Chapter 193: Defective Product
"Should I log into the PC communication community for a moment?"
The current online community was more of a camaraderie hub where members shared reviews about released games rather than fresh insights into the gaming industry. Those using PC communication at this point were primarily early adopters and individuals with a fair bit of knowledge about PCs, making the dependence on offline game magazines quite significant compared to online sources.
However, despite this, the community was growing by the day, and gaming-related communities were on the rise.
Yuki would've probably complained if she saw me turning on the computer right after getting home without even taking a shower. But today, with no one around to object, this feels rather comfortable...
Preparing a warm cup of green tea in the chilly room, I decided to browse a community titled 'Pentagon World.'
True to its title, this space primarily covered games released by Pentagon and Laon, minimizing content from other gaming companies.
"Oh, looks like they've created a new board for 'Gift from the Gods.'"
Sipping the steamy green tea, I keyed in the newly assigned board number for 'Gift from the Gods.' Numerous related posts popped up.
[Impressions] Just got Gift from the Gods!! Initial impressions from the very beginning.
[Purchase Log] Waited eagerly and got it last night. Almost froze but managed to snag a limited quantity blanket!!
Despite being the release day, the newly created board had already reached post number 247.
But wait, why such an explosive response on its release day?
Even though I felt a rush of exhaustion hitting me as I arrived home after a night of accumulating fatigue, my curiosity about user reviews pushed me to check several posts.
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[Impressions] Gift from the Gods. Started with awe-inspiring moments right from the intro.
It's amazing. Playing a game after so long made my fingertips tingle with excitement. I'm not usually into classics, but the piano solo at the prologue is hands down one of the most memorable scenes among all the games I've played.
It's astounding how classical music can stir one's emotions.
By the way, does anyone know the title of the classical piece that played at the start?
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[Info] Check below.
It's sheet music 1 of Chopin's Nocturne (Op. 9).
Let me simplify this a bit. Chopin's Op. 9 consists of three parts, and among Chopin's Nocturnes, this one stands as the most popular piece.
I have to give a high score to Pentagon's Kang Junhyuk, the main director behind 'Gift from the Gods,' and Ueno, in charge of sound. Their selection of this piece for the prologue impressed me greatly.
Originally, Nocturnes were songs for evening prayers in churches, and Chopin's delicate and superior tones capture the essence of the night so beautifully that it's also referred to as a Nocturne.
When I heard that the game's theme would be classical music, I admit I felt more anxious than excited.
To fuse this rather niche and challenging genre with a game seemed like a risky move.
Moreover, I doubted whether Laon's current sound capabilities could convey the rich tones of classical music. (But that turned out to be my needless worry.)
Yet, just like the person below, I felt a thrill right from the beginning.
This might be a bit of a spoiler, but in Chapter 2, the concerto between the heroine Kaori and Niccol Paganini's 'Caprice No. 24' will truly give you a thrill.
(For those lacking rhythm or agility, you might face extreme difficulty. I barely managed to clear it after three tries.)
Reading a user's explanatory post on Chopin and Paganini, I couldn't help but chuckle. During the PC communication era, since there wasn't a comment system below posts, whenever someone asked a question, someone else would reply with informative posts like this. Was that why there were hardly any simple abbreviations like 'lol' or 'btw,' almost like exchanging letters, checking each other's posts for fun?
Amidst this, another post caught my eye.
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[Question] What does the protagonist mutter before playing in the prologue?
-Elohim Essaim, Elohim Essaim... Everything shall be done according to my will.-
'Elohim Essaim'?
It was so cool muttering that amidst such a solemn atmosphere.
Where does this quote come from?
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[Answer] Check below~
-Elohim Essaim, Elohim Essaim... Everything shall be done according to my will.-
I, too, was slightly surprised by this part.
This isn't just a casual quote; it's a kind of incantation used in occult contexts.
However, unlike the game's title, this isn't a chant directed towards 'God' but rather used when making a wish to 'the devil.' The fact that the first line in the game's opening speech is a demonic incantation is quite striking when considering the warm title 'Gift from the Gods.'
But as I read other posts, something struck me. Isn't Caprice No. 24, the concerto between Kaori in Chapter 2, the representative piece of Niccol Paganini, known as the 'Devil's Violinist'?
