X
- VisualArts/Key
- VisualArts/Key
- VisualArts/Key
- VisualArts/Key
Summer Pockets
Released On: Feb 5, 2020
Metascore
Available after 4 critic reviews
8.4
All Platforms
Summer Pockets ended up being the visual novel that I didn’t know I needed right now. The game can take anywhere from 30 – 40 hours to complete, but along the way, you’re in for some excellent moments of narrative storytelling. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy if you’re sappy on love stories. You’ll need them.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 User Ratings
8.4
82% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
9% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
9% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 User Ratings
8.4
82% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
9% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
9% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Reviewing this as someone fairly new to visual novels, having only played little less than half a dozen previously, I have to say I felt this game was a treat to play.
It has a fairly typical setup of a boy (you) going to an island for the summer, supposedly to help out his aunt but really to escape his life which seems to have entered a downward spiral. As he arrives you meet the characters that will fill/flavour the story(s) you choose to engage in and get an introduction to their basic characters. You then get to pick which route you want to progress with and uncover the story and secrets behind each character around whom that route is based around.
So far pretty typical for the VN’s I have played I have three elements I believe make it objectively better, which I will get into first, and then some personal preferences I will mention. Objectively, I feel these three elements in particular make this a notably good VN;
Firstly, the music and visuals are fantastic. Newer games tend to overshadow older ones but so far, of the ones I have played, this is easily the most aesthetically pleasing as well as having music that pulls you into the moment while being subtle enough not to steal the show from the story. I could go on and on about these elements but a quick youtube of the OST and a search of the images associated with this game will do a better job than I ever could.
Secondly, it is lighter on the more typical tropes that I do not, personally, enjoy. These include panty shots and characters making Olympic leaps of logic toward the perverted, in most cases, in a way in which no reasonable person would. However, this is far less frequent than other VN’s and most of which happen early enough that it doesn’t break the immersion. While, as is the case with VN’s, relationships move far too quickly into deeply emotion for the characters involved, it does it in a way that makes as much sense as it could. The main character’s background and circumstances do describe someone who is likely to fall into firmer relationships of friendship and romance, more quickly. Especially when dealing with girls. While as an adult though it seems dubious, when I take the time to recall how quickly relationships do move when you are a teenager, and conceding to this, I have to give the narrative its due credit in this regard. Nothing happens so out of pace that it strains credulity such that the immersion is ruined.
Thirdly, is the way in which all of the routes are loosely connected. You cannot hope to understand everything you experience in one playthrough. By coming back and replaying it, the new information adds great depth to what were previously simply background elements to the previous route. At the same time, no route ever overshadows the others and seems/feels more important outside of your own personal favourite. The only hiccup to this is there is one route that is key to understanding all others, the problem with this being if you happen to pick that one first you can gain insight as to what is to come and if you do it last then you will be left with questions as to exactly what happened in certain instances in the other routes. For the completionist, this isn’t a problem, but if you are very much the pick and choose type, this could be a fair concern.
Lastly, as far as my personal preferences go; as with any VN the routes are hit and miss but really depending on what types of characters you like. However, I found when I finished the prologue there were only half of the stories heroines I was particularly interested in finding more about, however, one route in particular, as it was the one I thought I would enjoy the least became a major dark horse for best story. This was Tsumugi. While I still feel she loses out to Kamome to the best route, it highlighted to me how this game can and will subvert your expectations. I will say no more as I don’t want to dip into spoiler territory but I will finish on this; Give each route a look into, some of them will surprise you in the best of ways.
I hope this review has either helped you decide to purchase the game or validated your own thoughts by hearing something similar come from another.
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PC
Story 10./10
Characters 10/10
Musics 10/10
a masterpiece from Key , can't say much more
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PC
Story: 10/10
Music: 8/10
Characters: 8/10(Shiroha, Aoi and Umi 10/10)
Overall i think its a masterpiece, i didn't expect less from Key.
