Currently playing: #neonclash the new #otomegame #visualnovel published by voltage and developed by #amulit

It’s a really gripping tale so far. The (kind of?) almost kinetic style of the game is a very interesting take if you’re used to your standard otomate title. Opens up a lot of different ways to go about storytelling and connections between the characters. I also love that they don’t mindlessly gloss over the cruelty of mafia. I have some gripes with this game but I’m really looking forward to writing my review on this one soon! Amulit has been popping off recently with their console titles, I’m really excited about sins of Kaleido, too.

#NintendoSwitch #otome

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/12/26/neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-review-nintendo-switch/

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: December 25, 2025 (North America)
Developers:  Voltage Inc.
Publishers:  Voltage Inc.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

STORY

Kumyo: The land of neon lights and fleeting pleasures.

A land where if you don’t step on others to get to the top, you’ll only sink to the bottom. Effort means nothing. Charity? Forget about it.

Kroa is an underground courier at the bottom of the barrel. In order to survive life in Kumyo, the youth have turned to the mafia life to fight for power. The mafia is a violent criminal organization shunned by the public. However, there was one family both respected by fellow mafioso, and adored by the general public.

Their name was the Liu family.
11 years ago, the Liu family was exterminated.

But once the sole surviving member, Gante Lowd, crosses paths with the rightful heir, Liu Kroa, the wheel of fate begins to turn once more.

ART AND MUSIC

I love Neon Clash’s overall visual aesthetic. The artwork is beyond beautiful and I am completely enamored with the game’s art style. The CGs especially, are insanely pretty! All the while being very emotional and very impactful! On top of that, the LIs have multiple sprite variations, and their outfits are really stunning. We have none other than the Japanese illustrator, Takao to thank for all of Neon Clash’s gorgeous glory, which appears to be their first full otome game project. I sincerely hope they’ll have more otome projects in the future because their art style to me, is crazy gorgeous!

As for the game’s staff, the writing team is led by Ririka Yoshimura, who is widely known for also being the lead scenario writer for Cupid Parasite and Despera Drops. The game’s overall director is Ichika Shina, an in-house director for Voltage Inc.

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost also has one of the most banger OPs this year. The OP theme, Shangri-La, was by far one of my favorite otome OST of 2025. I also really enjoyed how vibrant the BGMs are in this game; I think they mesh pretty well with the neon Chinese aesthetic of this title, which I’m really loving btw. The game’s BGMs are by Shunsuke Tsuchiya of Procyon Studio, who also composed for Even if Tempest, Black Wolves Saga, KgK, and a few other otome game OSTs in the past.

Voice Acting

Yuichiro Umehara as “Gante Lowd” – Alfred (Mistonia’s Hope), Paschalia (Radiant Tale), Serge (Genso Manege), Kohei Minato (Sympathy Kiss), Benkei (Birushana), Canus Espada (Café Enchanté), Enishi (Jack Jeanne), Demento (Period Cube), Shingen Takeda (IkeSen), Sage (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Rain (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Oochidori (Touken Ranbu)

Shunichi Toki as “Sun Maslo” –  Hibiki (9RIP), Dahut (Virche Evermore), Leo (Piofiore), Yakumo (Dairoku), Hibie (Winters Wish), Matsui Go (Touken Ranbu), Mousse Atlas (IkeRev), Yuki Rurikawa (A3!)

Jun Fukuyama as “Sodyk Mun” – Ascot (Mistonia’s Hope), Karatachi (Illusion of Itehari), Mizuchi (Hana Awase), Tomomori (Birushana), Vyn Richter (Tears of Themis), Mozu (BUSTFELLOWS), Goro Fujita (Meiji Tokyo Renka), Liberta (Arcana Famiglia), Rin (Togainu no Chi), Aido (Vampire Knight), Tokiwa Etsuya (Dairoku), Goke Kanimitsu (Touken Ranbu)

Ryota Suzuki as “Zhang Hiyok” – Lucas (Mistonia’s Hope), Ash (Despera Drops), Koyo (9RIP), Ginnosuke (Him, the Smile and bloom), Yona (Tengoku Struggle), Kiito Minorikawa (Jack Jeanne), Trey Clover (TWST), Ink (Gunka Haita Neko), Caster (FGO), Mizuro Tamaki (Tokyo Ghoul)

Takeo Otsuka as “Mazho Meqrin” – Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries), Elbert Greetia (IkeVil), Sunday (HSR), Luke (Chaos Zero Nightmare), Miyabi (UN:Logical), Katsu (Shinjuku Rashoumon), Yuen Hu (Shinjuku Soumei), Kanata (Angelique Lumenarise), Remnan (Gnosia), Joshua Rosfield (FF16)

Yusuke Kobayashi as “Shelby Zhiho” – Flynn (The Red Bell’s Lament), Tomonari (Winters Wish), Hira (Dairoku), Byleth (FE Engage, 3H), Shinano Toushiro (Touken Ranbu), Suwon (Yona of the Dawn), Yuli Norbert (MidCin), Manai Tomoki (Sweet Clown), Xavier (Love and Deepspace), Ugetso (Utakata no Uchronia), Kiyoshi Kurotani (Persona 5), Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)

Hana Shimano as “Shelby Zhia” – Himari Kino (Whisper Me a Love Song), Mako Kawai (Food for the Soul)

Kazuyuki Okitsu as “Yuan Gonglu” – Ankou (Virche Evermore), Yoji Kobase (Sympathy Kiss),  Atsushi Daikoku (B-PROJECT), Tsukuyomi (Olympia Soiree), Epilogi (Café Enchanté), Hachisuka Kotetsu (Touken Ranbu), Dante (Jack Jeanne), Ray (EPHEMERAL), Kuya (NU Carnival),  Kyrie (Ozmafia!!), Keith Knight (Iris School of Wizardry)

Shinnosuke Tachibana as “Shao Feng” – Himeutsugi (Hana Awase), Seiya (9RIP),  Koizumi Yakumo (Meiji Tokyo Renka), Camu (Despera Drops), Xiaolei (Battlefield Waltz), Henri (Piofiore), White Mask (Bad Apple Wars), Kousei (Ayakashi Koi Gikyoku), William Rex (IkeVil), Koryu Kagemitsu (Touken Ranbu), Rafayel (Love and Deepspace)

Eiji Takeuchi as “R” – Riley Randolph (Mistonia’s Hope), Hitoya Amaguni (Hypnosis Mic), Sumio (Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master), Rafa (Borderlands 4), Hide (Nioh 2), Nobutaka Osanai (Tokyo Revengers), Takefumi Kawada (The Devil is a Part-timer)

Kazuhiro Yoshimura as “Xiadun Jue” – Shioji (Illusion of Itehari), Oleander (The Red Bell’s Lament), Alest (Radiant Tale), Minegeshi (Collar x Malice), Ten (Cafe Enchante), Maki (Side Kicks!), Souji Kamishiro (Suika Niritsu), Pepe (Bustafellows)

Haruki Ishiya as “Yunzi Yulong” – Toichi Nagayama (Jack Jeanne), Jiro (Hypnosis Mic), Roger Ward (Metaphor: ReFantazio), Toru (Slow Damage), Louis (FE Engage), Sebek Zigvolt (TWST), Makoto Shizuo (Prince of Stride), Haku (Gunka o Haita Neko), Mikado (On Air!)

Taishi Murata as “Kyochu Yona” – Kaina (Olympia Soire), Idaeus Glodell (Metaphor: ReFantazio), Tokugawa Iemitsu (Ken ga Kimi), Takeshi Efuku (Prince of Stride), Seth Hyde (IkePri),

CAST AND CHARACTERS

With Neon Clash being AmuLit’s third otome console game installment, it has become clearer to me that the studio really does have its own distinct narrative formula. If you’ve played their previous two titles, Even if Tempest and The Red Bell’s Lament, you’ll notice a similar structure shared with Neon Clash, where in the story progresses in a largely linear fashion, and the romance endings only unlock after the main story has been cleared.

That said, this title does not have any branching individual routes in the way conventional console otome games do. Instead, the romance endings only become available after you’ve completed the TRUE Ending of the game. Each chapter has the heroine spending time with a specific love interest:

• Chapter 2: Lowd
• Chapter 3: Maslo
• Chapter 4: Mun
• Chapter 5: Hiyok
• Chapter 6: is the final chapter that wraps up the story and leads into the endings.

In a way, this format kinda plays out similarly to how Chinese mobile otome games structure their stories (think Tears of Themis, LaDs, MLQC, etc.), where there’s one overarching main story and each chapter is dedicated to a particular love interest.

As for how the story benefits from this type of formula, it certainly depends on the kind of narrative the writers present in the main game. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of how it played out in The Red Bell’s Lament, but I did enjoy the same formula in Even if Tempest. With Neon Clash, I think this approach works well here too, especially given how impressively fast-paced and eventful the main story is. I’ll save more of my detailed thoughts for my “overall impressions” section below, so please keep reading!😁

Walkthroughs:

• TRUE End
• SAD End

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost. All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

GANTE LOWD

• god bless the hot loyal mafioso priest 🙏📿
• Lowd in a nutshell… 🤭🤭🤭

A mafioso through and through who was adopted and raised by the original Liu family. He works as a priest in a church in Taozhe, with hopes to one day rebuild the Liu family.

I love Lowd! And Umehara seems to have nailed this character down to a T. What a perfect match! Lowd also became one of my fav LIs in the game, and one I’ll probably think of fondly from now on.🥺 He was such a great character and love interest. The man stayed steadfast and loyal until the very end. It actually hurts how unwavering his devotion to the heroine is.😭 Through all the hardships, he remained by her side, for better or worse. I really don’t have any qualms or complaints about this LI.

After finishing all the romance endings in this title, I also think Lowd had the best romantic relationship with Kroa. Personally, I found their chemistry as a couple the most convincing and satisfying. I’m still brainrotting over his romance ending as we speak! I needed more chapters!

OH MAAAHH LOWWWD!🥵🥵🥵 I am down bad for this man.

I think out of everyone’s romance endings, Lowd’s felt the most natural and intimate. And perhaps this is because of how closely he and Kroa bonded during Chapter Two. It was also the only chapter where the heroine openly admits that she’s in love with someone before entrusting her feelings to her gun, Dilu. While she does something similar with the other LIs, she usually refers to those emotions as “budding feelings.” With Lowd, however, she literally jumped in front of a bullet for this man.

With Dilu nullifying at the end, it makes sense that the most impactful “romantic” feelings she carries are tied to Lowd. After all, he was the very first man she ever developed genuine feelings for. And let’s be real, among everyone Lowd was the one who remained steadfastly by her side the entire time. He never strayed, never did anything to hurt her (whether intentionally or accidentally), never manipulated her, and never forced her feelings. He was also never intrusive, and consistently respected her both as a woman and as the head of the Liu family.

Also, the love endings were all so random, dumb, and silly…but I absolutely ate all the fluff up. After everything they’ve been through, they deserve to just lay back and be dumb and silly for once. 😭

On a different note, I was reading Umechan’s commentary about Lowd, and was kinda shocked that he’s also a Romance of the 3Kingdoms nerd and was even basing Lowd’s character on Guan Yu from the series. He mustve felt giddy having to voice a character inspired by his own fav character from the show.lol So that was a nice little fun fact. I also felt like he did such an amazing job as Lowd, and I really couldn’t imagine anyone more suitable for the role.

SUN MASLO

• not a shota 👀😏🤭
• when that maslo beat drops…

Maslo is the boss of a small-time mafia from the countryside. He’s a friendly guy, and the last sort of person you’d expect to be leading a criminal organization. Aside from being part of the mob, he’s active as a popular DJ and song-writer.

Oh my beautiful pink boy! I am also down bad for Maslo… him, his character design and his designated BGM. (laughs) 🤣 Sometimes I intentionally leave the game idle just to listen to his dj vice track, lmao. But on a more serious note, Maslo was a really interesting character, no? And I can’t help but feel like the game could have done so much more with him if he had a proper individual route. In fact, this applies to all of the LIs. There was just so much untapped potential for us to explore more of them in greater depth, if their routes were longer.

Maslo and Kroa’s interactions in chapter three, I have also really enjoyed,🥹and his romance ending had one of the most beautiful CGs in the game. Although, I have to say, it’s his sad ending that completely cemented him as my new oshi.👀

I just feel like the writers probably had Maslo’s route skeletally structured around him being the designated yandere of the story. However, because of the game’s linear storyline, they scrapped this off and held back! My poor boy! 😭 I really think he didn’t get to shine as much as he deserved because of “plot”. As much as I’m enjoying the game overall, this is kind of the downside of games having linear plotlines; the character depth usually gets shoehorned.

Regardless, I still absolutely love Maslo. I was a bit miffed that his romance ending felt like an exposition dump of his backstory, but that beautiful kiss CG under the sakura tree compensated for it, so I guess its’ all good.(cackles) 😂 I also wanted to get a spicy CG of him and Kroa, making out backstage of his club and I can’t help but feel like we were really robbed of that visually!😭😭😭 His happy end was the only one that did not get a “bed ending” lmao although his sad ending compensated for that!😂 PLS I NEED A FANDISK! I BEG!

SODYK MUN

• the cleavage is doing crimes
• manipulation never looked this good

The boss of a huge mafia, Mun is considered the only one capable of competing with Biying. The public knows him as the young president of a big company, thanks to his many media appearances. Mun’s natural charisma tends to win him a lot of admirers.

Oh, Sodyk Mun… the man that you are… This is yet another straight-up “I can fix him” FukuJun character fresh outa the oven! Damn, what a smooooth guy. I was grinning the whole time playing Mun’s chapter (Chapter 4) in the game. The dude was just seductive, entrancing, smooth like butter. Though, I have to admit, playing his chapter also made me really nervous. It’s one of those instances where everything feels so right, but you can’t shake the feeling that something is… just off. Ha!🤣🤣🤣

I think Mun’s chapter was probably my favorite in the story. I can’t even allow myself to put the game down, his persuasive nature was literally working its way like cancer. The way his character was written, and how Fukuyama played this out was chef kiss, I have no words! I think Mun is going to be a fan favorite because he is most definitely a positively yet scarily, polarizing character, and also because…man oh man, how could anyone resist being completely swayed by this guy?

The instant Mun suggested segregation with his class system BS, alarm bells started ringing in my head from all directions. My dude, NO!😭 How could anyone think segregation was a good idea? Even if he was preaching that it was the “best way” to maintain order in Kumyo, NO, NO, NO!!

Mun’s chapter I have to say was probably the one I had enjoyed the most because you can clearly see how deceptive and exceedingly manipulative he is, and I loved how vulnerable Kroa was here as well. She knew the man was making her dance around his palm, but she bit into the trap anyway. Her realization later that something was seriously wrong and that she needed to break free before Mun completely devours her whole and successfully makes her his pawn was such a good story climax.

I also loved the part where she starts noticing herself becoming like Mun while interacting with the Liu capos, and it takes Rin confronting her to snap her back to reality and see Mun’s true colors. That scene was absolutely peak!

If you think about it, Mun was the most dangerous and formidable enemy of the Liu family. The dude was a master manipulator! He manipulated everyone around him: his capos, the entire Sodyk family, the government officials in Kumyo, the police, and law enforcement. They all really believed he was the righteous man he made himself out to be. He even manipulated R, sending him to an early grave, and Zhiho, who ended up betraying the heroine and throwing a wrench into their infiltration plan.

