Tokyo-set multi-ending adventure game
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a single-player, adventure, visual novel, and anime game. Set in a bizarre version of Tokyo, a group of teenagers, all having lost their memories, must explore and solve puzzles within strange labyrinths. They must face their pasts to discover their true selves and ultimately escape that world.
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo’s simple puzzle-solving dives into deep emotional themes. The narrative explores concepts of emotional scars and the healing of the human heart. It offers players a journey of self-discovery, inviting them to confront difficult truths hidden within the twisted, surreal setting of the city with a melancholic soundtrack.
Six emotional stories await
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo’s puzzle design features over 40 diverse challenges. Players will encounter a wide range of puzzles, from simple cause-and-effect riddles to more complex deductions similar to mathematical theorems. This ensures an engaging and challenging experience without a single dull moment for players to encounter. The clever gimmicks keep the game densely packed and entertaining without that much repetition.
The game’s storyline unfolds like a suspenseful drama, pulling players into the emotional journeys of its six teenagers. Each character is distinct and expressive, adding to the richness of the narrative. The surreal visuals, with their warped lights and distorted imagery, work with the story to create an immersive and sometimes unsettling experience that feels like a true "labyrinth of the heart," going beyond simple puzzles.
However, the game's main weakness lies in its English localization. Player feedback points to numerous typos, grammatical errors, and broken language that can pull one out of the story. The small font size is also a significant issue, with some players on smaller devices reporting that the text is nearly unreadable. Additionally, the lack of a language selection menu at the start is a drawback.
Still a great visual novel experience
Ultimately, Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a compelling and thought-provoking game with a powerful message about facing trauma. While it suffers from localization and technical issues that can hinder the experience, the core gameplay and emotional story remain enjoyable. It leaves players with a feeling of satisfaction and hope for what the developer might create next after they fix some of the issues.
