Game Thoughts - Nekopara - Catboys Paradise by NEKO WORKs

Note: This is a repost from our WordPress, which we don't update anymore.

There was quite some hype surrounding this game, but we didn't decide to get it during that time. Mostly because we weren't free to play it... but now that we have played it, here's my thoughts about it. - Kochi

What's It All About?

Here, you play as a girl who wants to get a cafe business up and running, just like how her grandfather had done so when he was alive. Helping her are four catboys - Fennel, Sage, Dill, and Laurier. This game basically tells the start of their employer-employee relationship, and being new to the business and all.

Like the original Nekopara, this is a kinetic novel. But this is very seiso and non-romantic, even though there are references to possible romance.

Also, this was apparently made as an April Fools' thing.

Writing

Just like other otome-style games, this one features a limited cast which is featured from the get-go.

As you might also expect, the characters fall into certain otome game character tropes, but there is some... Okay, I wouldn't exactly call it "character development," but more of "character discovery," as you, the main character, will find out something about themselves that already exists in their backstory and not something that changes within the course of the story.

Within each of the "routes," you will get to know something about the focus character. But since each of them does end at like, the end of the first day or so (I say this vaguely, and you will find out why later), that's all you'll ever get to know. Something like a tease, which kind of opens things up for headcanons, I guess.

And by the way, you never really see what your character says, but there is quite a bit that you can infer from the catboys' responses as well as her non-verbal cues. Oddly enough, the main character may be the most well-rounded of them all.

This whole story happens in a very short time frame, so what we're seeing is basically just the beginning of their actual story. And the four "routes" are basically the same timeline, but slightly different events, as if they were in parallel universes or something. For example, depending on the route, certain characters work in front or in the kitchen, and same with the main character.

So, yeah, unless the devs said that a certain path is canon, there is no canon "route." In fact, the only canon event is the prologue, if you think about it.

But, even with the limited time frame, there are still a few confusing parts where time seems to have skipped for some reason, and it's rather jarring. They could have at least put in transitions or clear descriptions of time skips instead of just cutting to scenes.

Art

Even though it's pretty much a "joke game", the art is really up to par with some other games of the genre, and I guess the characters' appearances is where the appeal comes from. Weirdly enough, none of them really stood out to me from the get-go, even though I'm really the one who is into otome games and such.

But that's probably just me.

Audio

Same with the art, the music is also nice. Nothing that stands out, either, though.

Then again, as I've said, it is kind of a joke game, so I'm not gonna have too many expectations.

Gameplay

Being a kinetic novel, there's not really much gameplay aside from reading. You don't even get to choose what the main character says or does. It's really just reading.

Or hearing characters speak, if that's your kind of thing.

Yeah, there's not much here... And your only real reward for going through all the routes is pretty art. That's it.

Overall

I really don't want to say it, but it is your run-of-the-mill kinetic novel. Pretty fluffy, almost all fluff, even, save for a few cafe-running and cat facts. It's okay if you're just in the mood for catboys and something that feels nice, but not really something to get your mind working or make your ponder life, you know?

Either way, it's still a free game, no complaints about that. You can get it on Steam, and also on Android and iOS.