NEKOPARA Vol. 1
Gameplay 7
Graphics 9
Sound 8

If you are looking for something cute, lighthearted, polished and filled to the brim with catgirls then NEKOPARA Vol. 1 is the obvious choice. Even without the h-scenes, the Steam version is an enjoyable, albeit slightly short, romp. The E-mote system works quite well and the artwork by Sayori is absolutely gorgeous. It is not as long or as involving as some other kinetic novels, but serves as a very polished and enjoyable introduction to the genre.

Gameplay: NEKOPARA Vol. 1 is a kinetic novel, so gameplay is restricted to simply clicking through the story.

Graphics: Beautiful artwork by Sayori and the animation is a lot livelier than what is the norm for the genre thanks to the E-mote system.

Sound: Full Japanese voice acting for the catgirls, plenty of sound effects and some very nice tunes

Summary 8.0 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

NEKOPARA Vol. 1

Developer: NEKO WORKs | Publisher: Sekai Project | Release Date: 2014 | Genre: Casual / Indie / Visual Novel | Website: Official Website | Format: Steam / Denpasoft

When Kashou Minaduki moves out of his parents’ house to open his own patisserie the last thing he expects is ending up with two catgirls tagging along. The catgirls actually belong to his younger sister, but plead with Kashou to take them in. Unable to resist this onslaught of cuteness, Kashou relents and take the two in. Neko Para Vol. 1 follows the story of Kashou as he learns how to cope with the two catgirls, Chocola and Vanilla, and run his own business, La Soleil.

NP was originally an adult title, but thanks to Steams strict guidelines has been toned down considerably. It is still a game about genetically modified humanoid cats, complete with ears and tails, so be prepared for some questionable stuff if you are not used to this kind of thing. The h-scenes might have been removed, but the game doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that the lead character ends up with both girls as his “catpanions.” The advantage is that the story doesn’t feel butchered just to make it appropriate for all ages. This is a good thing as the game is a kinetic novel, which means the story is very linear and you never get to make any choices.

The best part about NP is definitely the visuals which are simply gorgeous. From the wonderful art style to the adorable characters the game will have you overdosing on cuteness. The polished visuals are courtesy of Sayori, who is the original creator of Chocola and Vanilla. Apart from the overall visual style the other thing that is immediately eye-catching about NP is the animation system. Traditionally visual novels are pretty static affairs, with the characters only changing their expressions and maybe clothes if you are lucky. NP uses something called the “E-mote” system for animations, which results in characters blinking, moving their lips when talking and plenty of other smaller animations that make them seem livelier. This makes quite a dramatic difference to scenes and is definitely something that I would love to see more of in future visual novels. The character animations for the girls moving closer to the screen is particularly neat and you can even set the bounciness of the girls’ chests via a slider in the options menu! If that’s not attention to detail then I don’t know what is. There is also a couple of very cute chibi scenes of the characters.

The audio in NP is just as good and features full speech for all the girls. The actresses providing the voices for the characters do a great job considering the dialogue that they have been given. If however you find any of the voices to be a bit too grating you can adjust the voice volume for each of the girls independently.

Sound effects are equally good and the game contains a fair amount of these to liven up the scenes even further. I did however find myself laughing out loud at the most hilarious fly “buzzing” sound that I have ever heard! The music fits the mood of the game perfectly with tracks that are either cheerful and upbeat or slow and mellow. My two favorite tracks in the game are “Neko will be…” and “Neko to sanpo” but all of the tunes are quite good. As this is a kinetic novel your interaction with the game is reserved to clicking to advance the text, but you can adjust the display speed and even choose between English, Chinese and Japanese.

The uncensored version of the game has about 3 h-scenes that are not present in the Steam version. Since the Steam version is about half the price of the adult version it does soften the censorship blow somewhat. Personally I don’t think the removed content makes that big a difference to the story, but if you expect to see any type of nudity you would be better off with the adult version.

Due to its short playtime Neko Para Vol. 1 feels more like an introduction to the story and characters instead of a full-blown title. The story is very lighthearted and plays out like a slice of life comedy, so it doesn’t have the same emotional impact as visual novels such as Kana Little Sister or ef: A Tale of The Two. However, given the subject matter this is hardly surprising and anyone buying a game about catgirls should know what to expect. Chocola and Vanilla are definitely the stars of this first volume, but a couple of other cute cat girls also make their appearance, with hints that they will play a bigger role in future installments. NP is an entertaining title for relaxing and unwinding as you can just sit back and immerse yourself in the cuteness of it all. One thing is for sure, I definitely enjoyed the story and setting more than visuals novels with similar themes such as Bazooka Cafe and Come See Me Tonight. If you are still on the fence, Sekai Project has a demo available for Neko Para Vol 1 on Steam, so you can try out the game yourself.

