Sickness

The game goes to dark places, but it's good.

[i][b]Sickness[/b][/i], truly a unique VN which is certainly not made for everyone. This VN is now 11 years old (2016), and its last story update was almost 10 years ago (2017). I’m writing a review covering each part, a story explanation, explanations of all routes, and plot holes/flaws with spoilers. [b][u]Story:[/u][/b] Prologue and 16 chapters in total. There was a backstory: Suoh and Sara were very close. The Tesla twins went to school together and shared everything. Others often gossiped about them, which also concerned their parents. Their parents tried to separate them but failed. Sara always quarreled with any girl who talked to her brother. Later, they met a classmate named Cecilia. She was detached from her parents and peers. She started liking Suoh after he saved her. Then Cecilia began interfering in. One day she also told Sara that her relationship with Suoh was wrong and that siblings should not behave that way. Sara snapped and choked Cecilia, then tried to hit her with a bat. Suoh stepped in to stop the fight, but he was accidentally struck on his head by the bat instead. Sara grabbed her fallen brother, pulled him into her lap, and repeatedly cried out his name. (In NG+) That head injury led Suoh to be hospitalised for months. The trauma caused memory loss and triggered his '[b]Sickness[/b]' (like talking to himself and seeing hallucinations). While he was in hospital, their parents died in a car accident. They left some resources for them, and the twins had to move to a city named Richmond. After recovering, Suoh dropped out of school to work so his beloved sister could study. Meanwhile, Sara handled all the household chores alongside her education. The game starts showing the dead body of Mr. Mudou. Suoh killed him because he refused to pay. Markus and Andrei helped resolve the situation. Afterward, Suoh had to listen what Markus was telling him. Markus showed him Karasu's basement, boxing alley. Suoh started training with Andrei in the gym. He also became a debt collector for Markus (unconsciously working for Karasu). Markus showed Suoh what they do, like killing a Chinese family who tricked them and couldn't pay their debt. Suoh’s life was permanently broken, and he had to do everything without letting Sara know, because it might hurt her. However, she caught him when he earned that huge amount of money. Suoh didn’t want to tell her everything, but Sara understood that his job is risky and she always told him that she loves him no matter what he does. Later, a Thai man killed Markus. Suoh took revenge by killing the Thai man. He handled the job so well that it impressed Karasu. But I don’t understand why Karasu and Sai killed Andrei. Karasu called Suoh, sending Cain to bring him, and offering him tasks with huge payment. There, Suoh met Sai, Misa, Leon, Violet, and Vincent. This is how his new life began, without his consent. Even so, he never killed innocent people. By looking at his skill Karasu offered him to help him to invade Adder. Left with no choice, Suoh accepted the offer and Sai was also threating him. He passed his first hit job by killing Durst. Following Andrei's death, Sai and Misa trained Suoh for the final mission against Adder. Later, everyone except Sai and Misa began disappearing to betray Karasu. Later Vincent's dead body was found. Misa also killed Violet for betraying Karasu. Their final mission was to invade Adder, a pharmaceutical company that secretly dealt in drugs and heavy military contracting. Karasu planned to steal their research papers and inventions, and then leave the city. Inside Adder, Suoh also encountered Leon and Cain. After that part, Suoh faces Endings 7 to 10. This visual novel has a total of [b]10[/b] endings. Which are: (Bad) (1) Stabbed by Lucia (2) Killed by Durst (3) Killed by Sai for not accepting (4) Killed by Crane (5) Shot by Sai because of Lucia (6) Shot by Leon by accepting (7) Suoh's death and later Sara's suicide (Good) (8) Sara waiting for Suoh (9) Misa waiting for Suoh (10) Cecilia waiting for Suoh [u][b]Routes explanation:[/b][/u] For me, Suoh and Sara are the true core of this VN. Other routes just feel sluggish and awkward because they came very lately in the storyline. Some dialogue options are also included that don’t affect the main plot of the story, but create emotion. If you ask me which route I liked, it is definitely [b]Sara's[/b] route and my main reason to play the game, have finished it over seven times already. Routes: (a) Sara's Route: Since the start of this VN and after reading all the dialogues, you’ll see that Sara genuinely cares about Suoh, and that he cares deeply for her too. Sara also likes to cling to Suoh’s torso tightly while they sleep. He even went so far as to kill two criminals to ensure Sara's safety in Ch 4. Be careful with your choices and mostly in Ch 9 to Ch 11: take Sara against her will, meet the counsel, attempt the ceremony, and kiss her. She hides her feelings for Suoh only because she has faced so much trouble and is afraid to express them, but she truly cares about him. The story ending with her really gave me immense pleasure. (b) Misa's Route: Misa is dumb (means mute). By spending time with Misa you will easily get into this route. Dating a professional killer's daughter, who is also a killer herself. Sara dies in this route. She left her father, Sai, for you. Completing once through Misa's route, it unlocks the way to play as Misa. (c) Cecilia's Route: Only in NG+. She doesn't even have a good relationship with her parents. This route is only good for learning about the past (incident before Suoh was admitted hospital). Karasu started acting as your foster father. Sara also dies in this route. This ending is themed around some lies. (d) Lucia's route: Only in NG+ after sparing her, she isn't a good girl; she plays the victim and tricks Suoh into investing in her. Both of her endings are bad. (e) No Route: Suoh will die, and Sara will commit suicide later after finding out that her brother has died. You will see how much Sara cared about you, even if you don't pick any specific route. Except for Lucia's route, all of the other routes mentioned above are related to the main story ending; they detail Suoh's next life after completing the invasion of Adder Technology. [b][u]Plot holes/Flaws:[/u][/b] I found some plot holes and some elements which could be improved: (1) Suoh and Sara were both 17, Lucia was 16, and Misa was four months younger. Cecilia’s age hasn’t been mentioned. The ages don’t make sense. (2) Route progression is poorly designed. You must choose carefully to set in proper order. (3) Entering the main part of Sara's route is unnecessarily tough. If Suoh hadn't kissed her, she would have hidden her feelings forever. Later, she lost him and committed suicide. (4) You cannot learn everything in a single playthrough due to the limited choices, and you cannot deny/reject. (5) Even a single dialogue choice with Cecilia will lock you into her route. (6) Security logic is poor: Suoh openly revealed his face during assassination missions, never questioned about Andrei, and always received his income at home rather than directly in hand. (7) Never explained how they were handling dead bodies. Also, how could Sara not notice her beloved brother leaving the house at midnight? (8) The pacing was rushed; the entire story unfolded and ended in just a few months, lasting only from September to December. (9) Come on, are there no maternal or fraternal relatives to ask for help? There are a bunch of real stories based on sibling incest with pure love and tragic moments available to observe. Zetsubou could take ideas from them. [b][u]Conclusion:[/u][/b] I truly believe Zetsubou Games has the talent of making great VNs. I thoroughly enjoyed Sickness, its visuals, art style, immaculate music, and mostly the close bond and love between Suoh and Sara. I am truly looking for its sequel or a similar game. Rating: [b]8/10[/b]

