Major visual novel releases are a rarity outside of Japan, so seeing one of the gems of the genre surface for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita is a rare treat, especially when it happens to be Steins;Gate. A compelling time-travel adventure that combines a stellar cast of characters with a layered narrative that blends humour and drama in such a way that transcends the usual anime archetypes. The plot-heavy gameplay and lack of any worthwhile mechanics may deter some, but those looking for an engrossing, quirky adventure will not be disappointed with what Steins;Gate has to offer.
Steins;Gate is told from the macabre perspective of Okabe Rintarou, a self proclaimed mad scientist with an equally eccentric personality. Content with being cooped up in a small apartment with his friends; Okabe spends most of his time performing fruitless experiments in between flunking university classes. This is until a tooled up microwave in his possession doubles as a primitive time machine, pulling him and his friends into a whirlwind of lethal conspiracies with sinister organisations. From here the plot can spiral off into a number of different directions, depending on the choices you make and the characters you interact with along the way.
You never leave Okabe’s perspective, which are both a blessing and a curse. His blunt, and oftentimes, sociopathic tendencies are an effective tool for storytelling, it’s just unfortunate that his character is simply unlikeable at times. Some of the insults and orders he hurls at other characters become tiresome quickly. Such a disdain for the protagonist brings an obvious dissonance to the choices I was forced to make on his behalf. Luckily, all of the characters that surround him are immediately relatable, likeable and well worth caring about. They give the story weight, and push you forward and far beyond the middling pace that often buckles down the opening hours of the game.
The consequence of your choices lie at the crux of Steins;Gate, and most of them are made from the comfort of your in-game mobile phone. Answering texts, taking calls and sending emails have more consequence than you might expect. Brushing off a sudden text may just result in an NPC being a little mad at you, but ignoring a vital phone call could lead to some dire ramifications to the plot, and the characters you will grow to care about. At times I would have liked for major choices to be telegraphed more clearly, but the unpredictability of it all made multiple playthrough’s a welcome joy. The addition of multiple routes that concentrate on select characters are a staple for the visual novel genre, and Steins;Gate is no exception.
As I mentioned earlier, certain choices have tangible consequences, and can completely alter the game’s conclusion. Your relationships with specific characters are strengthened and weakened depending on the approach you take. I immediately pursued the obvious love interest, but noticed things unfolding differently than in the anime adaptation of the same name. Having prior knowledge of the plot before going in made particular revelations far more enlightening. I cared for these characters long before the first line of text ran across the screen, and revelled in the little details and flaws in their characterisation.
So with that being said, we thought it’d be apt to have a second opinion from someone completely new to the franchise:
Second Opinion:
All I knew of Steins;Gate before playing it was two things:
- My friends highly recommended it.
- It has something to do with time travel.
With that limited knowledge I jumped in to the game, not really knowing what to expect. Within minutes I was engrossed in the story and curious to find out what would happen next.
The set-up is as you expect an interactive novel to be, with lots of things to read and shots of characters talking. I have played a few interactive novels before, some of them I’ve loved and some of them fall flat. This luckily fell into the former category.
The important thing with anything where the focal point is its story is to make sure it’s not only an interesting concept, but an interesting read too. Steins;Gate does just that. It has the right mix of humour and intrigue to keep you hooked and the fact that the game isn’t natively English makes that feat even more impressive.
There may not be much to do apart from reading, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a game worth checking out even if you haven’t watched the anime. It’s a unique time travelling romp that is perfect to just sit down and absorb on a commute, or when trying to unwind.
Many of the references and jokes made in Steins;Gate could easily go over your head because of their cultural origin. The inclusion of a comprehensive glossary is an unexpected, yet a welcome saviour. So the uninitiated can gradually wrap their head around the obscure anime references often made by Okabe and the gang. The otaku nonsense isn’t the only topic needing an explanation however; the time-travel aspect of the narrative is surprisingly eloquent. Characters will often drift into long-winded monologues about the formulas, theories and quantum mechanics that pin down the exact science of it all.
Blatant and cheesy references to films like Back to the Future and The Terminator should bring a smile to any sci-fi nerd’s face as they are cheekily woven into the dialogue. Steins;Gate skilfully balances humour with the more complex and harrowing themes that are also present in the story. Certain routes will touch on the topics of gender dysphoria and depression, themes similar titles wouldn’t dare touch upon. At times this can feel disjointed, but seldom pulls you out of the experience.
Steins;Gate is an excellent time travel adventure, combining enough humour and intrigue in its well written narrative and eccentric cast of characters to keep you invested until the very end. The lack of any in-depth gameplay mechanics may deter some, but the way in which your decisions and actions subtle impact the narrative more than makes up for this. Throw in a generous helping of goofy references and complex time travel theory and you have yourself a truly unique experience that anime fans will adore.