The JAST USA Summer Sale is winding down and will come to a close on July 10th. I decided to write this piece highlighting some of my favorite Visual Novels in this sale for last minute folks that are looking to snag a good bargain. The titles below are listed in no particular order, these are just five titles I have played which I feel are exceptionally good deals at these price points.
JAST Game #1 – YOU and ME and HER: A love Story
Sale Price – $34.49
The story follows a young man named Susuki Shinichi, as he is heading to the school roof to meet a friend when he suddenly spies a cell phone lying on the ground. The phone is ringing and the caller ID says GOD is calling. Suddenly a girl appears on the phone saying she needs some Zappy (sex) to recharge her battery. The same girl then appears and the scene plays out just like in the mobile game. This girl’s name is Mukou Aoi. He thinks she has a huge case of gamer’s brain and is trying to get away when his childhood friend friend Sone Miyuki arrives and tells her that Shinichi is her boyfriend. The three of them will start a relationship that will shake them to their very foundations!
This quip doesn’t even begin to cover how deep and wonderful You and Me and Her: A love Story actually is. With art from the legendary artist Tsuji Santa, a wonderful and some of the most unique gameplay elements I’ve ever seen this is a must own for Visual Novel fans.
JAST Game #2 – The Song of Saya
Sale Price – $10
The story follows a young man named Sakisaka Fuminori. He survived a horrible accident that took his parents from him, but he was left with severe injuries. The doctors did some experimental surgery on him order to save his life. However, the micro-machines placed in his brain had an unintended site effect: he now saw the world as a hellish nightmare filled with the smell of decay. Everyone in the world looks like horrible creatures from another plane of existence. Through all of this chaos there is one girl, Saya. She is his only light in this world of nightmares. Is Saya real? Why is she the only person that appears normal to him? These questions will lead to revelations no one is prepared for!
The Song of Saya is pretty well known at this point in the Visual Novel community, but I feel like it deserves a place on this list for the sheer quality it has in a small package. This will be probably be the most uncomfortable 6 hours will you ever spend with a game, but the pay off at the end is something you will never forget. The ending theme by Ito Kanako will carve itself into your brain as one of the saddest yet most beautiful songs you have ever heard. The Song of Saya is very dark and that may turn off some players, but for those willing to take the journey, there is something special here.
JAST Game #3 – Eiyu*Senki
Sale Price – $20
The story centers around a young woman named Himiko. She is having a bit of trouble uniting her home region of Zipang from the clutches of an opposing army. She is stuck in a desperate battle when all at once a young man falls from the sky. He is referred to as a Servant of Heaven, when in truth he is from another world, a classic anime trope. The young man helps her to victory and agrees to help in the quest to conquer the world and prevent her visions of destruction from becoming reality.
What I love about Eiyu*Senki is the wide cast of characters. From Lancelot’s endless hunger to Himiko’s innocent charm there is character in here that everyone will love. Throw in some great strategy gameplay and you have yourself one fantastic Visual Novel. Writing this makes me want to replay this again while I wait for the upcoming release of Eiyu*Senki: Gold!
JAST Game #4 – Princess X: My Fiancee is a Monster Girl?!
Sale Price – $24.49
The story follows a young man named Shinichi Mikuriya. He leads a pretty ordinary life. His parents are away working so he is in charge of his two younger sisters. They are quite the handful and when the game opens they are saying some pretty lewd things to their older brother. They soon meet up with his childhood friend, Mayuko Nishi. She is a rough girl that loves to scold him to keep in line. On the way home Shinichi gets a strange call from his dad. He is asking Shinichi if he’s ever read a manga where the unpopular main character suddenly obtains a fiancé. Of course he doesn’t understand what he’s talking about until it is revealed that his dad has made a deal with a foreign country to marry him off to their princess, the only issue being that she’s a monster. He soon discovers his princess is really a Gorgon, snake tail and all. The plot soon gets even thicker as his dad has been working with other nations. Soon a cute Android girl and the most amazing Centaur show up to claim him as a prize as well. Throw in one elegant and adorable Spider Girl and you have one wild ride ahead.
I loved this story from start to finish. Each of the girls were amazing in their own ways and I fell in love with all of them by the end of this tale. Though I did love them all, I will say that Proxie (The Centaur) is by far my favorite, in fact she is my favorite monstergirl of all time after reading this. This tale has the perfect mix of good story, humor and eroge to keep the reader engaged till the very end. The additional fan disc Princess X FD: Fiancees Forever! adds even more to this already amazing experience.
JAST Game #5 – VenusBlood FRONTIER International
Sale Price – $33.99
The story of VenusBlood Frontier International begins as Loki Muspelheim, the grandson of The Dark Surt who rules the demon realm Utgardi, appears before the aging ruler. It is time for him to choose a successor to his throne, and Loki appears with his cousins to accept the challenge being laid out. Loki’s family had been disgraced and stripped of their powerful Dark Gear after his father was accused of being a traitor. This will make the mission Surt is tasking him with much more difficult, but this is the only chance to regain his family’s honor.
This was by far my favorite Visual Novel of 2019, and I was super excited when 9tail announced an upcoming KickStarter for VenusBlood HOLLOW International last week! But back to VenusBlood Frontier, the story, artwork and gameplay here are all just simply top tier. Some may find the eroge in this one over the top, and things like this are usually too much for me as well. They just fit in with the story so well here, and the characters are so well done I was hooked from the start. Anyone that loves good stories and strategy games should check this one out!
This is my list of my top five games from the JAST USA Summer Sale. There are many more wonderful titles on sale, and only a few days left to get in on the sale!! Stay Tuned for my list of Top 5 Titles from MangaGamer’s Summer Sale coming soon!
