Arena Circus
A downloadable Visual Novel for Windows, macOS, and Linux
A visual novel set in a fantasy world where appearance is everything and humans are at the bottom of the totem pole. Aldrich and Lilié are trying to battle their way to the top of a world that looks down on them- and soon it will become far more than just a matter of pride.
Release of next chapter: Around the end of July?
Currently, there are 2 out of 6 chapters complete.
Updates 8/30:
+ Chapter 3 writing is done! Just programming and some extra art left! I really wanna art it up as an apology for making everyone wait so long. Not much longer folks!
Current release stats:
Lilie's route (only, Aldrich currently unavailable)
Rating: 16+ for language and suggestive themes.
Gameplay time: 3 + hours
65,000 + words
13 CGs
35 clothing items
Follow me on twitter (@CapMinyan) for the latest sneak peaks and progress updates!
The two protagonists are Aldrich and Lilie (the player will
be able to give them their own names depending on who
they choose). Arena Circus is set in a fantasy universe where
physically superior beings knowns as 'Reavers'
rule over high society and have established a strict
caste system, with humans at the bottom. In order
to have any sort of nice lifestyle the humans seek out
strong Reavers and allow themselves to be bonded
as a 'Harlequin'. Some humans then are used as servants,
jesters, pleasure slaves, etc, but most are forced to
duel in arena-styled tournaments.
Some questions for those who have the time:
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
2. What was your favorite part?
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
4. Who is your favorite character?
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
And I'd love to see screenshots of the outfits you guys put together!
(For the finished game)
+ A story filled with drama, comedy, romance, and two distinct branches, with several possible endings for each. Which side will you choose?
+ Free roam where you can move around, find different characters in different locations, shop for clothes, and complete side quests to earn money for clothes. Scenes you might find include world building information, character backstories, will strengthen your relationships with the characters, or might just be good for a laugh ;D
+Two characters you can play as, one male one female. Both of them are bisexual.
+3 possible romances, one G x G, one G x B, and one B x B
+ A battle system featuring timed choices. Winning or losing affects the story.
+ 6 chapters
+ 36 CGs (tentative number)
+ Main character customizable sprites with clothing available for the head, torso, leg and feet, as well as accessories.
Lillie's route will be done first.
I again just want to thank everyone who's followed this and added your comments, it means so much to me and has really been motivation to keep going.
More info:
Arena Circus (regular):
The full game will be COMPLETELY FREE. None of the main story or any CGs will be left out of the free version.
Arena Circus Guide:
(The guide book is currently only completed up to chapter 1. Chapter 2 guide will be released when Chapter 3 is)
This will include the extra content below:
+ Art book
+ Walkthrough
+ Where to find every scene
+ Where to find all the clothes
+ How to romance each character
Arena Circus Golden:
WARNING: Purchasing Arena Circus Golden after playing the regular version, you will have to start over. I'm working on making a way to have data transfer over, and I apologize for the inconvenience.
+ Extra clothes
+ In game unlockable scenes list
+ In game stats to see how many clothes you have left to find.
+ Epilogues
+ Discount (If you buy it early, before the game is complete, you'll get all future updates (next chapters, etc) for free. Once chapter 6 is done the whole package will be $10, so buy early if you want a discount!)
I am constantly working on Arena Circus and you can follow me on twitter (@Capminyan) for future updates!
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Comments
Log in with your itch.io account to leave a comment.
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yeah! Seriously, it was impressive! I downloaded the game without reading too much about the structure and was pleasantly surprised to find it was episodic and plot heavy.
2. What was your favorite part?
The small bits of bonding, especially the ones showing how close and intimate Lilié and Aldrich are. Platonic or not, it's really sweet to see how much they care about each other.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
Oh no I really enjoyed the drama! I feel they meshed well, felt natural.
4. Who is your favorite character?
No clue, they're all really endearing! But also need to get to know them (the non main characters) better to choose.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Aldrich, because of the added backstory! That's usually how I choose who to romance. Natalia was cute as heck but I feel like I need Lilié to get closer to her to want to romance her. That's also one reason I have trouble when you have to choose early who you want to romance.
I actually did find it a bit hard to romance characters, but I don't particularly mind. I kind of like it sneaking up on me, I like surprises and it feels more like a flowing story.
Looking forward to future content, and any possible future projects!
I enjoyed the Demo so much ! The story is very captivating and the characters are lovely , so I ended up getting attached to most of them ;D .When will the full game come out?
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
I really did! It was really interesting and unique and i can't wait for more.
2. What was your favorite part?
That we started bonding with the others such as Siegfried & Natalia, Leslie & Fenris
Also the roaming around.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I think it was well done.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Aldrich but I also like Leslie hes so cute.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I was a bit sad seeing we can't romance the other reavers but I went for Natalia and Aldrich after. But I really like Aldrich so I think i will stick with him :>
Leslie is my favorite! Thanks for playing, sorry about the lack of romance options xD None of the other people are really Lilié's type, unfortunately.
