Putrika 1st.cut:The Reason She Must Perish

A beautifully written supernatural tragedy about religion, freedom, angels and demons. Despite being a very short visual novel its well done, with a charismatic set of characters specially the protagonists and a mystery that connects several POVs and time and places all the way through the end to a very satisfactory and emotional conclusion despite clearly being a part 1 of an intended larger series. As there are some supernatural elements here that while important are a bit glossed over and become more of a setting piece for the work, not something bad per se, but something that indicates a clear authorial intention for further exploration. It might not look like it at first glance, and you think is going to be just a romance game, and it is, though it manages to surprise the reader with some curveballs; but is also very intelligent about its subject matter becoming a short examination on the history of witch trials and how these were more than about religious zeal and dogma, how trials were used against women and specially women in precarious positions or with supposed social faults, and more than an issue of plain belief how religion in those instances was used as an instrument for personal or communal revenge. Revenge also in many forms being a very important topic in this VN since is what drives most of the main cast intentions through the game. Is also a classic tragic romance in a more thespian sense of a forbidden love so transcendental that [spoiler]can overcome the most cruelest of fates and transcend pain, time and death. [/spoiler] All in all is a very cool short yet meaty VN with gorgeous unique art and direction and a really polished and attention grabbing writing that can be recommended if one wants a rather short tragedy to read in a couple of sittings.

