Review: Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers
If you’ve played the first installment of Arcade Spirits, you may have high expectations for this rightfully beloved visual novel. But do not approach this game with any apprehension, The New Challengers is, against all odds, even better! You will be absolutely charmed and thrilled by this indie gem that has some of the best writing I have ever encountered, delightfully retro yet modern and vibrant aesthetics, and fantastic dating sim gameplays.
A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures
In my view, no matter how many shiny things you surround the text with, you cannot camouflage bad writing in a visual novel. And likewise, a great story can effortlessly carry the player from beginning to end with the sheer power of words. This is exactly what the first Arcade Spirits did, and what this one does – and even better, to a certain extent. In this installment, you play as, once again, a young adult in a semi-existential crisis, at crossroads in their life with a big dream, in a euchronic future where arcades have not fallen out of fashion, and instead, have only risen in popularity (if only!). This time, rather than try and run an arcade in a ruthlessly capitalistic society, you want to make it into the hyper-competitive world of esports in a game called Fist of Discomfort 2 – connoisseurs will recognize this game from the first Arcade Spirits! — with the help of your AI companion Iris and teammates you will learn to love (platonically and/or romantically, your have the complete freedom to pursue any or no relationship type). You drive the narrative with the mere power of decision-making in the form of dialogue options in this visual novel that is halfway between a choices-matter game and a dating sim, while still retaining its unique aura and sense of artistry. It truly has a heart and soul that is beyond any constraining boxes and labels of genre.
What made the first Arcade Spirits shine amongst a plethora of good indie visual novels is not only the brilliancy of the textual and visual narrative it carries, but also the richness and diversity of its characters. None of the characters felt flat, they were all quite multilayered, likeable, and relatable to various extents. I didn’t think it was possible, but The New Challengers does this even better. You will not want to put the game down; this visual novel is a virtual page-turner!
A Vibrant Cast of Friends and Enemies
Another tour de force of this game is rejuvenating the game while keeping and honoring the Arcade Spirits core that all the fans adore. I can imagine it must have been an incredibly difficult balancing act which was masterfully achieved. The characters are again the heart and motor of the game, and we still find the same(-ish) five personality traits: kind, quirky, gutsy, steady, and flexible, that you can develop and increase in an RPG-esque manner depending on your choices. We meet six completely new characters to befriend (or not) and romance (or not), with very fresh, diverse, and multilayered personalities that do not fall into clichés or easy tropes, and are not simply direct counterparts of the characters of the first game. And as much I loved (and loved to hate) the characters from the previous game, these ones are growing on me even faster... Even Iris now has more personality, on a scale between chaotic and orderly depending on your choices throughout the game.
One aspect I particularly appreciate is the malleability of the protagonist, and the diversity and richness of all characters – one character uses they/them pronouns, Ben and Matt are an adorable husband and husband pair, one character has a physical disability, and a variety of body sizes, styles, skin colors, and gender configurations are represented. The best part is that it does not feel forced in, all of these identity markers are carefully imbricated into personality and interact within a constellation of other traits. Diversity is never plastered in or vapid, it enriches personality and narrative. Moreover, this time around, not only can you romance any (or none — which is made clear to be just as valid a choice) of the six characters, you also get to have a face and body of your own (of the shape and configuration you want) that shows up on screen, making scenes much more dynamic, less static; a vibrant icon that represents your online persona; and you choose amongst 15 different sets of pronouns. Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers offers a masterclass in representation.
Let your Personality Shine Bright!
Beyond the endearing story and characters, you will certainly fall in love with the visual and auditory aesthetics. The vivid colors, the very clean art, and the satisfying sound effects all contribute towards modern retro aesthetics that are very pleasing to the eye and ear, topped off with bits of voice over dialogues. They capture the setting and atmosphere of the game so well, as it is set in parallel future that is rooted in the proliferation of the arcade era, a happy marriage between the late eighties and futuristic elements. It will make your nostalgic heart happy from the moment you boot up the game and are faced with a VHS-inspired interface and Windows 95 boxes, but with a resolutely modern and fresh twist.
The biggest addition to the game from its preceding installment is the addition of a Fist of Discomfort 2 mini-game. You remember that game that QueenBee was very fond of? Now you get to not only make your dream of being a champion of that game come true, but also play it yourself in the form of a little side game. I found myself truly enjoying this mini-game that is simple enough to not distract from the main game and not weigh it down, and engaging enough to make it a lovely intermission, a playful side-quest and punctuation in the narrative. And if it’s not your cup of tea, you can choose to skip it entirely without consequences.
A Delight from Beginning to End!
For all the reasons mentioned above, I cannot recommend Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers more heartily. As a big fan of the first game, I was excited yet apprehensive about this new installment (not a sequel per se, a fresh new game that retains its predecessor’s soul and charms), thinking it could not possibly live up to my expectations. However, I was ecstatic to realize that it does not fall short in any single aspect. Everything you loved about the first game is back but better, with some completely new additions as well that rejuvenate the game. Like its predecessor, all of the aesthetic, narrative, and gameplay components combine and have this enchanting je-ne-sais-quoi that captivates you and makes you forget all your woes. It will make your little queer heart squee in joy and it will carry you away to its lovely nostalgic world, whether you’ve played the first Arcade Spirits or not.
If visual novels, choices-matter games, and dating sims are up your alley, you must do yourself a favor and add this gem to your collection. You won’t be able to put the game down until you’re done with it, and then, you’ll just want to play it again to try different romance, friendship, and career options. Go and show Fist of Discomfort 2 who’s boss!