LOL I had the funniest thought. It would be amusing if we could romance Santana.
HAHAHA oh god... that would be a love/hate relationship for sure. With a lot of emphasis on the hate part.
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
I'm absolutely loving it!
2. What was your favorite part?
I love how interactive it is
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
i love how it jumps between the both, it works very well.
4. Who is your favorite character?
I have no particular fave, i love them all
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
i went with the GXG romance and it was a bit tricky at first untill i got into it.
I am desperate for the next chapter! i know you are busy but please soon!! i need it!
When there are more chapters i will be purchasing gold because im really loving this and you had done some amazing work.
Thank you so much for playing, I'm so glad you enjoyed! Chapter 3 will hopefully be out very soon, all the writing is done I'm just programming and getting some more art in there to say thanks to everyone for waiting. (: I hope you like that one too!
If chapter 3 is as amazing as the first two (which I have no doubt it will be) then I will throughly enjoy it, just as much as i did the first two.
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes! One of the best games I have ever played!
2. What was your favorite part?
Oh! My favorite part was when Santana got Lucy a birthday present. It was cute of him since he's only like that to Lucy.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
It was wonderfully balanced.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Aldrich or Santana. I can't choose.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I started with Aldrich and my gosh. I did not know where to start until I looked at the guide. xD I think it's just because I have no common sense though. But when I got in the right path, no gosh! Aldrich became my favorite character besides Santana!
Santana and Lucy are the best, I love moments with them because I didn't get to do much with them in the first chapter. It was really great to squeeze more of them in chapter 2. >w< I'm so glad to hear you like Aldrich! I can't wait to do the story from his perspective, he's one of my favorites too. thank you so much for playing and I hope you enjoy chapter 3!
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes! It was simply wonderful!
2. What was your favorite part?
I liked the little moments the best- for some reason the whole thing with Basil was very memorable. He had nothing to do with the main plot and the MCs just helped him out anyway (in my game). It helped me develop their characters in my head a lot more.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I think it was well-done- the switching didn't feel awkward or inappropriate. The pacing of the story itself has me a bit confused, though, because at first I thought the story was going to follow Lilie and Aldrich as they progressed up to battle the king but, considering our current pace, I now wonder if we're going to end the story with them just reaching level two. Which wouldn't be a bad thing! I love the story- I'm just wondering how it can be brought to a close in four more episodes.
4. & 5. Who is your favorite character? Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Natalie. I love duty-bound perfectionist types. Furthermore I'm excited to see what "being together" would mean in this world- considering that they are both harlequins. Homophobia doesn't seem to be an issue in this setting but can harlequins marry? How do they balance their responsibilities to their wife/husband and their Reaver? I assume if the can get married then they'd need their Reaver's permission to. So many questions I hope to find the answers to!
The little moments are my favorite! I loved writing Basil, his scenes were so much fun (and so sad) to do. I've struggled with the pacing of this since I have a lot I want to accomplish, but I can tell you this— there will almost certainly be time skips bigger than the two a day skips I did in chapter two. Natalia and Lilié's relationship is going to be so fun to explore. Thanks so much for playing!
I'm playing the free version for now, but will be buying the full one when I'm able to. Will downloading it make me have to start over, or will my progress from the free version be transferred over?
And now onto the questions.
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes, very much. It's the most fun visual novel I've played because it isn't just reading a story and making choices every now and then. Getting to go on quests, earn money, buy clothes, and battle people makes it so much more entertaining.
2. What was your favorite part?
I know this was a very minor, unimportant moment, but I love when Aldrich helps Min with his romance problem by flirting with him. I thought it was adorable. (And I'm not gonna lie. I ship them even though they'll never end up together. Lol)
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I think every good story should have both serious and comedic moments, and they work perfectly well the way they're done in this game.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Aldrich. He's too adorable. I'm very anxious to be able to play as him and see everything from his perspective.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Natalia. It's been very easy because I've gotten most of her scenes on the first try. I'm very excited for her and Lilie (who I renamed Sophie) to end up together in a future chapter.
Thank so much for playing and I'm glad you enjoyed! I have so much fun writing the little side quests, so I'm happy to hear one of them was your favorite part xD
I think right now, buying Golden will make you have to start over. I'm working on a way to have data simply transfer over, so I apologize about that.
You're very welcome. I imagine it's very fun coming up with stuff like that. ^^
Oh okay. It's not a problem. :)
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
That would be a yes
2. What was your favorite part?
I really liked the fighting scenes, they were very well written and the timed interactive part really added to making the reader feel engaged
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I think the comedy and drama were in good proportion to each other and when it switched it did' come off as an awkward switch.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Think I'm going to have to Say Aldrich, but I really enjoyed most of the characters, even Santana. Not so much Lucy but I feel like he's there to be hated.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I ended up going for Aldrich, but I'm disappointed not to be able to go for Fenris or the others. I'm looking forward to the Aldrich point of View :)
Thank you so much for making this game, I love the plot and the writing so much, at first I wasn't so interested in the artwork, but it has grown on me and everything is really great. I will try to pay for the Golden version, probably when chapter 3 comes out
Are we only allowed to play as the girl or could we play as the boy?
Eventually you'll be able to play as both- but the game's not finished yet. Right now Only Lilié's route up to chapter 2 is complete.
dv;s,dmf i was gonna donate to buy the golden circus but i dont have paypal im !! im gonna convince my brother to help me make one tho bc i lovee lilie and aldrich sm
Oh that's so nice of you! Thank you so much ;u;
LOL I'm being so creepy. release day for chapter 3 says around end of May I check on very last day of the month. I can't wait to see cross dressed Aldrich and Lilie battle a duke on his own turf. XD
Sorry! The writer needed more time than anticipated ^^; I can't give you a confirmed date yet, but it's in production!
Hi! Just an update- so the other writer is no long working on the project, as she wasn't able to fit it in her schedule. Therefore, I can confirm that I am making progress on the script! I'm hoping for at least an August release, but we'll see!
heya been a long time since i last checked in, any new chapters?
Not yet unfortunately! Chapter 3's writer needed a bit more time than expected.
Hi! Just an update- so the other writer is no long working on the project, as she wasn't able to fit it in her schedule. Therefore, I can confirm that I am making progress on the script! I'm hoping for at least an August release, but we'll see!
Please tell me the next chapter is almost complete and my obsessive page stalking will soon be rewarded with adorable pointy-eared goodness! I have been behaving, promise!
xD It is almost complete art wise! Just two cgs left and some expressions for the new sprites. Someone else is writing chapter 3, and they just finished their exams, so they should be starting back up from their break again soon!
Can't wait! ♥
Hi! Just an update- so the other writer is no long working on the project, as she wasn't able to fit it in her schedule. Therefore, I can confirm that I am making progress on the script! I'm hoping for at least an August release, but we'll see!
I'm so super sad about this but thank you for the update! I really can't wait so I wish you the best of luck! =]
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
OMG YES!! I usually don't like playing as more uptight girls like Lilie, but turns out I loved her! Also, Aldrich is precious asf.
2. What was your favorite part?
Idk why but I really liked when Lilie (SPOILER FOR ANYONE WHO HASNT PLAYED YET!) finds Aldrich about to kill himself because of the noble lady and everything that goes down from there.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
You could tell when parts were meant to be funny and when parts where meant to be funny and it didn't come off as jumpy at all.
4. Who is your favorite character?
ALDRICHHH I love that precious lil boi but i'm also curious about Lucy and Santana
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I didn't really have anyone in mind tbh but I ended up getting with Aldrich (at least I think by the way him and Lilie acted towards each other.. It seemed like he had a lil crush on her) and I love them together !! it wasn't super hard to romance them at all and their interactions were 11/10 sweet
Ahh, I'm so glad you ended up liking Lilie! She's a lot of fun to write. I was sort of worried about that scene in chapter two, because it's definitely a tone shift, so it makes me happy to hear it's your favorite. ;u; Thank you so much for playing and I'm so glad you enjoyed! Aldrich is definitely one of my favorites too, especially in his more serious moments (although his jokes are great). I hope you like chapter 3 just as much!
heya, haven't checked in in a while, are there any new chapters?
Working on Chapter 3 now! There are two out of five/six cg's done, new outfits for each sprite, and all the backgrounds have been finished. I'm hoping to have it done by the end of april, and to code and test it to have it released in May!
Hah hah, the best laid plans... I don't think I'll get it completely done by the end of may, but I've put another project on hiatus to focus more exclusively on this one, so the art should be finished at least! I have another writer helping me with the next two chapters, so really it's the art slowing me down this time.
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes! I am so excited for the following chapters!
2. What was your favorite part?
The beginning when Aldrich kept on surprising me with ridiculous nicknames.
Although beating Lucy and Santana came in as a close second. :D
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
The transitions were fine, realistic in my opinion.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Aldrich! He is so optimistic and easygoing yet clever when it comes to battling and manners.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I am attempting to get Aldrich but I feel like I am scoring higher with Natalia based on how much our relationship has been mentioned by others. I think both are pretty easy to romance though.
Final Notes: I absolutely love your soundtrack! The music never fails to get me pumped up for the game play.
Oh my god, seeing you say you liked the soundtrack made me so happy ;u; I'm not a composer and really it was just me fiddling around in GarageBand trying to find something that worked... thank you so much!
I'm glad you liked Aldrich! In the demo, everyone mentioned that Natalia seemed very difficult to get closer to, but I think I've gotten a good balance between both romances. Of course, you can't have your cake and eat it to, so if Aldrich starts drawing away from you, that might be an indicator that you're on Natalia's path!