On a side note, I can’t help but think that Mun and Kroa’s dynamic leans into the “lovers to enemies” trope where they start off as close, almost like lovers, and then fate throws them at each other’s throats. I’m really loving this trope in otome games lately! I usually only see it in reverse harem manga/manhwas so having this here was a nice touch.

ZHANG HIYOK

• resident himbo genki🥺
• golden retriever energy

A gangster from Taozhe. Hiyok is determined to protect the same Taozhe he was born and raised in, but in reality, his gang was only capable of recklessly, but unsuccessfully lashing back against the Zhuo family. When he downs a particularly strong alcohol, he becomes a whole different person, capable of taking down multiple men at once.

This game is now making a hako-oshi, because I also love Hiyok. The first time you’ll meet him, you can immediately sense just how precious and likable he is.🥺 Hiyok is another trusted and sworn comrade of our heroine, Kroa. Like Lowd, he is incredibly loyal and one of the Liu family’s strongest fighters. I’m a tad wistful though that his chapter only half-focused on him, especially since his final volumes were already converging with the main plot and heading toward the finale. I guess I just needed more fluff with this himbo.😭 On a different note, I wasn’t expecting his bad ending to turn out the way it did…but I kind of liked it. 😳👉👈

He also keeps a diary! What a precious boy!😭
Kroa’s worries about Hiyok losing his feelings for her felt a bit anticlimactic, because in the end, he never really lost it. It was also pretty easy for her to win him back given Hiyok has always been fond of her. He even had a crush on her the first time they met.

Still and all, I absolutely loved how she worked to get him to like her again in Hiyok’s “happy ending.” It was nice to see her making the first move in everything, and seeing Hiyok turn into this blushing, genki mess was adorable. I love their dynamic as well! So much!😭 Again, I feel robbed of fluff with this man because the romance was too short; just as the cute, fluffy stuff was starting, the chapter was already over. 😭

LIU KROA (Main Heroine)

• cunning mafia princess
• best girl!

I love Kroa. She’s now one of my favorite otoge heroines! This woman has serious balls of steel. I was a little wary of her at first, since she came across as somewhat idealistic in the common route, and I had my doubts whether she could truly pull off being the Liu family boss. But as the story progressed, I realized, wow this girl can actually walk the talk.

She’s certainly physically strong, highly skilled with a gun, and more than capable of holding her own during a shoot-out. But its actually her unwavering determination and her intrepid sense of taking risks that got me on her side of the camp. As a mafia boss, she will be pitted in situations where she has to make bold and risky decisions, not just for herself but for everyone in the Liu family. My anxiety was through the roof every time she was served yet another obstacle right after overcoming the last one. The girl seriously could not catch a break!😭 I was nervous for her all the freakin’ time, but her resilience was mighty impressive and very infectious. I could truly feel that she earned every ounce of respect her capos give her.

Kroa is also a very flawed heroine, and that’s one of the things I love most about her. She knows what she is capable of and uses her strengths wisely, but she’s also aware of her limits and what she can’t do on her own. She makes plenty of mistakes throughout the game, and sometimes her risky decisions put both herself and her comrades in danger. She beats herself up over those failures, but what’s remarkable is how she learns from them, wipes the dirt off her face, gets back on her feet, and pounces back harder and stronger every time.🤧 My girl!! 😭😭😭I loved how she was written to be very capable without ever feeling grossly overblown, if that makes sense? She’s not the kind of heroine who’s all mouth and no bite, she doesn’t talk a big game or rely on empty bravado. I really couldn’t stop rooting for her, just like her capos who believed in her as their boss.🥹 BEST GIRL!!

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

Before I get into the details of the game’s system, I just want to say in passing that the love catch for this title is so pretty! 😍 The butterfly animations were perhaps one of my fav design elements, aesthetically speaking, in this title.

As for the system itself, I think this is where most of my complaints lie. First of all, the font was rather tiny and not very visible, the kerning was also kind of awful and there was no way to adjust this. I play docked on my TV, so over time this became a non-issue for me. Next, and perhaps the thing that bothered me the most, is that the system overwrites its parameters after every ending you achieve (whether its the true end or sad end). What I mean is that after achieving, say, the“true ending”, the next time you restart the game from the very beginning, all your save files from the previous run become defunct, and are replaced by the new current progress in your present gameplay.

I think this is probably because of the game’s linear storyline, but as a completionist, it was kind of frustrating to unlock all the endings without having to restart from the very beginning of each chapter, or at worst, from the prologue. It became a nightmare to skip through scenes just to unlock different bad endings while trying different combinations of choices in the process. At the very least, the True End was easy to achieve all thanks to the love catch system.

PROS:

• Heroine name customizable
• SHOP – The boss’s grade points you collect can be spent here
• “Secret Information” in the EXTRA section –this is where all the short stories that you’ve bought from the shop are located.
• Terminology – the game’s glossary.
• Chapter Intermission
• Underground Newspaper – will show up after finishing a chapter.
• MAPS – shows which family rules over each territory.
• CHAPTER Select
• Love Catch System
• Skip READ and AUTO function
• Quick Save/Quick Load
• CG Library
• Movie Library

CONS:

• No heroine side sprite image
• Unvoiced Heroine
• SKIP Read’s fastest setting is slow.
• Lingering voice lines, even if you’ve skipped the character’s lines
• No Skip to Next Choice function
• No Flowchart
• No Sound Library
• Typos
• Parameters reset after every ending achieved.

Localization

The translations also seem pretty good. Since the theme involves the mafia and a lot of morally gray characters, there are naturally lots of coarse language thrown around which I think fits the game’s theme overall. Unfortunately, there are quite a few typos throughout the game. Not that they ruined gameplay, They didn’t bother me, but they’re definitely present, nonetheless.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPA6yvkZMbg

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I think my overall gameplay lasted about 40 hours total. This includes trying to unlock all the endings in the game and playing all the CCTV short stories in the “EXTRA” section. I was also playing blind, my switch docked, and was on auto mode most of the time. Technically, with a walkthrough and without auto-mode, you could finish the game in less than 40 hours.

AmuLit’s Linear Storytelling is back!

To start with, yes, Neon Clash unfortunately has a linear structure, similar to Even if Tempest and RBL. There are no separate branching routes for the guys. Instead, it plays out as one main story, with each chapter highlighting a specific LI.

Personally, I feel like the way these segments advanced wasn’t jarring or disjointed like in RBL, its predecessor. Each chapter introducing an LI flows smoothly within the story, and the MC’s bonding with her love interests doesn’t come off as forced (at least to me). The story kind of just naturally melds together without trying to shove anything in, if that makes sense. With that said, in my opinion, the linear structure actually worked pretty well here because of the game’s setting and how fast-paced all of the events unfolded.

As for how the heroine spends time from one LI to another, her relationships in the main story remain fairly ambiguous. There’s definitely some romantic pining going on, but they mostly come from the LIs’ side (kind of like how they do it in reverse harem animes). The heroine does emotionally acknowledge her budding feelings for an LI in every chapter, but the game somehow found a cheat code to progress the story without locking the romance into one specific guy. Shockingly enough, it made sense to me and worked well in favor of the overall narrative.😳

Around the end of Chapter 2 (Lowd’s segment), Maslo approaches Kroa and teaches her how to use her psychometry in reverse. Instead of reading emotions from objects, Kroa learns to store her own emotions into her gun, Dilu. This way, she can transfer all her strong feelings of love, romance, grief, regrets, sorrow to Dilu, and fully step into her role as a mafia boss and endure the territorial power struggles against her rivals without anything weighing her down.

I know it sounds goofy to dump your feelings into a gun lol. But I thought it was actually a pretty crafty way to move the story forward without making Kroa’s interactions with the LIs feel weird or awkward. She also makes it a point in the game to make sure that before her “budding feelings” develop further, she gets rid of them and entrusts them all to Dilu.

