After a number of squashed bugs, fixed typos and a switch to a newer version of the game engine, Arcade Spirits has made its way on to current-gen consoles.
Competent ports certainly make this job easier and I am happy to report that AS makes its way to Xbox One intact. Other than a minor, but noticeable UI lag when scrolling through options, everything important has been preserved.
As for the game itself, the year is 20XX (nice) and things are mostly the same albeit with far more neon. This is also the timeline where the golden era of the arcade never ended and the coin-op scene never died…
OK, Arcade Spirits, you have our attention.
Why, AI Oughta
The character creation kicks off the experience with a modest selection. While there is nothing too in-depth, likely due to art integration, the options available cover the essentials. Players are offered ‘they’ as a choice of pronoun for their avatar and that’s definitely progress.
The game proper begins with the news that your character has just lost their job, adding to a list of low paid jobs. You’re concerned only with making ends meet and that’s just fine.
Your flatmate, Juniper is on hand to perk you up and help you find some new work, offering up a referral to a ‘life coach’ app, eventually leading to your dream workplace – an arcade. As it turns out, this environment offers a lot of opportunity for romance and maybe less…
Arcade Spirits plays out as a romantic visual novel steeped in twenty-something internet-driven-culture. The humour is of a general and conversational level, relying on friendly banter, sarcasm and irony. This makes Arcade Spirits feel quite close to home while it occasionally ends up a little on-the-nose.
Choice Dialogue
The dialogue can be cringe-inducing but it’s all intentional. The brand of cringe is the equivalent of social media meme-posting. If you’re of an open mind and take it for what it is, the light-hearted feel gives rise to a nice, fulfilling bit of escapism.
The arcade theme and warm glow of neon against the dingy backdrop pays off and the scene artwork is a highlight. The characters’ comic book aesthetic is mostly consistent and quickly grew on me.
However, the style is held back by one flaw; the characters are absolutely plastered over the top of the backdrops most of the time. While this is commonplace, the tone, shading, lighting and never blend perfectly with those of the background images and these mismatches can be jarring.
Characters are mostly static during dialogue, with limited facial expressions and the minimal physical articulation being the only signs of life. If you’re familiar with the genre; you’ll no doubt be used to it.
It’s Not About Personality Matrixels and Charts, It’s All About the Bu-Bumps in Your Heart
Gameplay, as with most VNs, is a choice-driven affair with multiple routes and, though the romance sub-genre is one largely untapped for me, the premise is what I had expected. IRIS, your AI coach will help you build a profile, mapping your responses and decisions to personality categories.
Interestingly, you’re given the ability to track changes between the defined categories or you can opt to ‘go-with-the-flow’, rendering you blind to any changes to this weirdo app’s human-bar-chart-project. I chose visibility – I play RPGs, I like the stats.
For my first run, I paid the ‘Identity Identifier System’ plenty of attention. It’s very straightforward in marking the dialogue choices and decisions with icons to indicate which direction your personality type is heading towards.
So, we’re chasing romance. Who’s on the menu, and will these peeps dig my sarcasm? Seemingly everyone you come across. Your MC has love on the brain, even if they’re partially hiding it from themselves.
Married to the Job
The friendships I built started to make the prospect of the dating element really shaky in early game. These people all seem to genuinely care about you but none of them feel like they’re ever giving you any major signs as such.
That being the case, it made my character seem like a bit of a sleezeball oftentimes, fortunately, it isn’t long before your character’s inner monologue and later, your options, broaden substantially. I felt far more attached the arcade job itself, the friendship building and keeping aspirations alive, so, for my first playthrough, that’s the angle I started to take.
The strongest quality of the writing is how it slowly works you into wanting to see what happens next in your job role, by getting involved in business decisions and interacting with new people, pushing your outgoing side to forefront. In fact, it’s like playing the role of the opposite of me, which is perfect for role-playing. And that’s also what struck me; Arcade Spirits truly is a role-playing game in a literal sense.
Crossplay
Journeying with business-minded Gavin to bid on some old machines felt like the right thing to do. Got to get a feel for all aspects of the job if I’m going to throw myself at it.
Ashley is really talented in her cosplaying. What’s to stop me dressing as cat maid, if she’s dressing as a dude? Two birds, one stone; this will prop up my friendship with Ashley and drive enough hits for my social media campaign, making our next event mega popular, too. Hopefully, great things await this arcade…
Some of the character building is handled deftly by throwing clues via situation but this, again, suffers from being too obvious on occasion. However, characters are suitably fleshed out and each has an impressive level of substance and identity.
There’s also an e-sports star struggling with the problems of being female in yet another male-oriented culture. Topical, relevant and well-integrated. Even the AI phone assistant begins to build its presence, seemingly evolving as you play.
These people are being really nice to me with pure friendship in mind. Frankly I don’t want to ruin the friendships with the other kind of intimacy. Keep me wholesome!
Platonic Relationships Ended Up Ideal
At one point I had completely forgotten the love side of the game, mirroring how I play Stardew Valley. Waiting for the moment when a fortune-teller tells me that I’ll die alone or something.
The best bit? That’s fine. There’s enough commentary on society’s twisted ideals to remind you that it’s OK to be you; a simple message but one exceptionally realised in a positive way.
Some of the consequences to your choices come in to play quickly but most are felt towards the end-game. Without going into spoiler territory, let me simply say those business decisions I was making? Some were 100% necessary.
I Named the Event ‘Funplex Flex’. I Regret Nothing.
But yes, there was some genuine investment put in my character’s situation, making this journey pleasantly surprising. The diversity angle is shoved in your face; that is to say, by acceptance simply being part of everyday life in-game (completely at odds with the current real-life climate of mass intolerance).
It’s refreshingly brilliant and I love that Fiction Factory Games were brave enough to go whole-hog in pursuit of their vision. Arcade Spirit’s core theme of acceptance makes for a pleasant and refreshing take on the genre. It can be clumsy but Arcade Spirits rolls out of any stumble, does a breakdance and retains its charm.
What’s dubbed their ‘synthwave soundtrack’ is a snug fit. There are simple 80s-sounding electronic ambient accompanying tunes that fit the environments and are as relaxing as the gameplay, though are somewhat prone to repetition for a text heavy game.
Equally, there are some fun pieces for sillier moments (your AI plays you some funky lift/hold music while hacking at one point). None of the music forgettable which speaks to its quality.
Raising the Spirits
Arcade Spirits is a triumph in experimentation. One that’s overflowing with charm, giving back some faith in humanity through strong writing and honest entertainment.
Arcade Spirits deserves a wider audience and anyone with an open mind and willingness to invest in some escapism should seize this opportunity to try something a little bit different. Having lost none of its original charm, this title comes recommended for any visual novel fan.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a new machine to unveil.
Review copy provided by publisher