Thank you for playing, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Holy cow! That was "messing around in GarageBand"?! DANG! Absolutely loved the story and soundtrack, both had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I did notice a few issues just in spelling and using the incorrect word tense, but very easy to overlook. If you don't have someone already proofreading the game script, I'd be ecstatic to offer my help. I've only recently started with renpy, but I'm learning the interface quickly, and the engine is well designed to be receptive to fast changes.
Getting back to gushing, however...
ASHFJSKLAOMFLADGMA SO GOOD. The writing is intense and really draws the reader in, the music sets the scene perfectly, the interactions between characters are smooth and enjoyable, the dialouge choices are clear and provide interesting differences. Pardon the run-on sentences, but I just - gah! - this game is sooo good. I was cracking up a few times at the comedy gold in some of these scenes. Looking forward to more.
Nooo you're gonna make me cry ; ; Thank you so much for your kind comments, they really made my day. I'd love to know what parts you laughed at! I do have some people who help me test, but not anyone who really seriously goes through and proofreads. For chapter 3 and 4 though, I have someone else writing, so that should help narrow down the errors with us both checking it out. But thank you though, I'm not gonna turn down extra help if you're up for it!
I really liked the soundtrack too. My favorite is the battle theme music during duels. It reminds me of a Pokemon gym battle for some reason but I love it.
Haha wow, I love the pokemon music so I'm honored you think so! xD
I loved this game! Very intriguing and interesting!! Cannot wait for more!
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Ohmygod, YES! Is that even a question?
2. What was your favorite part?
The mansion was definitely intriguing but I did like the battles the most. Especially the training ones with Natalia and Siegfried!
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I loved the comedy, drama, romance, all of it together! It fit well and I don't think it could've been done better.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Mari, was her name? She was so quiet and nice, I loved her
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Natalia, obviously. No, I didn't find it difficult. It was put together quite well. ^-^
Haha 'obviously' xD I'm glad you liked Natalia! She's a sort of different character for me to write, so it's always interesting seeing what she says next xD I'm also happy to hear you like Mari! I don't hear much about her, but she is a sweetie. Thank you for playing, and I hope you like chapter 3!
Hi there! I just want to say keep up the good work
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
I am obsessed and can't wait for the next chapters. But no rush!
2. What was your favorite part?
When Lilie goes looking for the ghost in the library….there was an actual ghost
FREE ROAM in the mansion! I had no qualms about stealing clothes from a dead person XD
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I like the funny parts there were jumps not odd ones. I like the patches of serious my favorite is "my life is not a mess"
4. Who is your favorite character?
First let me just say the character designs are on point! I love them. I don't know why but I love the fabulous Lucy and Sanata the violent kleptomaniac pair. Min is so adorable I want to see more of him.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I was too busy trying to figure out just what kind of world I was dealing with and I unintentionally romanced Natalia. LOL. On my second run through I romanced Aldrich. It wasn't difficult, and I love his heart-to-heart scenes.
Thank you, I'm so glad you're enjoying it! The next chapter will be out very soon. ^^
The ghost scene was really fun to write, all of the free roam scenes are really, it gives me a chance to kind of unwind from the plot and just go crazy xD I'm glad to see some love for Lucy and Santana, Lucy is so fabulous his outfits are my favorite haha.
Aldrich's scenes are probably some of my favorites, because he generally acts so carefree, it's a lot of fun for me to write him in those moments when he's being more genuine.
I hope you like the next chapter just as much!
OMG I'M SO EXCITED FOR CH.3!!!!!!
Just finished 3.3 release and i love it so far, awesome job! One of my new favorite VNs (>.<)
I have been enjoying the game rather much. I have been trying to purchase the gold version, but the paypal tip function seems to be broken. Is there an alternate means to pay for it?
Oh I'm sorry about that! Unfortunately the only means of payment I have set up right now is paypal. I'll look into things on my end and make sure nothing I've done is causing the glitch
Thank you for looking into itand thank you for your time.
I think I found the issue! I updated my PayPal email and it hadn't yet been updated here. If you attempt to purchase again please let me know if it's working!
Worked. Thank you again.
It's not working for me, either; it says "Failed to create PayPal transaction." I checked a few other games and I'm not getting this issue, so it might have to do with how your payment link is set up.
I think I found the issue! I updated my PayPal email and it hadn't yet been updated here. If you attempt to purchase again please let me know if it's working!
It's working, but I think you've messed up the payment options. It says:
Some payment methods are not available for this transaction.
Credit Card - You may not use a credit card to fund this payment. Please use a bank account.
This payment can only be funded with credit card.
So the only available payment methods are PayPal balance or a credit/debit card linked to a bank account.
