School Days HQ

What we have here with School Days HQ is a more polished version of the classic School Days visual novel game that was a massive success. This is one of those games that I am 100 percent certain that you will remember the game for the rest of your life. It is a great story, but it is also quite a shocking one and the best bit of advice I can give you guys is to read as little about the story as possible before you jump in.

Living The School Life

The story of the game is about a guy called Makoto Ito who is a high-school student living in Japan. He has found himself being wanted by a few different girls and the story is basically the twists and turns that his life takes as he deals with certain people. As is the case with most other visual novel games, the story here will change as you play the game so no two play-throughs will ever be exactly the same.

What this game is most notably for is some of the shocking and violent endings that can happen. I know that I was pretty shocked at how brutal School Days HQ was, but to be fair it is not just done for shock value and it does fit in with the story.

Do Not Let The Term “Novel” Deceive You

While I have referred to the game as a visual novel a few times in this review, that is actually doing School Days HQ a huge disservice. You see, this game is more like an interactive anime. There is none of this 2D stuff with a tiny bit of animation here, well there is some 2D stuff. However, the majority of the game is actually made up of video and it will stop when you are required to make a decision. This is awesome and I like how it keeps you focused on the story. The voice acting is great and helps get the emotions of the characters across even more. This was first released back in 2005 and while this HQ version is the best way to play it. Due to the age of the video, it does not have that same level of slickness you would find in a modern anime.

Going Until The End

The gameplay on offer in School Days HQ is great for a visual novel style game. The anime presentation keeps you paying attention, but you do actually get to make many choices as the story moves along.

These choices can have some major differences in the way things play out and I ended up playing the game a few times, forcing myself to make drastically different choices so that I could see the different outcomes.

Pros:

• This is a very influential game
• The whole premise of the game is interesting
• Plenty of choices that you get to make
• Some of the endings are truly shocking!
• The game is more like a movie than a novel

Cons:

• Some of the violence may be a bit much
• The quality of the video is showing its age

School Days HQ is a visual novel game that tells the story of a Japanese high school student, Makoto Ito, as he navigates a complicated love triangle involving two of his classmates, Kotonoha Katsura and Sekai Saionji. The game gained widespread attention due to its intense storyline, which was later adapted into an anime series, School Days TV. With multiple endings and an intricate web of choices, School Days HQ provides a gripping and emotional experience for players.

Pros:

• Rich and engaging narrative
• Complex and well-developed characters
• Multiple endings based on player choices
• Beautiful art and sound design
• Successfully adapted into an anime series
• Unique events like the school festival and Valentine's Day add depth to the story

Cons:

• Some endings may be too dark or disturbing for certain players
• The pacing can be slow at times
• The love triangle may not appeal to all players
• Limited gameplay elements, primarily focused on story

A Complex Love Triangle and a Roller Coaster of Emotions

In my opinion, School Days HQ is a captivating visual novel that takes players on an emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of a tumultuous love triangle. The game's strong narrative and complex characters make it an engaging experience, earning it a rating of 8 out of 10.

One of the most memorable aspects of School Days HQ is its portrayal of the darker side of falling in love, with some endings resulting in shocking and brutal scenes, such as Kotonoha brutally stabbing Sekai with a kitchen knife. These intense moments, like the climax in episode 12 of the anime series, are bound to leave a lasting impression on players. The game also features lighter moments, such as the school festival and the magical heart Kokoro-chan event. These events provide a nice balance to the darker aspects of the story and showcase the original game's versatility.