"My grandmother always said my father left to follow the tracks of the angels. Well, I'm following a few angels myself." Aquanox 2 is arguably one of the first dating sims to emerge from a Western studio. But unlike most sims, this game sets itself apart by taking place in the somewhat dystopian aftermath of a massive ecological disaster which forces humanity into colonies under the oceans. It is in this bleak setting that the rather pitiful protagonist, William Drake, finds himself on a rather literal "Maiden Voyage". Thrust into the arms of several harbour hotties through a series of comedic misadventures, Drake struggles to find true love amidst the turbulent seas. But tying the sailor's knot isn't the only thing on Young Willy's mind. While courting these corvette companions, Drake searches tirelessly for answers to his family's multi-generational tragedies, providing ready-made sympathy for his female companions. But there's more to the game than simple romance under the high seas. Diving beyond normal dating sim tropes, Aquanox 2 features a series of recurring mini-games in which the player takes control of a submarine and embarks on missions to impress his deckhand dames. These rather enjoyable games feature diverse goals, such as escort duty, scouting missions, and fending off competitors for your crewmates' attentions. Completing these mini-games and their bonus objectives rewards the player with cooler ships and better guns to make future mini-games easier. Romanceable crewmates also participate in these missions, helping you choose your future submarine sweetie based on both compatibility and combat efficiency. These mini-games also help to break up the occasionally long-winded dialogue with less enjoyable shipmates. In the end, I only figured out how to romance one of the three available characters, but it's a solid sim overall. While bound by the not-so-LGBTQ-friendly era of the 2000's, the game makes it clear that Animal is the only real choice.
Ghost of a Tale is a simple, beautiful experience. It is not so much a true "game" as it is a perfect snippet of a well-crafted adventure. If you're looking for a more traditional Adventure / RPG experience, this isn't it - but if you're open to a delightful one-set adventure fueled by witty writing, memorable characters, and adorable design, you can't get much better. Gameplay consists of evading guards, collecting objects, and using a small arsenal of non-lethal tools to solve problems. Some of the mechanics can be a bit tedious, and if you find yourself bored at any time, shut it off and come back to it when you can appreciate the atmosphere. But the true soul of the game lies in the narrative. To properly enjoy the game, you have to lose yourself in the dialogue, the exploration, the world-building, and the characters. It all builds up so naturally and so seamlessly that you actually look forward to finding and talking to the same characters over an over again. In summary: Play it for the experience of being a minstrel-mouse, appreciating the masterfully-crafted dialogue, and exploring a lovingly designed world! THINGS I WISH I KNEW: Read the "books" in your inventory. Wear full costumes when possible - it makes life easier. When you're stuck on one quest, keep going on another. Throw things at non-rat enemies. And for heaven's sake, use exploding pinecones on the worm-holes.