Sickness è una visual novel interessante che cerca di trattare temi un po' diversi dalle altre VN, non sempre riuscendoci ma almeno fa questo sforzo. La trama è accattivante e gradevole da seguire e per un prezzo abbastanza basso (sopratutto perché spesso è in sconto) si possono avere svariate ore di gioco, variabili da quanto siete veloci a leggere, e diverse route. I disegni non sono la parte migliore del gioco ma sono comunque accettabili per la tipologia di gioco. Le già citate route sono ''circa'' 5 più l'opportunità di vivere la storia dal punto di vista del personaggio femminile, cosa che dà punti in più. Ho detto circa perché purtroppo una di queste route è abbastanza corta e insoddisfacente e dà l'idea che l'autore avrebbe voluto altri finali ma che alla fine abbia abbandonato il progetto, il che è un peccato dato che alcune cose avrebbero meritato approfondimento come la malattia del giocatore stesso o avere un po' più di content per quella che il gioco ti lascia intendere come la coppia principale. Perché sì, in questo gioco con tematiche abbastanza violente c'è anche lo spazio per le route romantiche, che influenzeranno pesantemente il gioco, che sanno essere molto interessanti e carine ma che allo stesso tempo ti fanno pensare che ci sarebbe potuto essere di più. Il gioco è comunque consigliato per chi è interessato a giochi che mixano tematiche abbastanza pesanti (violenza, omicidi, suicidi e come ti dice chiaramente il gioco all'inizio anche tematiche incestuose) ma che non disdegna un po' di humor e romanticismo. Misa best girl ovviamente.

W

Очень достойная новелла. За персонажами интересно наблюдать, рисовка, особенно в кат-сценах, приятная, сюжет занимательный. Отдельно отмечу, что в новелле аж 4 рута, не ожидал такого от хоррор-новеллы. Количество и качество контента абсолютно стоит потраченных денег.

Very cool visual novel with an interesting story.

Rahatsız edici ve iyi yazılmış bir görsel roman olduğunu düşünerek satın almıştım. Maalesef beni rahatsız eden tek şey kötü kurgulanmış hikaye ve ağabeyinin waifu'su gibi davranıp saçma hareketler yapan kız kardeş oldu. Karakterlerin davranışlarına ve motivasyonlarına bir türlü anlam veremedim, büyük ihtimalle hikayeyi bitirene kadar oynamaya tahammül edemeyeceğim.

Super recomendado, 9/10 La historia es interesante, se trata de un psicopata que escucha voces, que le funcionan como hombre araña xD Te gusta Yor de Spy x Family? bueno, que tan mal podría salir un personaje masculino bien normalito fisicamente y enfermo mental, que se vuelve un asesino a sueldo Waifus 1- Tu hermana, wincesto 2- Asesina, Me cae muy bien 3- Victima, leer la guia, se desbloquea su ruta después de un final "bueno", como dicen, siempre hay un roto para un desconocido Realemnte la trama es tan interesante que si te pone a leerla

A very good Game :)

A very good visual novel with just the right amount of edgyness to make it cool.