Being the head of the Liu family comes with a lot of consequences, so before any lingering emotions weigh her down, she chooses to do away with them. This is especially crucial given the many mistakes she makes throughout the story. In Chapter 2, she jumps out of formation to protect Lowd, which leads to the death of one of her capos, Zhia. Another instance where entrusting her feelings to Dilu becomes vitally relevant is during Mun’s chapter. As her most formidable foe, facing him head-on requires her to completely forget her personal feelings for him.

So yeah, in a way, this cheat sheet actually works really well in the narrative. I was very satisfied with how it was handled.

Romance of the 3 Kingdoms But Make it Mafia

For CN media aficionados, if it isn’t obvious, Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost is actually heavily inspired by the famous Luo Guanzhong novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I was reading the director’s commentary on the game, and they mentioned that Satoshi Nohara, the producer, the staff themselves, and even the seiyuus were big fans of the series. Ngl, I think it’s kinda brilliant how they were able to interlace the power struggle theme from RoTK into a modern-day mafia story. I was also a fan of the series, (well, mostly the 2010 tv series and the old TRPG lol)😅 and I think the devs really drew a lot of inspiration from the original source and incorporated it beautifully into this game.

Even the game’s worldview, where you can see Kumyo’s map and how it shows which bases belong to which family as well as which family captured which bases after every chapter ending, draws heavily from RoTK, and I thought this was really clever!

I also loved how they adapted the Triad/Chinese mafia-gang style in the story, where the mafia is less formal, less rigid, and more chaotic compared to the American-Italian style mafiosos. I grew up watching HK cinema, and if you’re like me and loved gangster movies like Young and Dangerous, you will absolutely enjoy the intense, hard-hitting action-packed style that Neon Clash delivers. So yeah, this game was right up my alley, so to speak.

I feel like the producer’s vision was perfectly realized by the director, the scenario writer, and the rest of the staff. From reading the team’s commentaries, it’s clear that everyone was highly coordinated, and you can really see that synergy reflected throughout the game!

An Action-Packed Storyline with Multi-Faceted Characters

Plotwise, the tension in this game was insane. Our main characters go through relentless hardships, one after another. I was totally shook how vivid and strong their motivations felt (as if I was there with them lol). I spent the whole time gritting my teeth, wondering what would happen next? How are they going to make their next move? The story itself really felt like an intense battle of divide and conquer all the way up to the very end.

Whenever Kroa and the gang survived and achieved their goals (even for just a brief moment), I couldn’t help but smile and cheer with them. And whenever they suffered a loss, I cried right along with them too. It’s kind of amusing how invested I got in the story, now that I think about it!😅

This title is also pretty fast-paced. While the action-packed scenes in the story take place months apart chronologically, the game’s structure delivers them back-to-back, which kept the story momentum high, sometimes leaving you gasping for air.🤣(laughs)

I think I also liked the fact that, despite the storm of tragedy and chaos unfolding, the game still gives you enough breathing room to process things before throwing you into another spiral. What’s especially nice is that every conflict is born from a character’s own choices and missteps, so the chaos didn’t feel like some sort of arbitrary monkey wrench thrown into the plot for shock value. Most of the tragedies happen within reason and fit naturally into the narrative, so I was pretty satisfied with this aspect of the story. Also, keep in mind that since the story revolves around a modern-day mafia theme, the game can get pretty graphic and violent. So if these things make you queasy, please check the content warnings above.

The side characters were also a lot of fun. I had my favorite picks like R, Rin, the Shelby twins, Yulong, Shao Feng, Yona, and a whole lot of others. Gonglu was a piece of sh*t, but I have to admit, I was kind of infatuated with him at some point. (cackles).🙈

It’s also really hard not to like any of the LIs, as they’re all so distinctively well-written. This game turned me into a filthy box-pusher (hako-oshi) all over again, because I genuinely mean it when I say I’m down bad for every single love interest. I was so sure my top pick was Lowd after finishing all the romance endings, but as I’m writing this review, I keep brainrotting over Maslo. His story in the game was kind of shafted, which is a pity, but there’s just something about him that I’m really drawn to (maybe its his sexy neck frayglyph tattoo, who knows). 😏🤭So I guess, if I had to choose at gunpoint, I’d be rallying behind my beautiful DJ pink-kun!

As for the romance, the confession scenes in the Happy Ends were all pretty silly, dumb, and hilarious, but I somehow inhaled every single one of them because I was STARVED for romance the entire time. After all the hurdles, and hardships these characters went through, they absolutely deserved to let loose and just be silly and dumb for once.

Having said that, if anything, what this title could’ve really benefited from, was more romance scenarios. I’m not saying there’s none because I think the romance in the individual “Happy Ends” was really good food (delicious, even). After all, the scenario is by the writer of Cupid Parasite, so you can definitely pick up their signature flair for spicing things up. However, the length of the epilogues just felt far too short to showcase an utterly satisfying fluff. I wanted more. More fluff and more spice! 😭 Maybe a fandisk could scratch this itch… please, Voltage, I beg!

Do I recommend this game? YES.
I…..really….. loooooved this game.😭 I realized I was also the target audience for this title. The ending was so satisfying to me, that I can overlook a few exposition issues because of it. It’s not often that I finish a title and sigh, “Man, that was great,” but that’s exactly how I felt after finishing Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost. I don’t claim this title is flawless or perfect, but everything about it, from the beautiful cyberpunk Chinese aesthetics, the intense power struggle plotline, the modern-day mafia action-packed scenarios, to the exhilarating main characters that I’ve grown to love and care for, keeps calling me back every time. I’m honestly really shocked at how much this title has wormed its way into my top favorites.

How I wish I could forget this game so I could re-experience all the positive restlessness and edge-of-your-seat milliseconds I spent on it all over again. 😭 It was hell and back, peak! I was thoroughly entertained until the very last roll of credits, so yeah, this is an easy recommendation from me.

This title is currently on a 10% release month discount, so I don’t know what else to tell you. I’ve already bought sets of merch for this title, and I’m pretty sure this won’t be the last time I spend on it. If you care about peak storytelling and peak characters, absolutely play Neon Clash, by all means necessary.

#AmuLit #NeonClash #NeonClashEchoesOfTheLost #NeonClashEchoesOfTheLostReview #NeonClashReview #nintendoSwitch #OtomeGameReview #VoltageInc

The Princess in the Mirror Launches in Vertical Format on Love 365

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/12/14/the-princess-in-the-mirror-launches-in-vertical-format-on-love-365/

The Princess in the Mirror Launches in Vertical Format on Love 365

Voltage Inc. has announced the release of The Princess in the Mirror (Vertical Format) on the app Love 365: Find Your Story.

This isekai reverse harem title, known as Kagami no Naka no Purinsesu Love Palace in Japanese, has long been a hit with domestic audiences. The translated version is now moving to Love 365 in vertical format, and parts of this title previously received a special advance release, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its continuation.

For a smoother, more immersive reader experience, the story will be delivered in a vertical format rather than the horizontal format Love 365 is generally known for. This is a great opportunity to enjoy this otherworldly romance on Love 365! The Princess in the Mirror (Vertical Edition) will be available on Love 365: Find Your Story starting Monday, December 15, with the first three suitors’ main stories releasing simultaneously.

The Princess in the Mirror’s Vertical Format

• Pleasant to Read on Your Phone
  Vertical style allows for greater immersion and a smoother, more comfortable reading experience.
• Enjoy the Full Story, Novel Style
  The first seven chapters of several characters previously received a special advance release, and their full stories are now arriving for intrigued fans eager to find out what happens next. Enjoy these complete tales, novel style, on Love 365.
• Plenty of Beautiful Illustrations
  This title features many beautiful illustrations that add color and depth to the stories. They enhance immersion in the already lush, dramatic storylines.

STORY

Your grandmother’s hand mirror transports you to another world.
There, nobles, knights, and other palace residents await.

“We have awaited your coming, Princess.”

In the midst of so much confusion, someone reaches out…

“You need only trust in me.”

A battle for your heart begins! Where will a love that transcends time and space lead?

LOVE INTERESTS

Luca Savini

Proud, Charismatic Noble

A powerful noble and top choice for the crown.
Raised from a young age to stand above others, he is both confident and haughty. He’ll do anything for his goal. But fate seems to have a hand in your relationship…

Joseph Remy

Kind, Taciturn Noble

A reticent and carefree demeanor hides kindness and love for family.
All he wants is to protect what he can reach, so he has no interest in the throne. Falling for the princess was never in his plans…

Vincent Casper

Chilly, Stoic Tutor

The highly educated tutor to the princess.
Though generally calm and collected, his lessons strike fear in even the most hardened of men. Despite this, the air of mystery surrounding him hides a surprising past…

More popular suitors, including ones never before translated, are set for upcoming release. There is new content to look forward to, not only for new fans, but also for readers who have enjoyed The Princess in the Mirror since its app version days. There’s much more to enjoy, so stay tuned!

Now Available on the Love 365 App!
Download today from the App Store and Google Play! (Download links below!)

#amulit #love365 #love365FindYourStory #thePrincessInTheMirror #voltageInc

Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/12/05/court-of-darkness-temptations-kiss-review-nintendo-switch/

Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: September 22, 2025 (Worldwide)
Developers:  Voltage Inc.
Publishers:  Voltage Inc.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

SYNOPSIS

The night of a crimson crescent moon, you find yourself transported to a realm called Saligia.
Far removed from your everyday life, you’re in a world where magic is commonplace.

In the midst of your confusion, before you appear five beautiful princes.
They crave the power your kiss can bestow, and will scheme to get it.

But what they seek is not just your power.
They want your heart as well…

ART AND MUSIC

CHARACTERS AND ROUTES

Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss for the Switch currently includes only five routes and love interests. The mobile version has many more, but for this Switch release, there are only 5, for now at least. The game follows the typical format of most Voltage mobile titles, where you choose a character’s route right after completing the prologue and common route.

There’s no overarching plot for Court of Darkness, and each route stands on its own, so basically, there are no rec’d play orders, so you’re free to start with whichever route you want.

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss (the ones you can see on the game’s eshop page). All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

GUY AVARI

• possessive
• hot n’ rude

Prince of Avari. Possessed a forbidding aura and a prodigous talent for magic. Every eye in the magical realm of Saligia is on him. His ambition is to rule from on high, and to achieve this, he has turned the cold fire in his eyes on the heroine.

I played Guy’s route first because I found him the most appealing design-wise out of all the consorts. Plus, he looks a bit like Abel from Battlefield Waltz, who was also my fav. from that game.😋 I have heard from the grapevine that there was some sort of dislike for Guy from the Western fandom, so I braced myself to be nettled by his route… but to my surprise, I wasn’t. In fact, Guy’s route ended up becoming my favorite of them all. What? Am I the odd one out here?

Guy was pretty much a man of few words…and I mean that literally, because boy, does he not talk… at all! Well, I mean, he does, but most of his lines are a little more than a single “…” accompanied by those deep, debonair stares (hey, not that I’m complaining, cause that’s exactly my type, ha!)😆This route is also probably one of the few in the game that actually has a coherent plot, where it knows where it was going, with a clear beginning, and end. And I enjoyed my time with him as a first route. I love the icy, possessive prince type, and Guy is exactly the perfect fit for this archetype!

There’s also a bit of gap moe with Guy, because despite his icy and prickly, straightforward attitude about his goals, he’s not actually the bad guy the game sometimes makes him out to be. It’s such a weird occurrence too. Cause like, on other routes, he’s always given some screentime whenever the game needs to add some sort of rivalry for another LI, & poor Guy always gets the villain-edit of them all, even though he isn’t really a villain.(laughs) Since this is a mobile port, I can somehow see why some fans might be averse to him. Maybe they played another route and happened to encounter Guy there, strutting around his coarse attitude? lol. Yes, he can be stern and a bit forceful at times, and yes he is a bad communicator, like bro, speak what’s on your mind please!😭 BUT he’s literally nowhere near evil. This dude has a soft, fluffy side, and I adore him for it!

I had to cackle a few times in his route at how he basically devises this draconian style of training for MC, which, hey, actually works in her favor. Her power is legitimately dormant inside her, so she needed that hard push to reach her full glory, exactly where Guy needs her to be strength-wise. I also think this route really highlights that Guy is pretty much the strongest of the bunch. Even in other routes, he and his kingdom Avari are consistently regarded as the most powerful, so his story here really lines up with that reputation.All in all Guy is my kind of guy! He deserves to be poster boy, imo!

FENN LUXURE

• flirts with anyone who breathes

Prince of Luxure. This sly, enticing prince is a master of seduction. People of all genders and ages succumb to his wiles, but none have ever truly touched his heart.

Well, after having such a good time with my first route, Guy, I was hooked and wanted to get a little more spice out of the game. So I played Fenn’s route second, thinking he might have more rizz to offer, since he’s genuinely the flirt type and even tries to seduce the heroine in Guy’s route. Big mistake. I’m not sure how I feel about Fenn’s route tbh…. it’s, uh…definitely, something for sure!😬

I was fooled into thinking Fenn’s route would be the spice-focused route! I thought him playing a philanderer would actually confirm that. Boy, was I wrong!

Unlike Guy, who proposes to the heroine straight away (to be his attendant) because he wants to make use of her powers, Fenn proposes that she enter a contract with him so he can “protect” her. He claims he’s not interested in her powers or ruling any kingdom and just wants to be with MC. That’s quite a stretch for a random proposal, but for some reason MC immediately believes him and says yes right away. Later on, she realizes that Fenn was ACTUALLY INDEED using her for her abilities, which shocks her for a minute but then decides to keep the contract for shits and giggles.🥴 That’s not even the kicker here. The thing is, this route completely deviates from the slice-of-life school plot and instead spiraled on Fenn’s personal drama, which is… wait for it… ALL ABOUT RESCUING HIS FIRST LOVE.

The route actually goes downhill from here. Fenn and the MC embark on this whole journey fleeing their school to rescue a woman named Eva, who was apparently Fenn’s ex-governess, first love, and stepmom. NO, SERIOUSLY, I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP!😭

For context, Luxure, Fenn’s kingdom, is regarded as the country of romance, and the king is allowed to have as many wives as he wants. Eva supposedly came to the kingdom to be the prince’s (Fenn’s) governess, which by then she became Fenn’s first love. But then Eva decided that daddy got more rizz, so she went for the king and became one of his consorts instead (making her, in theory one of Fenn’s stepmoms lol!) This broke Fenn’s heart, and he brooded over it for some time.

After becoming the king’s 103rd consort (lol), Eva realized she wasn’t getting much attention from him, so she ran back to Fenn, and they had an affair. Sooner or later, the king found out that she was cheating on him so she was branded a traitor and sent to the dungeons for execution. WILD! And that’s basically where the *plot* of this route comes in… MC and Fenn are now ’bout to rescue her.

What really flabbergasted me was that when they arrived at the dungeon where Eva was supposed to be held, the guards told them she had already been executed. Bruh…🫩🚬🚬🚬 And all they have now as a memento is her lock of hair and a pen, which Fenn apparently gave her beforehand. Fenn becomes emo for a while, (doesn’t talk, doesn’t move), and it’s now up to the MC to drag him to some hiding place. For one, they’re still being chased by the academy soldiers, for going against school rules, and two, she feels like she can’t leave Fenn alone in his state. She even asks him to use her as some sort of rebound to soothe his pain for the meantime, lol. At this point, I was already over this route.

Fenn’s route was a nightmare for me. All the tropes I hate are packed together here in a tight little bundle, so yeah, his story was a huge landmine. I really hope his Book 2 story or the events in the mobile game make up for this, because this route is definitely NOT it.

TOA QELSUM

• Guy Avari h8r
• a good boi

Prince of Qelsum. Forever composed and sparing with his expressions, he is a model student with an almost perfect grasp of any situation. Despite his standoffish nature, he is always willing to help others.

Since Fenn was a disappointment, I figured I should move on to the guy who caught my eye during the common route, Toa! I’ve heard good things about this LI, so my expectations were pretty high going into his route, and sure enough, his story didn’t disappoint.

Neutrally, I think he actually had the most solid character arc. While he is undeniably ruthless, tough, and always by the book when teaching MC how to use magic, he is also genuinely kind to her and to everyone around him. His kindness can sometimes be his weakness as well, and I like how his route explores a lot of that nuance.🥹 His route didn’t have as much *game* as the previous two, but I feel like he had the best chemistry with MC, so I chucked my complaints to the side.

Instead of asking the heroine to form a contract with him like what Guy and Fenn did, Toa took it upon himself and volunteered to the headmaster to become MC’s tutor. His reasoning is that their Kingcraft (S-rank elective) requires them to help elevate a C-rank student, so he partners with MC to help her get better with using magic.

Tbh, I feel kind of bad for Toa in his story. The dude has literally been pressured his whole life to compete with Guy Avari. His kingdom, Qelsum, expects too much of him. He was raised specifically to be Guy’s rival, a role he, in his vulnerability, just accepted for his entire life.😭 Oh you poor precious pressured sonofagun…😭

His ending is basically about him learning to stand up for himself and choose what he wants for his life instead of being pressured and ragged on by his family. I especially liked the part where Guy offers his aid to Toa at the end. It showed how much respect he has now gained for Toa, considering that earlier in Toa’s route Guy ridiculed him for being too passive and unable to make his own decisions as a prince.That being said, I was also annoyed at how they painted Guy as the bad guy here again! Come on now, leave my man alone! 😂 I was also a little miffed that it took Toa so long to admit his feelings for MC. His attendant, Knight, literally had to talk some sense into him before he finally folded, which he could have done so much earlier, but I guess they have to drag out the drama for plot purposes.

ROY INVIDIA

• vanilla but not really
• Roy in leather jacket > Roy in his prince fit

Prince of Invidia. Gracious and mild-mannered, he is beloved by all. The portrait of a perfect prince. Although, motives and secrets lurk behind his winning smile.

I actually like Roy, especially after finishing the entire game. His route might stand a little toward the vanilla side, but I feel like it also shows that, as princely as he is, Roy can also have a rather murky side to him. And I just wish they had pushed that slightly twisted angle of him a bit further, but well… that’s just me lol. He was also amazing in Lynt’s route, which is probably why he ended up becoming one of my favs in the game. My main issue with his route though, and something I can say about several other routes for this title as well, is how conveniently everything wraps up in the end.

I love how Roy mind-controls people. Like dang, now that’s what I’m talking about! His route is basically all about him doing everything he can for his small kingdom to get recognized. So he pushes hard for Invidia to form alliances with the other kingdoms. He even goes as far as mind-controlling a blacksmith into crafting a really powerful silver weapon for him. The heroine eventually finds out about this, but gives him the benefit of the doubt.

Later in his story, when tensions around Roy and Invidia are high, he chances on mind-controlling the heroine to make her stay by his side no matter what. I actually wondered why he even did that when MC was already head over heels for him. Like, why go that far, my dude? But I also kind of love that he gets desperate enough to turn a little twisted, so I was definitely enjoying all the bits and pieces of red-flaggy crumbs in this route. 😂

Despite the route ending way too conveniently for my liking, I really enjoyed Roy’s presence and how he bounces off from being warped and desperate with his goals to being remorseful for what he’s done. I think if they had written him to be more insidious with his desires, I would have enjoyed this route even more thoroughly!

LYNT AKEDIA

• lethargic
• sleepy cinamonroll

Prince of Akedia. Forever sleepy and loathes putting in an effort to do anything. His considerable magical power has placed his kingdom’s expectations squarely on his shoulders.

I thought Fenn’s route drew a line in the sand for me, but here comes Lynt’s route, coming in clutch! I’m normally an enjoyer of the sleepy bean prince archetypes. In fact, these types are my crème de la crème, so Lynt, being the lazy, adorable cutie pie that he is in other routes, immediately grabbed my attention. However, his route here is… just… NOT IT, fam! I admit, I sort of ended up skipping large portions of dialogue here because it was too frustrating to trudge through.

In his route, Lynt asked MC to be his paramour so the other LIs, particularly Guy and the rest, would stop fighting over her. It was cute that he came up with this on a whim, and the other LIs were immediately like, “oh well, okay then,” 😂LOL. Even the likes of Guy yielded and approved of their relationship, saying MC was in good hands, since Lynt and his kingdom hate conflict and he believes she’s safe with him.

From then on, Lynt drags MC around him, making her share a bed with him and even making out with her in their secret spot by the library, because “that’s what paramours do,” he says. They do all this with MC’s consent (I mean, he’s a cutie pie, how could she say no, right?). This was all cute, but the thing is, he does all these without really disclosing to MC that he has a fiance waiting for him in Akedia, and that he has to leave her and the school soon to marry this other girl. What??? Does he literally think it’s okay to toy with someone like this? He knows full well that MC likes him otherwise, she wouldn’t be making out with him so passionately. lol

Roy was the star of this route for me! While Lynt was shunning MC because of this whole fiancé crap and how he couldn’t go against his kingdom’s wishes, Roy was there to comfort her. It pains me that you actually have to reject him many times just to chase after Lynt. I was all for Roy in this route; I didn’t really care for Lynt anymore.

What aggravated me even further was that after the heroine jumped through all the hoops to chase him to Akedia and even fought guards on her own with her cat Robin (lol), during the last of his chapters, Lynt finally grew some balls and put on his big boy pants and told his parents that he didn’t wanna marry his fiance because he liked someone else. And guess what? His parents (the king and queen) completely called off the wedding right then and there, no questions asked! Like bam! There shant be no wedding anymore, so ya’ll have a great day now, kthanks, bye! 🤯🥴 HUHHH??? He really could have done this waaaaaay earlier. Instead, he puts the MC and others in danger by making them chase after him. Does he really care about her when he can’t even make sane decisions for himself regarding their relationship? It could be part of his personality quirks, but seriously, I was already so put off at this point that I didn’t even enjoy either of his Magic or Mischief endings.🤦‍♀️

MAYU SEKIGUCHI (Main Heroine)

Mayu is just your normal working girl living in Tokyo, and one night during a crimson moon, she gets isekai’d into this magical realm called Saligia. There, she meets five beautiful (and sexy hot) princes who want to use her for her so-called *special powers*, which can supposedly heighten their magic with a simple physical touch. Pretty baity premise, no? 🤭😝

The MC, Mayu, is quite feisty and funny, full of sass in her inner monologues during the prologue. She’s actually pretty entertaining in some routes. I enjoyed her in Guy’s and Toa’s, but she also frustrated me in Fenn and Lynt’s. She has a lot of humor up her sleeve, which I sometimes enjoyed in her rants and monologues, but other times her sass can be a bit too much and even a little cringe.

That said, I think MC here is pretty alright. I don’t really have any strong opinions about her overall because, depending on the route, she can be a hit or a miss. You’ll either like her or dislike her. I think I fall somewhere in between. Sometimes her sass works for me, sometimes it doesn’t, but I’m normally not a big fan of overly sassy heroines, not that she is like that all the time, but that might still be influencing my take.

