Here is a great visual story game set in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto Colorful Days is an anime style game that follows the adventures of a young man recently graduated from college. He travels to Japan when he loses hope of finding a job back in his home country. His grandfather once lived in Kyoto and with pressure from his family sets out to explore a new land and culture. On arrival to Kyoto his adventures begin after meeting an acquaintance of his grandfather and two young women, Akane and Madoka. The story is predominantly set around the interactions with Akane and Madoka.
The prologue gives a background to the protagonist and the introduction to the main characters, as well as a little bit to the life and culture of Kyoto and Japan. After Day 1, where the player decides to seek a job the story moves based on personal choices made by the player. It plays as an interactive visual novel where the player controls the outcome making the game entertaining. Each choice moves the story to a different path allowing the player to have a short or long game experience. One good thing, out of many, about this game is the choice of story.
The story is well written with very interesting and different characters. Each character comes with a different personality and their own personal story that plays out. Character development is good and the art is well done. Within the game the player visits different sites around Kyoto, including Fushimi-Inari-Taisha shrine and Heian Shrine.
The scenery is limited to certain locations but beautifully done. One thing the game does emphasize is the cultural introduction to Japan. As a foreigner the player gets lessons in Japanese culture from the different characters and also questions his actions based on his experiences. It was real, which made the story interesting and an experience.
Another aspect of the game is the characters, all voiced, speak in the Kyoto dialect. There is also a mode in the game that teaches phrases in both the Tokyo and Kyoto dialect. This game is a great way of learning about a new culture and language while experiencing a good story.
According to the steam store page it is billed as a romance story. As I do not want to give too much away for those wanting to enjoy the game, I can say it has some romantic tones and drama but the individual stories in the game are worth checking out. Each character interaction and dialogue takes the story in different directions, and the game can be experienced in multiple ways. I personally found the innkeeper Kenichiro Sakuri, to be kind, wise, and very helpful.
Even though the game is not fully animated, except for the face, the characters are given different facial expressions, body language, and poses to convey emotions and actions.
The game is subtitled and as mentioned before voiced in the Kyoto dialect. The main protagonist is not visible and the player gives him a name at the beginning allowing players to imagine who he is from their perspectives. Players tap through the dialogue and make choices throughout the game. Paying attention to the customs of the region and the dialogue is helpful when making choices. The main interactions the player has are with Kenichiro, Akane Wakamiya, and Madoka Watanabe. All three are very kind and wish only to help the player out. There are antagonists in the game and events that happen which the player must navigate through.
In the end this game is a wonderful interactive visual story that is a change from action games. The art is fantastic and the music plays well with the story. The story is not fixed and the player is given options for dialogue that changes the story and outcome. Kyoto Colorful Days has some great characters and character interactions while teaching the player about the culture, customs, and language of Kyoto and Japan.
The opening theme is also quite catchy. This game is recommended for its story and visual content. Great for anyone looking for a game just for its story and a little bit of a learning experience. If you like anime you will like Kyoto Colorful Days.