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PC
Summer Pockets, a game that has meant so much to me and that I have followed from its very first announcement. There will be no spoilers in this video unlike many of my other reviewers as, basically, I just want all of you to experience this for the first time like I was able to. To begin, I am an avid key fan, as many of you know, and considering Maeda's health issues I was truly worried for the future of key. When Summer Pockets was announced I was filled with emotion just on the announcement alone on the basis that it could be Key's last ever worked, so I followed this project like a hawk. I downloaded the beta which was in japanese which i don't even speak, gave reviews and tried to talk about it as much as possible to shill for an English release. When I got my wish, I can say that my dream as a key fan was answered. As usual, I rate my games on 3 scales across rating and purchase, and its based on the categories of gameplay, art, music and story. To begin, the gameplay is your typical VN but with a little bit of a twist. Basically, instead of needing a guide and making sure you get every decision for every route, you simply click on character faces which locks you in. This is innovative for a key VN, and this simple feature was a lot of fun and super efficient. On top of routes, you can do some joke scenes, and play minigames such as table tennis and this pokemon battler type game where you catch things with items you get as achievements. While this may sound dumb, trust me when I say its alot of fun and add a lot of life to the characters, a lot of laughs to the reader, and a lot of fun all around, the most ive had in a key game mini game. The art, directed by NA-GA, is very little busters esque. The designs are beautiful, the characters reflect the theme and setting of summer and some of the CGS are up there with my favorite in key games. In some of the CGs the eyes seem a little off, but thats such a far and inbetween complain to what is otherwise beautiful. The music is what you would expect from Maeda and key, some songs fully encapsulate summer and are melancholic, some seem surreal and others make you emotional the second the violin hits. Every single route has an ending song which fits the theme, and some characters have their own special ending songs as well which also fit the tone of the route. The main ED, lasting moment, is maybe my favorite in any key game so far… sorry alicemagic and clear weather after the rain.
Finally, we have the most controversial of the bunch, the story. Now, without spoiling anything there will be two sides to this summer pockets fanbase. Those that believe that this was not adventurous enough and therefore think its a very good rehash of old themes, and those that believe solely in the latter thinking that the reuse of themes is more of a revamp than a copy paste. Summer pockets uses a lot of old themes from key games, and for those that have read every work the game may seem predictable at points. Despite all this, the themes have been perfected, and I wholeheartedly believe that both old and new fans alike will respect them for what they have to offer.
In conclusion, Summer Pockets is exactly the VN I needed in my life right now. Its heavy themes, its high and emotional points and its setting of summer are perfect as we begin to enter summer. This VN has reached one of the highest points ever in a VN for me, the Kamome route, and it got even better as time went on after the Shiroha route. Summer pockets is a firm and beautiful return to tradition, and I can gladly say, with no doubt in mind, that the future brilliance of key may even outshine the radiance of the past.
I rate Summer Pockets a 9.4/10, which is a 94/100 going by that metric. Its a perfect return to what we all know and love, and oldtime and new fans will be in for a treat. With steam summer sale right around the corner, I recommend all fans of VNS alike to pick up this masterpiece, and even if you have missed the sale I can still gladly say this VN is well worth its price.
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PC
I like Key's work. I really do. Played Kanon, Clannad, Planetarian etc. so I grew to expect quality.
Summer Pockets however does not meet the standards of Key's work.
Music is forgettable, art style although looks ok it looks weird at times... from backgrounds to male characters. I'm not sure whether is the color palette or shading in general, it just looks unnatural to an eye ( in some instances ).
Story is uninspired and quite honestly boring ( i found myself skipping a lot of text because it was just too bland ) and before you know it the credits start rolling. Yeah... no kidding. As per usual ( in Key's VN ) to get the ending you want you will have to experiment with different choices ( sometimes the most obvious decision will actually lead to a bad ending so don't rely on logic but rather on experimentation and "feeling" )
That brings us to WRITING... its bad. Not all of it, there is a "Key's Soul" present ( some jokes, characters etc. ) but its been dumbed-down. No longer we have long interesting routes with plot twists but rather almost one dimensional characters that doesn't surprise anyone. Especially one character comes in particular " the one who says OPPAI / BOOBS " all the time ( im leaving the names and situations to avoid spoilers ). It just feels unnecessary, unnatural and right in your face.
Key doesn't need to pull cheap tricks for the sake of fan service... thats not what we want. We were looking for stories to remember, to move us, make us laugh... something to relate to.
Well some people will like it I'm sure of it but for me it really falls short of what KEY can do ( and trust me they have the talent and resources ). Personally I would not recommend this VN. There are better one's out there especially with this price point.
P.S : Table tennis and pokemon battles ****.
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PC
Summary From the creators of Angel Beats! and CLANNAD, Key, comes their latest emotional, award-winning journey. Follow protagonist Takahara Hairi as he travels to the secluded island Torishirojima, where he rediscovers what it means to enjoy summer vacation.
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Feb 5, 2020
Developer:
- Key
Publisher: VisualArts/Key
Genres: