Info about Nightshade/百花百狼:

Official game description:
【About the play video release of "Nightshade"】  
You are allowed to do so if you share the movie free of charge below the rules.  
\*All Visual novels are not permitted.  
\*Only Prologue and Chapter1 and Chapter2 are permitted.  
\*If it is for business purposes, you cannot do so unfortunately.  
Thank you very much for your interest in our games.  
【Over view】  
A romance visual novel game made in collaboration with D3P Otomebu and Red Entertainment, two companies known for their creative range and production of heavyweight visual novel games.  
Character design and illustrations are by the popular illustrator Teita.  
The romance revolves around Ninjas who have lived through the Sengoku Period.  
The story is set in Japan soon after the Sengoku Period.  
Follow the romances between the protagonist and other main characters through a compelling tale of conflicting loyalties.  
The story is fiction, but several characters and events are factual, making the novel enjoyable for those interested in Japanese history.  
There are 2 endings for each of the 5 main characters depending on the route the player takes. The ending movie and music changes according to the final outcome of the players choices.  
Fully voiced by popular voice artists in Japan.  
【World】  
During the Sengoku Period the two main factions of ninja clans, Iga and Kōga, warred against each other for decades.  
In the year 1593, Nobunaga Oda started the Tenshō Iga war, decimating most of the Iga ninjas in the process.  
The very few that survived were absorbed into the Kōga clan, despite their past rivalries.  
After 17 years the Sengoku Period finally came to an end, and Japan was unified.  
Enju (Protagonist), daughter of Kandō Ueno, the Head of the Kōga clan, spends her days training diligently in hope of becoming a full-fledged ninja like her peers.  
At long last she is assigned to her first mission, but finds herself caught in a dark conspiracy――.  
【VOICE】  
Gekkamaru……Wataru Hatano  
Kuroyuki……Hiro Shimono  
Chōjirō Momochi……Kohsuke Toriumi  
Hanzō Hattori……Kenjiro Tsuda  
Goemon Ishikawa……Hikaru Midorikawa  
Ennosuke Yamakura……Ryo Oshima  
Kyara Mikumo……Saori Hayami  
Kasumi……Megumi Han  
Ieyasu Tokugawa……Kouki Miyata  
and more.  
Heroine has no voice sound. (This is a specification.)  
【About Theme song】  
Opening Theme  
"Gekka no Uta ha Kage yorimo Kuroku（月下の唄は影よりも黒く）" MIKOTO  
Ending Theme  
"Taezaru Hana（絶えざる花）"（TRUE END）MIKOTO  
"Aoi Sange（蒼い散華）"（BAD END）MIKOTO  
On sale at itunes!  
【About Memoirs】  
Each memoir will be opened by reading all the scenarios (sentences).

Release date: Apr 11, 2017

Categories: Visual Novel, Otome, Romance with Multiple Heroines, Multiple Endings, Route-based Storytelling, Sengoku-era Japan Setting, Multiple Routes, Fully Voiced