For a title like 'Gift from the Gods,' the protagonist's first words, or the selection of music, seems closely linked to the devil, giving me goosebumps.
I'm really curious about who the female lead is that reversed the protagonist's time.
Similar to 'Streets Without Me' or 'Valentine's Day,' I personally anticipate a massive twist in the final part of this work.
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[Question] Oh? Is there a collaboration with Kaori in Chapter 2?
I was just playing Chapter 2, but I didn't have a collaboration event with Kaori.
Instead, there was a piano duet event with Satsuki-sensei, who is in charge of the protagonist's lessons.
Personally, Kaori is my favorite among the four heroines, so how can I collaborate with her in Chapter 2? Please tell me how to do it.
---
However, the answer to that question is revealed through a post from an unexpected user...
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[Info] After receiving rank D in Gala Show and starting the game, I immediately got a game over.
Hello.
I'm someone who has only played the recorder a few times in elementary school, so I'm not great at music.
When I heard that a game based on music was coming out, I was thinking of passing, but it was a graphic novel released by 'Pentagon,' so I ended up buying it.
- To be honest, I was captivated by the beautiful backs of the heroines... (laughs) -
But, as expected, I faced difficulties from the first prologue. Is there something wrong with my fingers? Even though I pressed the buttons in time with the timing bar, I failed on the first attempt due to a slight delay in each timing, and I barely cleared it on the second attempt.
The grade was rank D.
A message appeared in the dialogue box saying, 'The audience's reaction is cold.' After that, I leave the stage without the heroine handing me a bouquet and riding together in a car, as originally intended by the story.
However, since I got rank D, the heroine, who was blind to the player, leaves disappointed before the protagonist, who is left alone in the car, suddenly gets into a traffic accident, resulting in a game over. Is it because there is no heroine to turn back time for the protagonist?
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"Huh... Unless you're a complete beginner. The prologue was made easy for anyone to clear with a little caution, but Chopin's Nocturne is beautiful and flashy, and because it doesn't use a fast tempo, beginners can easily achieve a full combo S rank with repeated practice."
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[Response] Below, try practicing in practice mode and then play.
From the post you wrote, it seems that 'Gift from the Gods' is not just a branching event for selecting dialogue in the game, but the story seems to change based on the completion of the piano performance.
By the way, in the post below, the collaboration with Kaori in Chapter 2 does not occur if you clear with rank B. Instead, you collaborate with the university junior cellist, Haruka Ohtani.
---
Upon seeing that post, numerous players realized that they might have to start the game all over again.
To collaborate with Kaori, you had to achieve a full combo S rank in Chopin's Nocturne, so it was challenging without concentration.
By the way, as Uchimura and Morita mentioned, Kaori's popularity is soaring...
Even on the day of the pre-order, the Kaori figure version was the first to be sold out, is it the power of blondes?
Unconsciously sipping the lukewarm green tea, I looked at the four heroines displayed in the glass showcase in one corner of the living room.
The 1/8 scale Yukinojo Kaori, created with Morita's designs and Uchimura's ideas, was limited to just 500 pieces for each heroine.
Ranking them based on personal preference, I also think that Kaori, the character that both of them devoted the most effort to, is the best. Next is Satsuki, the protagonist's mentor. Is it because her chest revealed through the purple rehearsal dress is quite impressive?
Third is another childhood friend of the protagonist, 'Igawa Rei.' Like her shy personality, the light sky-blue dress suited her very well.
Lastly, in a category that appeals to a certain audience, the protagonist's junior.
'Ohtani Haruka.' Wearing a pink dress the same color as her hair, her appearance was well in line with the cute younger sister image.
"Someday, it will come. The era of the great loli!!"
Shouting this, Morita, filled with Uchimura's spirit, created characters with a personal touch.
Oh... That's probably why I still haven't found a woman who suits my taste...
But in some ways, I can't help but shudder at Morita's foresight, as the era of Lolita fashion for certain gamers did happen from the late 90s, as he wished...
Emptying the lukewarm green tea, I thought I should take a shower. At that moment, a post that had just been uploaded caught my eye.
[Question] Is it just mine that's defective? Sometimes, during the game, there's a beeping sound.
And as soon as I saw the title of that post, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
'Someone has already experienced that...?'
>
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