That's odd :/ I haven't changed anything else about my account, so I'm not sure what needs to be done to fix that. I'll have to do a little research! Thank you for informing me, I'll let you know when I figure out what's happened!
I've tried to look up information regarding how to fix the subject, but have been unable to find a way. Nothing in my PayPal settings seem to correlate to it either. Sorry about that! I'll keep looking but I'm not sure I'll be able to fix it.
Hi there again! I finally had the time to play the second chapter, and I think enough things have changed in my overall opinions to complete the questions again, so there will be SPOILERS again!
But first of all, I must tell one thing. In my previous comment, about the first chapter only, I said how much I loved this game, but also that I was a bit disappointed because only Lilié's route was being made at the time being, and that I liked Aldrich more. I was a bit upset since I didn't really like or care about Lilié as a MC, while she's okay overall. Well, I've decided that I'll replay from the beginning, and I'll try other answers and actions and so on. And I have to admit, with that she really grew up on me. I ended up really caring about her even before starting the new chapter, and of course even more after doing it. So yeah, now I'm even more eager to see the next chapters!
Oh, and I also wanted to mention - I see you corrected the bug where the date quest couldn't be completed. I've downloaded this chapter before the change, so I had the bug, but I also had it for the basement cleaning quest - might as well say it now, in case it was overlooked or something. Also, does that affect something in the story? If something happens when you finish all the quests, I'll download the game again - otherwise I'll let it be.
And now, onto the questions!
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
That you already know! Yes, a lot - no need to go to lenghts again with this one!
2. What was your favorite part?
The ribbon quest still is one of my favorite parts, but I also liked Basil's plotline, and oh dear, the first part of the second chapter... All the stuff in the mansion, with that crazy Emilie. I was so on edge and uneasy during the whole thing - but in a good way it was really great. And oh my, the ending part of that arc.... nooope :(
I wonder, does this arc exist in Aldrich route? Since you're "controlling" Aldrich and all. I mean, sure the characters do lots of things on their own, but I guess you can choose a bit more if he does something or not, right? (if you don't feel like spoiling, feel free not to answer to my question haha)
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
So far so good!
4. Who is your favorite character?
I'm still deeply in love with Siegfried and upset about him not being a romance option haha! And I still love Aldrich, and now Lilié too. Now, about other characters, now that I did his storyline, I really care about Basil too - I genuinely wanted for him to be happy. And also, Santana. I kind of liked him from the beginning, but he didn't appear enough for me to have a clear opinion. Now that I've seen him a bit more, I can confirm he's very cool and that I like him a lot!
Still, Siegfried remains my number 1!
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Well, since I did different choices than before and all that stuff, this time I've actually tried romancing Aldrich, and I have to say doing so is very interesting and really helps in understanding the characters. I don't regret doing so!
Now, do I find it difficult? Well, yes and no? I mean, he isn't too difficult to please and I do believe I'm doing well enough, but since I don't know how far can the relationship go at that point, I don't know if this is actually true - I could as well be ruining the ting without noticing (well, I don't think it would be THAT bad, but you get my point haha)
And I'd love to see screenshots of the outfits you guys put together!
Here you go - http://sta.sh/01103mlilejv
Thank you again for the wonderful game! I'll be waiting for the next chapter!
I'm so glad you've come to like Lilié! Thank you for telling me about the basement quest, I'll check that out. As far as the story, different outfits are unlocked by finishing different quests, but it doesn't affect the story, so don't worry! As for how Aldrich's route plays out, you'll just have to wait and see ;)
You do get to learn a little more about both characters through their romance, so I'm glad you gave it a try! Thanks for the screenshot, love the look >w<
Thank you again for your lovely comments
HI! Is it possible that there is a reason why I am unable to open the game? I tried but it closes after i click on it..... i really want to play this game
I'm sorry about that! Would you mind telling me what operating system you're using? I haven't had anyone else with that problem, so I'm not sure what the issue is, but I can try re uploading it for you
I'm using MacBook Air macOS sierra. Does this help?
I am on a MacBook pro running Sierra, and I can't seem to reproduce this problem, I'm sorry! Maybe try re-downloading?
I started playing the game and really liked it!! but it doesnt let me choose if I want to be Aldrich or Lilie, I'm on the third day already and I don't know if that's normal? I really want to play as Aldrich... (The game is amazing btw!!)
Unfortuantely, right now only Lilié's route is completed! I'll be working on finishing her route entirely before I go back and make Aldrich's. Sorry about that
I apologize if I'm mistaken, but is part of that soundtrack Jade by TacticalLazerKittyz? https://soundcloud.com/tacticallazerkittyz/jade-20
No I made all the songs myself! They were done using loops in garageband, nothing too fancy, so if Jade happened to use the same loop during a part it wouldn't surprise me if they sound the same. I really just threw the music together so it wouldn't sound quiet, garageband has lots of freeware loops available and it's easy to combine them to make something that sounds at least a little interesting
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes! I absolutely loved it! I never was too interested in Visual Novels and, to tell you the truth, didn't expect much from this one but boy was I wrong. I'm fairly surprised at the pricing in particular. The quality of this VN overall is 9/10 so I'm a bit surprised that the full version, once released, will be totally free (happy, though, nonetheless).
