Release Date: July 27, 2023 (North America)
Developers:  Otomate
Publishers:  Aksys Games
Platforms:  Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

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SYNOPSIS
(From Aksys Game’s Website)

Tifalia’s comfortable life is turned upside down when a dragon crash-lands right into her! This triggers her first encounter with CIRCUS, a performance troupe that travels around the world to save their crown prince. After a dismal failure of a performance, CIRCUS discovers that Tifalia might be able to help them and recruit her to act as producer for their dysfunctional troupe.

Will they master the ring? Or just be mediocre?

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ART AND MUSIC

Director: Mizuki Mugino

Artist/Illustrators: Usuba Kageroo, Miko, Shuki

Scenario Writers: Nao Kojima, Sachi Arino

OST: Keita Miyoshi (Composer), Himi Izutsu (Lyrics), ikasumicco (Vocals)

BGM: Genic Pallet, Marie Akita

Radiant Tale has three main artists, Usuba Kageroo (Previous work: Variable Barricade, Wand of Fortune, Reines des Fleurs), Miko (Previous Work: Code Realize, Bond of Demons, Library Cross), and Shuki. According to the game’s end credits, and Otomate’s official site, Usuba Kageroo was responsible for the chibis and the main character designs (including Jinnia and Colivus), while Miko handled the rest of the side characters. Shuki was mostly in charge of the game’s illustration CGs, although there might be a few CGs that bear some Kageroo and Miko touches.

You’ll notice the style differences, particularly among the sprites, once you play the game. Nonetheless, this amazing trio of illustrators did incredible work with Radiant Tale’s overall design and art, so I have no complaints whatsoever.

Radiant Tale’s OST was also a personal favorite of mine. The orchestral fanfare-style BGMs were the perfect blend of fantasy-adventure sounds that seamlessly complemented the game’s setting and atmosphere.

Voice Acting

Junya Enoki as “Zafora” – Ryuki (Cupid Parasite), Kunihiro Horikawa (Touken Ranbu), Chisato Tachibana (Collar x Malice Unlimited), Dill (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Luka Clemence (IkeRev), Mihaya Araki (Paradigm Paradox)

Yuichiro Umehara as “Paschalia” – Benkei (Birushana), Canus Espada (Café Enchanté), Enishi (Jack Jeanne), Demento (Period Cube), Shingen Takeda (IkeSen), Sage (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Rain (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Oochidori (Touken Ranbu)

Yohei Azakami as “Ion” – Rinne Amagi (Ensemble Stars!), Sakyou (Tokyo Onmyouji), Kagesumi (Ayakashi Gohan), Ryo Tominaga (Digimon Survive), Kou Haoren (Money Parasite), Koharu (9R.I.P), Shizukagata Naginata (Touken Ranbu)

Nobuhiko Okamoto as “Radie” – Hansel (Code Realize), Manabu Souda (Collar x Malice), Taiga (Variable Barricade), Hizamaru (Touken Ranbu),  Yang (Piofiore), Hiroya (Period Cube), Peter Flage (Cupid Parasite), Haiji (Charade Maniacs) Iris (Iris School of Wizardry), Bakugo (MHA)

Yuma Uchida as “Vilio” – Suzu Orimaki (Jack Jeanne), Yosuga (Olympia Soiree), Kyo (Fruit Basket), Yves (Ikemen Prince), Souma Kuze (Sweet Clown), Aoi (Toraware no Palm), Rindo (TWEWY), Nagi Karman (Scarlet Nexus), Masato (Sasaki and Miyano)

Takashi Kondo as “Jinnia” – ♡Kogitsunemaru (Touken Ranbu), Majima (Chou no Doku), ♡Tsugunobu (Birushana), Shiba (EPHEMERAL), Subaru (Diabolik Lovers), Miki Saburo (Hakuoki), Kuro Usagi (ALICE=ALICE)

Kazuhiro Yoshimura as “Alest” – Minegeshi (Collar x Malice), Pepe (Bustafellows), Ten (Cafe Enchante), Maki (Side Kicks!), Souji Kamishiro (Suika Niritsu)

Makoto Koichi as 👶 “Colivus” – Mion Sonozaki (Higurashi), Minika (7 Deadly Sins), Lavian Winslet (The Legend of Heroes)
Chiharu Shigematsu as 👨“Colivus” – Mayoi Ayase (Ensemble Stars!) Talia (Another Prince), Kwon Ma (Monster Strike), Suzuki Hiroto (Kamisama ni Natta Hi)

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~MAIN CHARACTERS AND ROUTES~

The routes in Radiant Tale are very straightforward. The common route offers five chapters for you to spend time with the love interest of your choosing before you get to their individual routes. Zafora, Paschalia, Ion, and Radie can all be played at the start. The only locked route in this game is Vilio’s, which requires you to first unlock all four previous love interests’ “Happy” endings. Vilio also has his own separate common route.

Although the developers have not provided a recommended route order, if you consider plot progression in mind, my softly suggested play-order sequence would be: Zafora → Paschalia → Ion → Radie → Vilio. Zafora, Paschalia, and Ion’s routes do not divulge any substantial plot spoilers so I think it’s fine to switch them up if you need to. On the other hand, Radie’s route unveils significant revelations about the heroine’s background as well as the overarching plot. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended to play his route last before unlocking Vilio’s. This way, you can avoid any whiplash from sudden plot events.

Walkthroughs:

• Zafora
• Paschalia
• Ion
• Radie
• Vilio
• Common Route

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ZAFORA

• tsundere
• hottest clown

Leading a double life as an information broker by day and a juggling circus clown by night, it’s impressive how Zafora maintains this somewhat peculiar lifestyle while having a remarkably calm and composed demeanor every day.(laughs) He’s also Radiant Tale’s resident tsundere. So yeah, he’s quite the character, really! He prefers to work alone, dislikes unnecessary socializing, and keeps his distance from others, often expressing himself with biting sharp words.

What I really liked about this route was how Zafora underwent so much growth. Like any typical tsundere character, he initially had walls from the start, and I loved seeing these walls and barriers crumble, revealing a vulnerable side of himself as he opened up to the members of CIRCUS, especially to the heroine, Tifalia. This route is also very action-packed, and I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of it. On another note, when comparing this route to the others, it’s evident that it doesn’t delve as deeply into the overarching plot. Zafora’s story follows a very straightforward and conventional path, concluding rather predictably –a touch too vanilla, if you will? Don’t get me wrong though, it is still very good!

I liked how adorable his relationship with Tifalia was. They had a nice chemistry that flowed really well in this route. However, I have to say that, out of everyone, Zafora’s route had the lowest “sugar” content. It actually made me sad because they had such a good thing going, and I wish their ending scene was longer because I absolutely love Zafora & Tifalia to bits! This is by no means a negative connotation; it’s more like me wanting more, really! Ha! I hope the fandisk makes up for it!🤞

PASCHALIA

• ethereal himbo
• soft

Besides his ethereal appearance, which is very apparent at first glance, Paschalia also possesses a clumsy side that makes him incredibly endearing. He is kind-hearted by nature and exudes a naturally warm aura. His contract with a high water spirit is responsible for his unique appearance, although he doesn’t elaborate much on this. In addition, Paschalia also has the ability to use water magic, but he’s not very skilled in utilizing it and doesn’t seem to want to rely on it too frequently.

Another soft Umehara character?😳 oh heck! sign me up! Cutting to the chase, I was honestly very impressed with this route because I did not expect it to go in the direction it did. I’m a sucker for surprises! While Paschalia remains a very soft character throughout, he’s actually pretty stubborn for his own good too! While some might see this as a negative trait, I appreciate this contrast in his personality as it adds depth to his character, not to mention his complex backstory, which I thought was explored fairly well in this route.

I also enjoyed the wild and angsty chase that Tifalia went through here. Their love story had me on the edge of my seat!😱 This route is filled with high sugar content too, if I may add, and I absolutely devoured it.🤭 The ending was especially the fluffiest, and to top it all, Paschalia’s last CGs were breathtaking!

ION

• gap moe
• cooking kuudere

Ion is a soldier who was once part of the Public Security Forces. He was recruited by Jinia to become CIRCUS’s main acrobatic and martial arts performer. Despite having a very gentle nature, his expressionless and taciturn demeanor is often misunderstood due to his imposing appearance, which can make him seem intimidating at first meeting. Initially, due to his belief that traveling entails inherent dangers, he opposed Tifalia’s participation as CIRCUS’s producer.

Whew! This route! What a ride! Ion, being a cooking husbando was already a plus – the dude genuinely just loves (& looks forwards to) cooking meals.🥺 Bless his heart! But gasp!😨 I did not expect to be hit by all the angst in this route. Nonetheless, I was glued to my screen! Ion’s story and sequence of events were quite intense and brutal. I was concerned at first, that the ending might feel rushed, but thankfully, it was resolved in a somewhat happy manner. The last part was incredibly fluffy and wholesome, so I can’t complain!

