, dream-within-a-dream concept, and engaging characters provided enjoyment. The well-written story, witty dialogue, and surprising revelations made this episode a fun experience.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players developed a deep love for characters like Snow White, the Wizard, and the heroine due to their endearing traits and development. The writing, characters, and audio-visual presentation resonated strongly.
- Discomfort (weight 0.02): Perspective shifts, cryptic dialogue, and dark themes created an unsettling atmosphere. The portrayal of disturbing character traits and the emptiness felt after completion contributed to discomfort.
- Distress (weight 0.02): The painful endings and violent events in the Wizard route caused significant emotional distress. The heroine's repeated deaths and the psychologically heavy content further heightened the tension.
- Sympathy (weight 0.02): Players felt sympathy for the suffering of the Wizard, the victims, and characters with tragic childhoods. The magic user's sacrificial love and unrequited feelings evoked pity.
- Joy (weight 0.02): The positive experience of the Wizard route and the entire game brought joy to players. The engaging narrative and satisfying conclusion contributed to a sense of delight.
- Anger (weight 0.02): The good ending felt worse than death, and the writer's perceived hostility toward the player angered some. The doctor's abandonment and offensive content in earlier episodes also incited anger.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Some routes, particularly Snow White's, were seen as drawn-out and repetitive, leading to boredom. The lack of new content in certain sections made the experience tedious.}