2. What was your favorite part?
Either the yellow ribbon quest or the part where Lilie and Aldrich got themselves caught up with the Reaver-eating cult. Both were quite entertaining and interesting.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
No, no, I quite loved the comedic moments. I feel that the comedy was mixed with the drama very well and honestly left me wanting more. I think the comedy/drama mixture is one of the key features in this VN that catches the audiences eye. Or maybe that's just me haha. The scene at the end of Chapter 2 with Lilie and Aldrich has to be my favorite so far.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Hmm, I'd have to say Siegfried. His story is really interesting and I like his personality. Ultimately, though, Leslie, Siegfried, and Natalia are all my favs so far.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Well, I'm incredibly gay, so I went straight for Natalia hahaha. I like her personality and her character design quite a bit. Her backstory is probably the thing I love the most about her though as it's kind of the opposite of Lilie's backstory yet just as interesting. I do wish there were more f/f options though. For a moment I though the servant human girl was going to be an option but I was mistaken haha. I'm ultimately fine with just Natalia, but more female options would be a plus haha.
Overall, I'm quite surprised at how impressive this Visual Novel is coming along so far. It left me disappointed over the realization that the full version hasn't come out yet. Anyways I love it so far so keep up the good work :)
Thank you so much for playing! I'm happy you enjoyed it. The ribbon quest is my favorite part as well, at least in chapter 1. The more I write about these characters the more I fall in love with them, so I'm so happy to hear other people are enjoying them too. Unfortunately there will only be the two love interests for this game, sorry about that! Thank you for taking the time to comment
is there a new chapter out yet? :3
Unfortunately chapter 3 might be a little longer than expected, but it is in the making
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
I absolutely did :D It's just two chapters but it's great already ^^
2. What was your favorite part?
I really like the story, it's unique. Battles and clothes are fun features ^^ I like that I can just go around the city.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
Comedy and drama is well balanced. I love the humour and fact that there's still an interesting story ^^
4. Who is your favorite character?
Leslie and Min those two cutie pies ^^
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I was doing a little for both, but since I met Leslie I stayed with Natalia, left boys to each other. They're both easy to romance with ^^
I have one problem though D: I can't see clothes, when I click them they're on character but they're not on list. Is this because of my computer or some settings or is it a bug?
Thank you for playing and for your lovely comments! I'm so sorry about the clothes! Do you mean you don't see the names of them in the list in the bag? Is it all of them or just a specific f
All of them, there are just blank spaces, I managed to change them by clicking in different places but it's really uncomfortable '^^ And like I said when I click them they're on character. The problem is the list :)
Thank you for your feedback! I'll look into this!
Just found out it's probably just some settings in my computer, 'cause there's also no text in menu in other VN, so sorry for bother '^^
Oh okay!
Can I use a debit card to pay for the extra stuff or do I have to use PayPal?
as far as I remember - only PayPal
In the process of translation, I was faced with the fact that the novel is not told who the Rivers. Can I add a link to some obscure in the story of the words. An example of "the Rivers" - the Supreme being....and so on right in the text?
Good day! I write to you in your wonderful project - the arena of the Circus, I began to translate your game on Russian language. Also I will post a report on the work done at this address http://anivisual.net/board/1-1-0-533?lhNmgf To contact me, please write on my email andredron12@yandex.ru I'm doing translations on a voluntary basis, does not need anything
Hello! Thank you, that's a really generous offer, but as the VN isn't finished yet I'm not sure translating it is a good idea, considering things might change in editing and such
Well, for a while the project is frozen. If there are changes write to me on my email
Do you plan to translate it into Spanish?
I don't speak Spanish, and don't have the resources to hire someone to translate it, so unfortunately I don't think so ^^; sorry!
omigosh~ i love this game sooooooooo much!! the first two chapters are AMAZING! cx i cant wait for the next chapters!!
Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes. It felt very unique, and I liked that you had a lot of options. I found myself easily immersed and it was overall very enjoyable.
What was your favorite part?
I liked the battle scenes, the ability to affect the outcome of such battles, and the clothing system. They both add to the uniqueness of the game.
There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I felt that they blended in fine. The comedic moments were enjoyable and they weren't too abundant.
Who is your favorite character?
Natalia and Siegfried.
Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I romanced Natalia, and I found that it was easy enough to romance her.
Bug/Typo
I had multiple pieces of the same clothes if I chose to replay the game, e.g 3 harlequin shirts/leggings, etc.
'liek' instead of 'like' in one of the scenes where you go with Natalia to get water for Aldrich/Siegfried.
