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- Laura Shigihara
- Laura Shigihara
- Laura Shigihara
- Laura Shigihara
Mr. Saitou
Released On: Mar 23, 2023
Metascore
Available after 4 critic reviews
8.1
All Platforms
Mr. Saitou is a short but sweet romp through the universe of Rakuen, a silly little homecoming to a wonderfully whimsical world. Although it’s not as emotional as the first game, it’s not trying to be; with that being said, I still shed a few tears during the two hours I spent with it. If you listen to Mr. Saitou and set your expectations accordingly, you’ll emotionally relate to the realistic struggles of adult life while feeling healed by the cheerful innocence childhood has to offer. In the very least, Mr. Saitou offers a brief return to the world of Rakuen and the feeling of being hugged by a game.
Mr. Saitou proves to be a successful spin-off, even if sometimes it overdose its citationism and keeps a tone that results to be too light-hearted when compared to Rakuen's powerful, well-written stories. It's still an adventure that deserves to be loved by Laura Shigihara's fans, a multi-talented video game developer who is capable of expressing herself through a vast array of media.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 User Ratings
8.1
77% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
15% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 User Ratings
8.1
77% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
8% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
15% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
I didn't know what to expect in a follow-up to Rakuen, but I was once again impressed by how delicately it hit on sensitive topics while staying very upbeat and showcasing a lot of quirky humor. If you're familiar with Laura Shigihara's Twitch stream, some of the jokes and silliness will seem familiar. The music was once again a huge highlight for me, but also the enormous pixel art cinematics! It was a short, satisfying return to magical coziness, and in a weird way kind of reminded me of Fraggle Rock.
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PC
I don’t doubt that some folks are going to fall in love with the breezy vibes Mr. Saitou delivers; not every game needs a gigantic demon boss or world-ending evil. For what Mr. Saitou appears to be trying to do, though, I can’t say the satisfying ending justifies the journey. If more of the conversations or relationships I had with the characters had more texture, I would say otherwise, but I spent too much time having directionless interactions. If nothing else, Mr. Saitou has heart and something to say, and if that’s worth two hours of your time, you may be the audience.
An excellent follow-up game in the Rakuen universe that emphasizes the value of happiness and love. Likewise, it has an amazing soundtrack and fantastic presentation/art. Definitely worth checking out!
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PC
A funny, sweet, charming and heartwarming story with wholesome messages and an outstanding soundtrack that is short and sweet but FULL of personality and will leave you better than it found you!
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PC
So, apparently, there are folks out there who might actually enjoy the mind-numbingly mundane vibes that Mr. Saitou thought would be a good idea to deliver. Yeah, because who needs excitement or anything remotely interesting in a game, right? Not every game has to feature epic demon battles or, you know, the fate of the freakin' world hanging in the balance.
But hold onto your snooze buttons, because here's the kicker: Mr. Saitou seems to be attempting some sort of, I don't know, deep journey or whatever. But let's be real, the ending that's supposed to be, like, rewarding? It's about as satisfying as a stale cracker. Seriously, I can't even begin to fathom how the agony of this journey could be justified by that lackluster ending.
Oh, and let's not forget the thrilling conversations and riveting relationships with the characters. Not! It's like the interactions were crafted by a bot on a caffeine crash. I mean, I wasted precious hours of my life engaging in conversations that were more directionless than a lost snail.
If there's anything remotely redeeming here, it's that Mr. Saitou managed to summon up a bit of heart and a whisper of a message. If you're so desperate for a way to kill two hours of your existence and you find heart and whispers intriguing, well, congrats! You might just be the minuscule audience for this torturous endeavor.
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PC
Summary Mr. Saitou is a short game about an average white-collar worker who struggles to find meaning in a life full of constant overtime and social isolation. After an accident lands him in the hospital, Mr. Saitou is spirited away to a strange fantasy world where an unexpected friend takes him on a life-changing adventure.
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Mar 23, 2023
Developer:
- Laura Shigihara
Publisher: Laura Shigihara
Genres:
