More than a sci-fi visual novel, Bionic Heart, is an interactive anime inspired movie with you controlling the plot and eventually the ending. The year is 2099 AD and it is raining in London. This is not an unusual scenario for London but now it rains every day in this modernistic, space age city with high rises spiraling towards the dark skies. The entire planet is wrapped in this rain soaked atmosphere. Global warnings so prevalent today were ignored due to greed and fighting so the earth became unstable with violent weather patterns (seen today with the current unbalanced meteorological conditions). The only lights in the city are artificial with solar panels placed around the planet for energy. A dark and murky beginning for an action-packed thriller involving humans and robotics to unmask many mysteries surrounding this story.

The hero or main character is Luke Black, 35, a bio-informatics expert and manager at Nanotech, a large corporate organization in the production of nanotechnology. There are many scenarios in this play from Black’s love life to his profession, his friendship with his co-worker and his involvement with a robot called Tanya. There are other characters who make their presence known from time to time in order to tie this suspenseful, futuristic tale of corporate espionage or is it? There are so many unanswered questions overshadowing this narrative that it’ll take hours to unravel and discover all the nuances of each conversation.

There is a holomap you can use to visit different locations in London and uncover information from either humans or robots you encounter or just get data from different objects in a place. Some conversations will direct you to act a certain way or go to a different site, but a lot of the game depends on your choices.

Bionic Heart gets you involved almost immediately clicking on conversations and choosing different options to take. This play is completely foreign to anything I have played. Emerald City Confidential Mac sim game comes closest to this play. ECC also has great graphics, but is more like a cartoon feature while Bionic Heart is more like a full-length movie. Maybe someone will one day make a movie out of this game since everything is already here in this play. The voices in the scenes are professional and Luke Black’s voice sounds like the popular actor, Patrick Warburton of the recent TV hit show Rules of Engagement and the cartoon movie, The Incredibles. After finishing the intensive demo, you feel like you are left hanging and must complete the game to find all the answers to Luke’s complicated and soon to be troubled life. Will he marry his girlfriend, Helen Hughes? Is there anything between his best friend, Tom Sparks, and Helen? Who and what is Tanya and who is she hiding from? What is the connection between Richard Meier IV and Nanotech? Why did Tanya seek Luke out? Find all the answers playing Bionic Heart.

This is an adult rated theme with its sexual innuendos and harsh language. The game does give a warning at the beginning of the play. It states it is for kids 14 and up. Maybe it’s just me but I think it is for kids 17 or more years so you need to make your own decisions to allow kids to play this game. The only thing I didn’t like about this play is the constant clicking back and forth from one room to another (going from the bedroom to bathroom to kitchen and back) trying to find answers. Eventually you get to where you need to be and the game proceeds to the next scene.

The great draw to Bionic Heart is the suspense and thriller of this story and the fantastic anime-like artwork with interesting animation of a dark, foreboding future of planet earth done in by global warming gone haywire. Take a look into the future and discover answers to Luke Black’s dilemma.

Features of Bionic Heart:
-24 Different Endings
-High Replay Factor
-Interact with Humans, Robots, Objects and Environments

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” (Jane Austen) appears to be the theme of the visual novel/rpg/sim game Matches and Matrimony: A Pride and Prejudice Tale where the decisions you make will consequently reveal an ending. This dating game is based on 3 of Jane Austen’s classic books: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. This conglomerating of separate novels works seamlessly into a romantic game where you are in control of the endings and plays even in this time and age.

As in any novel it is separated into chapters. At the beginning of each chapter you as the second daughter (Elizabeth) of Mr. Bennet can change her name to whatever you like. You and your sisters are at the age of marrying and your mother is desperate for suitable suitors. You begin your week by selecting activities to pursue each day from Monday to Friday. Each activity will then either increase your attributes such as willpower, wit, talent, kindness, propriety, sensibility and energy or decrease them. If you choose to paint one day, your talent and sensibility will increase but your energy will decrease. In order to control which gentleman you end up with, you must develop the right character. Making sure your energy is sufficient is important for special weekend activities at the end of each chapter like a ball, dinner party or parlor discussion so be sure to factor in some rest every 4 to 5 days.

Be sure you save the game as you go along because it will come in handy if you should change your mind about a decision you made prior and wish to go back. The game will save after each chapter in case you forget to do so. This game also makes it easy for you to skip through parts of the novel you already have read.