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 11.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The only numeric playtime is 11 hours to a bad-ending milestone, so I record it under storyCompletion as a route/story milestone rather than a full-game completion time. Other reviews mention finishing all routes or all achievements but give no hour count, so gameCompletion cannot be supported. No review provides a typical session length or an endgame duration, so those metrics remain null. Confidence is limited because the 11-hour figure is tied to a bad ending and may not represent a full route or complete story.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Art-First Otome Aesthete (buy)
    - Motivation: Seeing beautiful character art, romantic CGs, and attractive visual design.
    - Playstyle: Pushes through slow or flawed sections for visual rewards and judges routes partly by CG quality and art appeal.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Route-Completionist Otome Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Unlocking the full story, true ending, and emotional payoff across every route.
    - Playstyle: Plans route order carefully, completes all routes and achievements, and avoids repeating similar routes back to back.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Character-Loyal Romance Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Spending time with appealing love interests and enjoying romantic route moments.
    - Playstyle: Picks first routes by character charm or design, follows favorite love interests, and seeks sweet scenes and DLC content.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Otome Newcomer Seeking Accessibility (buy)
    - Motivation: Finding an approachable, polished otome game that is easy to try and enjoy.
    - Playstyle: Tests the first hour before committing, values voice acting and user-friendly design, and compares the game to general otome expectations.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: newcomers
    - 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:
- Engrossing story and plot (weight 0.84): The story is described as engrossing, fantastic, and well-written, with many unexpected twists that keep players invested. The narrative improves after routes split and features strong emotional moments.
- Kuroyuki route highly praised (weight 0.81): Many players find Kuroyuki's route the most entertaining, citing comedic dialogue, a quick-recovering heroine, and a cute, affectionate male lead. His voice acting and warm happy ending are also highlighted.
- Hanzo route shows heroine growth (weight 0.81): Hanzo's route is praised for clear heroine development, especially in combat ability. Players also enjoy Hanzo's reliable, strong, and kind character, as well as the sweet romance and healing story.
- Beautiful art style (weight 0.61): The art style, particularly the CG artwork and character designs by Teita, is frequently described as extremely beautiful and gorgeous. Specific CGs, like the campfire scene, are also singled out for praise.
- Excellent voice acting (weight 0.48): The voice acting is widely praised, with players highlighting the stellar cast, including Hikaru Midorikawa, Kenjiro Tsuda, and others. The performances are described as superb and elevating emotional scenes.
- All male leads have charm (weight 0.45): Players appreciate that each love interest has distinct personal charm and a clearly defined personality. The game features a variety of character types, from loyal dogs to reliable older men.
- Gekkamaru route sweet and twisty (weight 0.39): Gekkamaru's route is considered the sweetest romance, with interesting twists and a fallen-in-love-with-enemy's-daughter premise. Gekkamaru himself is a virtuous husband type and a favorite character.
- Goemon route light and relaxing (weight 0.32): Goemon's route is described as light and relaxing compared to others, with a happy ending and a gentle, perceptive male lead. His character design and voice are also well-liked.
- Emotional and memorable characters (weight 0.32): The characters are unforgettable and their arcs are complete and emotionally impactful. The contrast between sweet and painful moments is strong, and the romance is sweet.
- Well-developed heroine (weight 0.31): The heroine is praised for being capable in combat, not useless, and showing clear growth throughout the story. Her personality is understandable and well-reasoned given her environment.
- Tsukishitamaru route stands out (weight 0.3): Tsukishitamaru's route is praised for having a real plot without filler, many engaging twists, and the most outstanding story among all routes. His character design and loyal nature are also appreciated.
- Satisfying endings (weight 0.28): Many endings, including happy family endings and peaceful retirement conclusions, are found satisfying. The bad endings are also well done and emotionally impactful.
- Good value and polished UI (weight 0.26): The game is considered good value when bought on sale, and it features a polished user interface with quality-of-life features like skip options and a flowchart. It is an outstanding otome game overall.
- Brother character well-liked (weight 0.26): The older brother character is gentle, wife-like, and his blushing expressions and love confessions are captivating. His CG art is also beautiful.
- High replay value (weight 0.24): The game offers high replay value due to multiple routes and endings, with a dual narrative that fills in the full truth. Players are motivated to replay for other characters.
- Chojiro route emotionally engaging (weight 0.21): Chojiro's route is enjoyed for its two ill-fated characters relying on each other, dramatic twists, and good endings. The sweetness after mutual understanding is also noted.
- High praise for Goro route (weight 0.2): Goro's route is described as fun and enjoyable, with a good atmosphere and strong daily romance. Goro's smart personality and feeding-based favor gain are highlighted.
- Immersive Sengoku ninja setting (weight 0.12): The historical Sengoku ninja setting is immersive and blends political intrigue, ancient grudges, and personal desires. The premise is immediately engaging and sets a strong tone.
- Game suitable for anime adaptation (weight 0.11): The game's ensemble presentation and strong character writing make it well-suited for an anime adaptation. The plot and art are considered good enough.