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

As this is a mobile port, the user interface is very different from AmuLit’s original console titles, like Even if Tempest and The Red Bell’s Lament. The UI for Court of Darkness: Temptation Kiss somewhat mirrors the mobile app version, but without the other mobile features such as Daily Lessons, the Battle screen, avatar screens, etc., and definitely no microtransactions.

Consort Perspectives
These are scenarios in certain chapters that play out from the LIs’ perspectives. You can view them by selecting an LI of your choice on the title screen, and instead of going to their Book 1 story, you choose “Consort Perspectives” to see their POV in some chapters.

Localization
I looked up the game in Japanese and was surprised to see that the love interests actually have different last names in the app. It seems that for the Switch version, their last names were changed to match their kingdoms or countries. Guy Avari from the kingdom of Avari, Toa Qelsum from the Qelsum kingdom, Roy Invidia from Invidia kingdom, and so on. I’m not sure if this was a localization choice, but this change definitely made me curious. I didn’t play the mobile game in English, so I’m not sure whether the English app kept their original last names or went with the same approach as the Switch version.

I believe the Japanese app was partially voiced as well, and it had some amazing seiyuus in the cast. I’d love to hear Toshiyuki Someya voice Guy in the game, given he’s one of my favorite stage actors from Touken Ranbu stage. And honestly, having Yuuki Ono as Fenn and OnoKenn as Lynt probably would’ve made it harder for me to dislike their routes (laughs).🙈

As for the actual localization, I totally enjoyed the humor that was put into this game. The translations were done quite well. The MC might be too gen z sassy, but I think it works well for her character, given she was from the modern world isekai’d into this fantasy realm. Overall, great work from Voltage’s localization team.

PROS:

• Rewind Feature
• Log Views
• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Chapter Select
• Skip READ function
• CG Gallery
• New opening movie exclusively for the switch version (playable in the EXTRA section)
  

CONS:

• The game is not voiced
• No heroine side image sprite
• No Dictionary
• No Love Catch System
• No Music Gallery
• No Skip to the Next Choice Function
• You have to hold the ZL button to use SKIP read
• There are only 5 CGs per route
• No end credits that play after each ending
• The CGs are displayed in a zoomed-in landscape format. Since the original CGs were made for mobile and meant to be viewed in portrait mode, the in-story versions for the Switch end up cropped. The only way to see the full, uncropped CGs is by viewing them in the gallery.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh8SvlI_gmg

OVERALL THOUGHTS

It took me around 20-25 hours give or take, to finish all the routes in the game, including the Consort Perspectives for every LI. The common route stretches to two chapters, and each LI only has two Happy Endings: the Magic ending, which is the softer, fluffier one, and the Mischief ending, which is basically a happy ending with a bit more spice to it. Also, this title does not have any bad endings.

I played mostly with my Switch docked, and since the game isn’t voiced, I wasn’t using the auto-mode for it, and admittedly skipped the repeated plot-point dialogues in some routes.

A Classic Voltage Title!

Court of Darkness is definitely one of Voltage’s staple mobage classics! I’ve played a few Voltage mobile games in the past, like SLBP, Enchanted in the Moonlight, and ofc my fav. guilty pleasure game, Irresistible Mistakes,🙈 but this is actually the first time I’m reviewing one of their mobile ports!

To start with, Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss was originally created for mobile, so it doesn’t have the same structure you’re used to in console games like, say, Even if Tempest, nor does it have an overarching plot that ties the whole story together. All of the routes are pretty much self-contained and don’t really spoil each other. There are routes that are a mix of slice-of-life moments (due to the magical school setting), and there are those that take a more adventurous turn, while some wander into angstville territory. All the routes are also very “tropey“, as I would expect from Voltage’s mobile titles, and most of the plot events here don’t really go for the kind of grand scale narratives found in AmuLit original console titles. For this reason, it’s best to keep your expectations tempered.

Regarding the main stories, I was quite surprised that, while the premise sets up the MC being transported into a fantasy realm, none of the routes really explain why she got there, who she is, or where her powers come from. They only briefly mention this happenstance in certain routes, like Guy’s, Toa’s, and maybe Lynt’s, but never really expand on her backstory. That part left me a lil’ bummed ngl. Then again, this is only Book 1 of the Court of Darkness series. I believe the mobile game already has Book 2 out, and I’m actually tempted to buy Guy’s and Toa’s because I’m really interested in these characters and curious to see if they finally explore MC’s background there.

The Battle of The Consorts

As for the love interests, each one has a distinctive charm that aligns with classic otome archetypes, especially those seen in older mobile titles. Guy is definitely my kinda guy (pun intended), and he was my favorite out of the five. I can certainly see where all the *guy-hate* in the fandom comes from though. I mean, he was pretty pushy and forceful at the beginning of the prologue and common route. But frankly, he was the most honest out of the five. He was clear and straightforward from the start that he wanted MC for her powers, and that his initial interest in her was because of that. Tbh, him being upfront about his goals actually made me like him even more, especially after finishing all the other routes and seeing how the other consorts do so much as to deceive MC or put little effort into actually being with her (looking at you, Fenn and Lynt). So yeah, I may be an outlier here, but you can start calling me a Guy-apologist now!😂 (cackles) I shall defend this man with all my might and honor! 😤

On another note, Roy really surprised me in this game. I wasn’t a fan of his route, but I loved him as a character. I’m all for the morally gray hottie, and he was great in Lynt’s route too.😍 Toa is an upstanding pookie, so he gets a pass from me! I disliked Fenn and Lynt with a passion. (laughs) They are definitely not bad characters per se; in fact, I actually like Lynt’s lethargic quirks, but their routes were really difficult to enjoy. Perhaps Book 2 will redeem these LIs for me? Who knows! I really hope Voltage brings over the second game to the Switch or release it as DLC in the future!

❤️ LI Ranking: Guy > Roy > Toa >>>> Lynt >>>> Fenn

📝 Route Ranking: Guy > Toa > Roy >>>>>>> Fenn = Lynt

As for the spice, this title definitely has a bit of it, but they’re mostly in the Mischief endings. I think Guy definitely has the most spicy-ish encounters out of the bunch, but that could just be my bias talking. I wouldn’t say the spice is on the same level as their other titles, like Irresistible Mistakes. Most of them cut away right before anything actually happens. 😭 I think most of the rizz for these consorts is in the mobile app events, so it’s kind of sad that I’ll probably never get to experience it. 😭

Do I recommend this game? YES.
This was a fun, short game that served as a palate cleanser from the much heavier, more serious title I played recently (ClubSui), so the mood switch-up was certainly a very welcome and refreshing experience. It also brought a wave of nostalgia for the classic mobile games of the early days, when console releases were far scarcer. 🥹 If you grew up with mobile titles or discovered the genre through mobage, you will definitely appreciate the vibes and atmosphere that Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss offers. So I definitely recommend this to anyone craving that same nostalgic-feel, especially if you’re looking for something light and reminiscent of the fun, old-school mobile otome games.

Even with modest expectations, I really enjoyed most of this title, and I’m now kind of craving some of the characters’ Book 2 stories, as they appear to explore more about each of the LIs’ kingdoms. I also definitely want more lore about the world of Saligia, and of course, the promised spice!😮‍💨 Ha! Here’s hoping Voltage Inc. eventually ports Book 2 for the series!🤞

#amulit #courtOfDarkness #courtOfDarknessReview #courtOfDarknessTemptationsKissReview #courtOfDarknessTemptationsKiss #nintendoSwitch #voltageInc

Voltage Inc Announces Delay for Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost to Christmas Day!

