Arcade Spirits originally released on Steam but is now finally on consoles. The Nintendo Switch is a perfect console for this game, and I honestly had a blast playing through it. This game is a funny, quirky, and game pun fueled ride through a visual romantic novel. While it might not be for everyone, I think its worth at least giving a shot. The game tells the tale of a young person who is attempting to do better for themselves. This young person has worked a bunch of different jobs in different sectors. At the insistence of their childhood friend Juniper, they are going to make something of themself. Juniper asks the player to try out an app, and that what starts the Arcade adventure!
The player must also choose their gender. The player can play as a guy or a girl, but they can also play as they. It’s rather refreshing to see a game be so free as life is full of differences. I played through the game as a guy, but someone else might not connect with either gender. The player will soon find themself at their new job, the Funplex. After meeting the eccentric owner Francine, the player gets the job. The owner sees something the player, and it can come from a few different angles. This game is all about crafting a character based on the interactions and the player’s thought process.
The player will soon meet a cast of characters that they will interact with throughout the game. The characters all fit a mold, and some might not appreciate that, but it works. The story and the dating sim aspect flow quite nicely, and the player can play as they want. It all boils down to the player playing the game as they see fit. Will they get all of the endings or end with just one. As the player plays through the game, the player will raise different stats. These stats connect to the responses the player gives. The player can either be Kindly, Steady, Quirky, Spunky, or Normal. Each of these types helps craft the character for the end game. By changing up the player’s words, the player can guide the stories to different ends.
For my first playthrough, I was always kind and thoughtful. I aimed for Naomi, the resident Techie of the Funplex. She responded most to the kindness, so I took it upon myself to be as kind as I could be. It led to a sweet ending and left me with a smile on my face as the game ended. I will say while it is sad, the characters are so one-note, it allows for imagination on the player’s part. I think I was able to enjoy the story more because the characters were rather one-dimensional. This game does its part to tell a cohesive story and give the player all they need to enjoy it. Though clearly, this story could continue someday, which I’d appreciate.
The voice acting in this game also adds to the world. It’s great hearing the characters talk, and I am always a proponent of voice acting. It just adds another layer of enjoyment, especially in a game where choice is everything .The characters are also so lifelike in the way the artists have drawn them. Again, it’s not over the top, but the nuance of it all is magical. I enjoy the ticks the characters and the way they shine when they are happy. When they are down or angry, that is also clear. The artist cared for the characters and wanted to show them off in the best light. Players will also unlock achievements as they play through the game. The achievements are unlocked by pairing the character with other characters or seeing different things. The achievement system rewards players with concept art of the characters and the world. It’s interesting to see what might have been regarding the characters, and I appreciate that it was added to the game.
Arcade Spirits is a fantastic visual novel that I will surely come back too. The world is lovely, and while the characters are a little one-note, they are deserving of love. The game does offer up a lot of replay value so, players shouldn’t be afraid to buy it. Arcade Spirits tells a beautiful story of love in an Arcade, will the player guide their character to love and success?
The game is available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Macintosh operating systems.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided