Ochitsubaki

I found this a difficult yet pleasing title to read in both English and Japanese. Both are different in interesting ways. This linguistic experiment is thought-provoking at the very least.

At the very end of the work, I thought the story was hard to follow but intentionally so. It reflects the fragmentation of identity, of language, and of life itself. I guess if broken memories are stitched together, one form it could’ve taken is this visual novel. Translating trauma is not an enviable task, but I think this captures a bit of what it’s like to live with one.

Anyone interested in stories exploring trauma should take a look at this game. You don’t have to love the game or the story in order to appreciate what this title is doing. There’s something lovely about figuring out what makes Ochitsubaki tick, even if everything doesn’t pan out for me. Trauma is always worth investigating and it’s likely the subject matter that requires the most experimental design anyway.

Thanks for making this game. It’s awesome.