Common complaints:
- Uncomfortable relationship dynamics (weight 0.51): The game features romanceable characters who are the protagonist's cousin or adoptive brothers, and large age gaps between the 16-year-old MC and adult love interests. Reviewers find these tropes uncomfortable and believe the game normalizes them.
- Weak and passive heroine (weight 0.41): The protagonist is often described as bland, indecisive, and lacking agency, with little growth across routes. Her constant passivity and reliance on others frustrate players.
- Repetitive routes and tedious gameplay (weight 0.4): Multiple reviewers complain about repetitive battle scenes, escape sequences, and forced interactions that cannot be skipped. The linear structure and lack of variety make replays feel like a chore.
- Poor pacing and rushed plot (weight 0.4): The story is criticized for being rushed with little buildup, childish early chapters, and a slow-burn that becomes boring. Inconsistencies and forced plot points further detract from the narrative.
- Inconsistent route quality (weight 0.33): Players note that some routes are poorly written, dragged out, or feel forced, while others are more enjoyable. The discrepancy makes the overall experience uneven.
- Forced and uncomfortable tropes (weight 0.31): The game includes forced love route twists, questionable situations, and glorifies ninja ideology and self-sacrifice. Some deaths feel forced for plot purposes.
- Kuroyuki route flaws (weight 0.28): Kuroyuki's route feels repetitive with two escape routes, overemphasizes dependency, has a rushed ending, and includes uncomfortable dialogue about suckling. It was also unappealing due to sharing a voice actor with a Danganronpa V3 character.
- Incompetent ninja group (weight 0.27): The ninja group acts incompetently, treating missions like a vacation, and characters are dumbed down to make others look smart. Constant banter and comedic scenes undermine their competence.
- Short common route and romance (weight 0.25): Reviewers mention that the common route is very short and the overall length makes romance routes feel too brief with few sweet moments. The focus is more on angst than romance.
- Chōjirō route issues (weight 0.25): The Chōjirō route is criticized for inconsistent heroine personality, little male lead screen time, frustrating indecision leading to a companion's death, and an absurd plot with fake deaths and flat romance.
- Hanzo route problems (weight 0.25): Hanzo's route is described as plain with no twists, repetitive battle scenes, forced choice between lord and heroine, and a half-hearted confession with repeated lines. It was boring enough to fall asleep during.
- Brother route disappointing (weight 0.24): The brother route is unenjoyable, unengaging, and features a yandere love interest with indecisive behavior that is tiring. The plot is sometimes frustratingly dumb.
- Unskippable read text (weight 0.16): Already-read text cannot be skipped quickly; only auto mode or pressing enter works, which can lead to wrong choices and reloading.
- Linear gameplay with limited options (weight 0.15): The game is linear with no extra exploration or crafting, and some ports have incomplete options and inconvenient navigation. Fast-forwarding is a chore due to the old-fashioned style.
- Translation and voice issues (weight 0.11): The English translation reads awkwardly and feels like a grind, and the heroine lacks voice acting which weakens emotional climaxes.
- Goemon route boring middle (weight 0.11): The middle daily interactions of the Goemon route are too boring, with the two constantly praising each other, and the heroine shows no clear growth.
- Bodyguard route depressing (weight 0.06): The bodyguard route is the saddest and most depressing, with nearly everyone except the protagonist dying.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiple character routes structure (weight 0.97): The game is a visual novel with a common route that branches into individual character routes, each with its own storyline.
- Multiple endings per route (weight 0.4): Each character route has multiple endings, including happy endings and bad endings.
- Achievements require full completion (weight 0.2): Achievements require selecting all choices, replaying the story, and completing all endings to unlock bonus content.
- Choices affect affection and routes (weight 0.17): Dialogue choices influence affection levels and determine which character route the player enters.
- Bad endings include forced deaths (weight 0.15): Some bad endings involve double suicide or forced plot deaths triggered by wrong decisions.
- Skip and flowchart features (weight 0.15): Includes skip options and a flowchart for managing saves and replays, though the skip function for read text is limited.
- Route branching after prologue (weight 0.11): The game has a prologue and chapter 1 before branching into character routes.
- Fully voiced except heroine (weight 0.11): The game is fully voiced except for the heroine, and naming her 'Enju' causes other characters to voice her name.
- Guides needed for endings (weight 0.11): Players often use guides to reach happy and bad endings, and the truth is fully explained only in the happy ending route.
- 18+ otome with ninja theme (weight 0.11): An 18+ otome visual novel with a Sengoku ninja theme and an old-fashioned style.
- Survival over romance emphasis (weight 0.06): The game emphasizes survival rather than romance.
- Story varies by romance target (weight 0.06): The story changes drastically depending on the romance target.
- Straightforward controls (weight 0.06): The game has straightforward controls.
- Goro route feeding favor (weight 0.06): The Goro route involves gaining the heroine's favor through feeding.

