I, like most people enjoy reading a good book. I’m happy to pick up and try anything, but I have my favourite author and genre. The same can be said for visual novels (VNs). I prefer the modern take on horror or crime, and though I can see the draw, I rarely gravitate towards the Otome style. The cutesy nature, cheesy plot and clichéd characters remind me too much of the rom-coms that my wife makes me sit through.
When I was offered How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered, I knew I was in for a classic Japanese inspired Otome experience. Developed by Roseverte and published by Ratalaika Games, this colourful novel uses much of the original 2015 versions’ assets. You will enjoy; polished graphics, a sharper and more accurate, authentic score, and the same cinematic scenes. Having seen this back in 2016 on Steam, I can say not much has changed, but it looks great on a modern console.
What’s it about?
The story is set in the country of Eroolia and takes place in its capital, Leezera. This colourful and vibrant place adheres to the traditions of its people, and places respect and honour above all else. The plot plays with the themes of friendship, love, and discovering the real you. You control Lilia; she is a young baker who lives with her grandma above their family business. She has grown up with her best friend and “lil’ brother” Ronan. He is a delivery boy and runs errands for the shop. Both believe they know each other’s deepest secrets, but they don’t. Each is hiding a truth from the other, and both are lying about how they feel.
Each of the characters lives a normal life until Lilia hears a strange voice. A black cat speaks to her, and only she can hear it. This is the start of her transformation and here begins her story. She discovers she is a half-blood. Part human, part cat, she is a Luccretia. She is feared by the people of Leezera, they believe she will bring bad luck, yet Ronan, who now appears as a city guard steps in to save her, not knowing that this cat girl Leea, is Lilia the person whom he truly loves.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
VNs aren’t just about sitting back and absorbing the plot that unravels before you. No, you influence how the story plays out by selecting dialogue choices. You will enjoy 6 chapters that twist and turn with every choice you make. What stands this game out from others in the genre, is the hidden episodes. Your choices will decide which path the tale takes. Will you answer correctly and uncover the human extras, or will you be lucky enough to observe the hidden Luccretia sections? It’s a nice twist that adds depth to the plot and replay value.
Though the overwhelming theme is sickly sweet, it is written in such a way that you can enjoy it even if this isn’t your favourite genre to try out. The battle between the two friends as they fight their urges is reminiscent of any youngster who doesn’t want to overstep the mark. Fearing that people will not understand the true you and hiding behind a mask to make people happy is something that we all do. Though it’s told in an extreme way, the plot applies to most people’s youth, and that for me is what makes it an accessible, albeit absurd, tale to enjoy.
A worthy remake.
I’ve played many a remake title, 2020 was a particularly good year for it. What I discovered is that not all of them were done to a good standard. This, however, looks and feels fantastic on a modern system. Perhaps there is little going on, and that still images shouldn’t be hard to improve upon, and that’s fair enough. But with all that time to study the landscape and the character models, it has to be perfect. The striking Manga and anime style, vivid tones and loud colours make this a shock to the senses. The landscapes are varied and help to convey the story perfectly. The developers created a stunning and traditional world that sold the classic picture book view of an old-school Japanese city.
Fans of the 2015 game will love the audio in this rendition. Japanese music and speech dominate proceedings throughout. This adds to the authentic nature, and suits the theme well. The text dialogue was easy to follow, though the spoken words were distracting. Some may find the use of repeated phrases irritating, unfortunately there is little that can be done about it. I particularly enjoyed the change of music for each character. Not only did this add to the drama of the story, but it helped to identify the tone at any point.
Controls, what controls?
VNs are the least intrusive game for control setup. Press the A button to skip forwards, or X to recap. This makes the genre a relaxing experience. You are free to skip through all the text if you wish, though this isn’t advised if it’s your first playthrough as you’ll miss pivotal moments.
Unlocking every episode is key to understanding the entire plot and its characters. By replaying the game you will tie up all the loose ends, and How to Take Off Your Mask leaves no stones unturned. You’ll discover who the strange man is that hangs around the bakery, Lilia’s family history, and if love blossoms. There is plenty of replay value, even though it has a small achievement list.
Am I converted to Otome?
I enjoyed my time with this VN, in particular the fun characters and touching undertones in the love story. Yet, I’m still not converted to be a lover of Otome. Do I recommend it? Yes, if you are open to which genre you read, then this will be a game you’ll enjoy. If I’ve inspired you, a copy can be purchased here! Who will take off their mask first? Bravery, friendship and love will thrive in this colourful romantic tale.
