Summary

  • Radiant Tale - Fanfare is a love story about a traveling anime troupe called CIRCUS.
  • Romance multiple characters in a short timeframe with quick gameplay and multiple routes.
  • Game has good romance but lacks engaging gameplay and high stakes.

Falling in love is different for everyone, and Radiant Tale - Fanfare! is aimed at a specific demographic of hopeless romantics looking for a whirlwind love story. While I’m not the same teenager fawning over dolled-up anime boys I used to be, I have a soft spot for Idea Factory and the fantasies it creates.

Recognizing the stylized artwork from Amnesia: Memories, I coulstatic.aayyy.com/topic/dn/’t wait to dive into the world of Radiant Tale. I settled in for the long haul, bracing myself for the whimsical world of humans and fey after the traveling CIRCUS completes its goal to save the prince and thaw his frozen heart.

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The traveling troupe of anime performers is called CIRCUS, all caps.

The pace of the visual novel is furious, but that’s not a bad thing. Each route has several choices to make, and if each character’s route was more than a handful of hours, it would quickly shift from being an enjoyable game to an unbearable grind.

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The biggest benefit to quick gameplay is approachability. Instead of spending 80+ hours trying to romance a single character in a triple-A title, you can cuddle up to multiple characters in the same timeframe. While some stories are significantly shorter, each feels well-rounded and appropriate given their personalities. The downside is that there isn’t much in the way of gameplay – it’s quite literally a novel that you skip through, occasionally making a decision that doesn’t matter as much as you’d expect.

Making the ‘wrong’ decision leads you to a friendship-coded end, which 14-year-old me felt was a death sentence. As an adult, it’s disappointing, but endearing. However, it’s not rocket science. If you have a choice that’s leading you to confess your feelings or make some off-handed comment that ignores the obvious response in front of you, it’s clear what you should say.

The lack of engaging gameplay harms the overall experience, reminding me of the countless nights I spent playing gacha-esque dating sims on my phone in high school like they were soap operas, but Radiant Tale - Fanfare! thankfully doesn’t have microtransactions. The stakes are incredibly low, which doesn’t help either – not when other titles like Amnesia: Memories could result in the heroine dying when a wrong choice was made. Rather than fear for my life while trying to get close to a special guy and solve a mystery, Radiant Tale - Fanfare picks up after the prince has been saved and CIRCUS has disbanded, meaning there’s very little jeopardy.

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There are three new modes to interact with, starting at different points in the story with a disclaimer of which ending they follow. ‘If Story’ takes place after the Normal End in the Common Route of the first game, where you aren’t in love with anyone specifically. ‘After Story’ takes place after the Happy End in the original game, where you pick from the cast of five eligible characters to start with. Finally, there’s the ‘Interlude’, which takes place during the main story. Each has a purpose and functions similarly to a detailed epilogue, but I’d recommend starting with ‘If Story’.

In ‘If Story’, two side characters get the romantic treatment, but their stories ultimately fall flat. You can also romance more prominent characters, and while it’s sweet, there’s not much to do aside from watching the events unfold. There’s no sense of agency, even when you get to make a choice once or twice in a chapter.

If Story allows you to romance four new options, including Prince Colivus himself even though he’s like ten. Don’t worry! He’s actually older than you because of a magical curse that froze his heart, but that doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable to pursue him.

The flat storylines are disappointing because Tifalia isn’t like other otome-style heroines. She has a personality, hobbies, and interests. She’s just like any other character, save for her oblivious and innocent nature. Weak spots in her character development are filled in when you assert yourself and meld your personality with hers, as many otome games encourage the player to do. After all, the heroine is a reflection of you in a fantasy world.

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In that fantasy, there is a lot of unfamiliar lore. Thankfully, there’s a glossary to reference and pop-ups to help you learn what you need to know at the press of a button. It helps fill in any gaps if you haven’t played the original game or if you’ve forgotten anything.

Radiant Tale - Fanfare! handles its romance well, but the game leaves me wanting more engagement. I enjoy visual novels, but I hoped for some sort of mini-game or higher narrative stakes. The lack of real friends for Tifalia rings hollow as well, making it difficult to latch onto anyone. Radiant Tale - Fanfare! is a colorful adventure, but one that falls short of delivering a memorable experience.

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Radiant Tale -Fanfare!

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch

Adventure 2.5/5 Released June 27, 2024 ESRB Teen // Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Mild Blood Developer(s) Design Factory, Otomate, Idea Factory Publisher(s) Aksys Games
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WHERE TO PLAY

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Radiant Tale -Fanfare! is an adventure otome game that follows the members of a circus troupe struggling to be successful. Can Tifalia, a new producer, turn their fortunes around? 

Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Gorgeous visuals and whimsical music
  • A heroine with personality outside her love interests
  • Three story modes to choose from for a customized experience
  • Little to no engagement in gameplay
  • Lack of female characters for the heroine to bond with
  • Some romance options are ethically questionable
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