Performance notes:
No performancepoints

Recommendations:
- Mixed Overall Recommendations (weight 0.21): Opinions are divided, with some strongly recommending the game and others advising against it. Potential buyers are encouraged to try it themselves to see if it appeals to them.
- Caution for Non-Kuroyuki Routes (weight 0.12): Those interested in other male characters are advised to think twice and consider purchasing a physical cartridge. This implies variable quality across routes.
- Investing Story Despite Suffering (weight 0.12): The narrative gets players invested, and some recommend it despite emotional suffering due to the art style. It appeals to those who value deep engagement.
- Taboo Relationships Warning (weight 0.12): The game features huge age gaps and a love interest related to the MC, which may deter some players. Those who can overlook these elements might enjoy it.
- Historical Ninja Theme Appeal (weight 0.12): Fans of historical otome and ninja themes are specifically recommended, suggesting the setting is well-executed for enthusiasts.
- Steady Older Men Appeal (weight 0.07): Players who appreciate reliable, mature love interests will not regret two of the routes. This suggests the game caters well to that specific preference.
- Avoid Brother Route (weight 0.07): A clear warning is given against playing the brother route, indicating a significant negative experience for at least one reviewer.
- Not for Sweet Romance Only (weight 0.07): Players who prefer purely sweet romance and dislike tragedy are warned away, as the game includes heavier elements.
- Frustrating Elements Deter Some (weight 0.07): The game is not for everyone due to frustrating story elements, which may detract from the experience for certain players.
- Otome Over Gacha (weight 0.07): One reviewer considers this otome game a better use of money than gacha games, highlighting its value for spending.
- Language and Platform Advice (weight 0.07): For players lacking Chinese text, playing the Wegame, 1001, or Switch version with a translator like Luna Translator is suggested. This addresses accessibility concerns.
- Bad Ending Enthusiasts (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for fans of bad endings, indicating the presence of tragic outcomes that appeal to a niche audience.
- Route Order Strategy (weight 0.07): Playing routes in an order that avoids consecutive similar routes is advised to enhance enjoyment. This suggests some routes share similarities that may cause fatigue.
- Early Investment Predicts Enjoyment (weight 0.07): If players like the game after an hour, they are likely to love the whole thing. This implies the initial experience is representative of the overall game.
- Political Tension Romance (weight 0.07): Fans of romance steeped in political tension are recommended, as the game blends love with intrigue effectively.
- Early Chapter Disappointment (weight 0.07): One reviewer gave up after chapter 1 and does not recommend continuing, indicating a slow or unengaging start for some.
- Immersion Broken by Overthinking (weight 0.06): Players seeking strong immersion may be disappointed because the heroine's overthinking can break immersion. This is a specific critique for immersion-focused players.

Other player notes:
- High-quality CG and voice acting (weight 0.34): Players praise the high-quality CG artwork and voice acting. The game is fully voiced in Japanese by veteran voice actors, and the art is by Teita.
- Multi-platform availability (weight 0.25): The game is available on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, WeGame, and 1001. Some ported versions have technical issues.
- Chinese language support lacking (weight 0.22): The game does not include Chinese localization on Steam, requiring a fan-made patch. A Chinese patch is available, and the Chinese version was previously exclusive to WeGame.
- Post-Sengoku Japan setting (weight 0.18): Set in post-Sengoku Japan during a fragile era of peace, where the Kōga and Iga clans have nominally united under the Tokugawa regime. The protagonist is Enju Ueno, heiress of the Kōga clan.
- Darker themes than typical otome (weight 0.12): Nightshade explores darker themes compared to lighter otome titles, and the squad's blind loyalty is compared to another title.
- DLC adds additional story content (weight 0.12): There is DLC that includes additional sweet story content, though one DLC is less sweet than the main story.
- Developed by D3P and Red (weight 0.11): The game is developed by D3P Otomebu and Red Entertainment, with additional development by LANTERN ROOMS and published by D3PUBLISHER.
- Favorable value during sales (weight 0.11): Players find the game offers good value during sales, and some purchased it after a recommendation from a Reddit forum about otome games on Steam.
- Five love interests with ages (weight 0.07): The game features five love interests with varying ages: Chojiro (23), Goemon (26), Hanzo (33), Kuroyuki (16), Gekkamaru (19), and the MC is 16.
- Steam Deck compatibility and controls (weight 0.07): The game runs on Steam Deck with straightforward controls, making it accessible for portable play.
- Rated 9/10 by reviewer (weight 0.07): The game received a rating of 9/10 from the reviewer.
- Save at every choice for achievements (weight 0.07): Players seeking all achievements should save at every choice to collect unread parts later.
- Favorable comparison to gacha games (weight 0.07): Compared favorably to gacha games because the money goes to completed stories.
- Decent guide for visual novel players (weight 0.06): The game includes a decent guide for visual novel players, helping them navigate the story.
- Compared to Game of Thrones (weight 0.06): The game's questionable situations are compared to Game of Thrones.
- Tokugawa Ieyasu not romanceable (weight 0.06): Tokugawa Ieyasu has a character design but is not a romanceable route.
- Steam Points Shop items (weight 0.06): The Steam version includes Points Shop items for players to collect.
- Previously played on WeGame (weight 0.06): The game was previously played on WeGame.