[h1]Rating 7/10 - A(n) All-Ages: Kinetic Novel Experience |-| Well Localized: Utsuge-Drama about Medieval Forbidden Love[/h1] [i]Cyrano de Bergerac - Is the named Trans/Localizer work for this Kinetic Novel in-Collaboration with Kagami Games - A new Fully Independent Localization Studio based in Texas, USA w/a Focus on Delivering High Quality Standards for Their Localization. Now let me say, I'm really surprised at how good this localization was, as I am known to point out bad or unfaithfulness upon discovery[/i]. Follow Up Bellow on Localization Quality... [h1]Steam Deck | Support[/h1] Native Touchscreen Support | ⚠️ - Works, but requires Double Tapping to interact w/Ui Elements. [b]Controller Support[/b] | ❌ [i]- Use Custom Community Layout | I recommend: "1𝖘𝖙 | ᴘᴜᴛʀɪᴋᴀ ∵ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴇʀ: ᴄᴏɴꜰɪɢᴜʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ | [Steam Deck]"[/i] [b]Proton Support[/b] | ⚠️ [i]- Proton 10.0(+) Recommended C̶o̶m̶p̶a̶t̶i̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶B̶u̶g̶s̶:̶ ̶S̶t̶e̶a̶m̶O̶S̶'̶s̶ ̶F̶P̶S̶ ̶L̶i̶m̶i̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶P̶u̶t̶r̶i̶k̶a̶,̶ ̶F̶o̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶s̶e̶ ̶S̶e̶t̶t̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶B̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶y̶:̶ T̶D̶P̶:̶ ̶7̶-̶8̶W̶ ̶(̶F̶P̶S̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶w̶i̶s̶e̶)̶ ̶A̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶T̶e̶a̶r̶i̶n̶g̶[̶O̶N̶]̶(̶S̶t̶a̶b̶i̶l̶i̶z̶e̶s̶ ̶F̶r̶a̶m̶e̶t̶i̶m̶e̶s̶)̶ ̶/̶ ̶G̶P̶U̶:̶ ̶5̶0̶0̶-̶7̶0̶0̶m̶h̶z̶,̶ ̶4̶5̶h̶z̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶O̶L̶E̶D̶ ̶/̶ ̶4̶0̶H̶Z̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶L̶C̶D̶: DXVK_FRAME_RATE=45 %command%[/i] (No Longer Necessary as of 09/05/2025, but if you want the best battery life, this is how you would get in + 45hz/45FPS Combo.) [h3]Final Verdict:[/h3] [i]Steam Deck Approval |[/i] ✅ [h3]Summary -:- Rundown[/h3] [b]Putrika 1st.cut: The Reason She Must Perish[/b] is a short 3-5hr Kinetic Novel experience that hones in on Multiple 3rd Person Perspectives, to explore a series of connecting threads that go-on-to affect our Main Cast(long before they even realize it), as a mystery slowly connects over the course of the story to ultimately reveal a Greater Tragedy to the audience; Based on the Reality of Public Witch Trails of Old. Specifically from the very moment we start the VN as a familiar character named Lazriel, who has no memories of her past or even the reality of her own existence outside her immediate environment. That setting ultimately sets her goals in-that moment to discover answers that beg the question surrounding her own existence & skepticism towards a man that is currently in-her care, known only as "Remi". This is a [spoiler]Life & Death[/spoiler] Drama where characters often weight the importance of that Scale through the lens of(genuine) Philosophical Religious Themes & Scripts or even hone in on our complex character's unique psychological impact as the story progresses towards the Novel's End. [h3]Positives[/h3] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3489450719 [*]Created by the Same Team who made: Rupekari / Meikei no Lupercalia - Same Writer & Composer (Well Praised & Received Untranslated Japanese Visual Novel) [*]Quick Story | Relative Execution - It being a 'Fast Read' means you really can knock this out in the same day you bought it, or Demo it under 2hrs. [*]Excellent Standout Voice Acting - In a Story that touches on topics Similar to Themes of Forbidden Love relative to stories like Romeo & Juliet, VA'ing is a crucial component if added which can Make-or-Break the audience's believability towards how painful such an Emotional Infliction can be to the Human Heart. - No Voice Actor falls Short in their performance here, this is top-notch work. [*]Emotional Handling: Juggles Dark Themes, w/OUT Exclusively Depressing The Audience - Using Different Perspectives allows them to uniquely pace out the story's shift from tragedy to Romantic / Lightweight moments when needed without robbing the users of what they felt prior or depressing them. [*] Sushimekabu's Artistic Eye - Sushimekabu-Sensei has as you can tell a Unique Artstyle that allows him to showcase multiple emotions by focusing nigh-exclusively on Iris(Eye) Detail & Evolving use of Cheekbones on Sprites [*]Serviceable OST - Again hard for a VN to mess this up [h3]Issues in Execution :-: Presentation[/h3] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3489449247 [*]Multiple Perspectives - They did Multiple Perspectives correctly in-fact, but we do quite ALOT of shifts & also name Hidden Characters directly, which can cause confusion due to the natural progression of the plot. [spoiler]I wish John's Perspective was initially 'Official Records' because switching to John genuinely sowed confusion due to how early it happens & the consistency of the lie[/spoiler] I just felt it could have been executed better. [*]Presentation Problems - Redundant Keybindings - Passed Lines cannot be reversed, you must load an earlier save to go back. - Text Settings are worthless, the speed is insanely fast by default & you have to adjust them within 5% of max value to get a desirable speed or manually advance-only [*] The Art isn't 'Moe' Enough (This isn't a con I'm just addressing it, the Art does not negatively effect the story or your ability to perceive it.) - The use of 3D Backgrounds blend well enough with the sprites as not to distract from the story - The 'strong chin's' complaint is an intentional style that places emotional emphasis on on other areas of the sprite as I've noted above, not relying solely on honing in on the cuteness of the Characters. This is not a Moege. [h3]Localization Praise[/h3] The Localization largely retained the original intent during the times I crossed referenced, w/no real insertion of memes or casual use of not words like "Incel"(NekoNyanSoft). Since this is set in a Medieval Fantasy rersembling a European-esk setting, the omiission of Honorifics is largelty fine due to the Limited World Building. There is arguably only one that could be related "a meme" & that's a specific quote where one of our characters says "Nah, I'll Live" which could be seen as a reference to JJK, the infamous "Nah, I'd Win".. But this is an insane stretch the literal translation is: or I'll live | Adding "Nah, " does not deter the original intent even if it was a meme implant, which I doubt it is. The way alot of the themes were written really tickled the philosopher in my head & further enchanced the meaning convey by our cast to me, it was quite well done & in no way did I ever get thrown out of the story due to Decisions made during the Localization process. Kagami Games have made a High Quality showcase for their first translated works, and any issue I have with the VN is either due to the Game Engine or the original writers intent for the story. Kagami Games truly released a High Quality work & I look forward to what they plan on releasing in the future. For now they will be held next to Frontwing as Studios I can trust. [h3]Reviews End[/h3] This is tagged is a Utsuge which means depressing game & honestly I never really got the vibe that [b]Kotomine Kirei[/b] was fisting me. It has it's sadder moments, as noted before it's not all about despair.. As Lazriel is an absolutely clean slate character with a positive & encouraging view on life despite her amnesia aflliction. I think this story will effect everyone deeply/differently, if you really take the time to digest what's actuallly being read to you. I would say it's a VN you have to be in a mood to play, not a must-read by any means but I don't regret any of my time with Putrika & since Steam has a generous Refund policy, you can easily grasp what the story is about by simply trying it out & if it's not for you, refunding it. But that too I dobut you'll do.

