Rose Academy Demo Review: A Murder Mystery Adventure
Disclaimer
I was asked to cover Rose Academy, and review the demo. I understand the game isn’t finished, and will be a bit more lenient with my criticism. That said, this will be my honest impressions.
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- Disclaimer
- Shameless Self-Promotion
- What is Rose Academy?
- The hook
- The Demo
- The Writing
- The Story
- The art
- Final Thoughts
What is Rose Academy?
Rose Academy is a murder mystery visual novel coming to Steam on March 26. There is a demo available on Steam and Itch. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist.
The hook
An old girlfriend calls out of the blue, ripping you from your sleep. You remember her fondly, and wonder how she’s been all these years. She needs your help, and as a seasoned detective, you ablidge. Curiousity has you chasing a memory you had thought you’d forgotten to the gates of an elite girl’s school. Before you can savor this sweet reunion, you learn about the dark truth that brought you there. A girl was found hanging in the pool changing room. While most suspect suicide, clues point to something much more sinister. Explore the school, ask your questions, and collect your clues. Can you piece it all together before it is too late?
The Demo
The game is visual novel explores dark and a few adult themes. While the game isn’t explicit, there are reference to alcohol, sex, and a few other triggering themes. This is your trigger warning.
The final version of the novel will feature about six to eight hours of game play, but the demo only includes about the first hour (depending on how fast you read). The demo introduces a few key characters and the setting they get to explore. Players also begin their investigation and collecting their initial bits of clues. There are a few important choices players need to make, but their impact to the narrative is left unknown. This is a game where choices matter. Make sure you choose carefully.
The Writing
The writing in Rose Academy is fine. There are few errors and some awkward translations, but nothing that made the story unreadable. There are a few holes and some plot points that feel a bit too convenient, but nothing that detract from the mystery. The setup for the mystery feels well paced, and introduces enough elements to spark a bit of intrigue. My issue is not with the story itself, but with some of the roughness that carries throughout. There are bits of weird dialogue and other sections that try too hard to be deep, but nothing that made me stop reading. If the writing were bad and the story boring, this review would be a lot angrier, if it happened at all.
The Story
The demo does a good job at setting up the mystery. I think I know who did it, but I can’t be confident. There is enough mystery behind the paywall to know for sure, and that’s frustratingly fantastic. The characters are a little sloppy, but they all manage to be unique and memorable. I’ll still be keeping notes, but I spent a lot of time getting invested in the interrogations. While the story does have its awkwardness, I still finished the demo mad that I don’t get to know what really happened. I really don’t want to wait till March to find out.
The art
The art is what I found most problematic. The style is a little awkward, and it leans a little too much into the fan service. While none of it is porn, there are a few panty shots that made me uncomfortable. Most of the story is pretty tame, but it is something to consider. Viewer discretion is advised.
The backgrounds are another problem. They feel a little generic and soulless. They work well enough as a visual aid, but they do little for the world building. Since the focus should be mystery and the characters involved, I am willing to let this go.
Final Thoughts
Rose Academy is a bit of an awkward, but it is at least worth reading through the demo. With its many faults, I still found myself lost in the mystery and wanting to know more. I have so many questions and am mad that I have to wait till March for the answers. Until then, I’ll be here with the game in my wishlist, waiting for the truth. I think you will too.
‘If you’re looking for a new visual novel and don’t mind a little cringe with your detective stories, go check out the demo on Steam or Itch. If you need a visual novel to tide you over while you wait for the official release, check out No Type-NOISE:Shonen Shojo.
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