TSUKIHIME -A piece of blue glass moon- Review – A Must-Play for Visual Novel Fans

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon is a remake of the classic visual novel developed by Type-Moon that has been met with eager anticipation from fans of the original. The remake largely lives up to the hype, delivering a compelling mix of both old and new elements that should appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers.

While the story in Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon retains the core narrative of the original, it introduces significant changes to refresh the experience. The remake covers two routes i.e. Arcueid’s and Ciel’s stories. While Arcueid’s route remains fairly faithful to its roots, Ciel’s route undergoes extensive reworking, with greater insight and new plot points that expand the overall narrative. However, some of these additions may end up being divisive among purists.

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon introduces new characters like Noel and Mario, who add a refreshing dynamic to the narrative. Noel provides comic relief with her attempts to be tough or seductive, only to get piled on by others. On the other hand, Mario is a rude yet insightful character who adds a layer of realism and seriousness to the dangers faced by the game’s characters. However, not all new characters will be universally appreciated. Dr. Arach, who is intended as comic relief, often comes off as loud and obnoxious.

The visual novel features several different endings, either with positive or negative implications. Some of the game’s secrets are tied to unlocking some of these endings, and the 100 save slots come in handy here. However, going through multiple playthroughs can be cumbersome due to a lack of the option to skip to the next dialogue or narrative choice. Instead, players must rely on a default skip button, which only fast forwards through the game or jumps to the next scene, respectively. This makes the process of unlocking the game’s different endings more tedious than it ought to have been.

The game is nothing short of exceptional in the audiovisual department. The game boasts detailed and eye-catching artwork, with fluid animations bringing the static images typical of visual novels to life. Character portraits change mid-dialogue to convey emotions and actions, creating an unusually lively experience for a visual novel. The new soundtrack maintains the haunting atmosphere of the original while adding more variety. The fully-voiced characters further enhance the storytelling, making each scene feel more believable.

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon manages to exceed the high expectations set by its predecessor. It delivers a compelling mix of both old and new, with updated visuals and audio that make it accessible to new players while offering enough fresh content to engage veterans. The game’s storytelling is enhanced via more intricate and believable character interactions, which is typically unexpected in the visual novel genre. Though, the game is not without its share of faults. Some will find the addition of a certain character detrimental to the experience. Furthermore, the lack of options can make multiple playthroughs more of an ordeal. Despite these setbacks, however, Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon’s strengths in narrative and presentation make it a worthy recommendation to fans of visual novels.

TSUKIHIME -A piece of blue glass moon- Game Information

• Price: $49.99
• Publisher: Aniplex
• Developer: Type-Moon
• Platform: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed)
• Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher