Developer: Red Entertainment
Publisher: Aksys Games
Platform: Switch
Tested on: Switch
Despera Drops – Review
Before you have the slightest clue of what’s going on, you’re in a van with six criminals. You seem to be one of them even though you’ve done nothing wrong. Or did you? Why were you arrested? How did you end up in that van? And most importantly, who are these people you’re handcuffed to?
Despera Drops was originally released in Japan. It’s an adventure game in which you solve a mystery – or rather a bunch of them – through the main character’s eyes. Despera Drops tells an exciting story with surprising plot twists and choices that have actual consequences. Add a gist of a manga-like style to this and you’ve got yourself the perfect detective story.
Story
Despera Drops’ main character, Mika Amamine, visits Rome to celebrate the end of exams. However, she ends up witnessing a murder and being arrested as a suspect. During transport, the van overturns in an accident, freeing her and six other criminals. They decide to stick together and all seven of them become fugitives. While trying to avoid being recognized, Mika and the others are hunted by mysterious characters specifically targeting Mika for her unique ability. Aha – another mystery to add to the list. Despera Drops has a ton of them which makes this story so intriguing.
The game’s story is well composed and every so often you’re faced with a plot twist making you want to keep playing to know more. Despera Drops makes sure one question after another pops up in your head while slowly giving you answers to earlier questions you will have had. While the group of seven fugitives tries to figure out what’s going on, you steadily get to know each character. All of them have a different well-written background and committed different types of crimes. You can also forge relationships which is an interesting element that adds to the storyline. Despera Drops is full of mystery and yet it’s not overwhelming.
Graphics
Despera Drops’ visuals are very manga/anime-like. The background images are still but they look good and add to the atmosphere. For example, the game will show a picture of a dark alley when the characters are on the run and will show sunny and colorful places during moments when they can take a break (but can they really?). In addition, each character has their own style that more or less represents their personality. For instance, Sally seems to be cheerful and upbeat and is always dressed in pink while Ash, on the other hand, is taciturn and dressed in grey/black. Besides what has been mentioned, there aren’t any other visuals but these visuals are well done and the game doesn’t need more for it to be as good as it is.
Sound
The opening theme “Escape from this world” is just as epic as it sounds. It’s exciting, thrilling, and in Japanese, which totally fits the vibe of the game. The game opens with this banger and the rest of the soundtrack is just as fine. The in-game conversations are also completely in Japanese which doesn’t disturb at all and actually fits the storyline since Mika herself is originally from Japan.
The in-game music fits the situation the characters find themselves in. For instance, when they’re strolling through Milan, Italian ambient music plays in the background. When the fugitives are safe (even for only a short moment), there’s a slow-paced and chill tune playing. But when you’re on the highway, for example, the melodies become fast-paced and exciting. And when danger lures around the corner, the music gets tense and you just know something’s about to go down. You could say the music is the biggest plus in this game.
Gameplay
Despera Drops is a narrative-driven game in which Mika is suspected of murder. She ends up on the run with six other criminals and is hunted because she possesses a special gift. While on the run you get to know your fellow fugitives and the relationships they forge are a big part of the game.
Since it’s a narrative-driven experience there’s little to notice gameplay-wise. You follow the story and enjoy the visuals but you do have to make some choices here and there that can influence the rest of the story. For example, there’s a moment in the game when you have to break into a hotel room using camera footage to guide your fellow escapees through it. Here, your choices and directions clearly have consequences. Additionally, you can also steer the game into romancing your favorite character. The game has you in its grip and this is enhanced by the moment when you have to make your own choices on Mika’s behalf.
Thus, gameplay-wise there isn’t much to say, but the little gameplay the game has is easy and straightforward. Only the main menu before you start playing might be a little confusing. All you need to do is pay attention since the “new game” button is selected once the main menu appears rather than the “continue” button.
Conclusion
Despera Drops is an excellent addition to its genre. It has great visuals, an intriguing storyline full of mysteries, well-written characters, and an a-ma-zing soundtrack. It runs smoothly and all you want to do is know what happens next to get answers to your questions and this question-answer game is where Despera Drops shines. It’s a must-play for anyone who’s into narrative-driven games.
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