Emotions:
- Admiration (weight 0.13): Players admire the game's high-quality art, particularly Teita's beautiful CG artwork, and the strong voice acting. The complete and well-written stories, especially Hanzo's route, also receive praise for their emotional depth and character development.
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Frustration stems from inconsistent route quality, such as Chōjirō's route featuring an inconsistent heroine and absurd plot, and a weak heroine who only narrates during fights. Technical issues like inability to skip read text quickly and the lack of Chinese localization further aggravate players.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment is largely driven by the Hanzo and Kuroyuki routes, which are praised for their writing and voice acting, including Kenjiro Tsuda's performance. The dramatic twists across routes and the sweet DLC extra story also contribute to a positive experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment arises from a flat and powerless heroine, noticeable route quality variance, and forced plot points. The short length of romance routes and repetition on replays, along with the inability to romance Tokugawa Ieyasu, further detract from the experience.
- Love (weight 0.05): Players express strong love for the characters, especially Kuroyuki and Hanzo, and their respective routes. The game's art, voice acting, and character writing are cited as key reasons for this affection.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom is reported during the initial common route, which feels slow and is only carried by the artwork. Some players even fell asleep during the Hanzo route due to the slow-burn story and boring early sections.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance is caused by the inability to skip repeated content quickly without risking wrong choices, making full achievement completion tedious. The weak and saintly heroine in Goemon's route also contributes to this feeling.
- Affection (weight 0.04): Affection is felt for the gentle and loving older brother character, and for the charm of the male leads, especially Getsukamaru. Players also enjoy both the healthiest and most twisted routes, and find Kuroyuki cute.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger is provoked by certain infuriating routes, such as the heroine in Ishikawa's route being manipulated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Kuroyuki's self-sacrificing behavior also frustrates players.
- Discomfort (weight 0.04): Discomfort arises from the large age gaps between the MC and three love interests, and from romantic routes involving an underage MC with adults, including a cousin and adopted brothers. Kuroyuki's repetitive dialogue about suckling from the same breast also contributes.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is generated by Tsukishitamaru's route, which features a gripping plot with many twists, and by the Kuroyuki route with his affectionate behavior. The story's immersive quality makes players want to replay.
- Comfort (weight 0.03): Comfort is derived from Hanzo's reliability and his route where friends survive and the heroine grows. Hanzo's route is described as comfortable.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement comes from the comedic dialogue and absurd situations in the Kuroyuki route, and from Kuroyuki being a legendary yandere character. Goemon's ENTP-like personality traits also provide humor.
- Relief (weight 0.02): Relief is experienced when playing Goemon's route, which is light and relaxing, and upon reaching the happy family ending.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise is elicited by the outstanding plot of Tsukishitamaru's route and the many unexpected plot twists that startle the player.
- Fatigue (weight 0.02): Fatigue is caused by the brother route's indecisiveness and the heroine's wavering, as well as the effort of playing the game in raw Japanese.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is felt towards the spineless MC and insufferable love interests, and from unintentionally unlocking Chojiro's route.
- Emotional (weight 0.02): Players feel emotional due to certain moving routes and the intense contrast between sweet and painful story moments.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Satisfaction is expressed for the Kuroyuki and Ishikawa routes being good, and for enjoying all routes in the game.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is directed specifically at the brother route.}