I was also not disappointed with the romance here. It was nicely developed, effectively showcasing both Tifalia and Ion’s perspectives within the narrative. I especially liked seeing how their feelings for each other were depicted coming from their individual points of view.

RADIE

• flareon but chonky
• loves his alcohol

Radie acts as a mascot for CIRCUS due to his Fey beast form, making him extremely popular with children. He’s a carefree and dependable companion who always has Tifalia’s back, no matter the circumstances. Living together with her for as long as Tifalia can remember, he has become the heroine’s reliable partner throughout their journey.

This route was filled with ample surprises, and there was so much to take in within Radie’s story that seamlessly revealed a strong connection with the plot. Obviously, I can’t expound on it more due to spoilers so I’ll just leave it like that. On a side note, I was very pleased with how each of the characters showed and emphasized camaraderie in Radie’s story. I also liked that this route took quite a roundabout way to explore the concept of ‘family turned lover’. Admittedly, I was worried about it at first, as I’m usually not that big on these types of tropes. However, surprisingly, Radie’s route approached the theme somewhat differently. I found that the way everything was woven together, in the end, felt very satisfying.👍

I think Radie definitely carries that ‘best boy’ pizzazz, and this certainly helped him nab the first place on Radiant Tale’s popularity poll in Japan. So I feel like he’d be a lot of folks’ favorites overseas as well.

VILIO

• fire breathing genki ?!
• himbo but also not really

Vilio is the young dragon that Tifalia meets during the prologue. His bright and cheery attitude makes him very approachable to others. Having recently come out from an isolated island separated from the continent, he lacks common knowledge and puzzles those around him with his eccentric behavior.

Another genki voiced by Yuma Uchida!🥰 What I would do to keep this momentum going?! (laughs) Also, it’s quite a feat to encounter a red-headed genki love interest whose route is locked and not playable at the start of an otome game, isn’t it? 😂 Vilio’s common route largely overlaps with the main story’s common route, but it is centered more around him, providing events from his perspective. Personally, I enjoyed this approach, although it can become slightly repetitive at times since you already know all the main events that unfolded here.

I’ve gotta admit, this route was it for me. It felt like the “final boss” of the game -very reminiscent of those climactic finales in fantasy JRPGs. The moment I stepped into Vilio’s later chapters, I just couldn’t put the game down. It surprised me how quickly I mowed through his endings!🤣 I also, personally find that Vilio’s story tied up all the past conflicts that were left hanging on other routes really well. The way it brought everything together made it a truly satisfying culmination for Radiant Tale.

TIFALIA

• occasionally stubborn
• best girl!

Tifalia is an ordinary town girl who works at a small shop/restaurant called “Liber.” She’s very hardworking, loyal, values her family and friends (Spirea and Radie), and is pretty much contended with her simple, mundane life. Never did she expect to become a producer for a mysterious group called CIRCUS, getting caught up in an extraordinary adventure.

What’s really astounding about Tifalia was her emotional growth as an individual throughout each route. She’s really a darling of a heroine, and I loved that in almost all of the routes, she took the first initiative in confessing her feelings to the guys, regardless of the potential consequences. I thought it was pretty funny how the game seemed to follow a theme where, in most routes, the love interest initially will reject Tifalia, for their own reasons. Seeing her reaction and how she handled things afterward was very enjoyable per se. Albeit, this may come across as off-putting for those who prefer to self-insert themselves into the heroine’s shoes, I think it’s important to understand where the story is coming from. I genuinely believe that Tifalia’s most likable trait was how well she carried herself in various (difficult) circumstances with her love interests, especially considering she’s a neophyte herself when it comes to romance. Witnessing her go through numerous impossible tasks for the sake of love was pretty moving ngl. Her determination and how her commitment never wavered made me root for her throughout her journey! Moreover, the guys were equally novices in the romance department, making them an even better match for her.😆

All in all, I really loved Tifalia, most especially in Vilio’s route. Though, to be perfectly honest, she’s pretty great in all the routes. I think anyone who enjoys a heroine with a feisty personality and well-developed character growth would appreciate her too.

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

The UI’s Circus motif was really pretty and aesthetically pleasing. I also appreciated the game interface’s user-friendliness, making it a breeze to navigate. The love catch system was straightforward to understand and really helpful in guiding a player to make all the correct choices when it comes to branching out to different endings. Lastly, the game allows you to “Jump to the next choice” by pressing the ➡️ button, making it easier to skip the long common route in subsequent playthroughs.

