Aksys Games, D3 Publisher, and Red Entertainment have teamed up to present Despera Drops, a fresh mystery otome visual novel available on the Nintendo Switch. Let’s dive into what this intriguing game has to offer.
Set in the summer of 2028, Despera Drops places you in the shoes of Mika Amamine, a university student from Bologna, Italy, studying abroad. With exams out of the way, you and your friends plan a quick trip to Rome to unwind. However, what should have been a carefree adventure quickly twists when you find yourself entangled in a murder mystery—and shockingly, arrested as a suspect!
While en route in a police vehicle, fate intervenes with an accident that overturns the vehicle, offering Mika a narrow escape alongside six other detainees. Suddenly finding yourself a fugitive in a group of criminals, the pressure mounts as you dash for cover before law enforcement catches on to your missing status. Adding to the chaos, mysterious figures with sinister motives pursue you due to a unique power—one that enables you to perceive underlying truths and glimpse into others’ pasts by mere touch, a skill that’s caught attention from the wrong kind of crowd.
For newcomers to visual novels, these games weave elaborate stories with engaging narratives, often incorporating elements of romance, especially in the otome subgenre. In Despera Drops, you navigate the narrative as the female protagonist, potentially finding romance amidst the chaos. While some visual novels include voice acting, which isn’t always feasible for smaller studios due to cost, Despera Drops does provide Japanese voiceovers. Thus, prepare for plenty of reading unless you’re fluent in the language!
Throughout your adventure, you’ll encounter six potential love interests, each with distinct backgrounds and motivations. They are Ash Meyer, a solitary Swiss youth; Hamiel Luís, a Spanish charmer adept at psychological manipulation; Gib Baltzer, a former German cop with a dark cloud of suspicion over his head; Ramie Carrière, France’s self-declared master thief; Camu Einhard, an Austrian environmental crusader; and Sally del Testa, an Italian hacking prodigy with a passion for Japanese Harajuku fashion.
As you unravel the narrative, important terms encountered are stored in a Words section for easy access and better understanding, adding depth to your experience. The game also offers a Gallery where you can revisit special CG images, listen to music tracks you’ve unlocked, and relive the cinematic moments once the story concludes. Upon completing the main game, delve into the Extra Content, featuring After Stories for each suitor and an additional episode titled “True”—details of which I’ll leave for you to uncover!
Despera Drops is now available for the Nintendo Switch, priced at $49.99. Will you manage to elude capture and unveil the mysteries that surround you?
Disclaimer: This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Despera Drops provided by Aksys Games.