'Imaginaation' or 'Imaagination' instead of 'imagination' in a scene with Lilie, but I can't remember where, sorry.
Sinical did not give me any clothes, despite him apparently giving me a brown bag that contained some.
The 'owner' (of the Vanilla tearoom) did not give me pants/leggings despite saying she did, and I could not complete her mission. I could just keep repeating it with no outcome.
I could not go on a date as Lillie, it said 'no outfit' or something along those lines on an error screen, and hitting ignore didn't work because there was no outfit to equip in my inventory, so I had to send Aldrich instead.
In one of the scenes with Lucy (I believe near the end, but I can't remember exactly) it came up with an error, and clicking ignore just kept bringing back another error, but with a different line of code, like xxx1 xxx2 xxx3 xxx4, etc, so I had to rollback and do something else.___
You said that you couldn't think of a way of giving context/information about the battles/world, etc. Well I thought a solution could just be a book option in the library. (If you can easily implement something like that in Renpy). That way players would need only read it if they're interested.
Thank you for your wonderful comments! I'm so glad you enjoyed the game. I'm looking into the errors you mentioned now! I'll let you know once I find them. You're not the only one who mentioned the basement quest, though I've been having a little trouble reproducing the problem!
Edit
I fixed the basement and date quest errors! Now I'm just searching for the Lucy scene. If you happen to remember anything else, please let me know!
As for the clothes in the brown paper bag from Sinical, those are the clothes that Aldrich and Lilié are wearing at the end of the chapter! The pants from the basement job, I simply forgot to add in, so I'll do that and update soon!
love it love it love it! can't wait for the next chapter omggg
Thanks so much!
do you perhaps have an ETA for the next chapter? so excited!
There will be a different writer for chapter 3 if all goes well, and she'll be starting at the end of this month. Hopefully I'll be able to get it out in February or March!
so long? D: nuuuu
Honestly, this chapter took me 7 months to get out so I'm just glad it's quicker than that xD But I was doing everything by myself, so adding another person to the mix should help things pick up!
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes, definitely! Certainly an interesting world, even if it took a bit to get the hang of some of the terminology. I mean I know it's not quite the focus of the story at large but I'm curious how winners are decided in the arena, what a "round" consists of, etc.
2. What was your favorite part?
This is going to be a weird thing but I liked having the timed decisionmaking in the arena matches! Usually visual novels are very veeeery light on the mechanics sort of stuff and even if it's just a small thing, the quick thinking aspect of the timed decisions gives the fight scenes a quicker pace and more of a narrative permanence, even if you can technically save before/during (which is fine, obviously)
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
I thought it worked pretty well! In fact I thought the drama was definitely the focus moreso than the comedy, whereas the comedy was more a moment of levity.
also i seriously cracked up at the scene with Lilie following Santana... "NOW HE'S STEALING WATER!" |D also great to see her doing something so... well, silly! Since she's usually playing the straight man. somebody's got a grudge~
4. Who is your favorite character?
I like Siegfried but sickly tall boys with glasses are my bias, soo... I also really like his and Natalia's relationship, and how they're kind of a more serious version of the protags in their dynamic. I want to see how Siegfried's optimism that humans and reavers can just talk out their differences gets tested when faced with the real sociopolitical upheaval that this rebellion likely entails, and how that'll compare to Aldrich's general eternal optimism (or breaking thereof - idk how dark this is going!)
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
I just kinda played through the game but I ended up, I assume, beginning to romance Natalia, which is a-ok with me! I like the idea of a romantic relationship between a non-point of view character being the one the game focuses on, though, so once it's complete I might get Aldrich and Leslie hooked up in a subsequent playthrough.
I really wanted to get more into the nitty gritty of battling, but I couldn't figure out how to do it without it turning into an info dump. Hopefully later chapters will give me more opportunities to slide in some more info every now and then. ^^ And that scene with Santana never failed to make me smile xD I wanted to give Lilié a moment to be a little silly, since she's usually trying to be the adult between her and Aldrich. Siegfried's views were always fun for me to explore, and I'm really looking forward to getting more into them in future chapters! I'm also excited to write the possible romance between Aldrich and Leslie, so I glad people are taking that route. >w<
Thanks for playing, and I hope you enjoy the next installment!
1. Did you enjoy it overall?
Yes, very much so! Some of the parts were a little slow paced (for example, the scene where Aldrich and Lilie spent three weeks at the cannibals house), but the whole thing make me happy!
2. What was your favorite part?
To be honest, all of the interactions with Leslie. Those were always the most entertaining aspect of the game in my opinion. My favorite part in the whole game is probably the date between Aldrich and Leslie, however I did enjoy the ribbon scene very much as well.
3. There are a lot of comedic moments, but was the drama included in a way that was able to put the comedy aside, or did it just seem an odd jump from comedy?