Some of the eligible bachelors in this game are Mr. Bingley (your older sister likes him), Colonel Brandon (15 years older), and Mr. Darcy (dark and aloof but in the book he’s the one Elizabeth marries). Each character has different attributes you need to develop for a happy ending with him. If you know the novels, it may be easier to find the ending you want. There are 6 suitors to choose from and 9 different endings. You can go back and play all 9 endings for a long game.

The scenic backgrounds are static and the characters all well done and stylistic. When a person is speaking, they will be on the screen with one expression until the next scene. Somehow the muted colors represent an era long past and seems appropriate for the game. The music is repetitive but fits the theme of the story. Overall the game is different and entertaining if you are into dating sim games like Date Warp, Always Remember Me, The Flower Shop and Love and Order. Also if you are a Jane Austen fan, you may enjoy this game since it is based partially on her novels. However the developers of this game did take some liberties and changed a few of the characters so if you are a diehard Jane Austen fan, you may be offended but the game does capture a lot of the author’s charm and wit. The free download will give you ample time to decide whether you are into this type of genre. Find happiness in this game.

Features of Matches and Matrimony: A Pride and Prejudice Tale:
-Game based on Jane Austen’s Novels
-6 Eligible Bachelors
-9 Different Endings

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Always Remember Me is a melodramatic visual novel about Aaron Cowen who loses his short term memory from a horrendous motorcycle accident. Amarantha Fitch or Amy is his girlfriend who didn’t get hurt in the unfortunate incident. The big question is will Aaron remember Amy? Can you somehow make him remember her? Will Amy find someone else or can she move on in her life without Aaron? This game is a life simulation with dating sim elements. The outcome of the story depends solely on your choices.

This game will have you going to different locations on the map to do different tasks like going to the ice cream parlor where Amy has a part time job. If you go there, you must work and on different days, you will have a good day or bad day. Good days will get you more tips and money. The money you earn can be used for going out to a restaurant to eat, have a drink at a bar or join a gym. Other places like the library and hospital to visit Aaron will not cost you anything. The game will open locations as you advance in the game giving you more options to choose from.

The stats are important to keep up like any other RPG/sim game. There is the money, culture, creativity, discipline, romance, energy and morale to keep increasing through different activities. The relationship gauge is also important for the future of each outcome. Each decision you make dealing with another person will either increase or decrease the relationship between the two of you. This is especially important with Amy and other male characters. She meets Eddy a young doctor at the hospital, Lawrence someone who works full time at the ice cream parlor, Hugh an immature boy who hangs around her friends. Cut scenes will bring you into a dialog with another character and what you choose to say to him or her will determine your relationship.

Some actions are determined at specific times of the day or week. Your job is in the morning and you have to go to work Monday through Friday. At night you are automatically placed at home to sleep and rest for the next day. An upsetting sleep may cause you to have low energy the next day. With enough energy and morale, overtime is available to you. Other actions are opened to you when you go to various sites on the map. Once you are at a place you get several things you can do.

At the left of the screen you will get the time of day and bars to move down when the day passes to afternoon and night. These bars help you decide what to do next and strategize your next move. Other similar games do not show this and can get you into trouble because the day passes quickly and ends abruptly because you may not have paid attention to the time.

There are multiple endings to this beautifully drawn visual novel. With 4 dateable guys, Amy could have 8 different romantic endings. Each guy has 2 different endings, one normal and other special. Anything could happen. Maybe Aaron will come to his senses and remember he is in love with Amy and not the other female. Maybe Amy finds love with someone else. There are a lot of answers needing conclusions and only you can discover the endings. There’s even a mysterious secret admirer. I cautiously played this game thinking romantic novels are not for me, but further in the game I found it addictive and interested in what happens to Amy, Aaron and the other characters in this game. Play the game and find your perfect ending. Then do it all over again for another outcome. There’s a lot to do and only you can decide whether you like this type of rpg/sim/visual novel game.

Features of Always Remember Me:
-8 Different Romantic Endings
-Great Anime Drawings
-Original Soundtrack by Cristina Vee and Matthew Myers

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Winter Wolves has developed another exciting fantasy sci-fi visual novel with a role-playing, turn based combat system. The story is original and the battles are high charged. There’s a balance of mystery, romance and fighting to keep everyone on their toes. Every detail is revealed in their statistics and conversations.
You take on the role of a young attractive new recruit. You have a choice to make right away with the gender (either Lisa or Joshua Nelson). There are 4 character classes to choose from: Soldier, Guardian, Scout, and Psionic. If you played any rpgs, you know each characteristic can dramatically change the outcome of the story. In addition there are 3 modes of difficulties. If you are new to this type of game or a casual gamer, start with the Easy and work yourself up to Medium and Hard. You can change your modes any time in the preference screen. The game will guide you through the main moves and descriptions as you go along. Also your android will go over things with you. Conversations can be as quickly paced as you want, and you can review any text by paging down, up or using the mouse wheel. Quests are added throughout the game and can be viewed anytime with the middle icon pictured to the lower right of the screen.

