I love a good whodunit story. The constant twists and turns combined with false allegations and red herrings are great to experience. I believe this genre is best portrayed in books, but I’m happy to allow a visual novel to try to take that crown. Kansei: The Second Turn HD is the sequel to Jisei: The First Case HD a game I covered in 2020. I enjoyed the bizarre characters and strange plot, so I couldn’t wait to see what the follow up had in store.
Developed by SakeVisual and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a detective visual novel. It has a supernatural twist and utilises a Manga/Anime style without the usual over-sexualised teenagers. Subsequently, I could enjoy the many layers of the plot without scantly clad maidens or beefcake youths hogging my screen.
Kansei: The Second Turn HD is a separate entity.
Though Kansei: The Second Turn HD continues from where its predecessor left off, it is a separate entity. Yes, it retains the protagonist, and his bizarre powers are key to the plot. Yet, any previous knowledge of the series is not needed. This being said, the first instalment is great, so you are best to play them in order.
You control an unnamed teenager who has a special ability to solve crimes. He has an ungodly power that allows him to see how a person died. If he touches the body or is close to the corpse, he can visualise their final moments. Consequently, this gives him an unfair advantage when it comes to solving the crime.
In his latest ordeal, the hero must work with a bunch of unruly teenagers who all have something to hide. These secretive youths muddy the water at every opportunity! With lies and deceit blocking the truth, you must work hard to find the real culprit.
An excellent story.
My love for visual novels has grown over the years. Subsequently, I look forward to one landing on my desk. Luckily, Kansei: The Second Turn HD has an excellent story. Its blend of ridiculous characters and audacious twists keeps you interested throughout. The sassy teenagers add humour, attitude, and grit to this odd detective tale.
Furthermore, the intricacies of the relationships, and the constant back and forth, will keep you guessing. I adored piecing together the little snippets of information, just to discover I was massively wrong. SakeVisual has done a great job of building suspense and suspicion as the lengthy story unfolds.
Kansei: The Second Turn HD has a great setting.
Death and mysterious supernatural powers require a grand setting. Luckily, Kansei: The Second Turn HD doesn’t let us down. Set in a grand house, you must explore fine rooms filled with elegant objects. You are free to examine, question and move as you wish in this first-person point and click story. Thanks to its use of rich colours and classic objects, you’ll lose yourself in the wealthy environment. Moreover, the usual still images and basic animations are nice to look at. The developers relied on a standard approach, and this was a wise choice. Consequently, the simple style allows you to focus on unravelling the murder mystery.
Like many of its peers, the audio is understated. There is a lack of spoken dialogue, and the sound effects are almost non-existent. Instead, you are treated to a blend of songs that add energy and drama. It uses a typical Asian-influenced soundtrack, and this complements much of the action.
The controls aren’t great.
I usually have no complaints when I play a visual novel. However, this one was bizarre! A combination of a cursor and d-pad selection was utilised. It was strange how the set-up flitted between the two, and it didn’t work. It was slow and awkward to use the free-flowing cursor, and this shouldn’t have been implemented. I appreciate that objects needed to be examined, but a cursor wasn’t the way forward. If the developers focused on the use of the d-pad, it would have been smoother and more user-friendly.
Like the first instalment, this one has multiple endings. With accusations flying around like confetti, it was easy to finger the wrong suspect. Subsequently, there is plenty of replay value. Luckily, you don’t have to revisit previously seen text and you can simply skip anything you don’t wish to read. You’ll experience many finales and this adds to the longevity. If you love a great detective story, this one proves to be great value for money.
Kansei: The Second Turn HD ticks all the boxes.
After the first story, I wasn’t sure if a second would be possible. Fortunately, I was wrong! The shock factor surrounding the supernatural ability may be missing, but this is compensated by the great cast. I loved the writing, multiple twists and turns, and the complex plot. It’s an excellent addition to the genre and I recommend you to buy it here! Having superpowers doesn’t mean you’ll always be right. Hard work and dedication will ensure you capture the right suspect.
