Legend of Fairies and Fairy Knights are visual novels, also called digital novels, with a big twist. Instead of the normal types of magic and sorcery, your magic stems from being able to play at majohng. You put your life-energies into the game and, should you win, you can take command of creatures of Fay. It’s a neat twist to the normal way magic is used in stories.
The graphics are okay, and erotic, but are bit dated. Still, I found them to be well drawn, and enjoyable to look at.
It doesn’t have much gameplay as it’s a visual story, and not a game. But, if you were to qualify it as a game, it’d be an adventure game. It does have the advantage that you can scroll forward and backwards in conversions, in case you missed a clue. In addition to this, the graphics change with the story, so the visual novel effect is well timed.
I enjoyed the fairy story. I like how both scenarios are complete on their own, but how, together, they tell a complete story. And, I also liked how it was a more oriental telling of fairies and the supernatural. In addition to having the story well translated, it also adds a bit of immersion for the player by adding in cultural elements, so the player feels more like a character in the tale, then a fly on the wall.
The extras are well thought out too. As well as having a memory room, and a music room, they both contain additional mini-games with more artwork. The CD comes with teasers of other JastUSA games and artwork.
On the downside, I did have some trouble with the game not booting up correctly, freezing, or booting out of the game to the menu screen. I attribute this more to a poor mastering, than a game bug. Still, be advised that this might happen.
Overall, an interesting story that has a lot of cultural, and mystic symbolisms in it. If you’re looking for something different, that’s more like a manga or graphic novel, visit JastUSA, and pick up these two games.
Mike’s Note: This is a 2 for 1 review. Both games have a continuing story that’s introduced in Legend of Fairies, and concluded in Fairy Knights.
Individual Rating: Art/Animation: 6 Story/Plot: 9 Characters: - Sounds: 8 Gameplay: 8 Ecchi Level: -