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://blerdyotome.com/2025/12/02/voltage-inc-announces-delay-for-neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-to-christmas-day/

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost ha subito un piccolo ritardo non arriverà l'11 dicembre, ma il 25 dicembre 2025.

https://n2s.altervista.org/blog/neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-arrivera-a-natale/

#NintendoSwitch #Switch #Voltage #AmuLit #NeonClashEchoesOfTheLost #Otome

@giochi

Voltage e Amulit stanno lavorando ad un seguito di Even if Tempest, un gioco otome per Nintendo Switch chiamato Sins of Kaleido.

https://n2s.altervista.org/blog/sins-of-kaleido-un-nuovo-gioco-della-serie-even-if-tempest/

#NintendoSwitch #Switch #SinsOfKaleido #EvenIfTempest #Voltage #Amulit #Otome #WitchChronicles

@giochi

Voltage e AmuLit hanno annunciato la data di uscita di Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost che debutterà in tutto il mondo l'11 dicembre 2025.

https://n2s.altervista.org/blog/neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-arrivera-a-dicembre/

#NintendoSwitch #Switch #Voltage #AmuLit #NeonClashEchoesOfTheLost #Otome

@giochi

Voltage Announces Otome, Sins of KALEIDO Coming in 2026 and Even If Tempest Drama CD!

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://blerdyotome.com/2025/11/10/voltage-announces-otome-sins-of-kaleido-coming-in-2026-and-even-if-tempest-drama-cd/

Voltage Inc. Announces New Otome Title Sins of KALEIDO for 2026 Release

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/11/09/voltage-inc-announces-new-otome-title-sins-of-kaleido-for-2026-release/

Voltage Inc. Announces New Otome Title Sins of KALEIDO for 2026 Release

Voltage Inc. has officially announced the upcoming release of their brand-new AmuLit title, sins of KALEIDO, slated for 2026.

“sins of KALEIDO” is a new offering from the Witch Chronicles, a series which began to great acclaim with 2022’s even if TEMPEST.

Featuring Ayane Ushio, the same director/scriptwriter who brought you the beloved even if TEMPEST series, this tale is much more than a love story. Rich in drama, beautifully illustrated, and supported by a stellar cast, it is a true labor of love from a team of industry veterans.

Alongside this announcement, the game’s official website and X account have been unveiled. More details will be revealed in the January edition of B’s-LOG, which goes on sale November 20th.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wprue8BkAk

CAST

• Tilkett Halmshaw (CV: Nobuhiko Okamoto)
• Kanoa Fortis (CV: Kohei Amasaki)
• Heath Cresent (CV: Hikaru Midorikawa)
• Orsem Helhand (CV: Tomoaki Maeno)
• Eugene (CV: Takuya Sato)

STAFF

New Upcoming Drama CD from the even if TEMPEST Series

In other news, the even if TEMPEST series is now getting its very own drama CD. The drama CD will include never-before-seen illustrations and brand-new stories featuring the characters you love.

Keep an eye out for updates and follow even if TEMPEST‘s social media account for the latest news about the series.

For more information about these announcements, visit AmuLit’s official website for their console releases or follow their official social media page here.

#AmuLit #evenIfTEMPEST #KaleidoTower #OtomeNews #otomeNews2026 #SinsOfKaleido #VoltageInc

Otome Visual Novel ‘Sins of Kaleido’ Comes to Switch in 2026; Same Universe as Even if Tempest

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://noisypixel.net/sins-of-kaleido-otome-visual-novel-switch-2026/

Otome Visual Novel ‘Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost’ Launches December 11 on Switch with English Support; Opening Video Streaming Now

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://noisypixel.net/neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-switch-release-english-support/

Voltage Inc Announced Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost Arrives on Switch December 11, 2025

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://blerdyotome.com/2025/10/20/voltage-inc-announced-neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-arrives-on-switch-december-11-2025/

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost Releases December 11

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/10/20/neon-clash-echoes-of-the-lost-releases-december-11/

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost Releases December 11

Edit: The Global version for the game is delayed to December 25, 2025. Please refer to AmuLit’s announcement regarding this delay through this link.

Voltage Inc. has announced that their latest title, Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost, will launch on December 11, 2025. Neon Clash, developed under the company’s console imprint AmuLit, debuts with a brand-new opening movie released today, Monday, October 20th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwixSNEtB8&feature=youtu.be

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost (Neon Clash for short) is a tale of outlaws and adventure set amid the dazzling neon lights of a not-so-distant future. Its official website is currently being updated with the latest news, so be sure to keep an eye on Neon Clash in the days ahead.

STORY

Kumyo – the land of neon lights and fleeting pleasures.
A place where if you don’t step on others to reach the top, you’ll only sink to the bottom.

Effort means nothing.
Charity? Forget about it.

Kroa is an underground courier at the bottom of the barrel.
In order to survive life in Kumyo, the youth have turned to the mafia to fight for power.

The mafia is a violent criminal organization shunned by the public.
However, there was one family both respected by fellow mafiosi and adored by the general public.

Their name was the Liu family.
But 11 years ago, the Liu family was exterminated.

Once the sole surviving member, Gante Lowd, crosses paths with the rightful heir, Liu Kroa,
the wheel of fate begins to turn once more.

CHARACTERS

Liu Kroa (Heroine)
Occupation: Underground courier/Heir to the Liu

Heir to the Liu family.
Under orders from her father to keep her out of harm’s way, Kroa was raised by her uncle. She wields a white gun known as “Dilu,” which marks her as the true heir to the Liu family.
Kroa works as an underground courier, willing to deliver anything so long as the price is too good to refuse. When it comes to surviving in Kumyo, she doesn’t have the luxury of choosing between life or death, only to survive.

Gante Lowd
Cast: Yuuichirou Umehara
Occupation: Priest / Liu family capo

A mafioso through and through, who was adopted and raised by the original Liu family. He works as a priest in a church in Taozhe, with hopes to one day rebuild the Liu family.

Zhang Hiyok
Cast: Ryota Suzuki
Occupation: Job-hopper / Liu family capo

A gangster from Taozhe.
Hiyok is determined to protect the same Taozhe he was born and raised in, but in reality, his gang was only capable of recklessly but unsuccessfully lashing back against the Zhuo family. When he downs particularly strong alcohol, he becomes a whole different person, capable of taking down multiple men.

Sodyk Mun
Cast: Jun Fukuyama
Occupation: President of Sodyk Real Estate / Sodyk family boss

The boss of a huge mafia group, Mun is considered the only one capable of competing with Biying.
The public knows him as the young president of a big company, thanks to his many media appearances.
Mun’s natural charisma tends to win him a lot of admirer.

Sun Maslo
Cast: Shunichi Toki
Occupation: DJ / Sun family boss family boss

Maslo is the boss of a small-time mafia syndicate from the countryside. He’s a friendly guy, and the last sort of person you’d expect to be leading a criminal organization.
Aside from being part of the mob, he’s active as a popular DJ and songwriter.

Visit the official site to see comments from four of the actors voicing the main cast, listen to sample voices for all characters (main and supporting), view in-game illustrations and more!

Neon Clash: Echoes of the Lost will be released for Nintendo Switch as a digital-only title, priced at $49.99. The game is available in Japanese and English and is fully voiced, excluding the heroine. For more information about this otome title, visit its official website or follow the game’s official account on X/Twitter.

In addition to this news, AmuLit will host a booth at the Animate Girls Festival (AGF) on Saturday, November 8th, in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The booth will feature the very first Neon Clash merchandise, alongside items from the even if TEMPEST series and The Red Bell’s Lament.

#amulit #neonClash #neonClashEchoesOfTheLost #nintendoSwitch #otomeNews2025 #voltageInc

Gangsters in Love is Now Available on the Nintendo Switch and Steam!

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2025/09/30/gangsters-in-love-is-now-available-on-the-nintendo-switch-and-steam/