Before each battle you will get an enemy screen where you can view the type of alien and their strengths and weaknesses. The battles are between you and up to 4 other people against the enemy. The turn based combat has you initiating the first move. The battle screen will display in the center the enemy and their stats at the top of the screen, and you and your team’s data at the bottom. When it is your turn to attack, your screen will be highlighted in orange with 6 options to use. All are different in the effectiveness of each weapon. If you should win then the experience points are divided among your people. There are many different types of weapons and armors but also there are other non-combat skills you can use like mind influence, explosives, science and sneak.

The other play in this game is your relationships with the other people. I chose Lisa as my hero and she has Michelle Lafleur as a roommate. Michelle is a little touchy and your relationship gauge will pop up and lower whenever she is upset with you. 0 is when she hates you and 100 is love. I’m always trying to please her but it is not easy. The conversation choices you make will affect your relationships. This gauge will affect your romance sub-plots but will not do anything when it comes to your fighting skills. Your relationships get more and more complex as you meet other recruits, the king and different people.

The map will help you move around easily from your dorm room to the training center and beyond. There are unknown sites you must get access through either dialogue or by solving a quest. Quests can be as small as finding information about your heritage to investigating the rumors about trouble on the planet.
Competition comes in when you find out there are only 8 openings for the Royal Guard and 320 recruits. Plus your immediate sergeant does not like you, but the commanding officer is very friendly. You must prove yourself in tests and actual battles. There are 6 romantic endings to this game; 3 for the female character and 3 for the male person.

There are so many options from choosing your gender, class, dialogues and your destiny, the battles against enemies and the fights with other people that will determine how the game will be played. It’s all up to you. If you don’t like an outcome, play it again differently by choosing the other gender and another class. Each story will offer up surprises depending upon your choices.

The battles are a challenge but are also fun and exciting at the same time. Keeping your relationships happy is also hard. The story line gets more and more intense as you go on to higher chapters in this suspenseful drama. The anime artwork is exquisite as always with great alien drawings. The instructions are clear and stats detailed. My only complaint is with the females standing with their hands on their hips in front of a commanding officer. Rebecca Fox the mean sergeant is strong and dynamic. Planet Stronghold is a great game with balanced story line and battling. Try their extensive demo and see for yourself.

Features of Planet Stronghold:
-40 Different Enemies with Bosses
-Quests and side quests
-Over 50 hours of Gameplay
-Different Stories Based on Your Choices
-6 Romantic Endings

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

In a district in Montreal, Canada, Dana Larose is eking out a living working for a Crown Attorney’s office as a hardworking secretary. Mac rpg/sim game Love and Order will take you along with Dana and her life as a single girl making a living working in a busy office while trying to have a fun love life after hours. Whatever happens, you will experience the tense and hectic atmosphere of an important business of a law office and the affairs of an unmarried woman in a metropolitan setting.

Dana’s story begins on Monday, Day 1, early morning. She is trained and thrown into the workforce by Ross Kim her supervisor. He instructs her to prioritize and organize her administrative tasks, and work with the third year law student and the attorneys. Each one of these people, including Ross, has a project for Dana to do. She is to introduce herself to the others in the office and familiarize herself to the lay of the land. You click on the move button to display a simple office layout. By clicking on the individual rooms, you can travel to these offices. There will be a list of options you can choose from on the right side. Sometimes there will only be a move button if there is no one in the room or nothing to do in that location. Also on the upper right are the moods of your co-workers, your own stress level, clues and a list of your projects. When you click on the projects button you will see the long list of things you must do. If you fail to do any one of the listed tasks, it will be printed in red and the person requesting that item will not be happy.

In order to keep your stress level in check, you must remember to go to lunch where you will have a few options from the cafeteria in the building to a fancy restaurant. However, your options may be limited since you start off with only $100 and earn very little at your new office after taxes and essentials. After work hours you can go out and enjoy yourself or go home and watch your favorite TV show. You can also ask people out but be careful because if they are not happy with your work, they will not be happy about going out with you.
Balancing work and your personal life is no easy matter, and Love and Order throws the worst and best of what life has to offer, and it is your job to walk this fine line. On top of your balancing act there is a mystery about the attorney who used to work at the office. He left a case file that you may need to investigate and get more information. By the way, he died.

