Variable Barricade

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a game by Otomate
Platform: PC (2018)
Editor Rating: 8/10, based on 1 review
User Rating: 7.5/10 - 12 votes
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See also: Anime Games, Visual Novel, Manga Games, Games Like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Quest Games, Otome Games
Variable Barricade
Variable Barricade
Variable Barricade
Variable Barricade

Awkward situations are some of the best beginnings for otome visual novels, and Variable Barricade outdoes itself with the one the main character finds herself in. At 17 years old, her family is thinking of forcing her into a political marriage, but her grandfather wants her to marry for love.

His solution? To place her in a temporary house with 4 potential lovers she can pick from to marry. Unfortunately, the men he has on offer aren’t really the kind most would want to date. They include a marriage swindler, a gambling addict, a loan machine and a male prostitute. Imagine "My Forged Wedding", but living with the friends instead of simply choosing one, and you’ll have Variable Barricade. While admittedly none of the men you can pick sound appealing, as you delve into each story line you learn there is more to meet the eye with each character.

Amazing story telling skills

The story telling skills for each datable character is very well done. While each character starts as pretty much the most unappealing possible. As you progress along each story line however, details are shared that shift your view of each character in profound ways. Each character also has different endings, and it isn’t always “good” or “bad.” Sometimes the outcomes are simply different, but certainly worthy of reading. Most of these outcomes end up being better options than the true ending, which feels in some ways a bit disappointing.

The authors of Variable Barricade also had an excellent understanding of chemistry between characters, and managed to pit them against each other in a way that dramatized their personalities, without ever feeling unnatural.

Great voice actors

This otome features a voiced heroine, which is relatively rare, and it really helps to show her snarky personality. The heroine herself already stands out by having a real personality that feels authentic, and the voice truly helps make that pop. It’s not just the heroine getting her own voice that makes the audio stand out. The other voice actors do a great job of conveying the right emotions for each character, which greatly improves the game.

Excellent CG

A review about a visual novel would not be complete without talking about the artwork. The CG in this game is very well done, with beautiful artwork that manages to capture the moment very well. Since the game is a mixture of funny, weird, and embarrassing, capturing the right expressions is very important. The artwork does this masterfully, and really helps make the game more enjoyable.

8

It’s very rare to read an otome, especially one so blatantly in the romance genre, that’s actually unique. The writers of this visual novel put in an extra effort to add in unexpected twists to the plot. Most of the time this makes the game surprising and entertaining, but sometimes it’s just weird. If you’re looking for something different, this is a very refreshing novel.

Pros

  • Unpredictable plot line (Finally!)
  • Excellent character development
  • Voiced heroines

Cons

  • Sometimes the weird gets a bit too weird

Download Variable Barricade

PC

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Snapshots and Media

PC Screenshots

See Also

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