[h1]Overall Thoughts[/h1] Putrika 1st Cut is a 4-5 hour visual novel that hooked me with its dark, dramatic story and light mystery elements, sharing the same artist and writer as Lupercalia. Despite my preference for realistic settings, this medieval fantasy tale won me over with its execution. The story follows Lazriel, a female MC with amnesia, cared for by the enigmatic Remi. The pacing is brisk, sometimes too fast, but it keeps you engaged. Themes of tragedy, suicide, violence, and torture (no explicit CGs, not 18+) create a heavy yet nuanced experience, avoiding cheap shock value. Lazriel’s likability shines through her playful teasing of Remi and kindness toward Rubia, a girl who initially despises her. Perspective shifts between Lazriel, Remi, and others like John and Ilsa add depth, with flashbacks building to a powerful, twist-filled ending. The watercolor art style is vibrant but divisive, with sharp chins and lopsided faces that might distract some players. While the main cast’s development is solid, side characters like Rubia and Ansh feel underused, and the world-building could use more depth to flesh out the angels-and-demons lore. A certain twist about the “forbidden love” felt a bit unncessary, slightly dampening the emotional payoff. Thematically, the VN tackles lust, guilt, faith, and mob mentality, with a theatrical delivery reminiscent of a play. However, its critique of Middle Ages Christianity might be a bit extreme at times. My biggest concern is that this is clearly “Episode 1,” with no confirmed sequels. As a visual novel fan, I’m wary of episodic stories that may never conclude (Ciconia, Supipara), but Putrika’s self-contained arc, strong reveals, and emotional ending make it satisfying on its own. [h1]Pros:[/h1] [list] [*]Well-Paced, Engaging story [*]Likable Characters with Decent Character Development [*]Solid Mystery Genre-like Plot twists [*]Nuanced execution of dark, heavy themes. [*]Strong, emotional Ending [/list] [h1]Cons[/h1] [list] [*]Weird Art with Deformed Faces and Sharp Chins [*]Uneven Character Focus [*]Limited World-Building [*]Left a lot of open threads for (currently unannounced) episodic sequels [/list] [h1]Final Verdict[/h1] A compelling prologue for fans of dark, dramatic visual novels, but the episodic format carries risks. Recommended, with cautious optimism for a continuation.

Solid short romance story, enjoyed the setting, with it being back in the day of witch hunts. Would have preferred a bit more time though.

Recommended. This is a fairly dark and short title. 3-4 hours in length. I kind of knew what to expect just from reading the description (witch hunt isn't an uncommon theme), but the core story actually surprised me. The emotional narrative and cinematic usage of the visual novel medium are very good (and some parts do have effective shock value), with a fantastic soundtrack and atmosphere composition. The pacing is suffocatingly fast at times; almost no screen time is wasted on meaningless moments. The writing totally doesn't shy from the darker sides of humanity. The story is set in the age of witch hunts with some slightly loony supernatural elements. Quite uncomfortable to read, despite the art omitting all the more gruesome parts. The main tragedy in the story is detached from the main characters, which makes the conclusion feel emotional but slightly unearned. Some character motivations are not entirely clear. The worldbuilding is equally muddy. The writing relies a bit too heavily on exposition (understandable given its length), and there are even infodumps right in the middle of a certain dramatic scene near the end.

Without going into too much details, a very beautiful and touching story with an excellent localization, definitely the best that I've seen in my entire time reading VNs. Highly recommended, 10/10!

Me ha gustado bastante para la duración que tiene, el arte es super bonito y la ost está genial, tiene un par de temas que me han encantado. Con muchas ganas de que traduzcan la segunda parte que pinta ser mínimo igual de buena que esta, que aunque se pueda jugar individualmente porque tiene un fin y acaba ahí, quiero saber como sigue la historia de Remi y Lazriel

让人惊叹的美术风格，简直是无与伦比的艺术品，太美丽了

Pretty short but overall a great read. Cute characters, decent writing, good soundtrack, amazing visuals. (+Remi is incredibly adorable.) Can't wait for 2nd cut!

Wow, la verdad al comienzo no esperaba demasiado, pero esta novela me sorprendió muchísimo. Empecé a leerla un poco a ciegas y esperando que fuera algo más "cute", pero encontré oro: una historia desgarradora pero hermosa a la vez de romance prohibido, brujería, ángeles, demonios... En fin, no diré nada más para no spoilear, pero definitivamente la recomiendo muchísimo. Si quieres leer algo corto con una historia que te dejará una marca en el corazón, no desaproveches la oportunidad de leer esta obra de arte. Mención especial al diseño de personajes y a la música, son perfectos para este tipo de historia. Y el hecho de que una novela cinética tenga voces para mí es un plus!