Visual Novel Spotlight: A Kiss For The Petals – Remembering How We Met (PC)
Those familiar with yuri visual novels and the clear lack of ones translated into English likely know that the SonoHana series – or the A Kiss For The Petals series – has given us plenty of visual novels where girls hold hands and hold various other things. So it’s no surprise that MangaGamer has brought across some St. Michael Girls’ School love, even when it’s not the usual 18+ fare.
It’s been a year since Miya and Risa started dating, and the return to their winter uniforms makes Risa reminisce about how she and her troublesome girlfriend first met. Before Risa knew her to be a perverted lover, Miya was simply a genius who cared nothing for class or socialising and someone who Risa could not ignore. As Risa’s attention was constantly stolen by Miya just existing, she vowed (simply as the class representative, of course!) to set the student on the right path and did everything in her power to get Miya to attend class for once.
Remembering How We Met was not exactly the first A Kiss For The Petals visual novel fans thought would be localised, but it’s a short and charming look into exactly what the series is about. It fills in the brief period of time before Miya and Risa are pulled into the events of Maidens of Michael (untranslated), giving the couple a little more backstory and allowing English players to have an all-ages introduction to the affairs of St. Michael’s students. With music, backgrounds and the general atmosphere of nine years worth of visual novels, Remembering How We Met fits right in as a cute story about the hard worker and the genius falling in love.
Although Remembering How We Met has all the signs of gals being pals, not unlike Marimite, the story is framed in such a way that you know Miya and Risa are more admitting of their desires than the rich schoolgirls in yuri stories we secretly expect. The only drawback with it though is that Remembering How We Met is essentially bonus content for a later, larger game where the couple’s relationship is properly drawn out. Of course fans know that Miya and Risa move closer than banter and clinging, but as an introduction for players who might be looking for a visual novel where girls move past awkwardness to intimate relationships, a significant part of the game doesn’t really show more than this. It’s only during the ending that you see these girls have moved past captivation to a relationship, and even then we’re not treated to much of it.
On the more positive side, Remembering How We Met is consistently adorable throughout it’s two hour plus playing time. While lacking choices, it’s a simple story of how two classmates grow closer and change to suit each other. Its focus in writing and art is always on the two lead characters, classmates are delegated Girl A through Girl C, it incorporates inconsequential drama, and has full voice acting and cute event graphics. As a game in the A Kiss For The Petals series, it maintains quality and content; as a brand new game for yuri lovers, it borders on Class S fluffiness but briefly reassures you it’s more than that. If you’re simply eager to jump into a new visual novel and don’t care for girl meets girl relationship shenanigans, this game won’t sway you, though Kindred Spirits on the Roof might. But that’s a spotlight for much later on.
A Kiss For The Petals – Remembering How We Met is our first official look into the all-ages side of the A Kiss For The Petals series. It focuses on Miya and Risa, a first year pair who clash at every point but can’t help but feel drawn to each other. While short and very much a lead-in to a game where the confessions happen, Remembering How We Met is an adorable window into the series that’s all about lasting relationships between girls.
A Kiss For The Petals – Remembering How We Met is available for Windows, Mac and Linux via Steam for £5.59 / $7.99. You can also purchase it via MangaGamer’s site (DRM-free game plus Steam code included).
- Visual Novel Spotlight: Corpse Party: Blood Drive - November 3, 2015
- Visual Novel Spotlight: A Kiss For The Petals – Remembering How We Met (PC) - September 29, 2015
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