Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition. Talk about a mouthful.
What They Say:
The year is 2030. Business is as usual in the isolated research city of Rokumei–that is until several explosions suddenly go off in the nuclear research facility known as “LABO.” The city sends in “Sirius,” an elite rescue squad, to deal with the situation. But the situation only gets worse when LABO’s nuclear reactor melts down, sending the facility into lockdown–with members of Sirius and survivors still trapped inside. With lethal radiation leaking everywhere and not enough anti-radiation medication to last until lockdown lifts, the survivors make more and more grim discoveries. In their struggle for survival, in a deathtrap full of fire and radiation, they learn that doubt is their greatest enemy, and trust their greatest asset.
The Review:
Audio:
Visual novels don’t just differentiate themselves from a typical book by having visuals, but through its sound as well. Being a major component alongside the graphics and story, it really is a great thing that Root Double features an awesome soundtrack. As primarily a mystery thriller with horror elements, the music ranges nicely from the soft and sorrowful to the dangerously haunting. One moment, I’d find myself being chased by a crazy killer accompanied by the cacophony of moaning and screeches that made my girlfriend ask me to put headphones in, while the next, I’d find beautiful melodies and keys tugging at my heart in an emotional scene. The game also contains a few original theme songs that are certainly playlist-worthy.
The entire game is fully voiced, with a mostly decent cast. Of the nine main characters, there are certainly a few annoying and high-pitched females, but they are counteracted by the powerful and intense acting of the two lead guys. While a lot of visual novels (including spiritual predecessor Ever17) mute the protagonist as you play as them, Root Double does have them voiced even while in first person. This is a smart move that had me more engaged and gave me a greater connection to them.
Graphics:
Root Double does feel, in many ways, like a spiritual successor to Ever17 and the rest of the Infinity series, especially in the visual departments. The backgrounds, environments, and characters all feel very familiar for anyone that has played those games, for better or for worse. Don’t get me wrong, every set piece and location is nicely done with a wide range of colors in full HD, not sticking just to the brown and grays.
However, the characters are very moe, resulting in an interesting antithesis to the more gorier elements, similar to the Higurashi series. This doesn’t change that the art is easy on the eyes, looking polished and sharp, but for some, it may be a distraction seeing cute and well-endowed characters participate in what is essentially a survival game.
Content: (warning as some parts of this section may contain light spoilers)
Root Double takes even more inspiration from the Infinity series by experiencing the story through the eyes of two protagonists. Done right, this can be a way to keep things fresh and exciting. That is sadly not the case for this game. Instead, about half the game is engaging, while the other half almost completely lost me. Let’s start with the core systems the game is based on. Initially, you have two routes to choose from, one for each protagonist. One route takes place after the nuclear incident begins and follows the amnesiac leader of the rescue squad. This route is the game at its finest. Gore, horror, twists and turns all contribute to an exciting route where nine people are trapped and have to survive in the face of many dangers. I never felt bored, and things just got better and better.
I can’t say the same about the other beginning route. Following a teenage boy caught up in the incident, it follows him and his classmates through the six days leading up to the nuclear reaction. Thankfully, I played this route before the other one so I got the worst parts out of the way first. If played opposite, I could very well see it killing all the momentum built up previously and making it extremely hard to continue. There are key plot points established here necessary for the rest of the story, but those could have easily been told in a much shorter way.
It doesn’t help that the rather eventless six days, as well as the rest of the game, are heavily burdened by loads and loads of flashbacks. Flashbacks are assets that should be used in moderation and to emphasize important scenes, but that does not happen here at all. Most of them are just tidbits of information meant as fan service, but that only hurts an already bogged down story. There are some fantastic flashbacks towards the end, but they are overshadowed greatly by the masses that come before. And though it ends up being a strong story, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone new to visual novels. There are many other games that are much more accessible story and gameplay-wise.
The gameplay is mostly made up of making choices like in other games in this genre, but the choices are made in a unique way. Called the Sense Sympathy System (SSS), the player uses their personal feelings about the other eight characters to shape the endings you get. In theory, this sounds cool and interesting. In practice, it is an absolute mess that made me consistently wish for more traditional choices. Your personal choices don’t really matter in the end as there still is only one true ending, and you will most definitely meet many frustrating game overs before you ever get there. I was forced to use a guide, as the game never really hints at if you should like or dislike a character, leaving you to guess. Should there be a sequel, I sincerely hope that the team considers a different way of handling the gameplay, as Root Double does tell a story that any visual novel and mystery fan should experience.
In Summary:
Root Double is a half-successful attempt to craft a meaningful and intense story, hindered by some boring routes and messy gameplay. If you can get past the major flaws, you will find a deep and memorable story that I won’t forget anytime soon, but one I wouldn’t recommend to anyone that is new to lengthy visual novels.
Grade: C-
Released by: Sekai Project
MSRP: $34.99 on Steam
This review was done with a digital review copy of the game provided by Sekai Project. We are grateful for their support.