No, not at all! I loved the mix of the two.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Leslie and Aldrich.
5. Who did you start to romance? Did you find it difficult romancing the person you wanted?
Leslie, it wasn't that hard but there were parts where he didn't appear for a very long time.
And I'd love to see screenshots of the outfits you guys put together!
Can't wait for a new chapter :)
I was worried about the pacing in Emilie's mansion, but I'm glad it didn't take any too much from it xD Leslie is my favorite <3 His scenes are so fun to write, so I'm so happy you liked them. ^^ The new chapter should be up in a few months or so!
I spent a very good time playing this demo, so I'm gonna answer your questions!
Did you enjoy it?
Yes, a lot - I like the setting and the art/music. The characters are nice too! I can't wait for the full version to be released!
What was your favorite part?
The side-quest about Leslie's lost ribbon, I think. As silly as it may seem, it was quite endearing. And it really gives the "JRPG side-quest" vibes while playing a VN game!
How do you like the battle system? Were the right/wrong choices obvious, too subtle, or just right?
I like it very much! This is the first time I see that kind of battle system based purely on timed choices! The answers were right in my opinion, difficulty wise. They were not hard per se, but just right since this is chapter one!
Were there enough scenes? Did you find yourself with a lack of things to do? Were the scenes long enough?
Yeah! I don't think I even did all of the side scenes actually!
Did you enjoy the clothing options?
It is nice and pretty unique! I won't think of it as one of the main appeals of the game, but I still enjoy it.
There are moments where characters will comment on what you wear. Should I add more of this or did you have a lot of moments like that?
I didn't really have moments like that, but I like the idea.
Were the story/mandatory scenes paced well?
I think so, yeah.
Who is your favorite character?
Siegfried! But I also like Aldrich a lot, though I'd rather play as him so yeah, I must wait for the full release.
Who did you start to romance? Were the romantic scenes paced well considering this is only the first chapter?
I didn't start any romance - the character I was the nicest with was Fenris I think, but he isn't a romance option, so yeah...
Overall, I love this game, I love the battle system, I love the CGs and I like the sense of freedom it gives - VNs where you can actually wander around and do things at your own pace are an always welcomed rarity!
My only complaint is that I'm not very fond of Lilié, at least as MC (she's interesting, but I didn't like playing as her), so I was a little sad Aldrich wasn't playable in the demo. I don't like the romance options for Lilié either, since I wouldn't want to romance the other playable character, and I'm not into GxG. I really wish Siegfried and even more Fenris were options for her. If they were I'd actually play the full game at least once with Lilié, but as it is, I'll only play as Aldrich. This is why I haven't explored everything in this chapter yet - gonna save that for him!
By the way, do you have a release date planned?
Yessss, the lost ribbon quest is my favorite too! I'm glad you enjoyed the game, sorry you didn't care much for Lilié! The release date for Ch. 2 will be very soon, within the next few weeks, but for Lilié's whole route I'm thinking it won't be done until sometime next year. Unfortunately Aldrich's will be much later after that. But, I hope you do play when I can get it all together!
Of course, I can wait!
Out of curiosity for the story I may continue my playthrough, but without doing any romance it won't be the same I'm affraid. Oh, is it even possible to play without romancing anyone, actually? I know not all dating sims allow that
I understand that! My favorite part of VNs is usually the romance xD But it is definitely possible to play through without romancing anyone! There are two non romance ends out of the total six endings. And it's possible that, if you don't romance anyone, the love interest(s) will end up with someone else. There are options in the game that make this happen easier as well, so if you'd rather have aldrich x leslie with a little careful planning you can make it happen. ^^
Oh, that's a very interesting point! While the non-romance routes are something that may happen, this is the first time I see the option to actually make the other characters end up together! I don't know if I'll try to make that happen, but I love the idea!
I'm glad! I'd like to see it in more games too, especially if it's obvious two characters have chemistry! And it makes it a little more realistic that you (the mc) aren't their only option xD
First of all, I would just like to say I love everything about this game! The characters are engaging, the art is appealing, and the Emilie's thoughts are hilarious. However, I found a game breaking error. It occurs when you choose Emilie's route right after you battle Lucy and Santana. It says "an exception has occurred" and the exception is "Switch could not choose a displayable". I am using the mac version of the game. I hope this information helps!
thanks so much! I'll check out that error and get it fixed for the next update.
is this a commercial game? o-o the art totally looks like it!
Thank you so much for the kind words ; ; But no, this will be totally free!
eeeek that's exciting! :D
AMAZING GAME !!!! and yes caps is necessary. I played the game after like a month from when I downloaded it so I forgot that this is a demo
I was so into it and then bam the demo ended and I'm like ?????
I really liked the gameplay and the story of the game ! Can't wait for the full version :0)
xDD Sorry about that. I finally got past a block in writing chapter 2 so it'll be up hopefully soon! Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed it!