The localization for Radiant Tale was very well done and I applaud Aksys Games for this! The humor and tone were translated nicely, that it didn’t feel too cringy or over the top. I could tell that a lot of care was put into translating the dialogues in this game.🥹 I also loved how Tifalia’s low-key sassy lines were handled in the localization. As for typos, and errors, they were barely noticeable.

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TRAILER

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OVERALL THOUGHTS

I think it took me around 50-55 hours to complete my playthrough of Radiant Tale. Initially, I thought it would be a longer gameplay, considering it was done by the team who did Code Realize & Cafe Enchante, but to my surprise, it was of a decent length. The common route extends from chapters 1 to 5, and the start of Chapter 6 is where you enter an LI’s specific route. Each route only offers two endings: “Happy” and “Normal” ends.

Radiant Tale is a captivating odyssey of a classic fantasy romance. The ambiance and vibe you’ll get from this game lean towards on the warm and fluffy side. The setting and structure reminded me so much of playing your good ol’ classic JRPG games, where the protagonist embarks on a journey, traversing diffrent continents alongside their loyal band of friends, all driven by a shared purpose. Having grown up playing mostly JRPGs, I really appreciated the atmosphere Radiant Tale has created. I was completely immersed in the story from the first chapters to the finale. The characters, including the heroine, were all well-defined. I enjoyed how their struggles were introduced, resolved, and came to a perfectly full-circle moment at the end.

If there was anything that confused me though, it was the fact that while the game introduced the theme of “CIRCUS,” I expected to see actual circus performances.😆 However, it turns out that the only performance resembling a “circus” or more “circus-like” by our main troupe, was the one that occurred in Calida (a city they traveled in the game). The rest of their shows were mostly theatrical, accompanied by a few magic tricks. If anything, the “circus” element felt more like an add-on feature in the end. So, I guess I was a little disappointed in that aspect.

I think it’s also worth highlighting that this game adheres to a rather straightforward overarching plot. Although there were occasional twists and surprises, the story’s progression heavily relied on convenient plot devices. So, if you are expecting a story with ridiculous, mind-blowing events, you are probably not going to find that here. I have to say, however, the game generally maintains a well-paced narrative. Several, if not all, of the routes had me staying up late at night, with my eyes glued to my switch screen. I was that invested! (haha)

The hako-oshi is strong!

The characters in this game were a standout! Every single one of them is lovable, and the side characters are no exception. Jinnia, (obviously) became my favorite character.😏 heh! You just gotta love a man who knows a thing or two about wine & skincare (cackles). Being a skincare-freak, and a wine connoisseur myself, Jinnia, to me was the epitome of perfection!😂😂😂 Jokes aside, he was also pretty marvelous in this game, especially in Ion & Vilio’s route. Plus, he’s so elegantly beautiful! I could not resist his blinding beauty!😩Too bad he’s not an LI, but I believe he gets a route in the fandisk, so at least that’s something to look forward to.

As for the love interests, I found all of them equally adorable. The “hako-oshi” factor was very strong in this game, making it hard to pick a favorite! I think I was genuinely mesmerized by Zafora and Paschalia, as far as their character’s quirkiness, but Vilio’s route became my all-time favorite in this game. In addition, I also loved that each main character has their own personal goals and unresolved pasts, which were all explored in their respective routes. **In terms of romance, Radiant Tale offered a modest and wholesome approach,🥺 and many times, I found myself smiling & giggling like a total doofus because of it (laughs).😚

Do I recommend this game? YES.
If you love JRPGs, this game is going to be your cup of tea. Moreover, I would readily and wholeheartedly recommend Radiant Tale to the otome gamers who enjoy a well-written fantasy setting brimming with emotionally stirring scenes involving fleshed-out, likable characters.

🤔I pondered on this for a while, as it’s only been a few days since I finished the entire game, but what really made Radiant Tale fascinating to me was that it was not merely confined to a theme revolving around “love”. Instead, it subtly ventures into the exploration of the appropriate places for negative human emotions. (You’ll understand what I’m talking about once you finish Vilio’s route). This lingering reflection made me realize the true depth of the truth route in the game. I believe games that evoke such contemplations are remarkably scarce, so I was honestly surprised that this one did it for me…

With all that being said, Radiant Tale has made it to my top five favorite comfort otome games. It’s one of those feel-good titles that are truly very rewarding at the end. It leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction after playing and genuinely brings a smile to your face. An absolute must-play for everyone who loves the otome genre!

Now if you’ll excuse me, Ima head off to build my Jinnia shrine!😌💅

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