There’s a lot of reading (no voice acting) to do but it does give you the information you will need to make your decisions, and if you are a slow reader, you can click at your speed; no problem. Each day goes by so fast you have to keep an eye on the time of day because if you miss lunch (I did many times), your stress level rises. It would have been more helpful with a clock or gauge instead of suddenly realizing you missed your lunch hour. The nighttime is easier because everyone leaves the office and the lighting is darker. The anime characters are all cute and well done. I guess they are all young so they can date each other, but there should have been an older person for realism. This rpg when it gets going feels like a sim time management play with the same intense feeling you get from being overwhelmed with a lot to do. The more you get into the game, the more addictive it will become. The many options will take you on different paths to different endings. Also if you are not Canadian, some of the terminology is different from the US. Fortunately, I have an in house lawyer to explain a few things like Crown Attorney (a district prosecuting attorney), and articling is an internship for law students in training. Having worked in a busy office, I can say that Love and Order gets it right about the stress level in the work place. So if you are a rpg or sim player or new to the game, give it a shot and maybe you’ll find love in the work place, eh?

Features of Love and Order:
-Work in a Law Office
-Uncover the Mystery
-Date your Co-workers

You may also enjoy: The Flower Shop

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Flower Shop, not to be mistaken with the sim time management game Flower Shop, is a visual novel with some simulation play on the side. Made by the same developer of Bionic Heart, the story about love, friendship and flowers is progressed with reading the dialogue among the anime characters. You are also in control of some of the conversation when given a choice. In addition to the “talk” in this game, you can direct the mood of each character with your decisions.

In this novel you are Steve, a young, spoiled college boy, finishing his finals after his first year of school and not doing well in his classes, but he is ecstatic about having the whole summer to laze around and see his girlfriend. This type of behavior is quite common among college boys. Not surprisingly his father is extremely angry and decides to send him to his brother’s farm to acquire some discipline. Once removed from the city and delivered to the farm in Fairbrook, California, Steve meets and engages with his Uncle Sam and the town girls.

In the midst of this visual novel, you play a dating and farming sim game. While developing relationships, Steve must weed, water, and keep the land free of insects. During this play you must work as fast as possible because the time is very short. You click on the plot of land you want to weed and then click on the clear button to remove the weeds. With growing the flowers on this patch of ground, you can earn money by selling the flowers. This will lead to an interaction with Susana the town florist and holistic expert on good health. There is a scheduler to plan weeks of activities for Steve. You must balance your schedule to raise your stats and spend time with the girls keeping their relationship gauges in the good rather than bad portions of the scales.

Having lived in California most of my life, I am pleased the game is based in that state. However, the scenery is very generic and I can’t pinpoint what big city Steve lived in or which university he attends. In addition, the small town in the demo is deserted until Steve enters an establishment inhabited only with girls. Also the buildings are all very tidy with nothing scattered casually around the room. For example, Uncle Sam’s kitchen is very modern and neat for an old farmhouse with only a man living there with his cat. I guess I’m being a little nitpicky but I think it would have drawn the reader into the story more with a few more details in the background.

The characters are all done well in the anime fashion, but like the Japanese soap operas have happy, sad (neutral) and angry looks to them. Even the beautiful girls get nasty facial features when they are unhappy with Steve. Perhaps later in the story there is a comedic relief and other young male individuals. It’s hard to say how the story develops because the demo is long and drawn out, setting the game up for future outcomes.

The Flower Shop is different from Bionic Heart where the action and drama opens immediately at the beginning. Since there is less action involved in this novel, I tend to focus in on the background more. I’m hoping the later chapters will bring around some vitality with action and comedy. There is a great scene with Steve driving down a dirt road and comes across a jogger. They should have had mud puddles and Steve splashes her with his truck then there would be conflict instead she is angry about his ogling.

The Flower Shop is more a melodrama than a suspense story and should be accepted as such. It appears this game is aimed towards young girls, but I think you should try it even if you do not fall in that category. The music is muted and appropriate, and the anime characters well done. The dialogue sometimes is funny with words like bummer interspersed. I do not remember the last time a college student used that word. With 9 different endings, depending upon your choices, it will bring about surprising stories in this dating and farming sim play in a visual novel.  Will Steve go with his politically aspiring girlfriend Jill, Susana the florist, Clara the opportunist jogger or the voluptuous librarian Marian?

Features of The Flower Shop:
-Visual Novel
-Dating and Farming Sim
-9 Different Endings in Your Control

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars