Quick summary of the Famitsu Review:
Score: 34/40 (9 / 9 / 8 / 8)
- 30 hours to see all the game has to offer
- Target audience: Adventure / VN fans
- The game strikes a perfect balance between the serious, hardboiled detective parts in the real world and the much more jokey tone of the dream sequences. Funny banter and back and forth between Date and the rest of the cast.
- It's especially exciting to make choices during dream sequences due to the mad chain reactions they can cause
- The Somnium parts can get very tense due to their time limit and the decision of when to use the collectible bonus items that slow down the timer.
- In contrast, the tempo during the real world parts is slower. You are free to cycle through multiple choices and look for the right answers.
- Good QoL design decisions like a helpful UI that aids the player's immersion and fits the different scenes
- Traditional Adventure/VN gameplay combined with a modern presentation
- Unique setting and quirky characters that might surprise you with their actions
- Limited interaction in the dream sequences. One reviewer would have liked more freedom to explore during the Somnium Parts, but she acknowledges that those limits exist for dramatic purposes
It's a Famitsu review, so that's a whole lot of vague statements that don't tell us much more than most previews. But all four reviewers were positive on the game and no one mentioned any glaring flaws, so I thought I'd still share it. Same score as VLR, higher than ZTD, lower than 999 seems right in line with expectations.