System Requirements

  • OS: Vista
  • Processor: 1.8 GHz Pentium 4
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 1280 x 720
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
  • OS: Vista
  • Processor: 1.8 GHz Pentium 4
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 1280 x 720
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Hard Drive: 3 GB available space

Related posts

Macrotis: A Mother’s Journey

Macrotis: A Mother's Journey

Help Mother Bilby navigate some treacherous underground passages in an attempt to find her lost children. Macrotis is a non-violent puzzle platformer with a couple of tricky platform sections, but overall, the emphasis is firmly on the puzzles. Some might find the lack of hand-holding from the game a little frustrating, but figuring out the puzzles, even if it takes a bit of trial and error, is very rewarding. Anthropomorphic animal platform heroes are not a new concept, but Macrotis does a good job of making Mother Bilby's quest memorable. Gameplay: The game is a puzzle platformer that isn't afraid to let you mess things up badly enough that you have to restart the puzzles. Graphics: Macrotis impresses with 2.5D visuals that are vibrant and detailed. Sound: The game features full voices for the characters and some nice background tunes.

Avoid – Sensory Overload

Avoid - Sensory Overload

While Avoid Sensory Overload is another mobile title to make the leap to PC, it doesn't feel like a cheap cash-in. The gameplay is addictive, and on higher difficulty levels, the game can provide quite a challenge. The randomly generated levels in endless mode also provide longevity, especially for the price. If you are looking for a pure arcade experience where you can test your reflexes while listening to some nice tunes, then you won't want to avoid this game. Gameplay: A nice arcade experience that is addictive enough to keep you returning for more. Graphics: It's not quite a sensory overload, but the visuals are colorful and stylish. Sound: There are different musical genres with some nice tracks.

McPixel

McPixel

McPixel is a puzzle game parody of MacGuyver in which players are given twenty seconds to save the day and disarm some type of explosive. The catch is that the solution is often illogical or bizarre and usually requires more luck or trial and error than puzzle-solving skills. Nevertheless, the game is entertaining and offers a ton of content, along with a level editor. While it won't appeal to everyone, McPixel is far better than the visuals might make you think. Gameplay: The game is a lot of fun but best played in short bursts. Graphics: Even with the various filter options, the visuals won't win any awards. Sound: The soundtrack is catchy but highly repetitive.

Layers of Fear

Layers of Fear

With its surreal setting and constantly shifting rooms Layers of Fear is a game that is both immersive and captivating. It loves messing with your perception, but also features enough jump scares to keep you on edge all the time. Unless you take the time to explore your surroundings and uncover the clues you’ll miss out on most of the story elements, so it is not a game to rush through. Thanks to its beautiful visuals and excellent audio it is definitely a cut above similar titles in the genre. Gameplay: Minimal puzzles, but simply exploring the surreal setting of the game is a nerve wracking experience. Graphics: Very polished and highly detailed. Sound: Quiet when it needs to be, but also very effective at using audio to unnerve players.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page

Lost Words: Beyond the Page

Lost Words: Beyond the Page doesn't offer much of a challenge in terms of platforming or puzzles, but that doesn't make it any less compelling. The heartfelt story effortlessly draws players in right from the start while the charming visuals and moving soundtrack round out the package. The game tackles very difficult subjects in a way that both young and old can relate to while the charming presentation makes it even more memorable. It is more of an interactive experience than a game at times, but we wholeheartedly recommend Lost Words to anyone who can appreciate a great story. Gameplay: Very easy and accessible, but it is the story that really sets this game apart. Graphics: Both the journal and story sections of the game are beautiful. Sound: The soundtrack is incredible and the voice acting superb.

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

Face dangerous creatures and evil spirits in this engaging hidden object game from Artifex Mundi. The game features their trademark polish when it comes to visuals and presentation, but the story is actually very good as well. It features 14 hidden object scenes to complete, but these can be substituted for a domino mini-game if players prefer. Add to that 24 varied mini-games and plenty of interesting locations to explore and you’ll find that this is an adventure not to be missed. Gameplay: Nothing too out of the ordinary for the genre, but the domino mini-game is a nice touch. Graphics: Beautiful hand-painted locations with plenty of detail and nice use of color. Sound: Decent voice acting and a great soundtrack.

3 Comments

  1. Tomato-King January 11, 2015
    Reply

    I wish Steam would just man up and allow adults to play adult games on their service. They have a stranglehold on the market, allow all kinds of violence, but no nudity. Can you imagine a cinema forcing movies to remove all sex scenes and nudity just so kids can also watch them? That’s exactly what Steam is doing.

  2. MWiH January 12, 2015
    Reply

    Wish this was part of the manga sale on Steam.

  3. Kenshinkensei January 12, 2015
    Reply

    Enjoying the increased VN coverage 😀

Leave a comment

8 + thirteen =