Root Letter: Last Answer Review (NSW)

Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: Root Letter: Last Answer
Developer: KADOKAWA GAMES
Publisher: Pqube
Genre: Visual Novel
Price: $29.99
Also Available On: PS4, Steam

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Takayuki Nakamura is in his early thirties. He‘s between jobs in Tokyo, and a scheduled house renovation compels him to do some cleaning. As he rummages through things in storage, he comes across a set of letters dating back 15 years. He recalls putting out an ad in a magazine for a pen pal, and then getting a response all the way from Shimane Prefecture. His subsequent back and forth with Aya Fumino was what enabled him to survive senior year in high school, he notes. And, across the miles, he believed he found love. Unfortunately, his 10th letter wound up unanswered, and it was all that became of their long-distance friendship. Or so he thought.

Evidently, Nakamura received an 11th missive — one he notices isn’t postmarked. And as he finds it, the old memories give way to shock. He opens and reads it for the first time. “I killed someone. I must atone for my sins,” it said. “We won’t speak again. Farewell.” As a wave of emotions rush in, he decides to take a trip to Matsue in an effort to get to the bottom of the mystery. What happened? He takes stock of all that he knows about Fumino, and, despite acknowledging the modicum of information he possesses, is determined to press on. He owes it to her. He owes it to himself.

And so begins Root Letter: Last Answer, a reissue of a visual novel that claimed a cult following when it was released on the PlayStation Vita and PS4 three years ago. Taking off from its well-laid premise, gamers are tasked to gather information about her and how she went about her secondary education beginning with clues she left in her letters. The interface is simple, if functional; through context-driven commands, they are able to examine surroundings, engage in conversations, and ultimately piece together a puzzle that touches on school and secrets, food and fallacies, ghosts and growth, life and love.

As with most other offerings in the genre, Root Letter: Last Answer’s visuals are largely static. Accompanied by thematically appropriate music and outstanding Japanese voiceovers, they provide gamers with lush and intricately drawn backdrops that lend flavor to the proceedings. Even as Fumino’s past becomes more evident through engagements with the circle of friends she named in her writings, so, too, does Matsue’s present. Filled with details that go beyond fictional confines, the storytelling is steeped in culture; developer Kadokawa Games imbibes its creation with stunningly precise local flavor.

As a remake, Root Letter: Last Answer hews closely to its source material. In fact, it can be navigated exactly the way the original was presented — with detailed and intricately designed artwork highlighting the association of those behind it with the popular and long-running LovePlus dating-sim series. At the same time, it provides gamers with an alternative; it likewise offers a live-action redesign slated to add heft to the presentation. Among others, the characters of Bestie, Shorty, Monkey, Fatty, Snappy, Four-Eyes, and Bitch are fleshed out even more, literally and figuratively.

Be that as it may, Root Letter: Last Answer thrives because of the depth of its narrative. Twists and turns abound, with gamers able to squeeze the truth out of Nakamura’s interactions through the presentation of previously gathered evidence. There are 10 chapters to be negotiated, each based on one letter Fumino wrote, backstopped by four newly produced epilogues. However, the unfolding of the last two sections will vary depending on choices made en route. By extension, so, too, will the ending — and because five all told are in store, replay value is enhanced.

For the most part, Root Letter: Last Answer pulls its weight. It takes its time peeling off its various layers, unfolding the stories it and, just as importantly, its locations in a pace suited to taste. Not all instances present the power of choice; in fact, few do. Then again, the skillful manner in which it weaves its tales makes its largely linear journey just as fulfilling as its unique denouements. And, significantly, it can be even better; tasked with its localization for Western audiences, PQube occasionally stumbles on the translation and typography. They’re nothing a mere software update can’t fix. That said, they’ve been around since the release of the original version, as much an indication as any that improvements in this regard aren’t forthcoming.

Depending on leanings, gamers can find Root Letter: Last Answer’s live-action Drama Mode to be either gimmicky or inspired. The effort is acknowledged all the same; Kadokawa Games assembles a cast of 90 actors for the purpose. And, in the final analysis, there can be no denying the title’s worth. It’s a fit for the Nintendo Switch, in particular; not too taxing on the hardware, it can be enjoyed in handheld mode, on the go and in spurts, sans any slowdowns or letdowns. In other words, it’s precisely what an ideal VN is, and — clocking in at an aggregate 30 hours or so — a worthy addition to the library of gamers partial to the genre.

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THE GOOD

• Immersive narrative
• Steeped In culture
• Outstanding visuals and sounds
• Live-action Drama Mode
• Four new epilogues
• Great for on-the-go gaming

THE BAD

• Essentially a remake
• Even the typographical errors are retained
• Pace can be slow
• Occasionally repetitive

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RATING: 8.5/10

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