Root Letter

Less-discerning players with a tolerance for bad localizations, or maybe Matsue residents, will find a pleasant diversion in Root Letter, but for everyone else, it's difficult to recommend, especially at its current price tag.

Even the most hardcore visual novel fan is going to be hard pressed to find enjoyment with this unsatisfying mystery adventure.

Root Letter is a strange visual novel, but one that keeps players interested throughout.

Root Letter is a very good visual novel on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It's premise and story are great, while its gameplay mechanics (that will remind you of entries in the Ace Attorney series) will make for a fun experience. If you're a visual novel fan, I highly recommend that you buy Root Letter!

While the opening sequences plays out quite forced, with Max awkwardly needing a reason to begin exploring, the game gets a lot better once it gets going. With no real gameplay required, this is, at the end of the day, a visual novel that works well at times, though some head scratching moments disrupts the flow of the game.

Root Letter is not the worst example of the modern visual novel, that suffering from a lingering story, routine, almost zero interaction and stereotyped characters. Of course, if you love Japanese culture, then you will be pleased to experience all facets of local life. But to be honest Root Letter is too similar with Telltale games only without pathos and with static cute graphics.

A fantastic and mysterious thriller-lite. Though the protagonist has non-existent motives and the ‘choice’ isn’t really choice at all, the supporting cast and story arc make this difficult to put down.

Root Letter does offer something for Nipponophiles and fans of the genre. People used to this kind of pacing might find refreshing a story like this one, one that feels even mature compared to similar games, and that invites the player within the plot so they can be part of the mystery solving process.

It's a shame that Root Letter has such abysmal writing, because there truly are some fascinating plot threads to unravel throughout this brief journey.

All in all I thought Root Letter was okay. Again it was a great idea of a story but I finished all the endings and I am still confused about a few things that I wish were cleared up. I would say this game is for you if you’re into visual novels along with mysteries, but if you’re looking for a great story due to the fact that this is a visual novel, I think you will be slightly disappointed.