Archive for the Ashley P Category


Star Sword Nemesis

February 13th, 2026

Title art for Star Sword Nemesis. On the left a girl in a jersey jacket and short skirt floats upside down, holding an enormous sword. An older woman, with white streaks in black hair looks askance. On the right a series of concentric circles, with a round blou dot on the other circle and he title of the game.by Ashley Payne, Okazu Staff Writer

Star Sword Nemesis, a new novella from Christine Love, wears its robot anime influences on its supremely fashionable sleeves. You might think that a novel where on the ninth page someone puts up a slide that consists solely of the sentence: “GIANT ROBOTS MAKE YOU STUPID.” would be more of a subversion but no, this story is doing what I have been asking for: make a robot story for the lesbians.

Our heroine Eris is struck with a profoundly relatable problem. Her instructor Halley is so cool and competent Eris’s crush on her is making it hard to focus on their lessons on wielding Star Sword Nemesis. Having a crush on Halley is a profoundly foolish idea, not just because Halley is Eris’ instructor, as Halley was an enemy combatant until a few months ago.

This results in the irresistible force of “I can fix her” meeting the immovable object of “This is the real world kid”. What is truly impressive is that it chooses very different points of tension than you might be expecting if you were familiar with kissing books. It has great fun indulging in the expected peaks of confession and heartbreak and then pushing past them with a refreshing resolution that spins the story forward. The momentum really shifts up at the halfway point, becoming almost impossible to put down.

While the core of the story is Eris rushing headlong into what appears to be obvious betrayal, it is entwined with some of the most impressive sci-fi world building I have had the pleasure to read in a while. We learn about the semi-untopian society of the Trans-Neptunians both directly, with Eris talking with her friends and in the moments when Eris and Halley miss-communicate. It really reminded me of the brief moments in an Ian M. Banks Culture novel. Only here the Trans-Neptunians are not an idealised, post scarcity society, but a small collective holding on to their ideals in the face of direct hostility from the Earth Sphere.

Star Sword Nemesis is only one hundred and fifty-eight pages but it is broken up with wonderful art from Max Schwartz, who illiterates key events light novel style. Only we get more art per page in Star Sword Nemesis in delightful colour too. Frankly, comparing Star Sword Nemesis to a fun light novel is the ideal comparison. It is short, straightforward, has a powerful sense of its world and characters and has a denouement better than most novels.

Ratings:

Art: 10
Story: 7
Characters: 8
Service: 10
Yuri: 10
LGBTQ+: 10

Overall: 9

I know for most of the people who read this blog Star Sword Nemesis is barely an afternoon’s reading and it is well worth one afternoon.





Yuri Visual Novel Demo Mini-reviews: Comet Angel and Distant Oceanic Getaway

September 8th, 2025

Staff writers Eleanor and Ashley take a look at the demos for two upcoming visual novels that are participating in the Fall in Love Fest on Steam.

Eleanor takes a look at Comet Angel, described by the developer as “A sci-fi yuri visual novel with puzzle elements that tells the story of two teenage girls going through an emotional journey of self-discovery after they make the world’s first alien encounter.” while Ashley takes a look at Distant Oceanic Gateway, described as “The cruise ship’s horns blast. You’re going to be spending the next 10 days aboard the Distant Oceanic Cruise, a luxury vacation for sapphics only! Play as Maeve (customizable name), a heartbroken soul determined to move on from a cheating ex. There are only seven other single sapphics on board— could one possibly be your soulmate? Only time will tell!”

Eleanor

Key image for Comet Angel Yuri Visual Novel by Cross Couloir. Two women stand back to back looking longingly up at a night sky as a comet passes overhead.Comet Angel is a childhood friends-to-lovers scifi story, which I enjoyed the demo of enough that I’m going to play the rest when it comes out.

The demo lets you play the first two chapters, and the puzzle element gives a little bit of interest to the standard visual novel gameplay. The voice acting is pleasant as well, as is the soundtrack. My one gripe is that the dialogue can be a bit corny in places, it feels like it was written by someone who’s just learned what a simile is and is now trying to cram them EVERYWHERE, but the story and the characters make up for it.

The teenage girls actually act like teenage girls, with all the overdramatic angst that brings and there’s definitely more to find out about all 3 of them, Faerie the alien included.

Recommended if you like a scifi story with a human touch.The Comet Angel demo is available on Steam or from developer Cross Couloir, and will be out in full on October 28.

 

Screenshot #1

 

Ashley

A woman with hair cut below her ears, wearing a blue button-down blouse cuffs rolled up below her elbow, leans on a wooden railing, her cheek in one hand on a ship's deck. The wind plays through her hair.I would say that three games with the same setting makes a sub genre. Distant Oceanic Getaway is the third game that I have seen and the third game I have written about for Okazu that focuses on a lesbian’s fun adventures on a cruise ship. (Ashley has previously reviewed Ladykiller in a Bind and Sapphism Gensou for Okazu) 

Distant Oceanic Getaway bucks tradition right away with a second person narration and for good reason. The main character Maeve is highly customisable. You can choose both a name and fully any pronoun you want for Maeve depending on what situation.

 

Not only that but Maeve also has six different personality variables that you can tweak at the start and across the game with your choices. Changing what decisions might be available to pick when the time comes.

But after playing the demo for Distant Oceanic Getaway I am not surprised that the developers, Red bean Taiyaki, are okay with tracking so many independent variables. Aside from Maeve’s own personal stats there are relationship values with all six heroines that are kindly visually noted when we make a decision. That’s something we all would expect from this game, but what really made me sit up are the traits you can give Maeve. By making relevant choices you can give Maeve really specific aspects that allow her to be as unique as the heroines you will be pursuing.

Said heroines are a delight however in the demo we only have three days to get to know everyone and things seem to be just starting. I will say that the sprites for everyone are fun for live 2D style sprites. They are not filled with unnecessary or frivolous movements that you might be expecting from sprites like these.

But with only three days it is hard to know what to make of all the heroines. But what is good is that following the sapphic cruse tradition you are mostly in full control of what scenes you see during the day and who you talk to. When you do talk to your chosen character even if you don’t have a big scene with them you have the time to try out all sorts of interactions branching into dating game territory as well.

Red bean Taiyaki has said they are aiming for ten days of events in the full version of Distant Oceanic Getaway. While that sounds like a delightful full vacation to take with such a wonderful cast with ten days of all these variables and stats, the programmer in me more wants to see how Red bean Taiyaki plans to organise everything so that the game can work. 

Distant Oceanic Getaway demo is available on Steam or from developer Red bean Taiyaki with a 2025 projected date for the full VN.

 

 





Tied by your Red

August 15th, 2025

Black and white illustration of a young woman and a beast, a red ribbon floats lightly in the air in front of them.by Ashley P, Guest Reviewer

If there is one fabulous uniting factor for all fans of romance it is the fantasy of being swept away by a cold steely noble who eventually warms to your plucky sensible charms. We’re looking at a yuri visual novel Tied by your Red; but you can find this sort of setting everywhere.

Tied by your Red follows Erica (although sometimes it is Erika) who has been betrothed to the stoic Duke Louise. While Louise was thought by Erica to be a scary, cruel Duke who kills her brides without a second thought it turns out that in fact that Louise is just a slightly awkward romantic lead who is a perfect dashing partner to the more skittish Erica.

Other than our two romantic leads in Louise’s mansion there is only one other person staying with them, Maiden, who is the only member of domestic staff. Not only that but there are unusual rules about leaving the residence, and everyone must be in their own room before midnight. At midnight Erica is occasionally awakened by sounds of something outside her chamber door.

Putting all this together makes it very clear what kind of story we are getting and it is refreshing to see this genre in a visual novel. A visual novel with fantastic sprite direction. Characters pace around the screen and move and appear in ways that add to their character. The only downside is Erica’s actual sprites, she is never shown to be anything less than marginally terrified. Which makes sense for a majority of the game but once her and Louise’s relationship gets going and everything is revealed Erica still looks seconds from bolting from the room.

This becomes even more noticeable when you complete Erica’s story and have the ability to re-read the story from first Louise’s and then Maiden’s point of view. It is weird to see Louise’s internal narration talk so kindly about Erica but then her sprite looks close to tears. It makes Louise seem unusually detached from the women we are told she has fallen for.

The only downside is that there are some unusual word choices, line breaks and even untranslated lines in the English version. This is not really a deal-breaker for me but this is something anyone looking to buy this game should know. Examples below.

Tied by your Red is the fun pulpy romance that I can always have more of so I hope those few missing lines can be patched out because otherwise it is a quick fun time.

Ratings: 

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 6
Service – 2
Yuri – 8

Overall – 7

 

 





A Tithe in Blood

June 25th, 2025

A woman with long silver hair wearing a yellow kimono, holds hands with a woman with long, dark-hair, wearing a blue jacket over a white blouse, as they lay head to head in opposite directions.by Ashley P, Guest Reviewer

As I desperately try to get more of my friends to try out visual novels I often emphasise the ‘novel’ part and not really mentioning or even reducing the ‘visual’ part. This is a bit of a disservice because some of the most affecting visual novels I have read have merged both fantastic prose to the rhythm of matched visual elements such as sprites and artwork to create an experience that matches the fun of any comic or puppet performance. I’m not talking about just having good art or sprites, but using those visual elements to create a feeling unique to the medium.
A Tithe in Blood is a recent new visual novel from Studio Élan and it is easily their most visually appealing game yet. Showing a levelof craft that I wish more games would strive for.

Asakawa Honoka is a Sapporo resident and university student who has tragically lost her family. Her despair and loneliness has led to an obsession with the blood magic writings of actual Renaissance poet Isabella di Morra. As long as she is willing to spill her own blood, Honoka can journey to seemingly Meiji era Sapporo and meet with the kind and graceful performer Yasue.

The withdrawn and depressed Honoka finds herself inexorably drawn to the sociable Yasue who performs whole kabuki plays on her own thanks to her incredible illusion magic. But to visit this alternate Sapporo, Honoka must pay a very literal blood tithe. This frequent bloodletting puts such a strain on her body that Honoka’s life continues to deteriorate even as she falls deeper in love with Yasue.

This enmeshment of both the healing power of connection after grief and the draw of control that self harm can bring is the core of the story and it is what gives Yasue and Honoka’s relationship so much bite. Honoka is so clearly happier when she is with Yasue but the only way to see her is for Honoka to hurt herself.

So often in stories about self harm the reader is not given a way to understand how this fundamentally bad idea can be so seductive. In A Tithe in Blood the whole yuri we are here for comes with a clear cost to our main character.

The high definition artwork and fantastic sprite direction that makes every interaction between Honoka and Yasue so wonderful is also used to show us Honoka’s scared arms. The perfect use of sprites and high definition artwork used to show Honoka and Yasue walking together in a cute scene is used to show the painful magical journey Honoka took to get there.

If that was the full story of this novel then I would have nothing but praise. The only issue is that the above is only about half the story of A Tithe in Blood. This is not bad in of itself. The other part is more of a magical underworld/detective story staring three other characters hired to observe Honoka. We get a beta couple in Tatiana and Kaoru, along with another narrator in Shino. I have no complaints about these characters, in fact, they are so charismatic I hope there is a sequel with more magical detective shenanigans with everyone. The downside is that the theming from this half that is more of an urban fantasy, does not match with Honoka’s story. If anything it reduces Honoka’s pain and it plays up misunderstandings between the two groups in ways that detract from the drama rather than intensify it.

Other than that though this is easily the most beautiful visual novel ever produced by Studio Élan who I hope continue to raise the bar into the sky.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 6
Character – 8
Service – 1
Yuri – 9

Overall – 8

I truly hope we get a sequel or spiritual successor to A Tithe in Blood, so that the team can really show off what they are capable of.

Thank you very much to Studio Élan for the review copy!





Black Rose Revue: Act 1, Guest Review by Ashley

January 17th, 2024

In classic 1970' shoujo manga black and white art style, we see a woman with short hair in a men's tuxedo, a woman with long black hair in a stylish "villainess"-esque dress and a woman with pale hair in a white dress between them on the sofa. The words "You Are Cordially Invited To The Black Rose Revue" are prominent in the middle of the image.Chihiro Sato is the rising star of The Black Rose Review. She has proven herself so skilled in her recent major role alongside top otokoyaku Rika Ikeda that she has now been picked for the staring role in the next production. But this rapid assent brings with it the problems of antagonistic seniors and a mysterious E.M. who keeps sending Chihiro bouquets of roses.

So far only act one of Phantom of the Black Rose Revue is available on itch.io and it does everything a good opening should do.

The game wastes no time introducing us to the cast. Everyone has at least one scene that gives us their deal or mystery. It truly is the very start of this story so we really only have the very first threads of characterization to chew on, with the exception of Chihiro, who is already a rising star, not a student. This is a choice that elevates her instantly compared to other similar characters like Kageki Shoujo‘s Sarasa Watanabe, Revue Starlight‘s Karen Aijou or the characters from Awajima Hyakkei.

Chihiro already has a role in the Black Rose Revue and so the focus is on how she can further her career; rather than if she is suited for it at all. A refreshing change from the usual when it comes to stories about performers. The adult world of working in the theatre is not a distant haze that Chihiro is striving for, but a world that she is trying to live in.

With that, what a world indeed for Phantom of the Black Rose Revue to take place in! What this preview does best in the short time it takes to play it is provide us with a monochromatic optical feast. The character designs homages to Riyoko Ikeda right down to the powerful reaction sprites lovingly spelled with sharp highlights. But the stark black and white look of manga goes far beyond the characters and into the backgrounds. The backgrounds are drawn in the same style as the character designs allowing both to mesh together into a single image far better than games with a team more than triple the six people credited for the team here. Combined with lively sprite direction it makes the visual elements of this visual novel far more important than many others. I often found myself taking the time to just look at an animation or transition over and over because of the incredible synergy Phantom of the Black Rose Revue is capable of.

It is this effort to keep the different visual elements of the game congruent with each other that stands out the most in this brief demo. When the finished game is available to buy we can be certain that it will have a unique and complete sense of style, something that very few games manage to achieve.

No ratings yet, as this is only the beginning of the story.

Phantom of the Black Rose Revue can be downloaded on Windows, MacOS and Linux at name your own price on Yamino’s itch.io page.