Groundhog Days
(Played on Vita with Japanese text. Funny enough, there is one pornographic bit in this one…)
If any visual novel despising Game Bro has played everything Bioware had prepared for its Mass Effect trilogy, they had already experienced what visual novel loving weebs know as Fan Disc in Mass Effect 3’s the Citadel DLC. Like Fan Discs, Citadel goes for a different tune than its main game in the usual direction of from dramatic to comedic. With dating sim style visual novel series usually goes for the anthology approach when it comes to numbered installments, Fan Discs are usually the closest things to direct sequels in which one gets to spend more time with characters one likes in the main game.
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia is one of those sequels or Fan Disc. Setting 8 months after Fate/Stay Night, Hollow Ataraxia tells the story about how 7 sides of a deadly Battle Royal settle down and just mangle with each other in some cool autumn day activities. There are some high stakes here need to be resolved before the credits roll, but those moments are hardly what one come here for.
“Type Moon goes open world” is a joke that two Abnormal Mapping podcasts used but it does describe Hollow Ataraxia’s brand of choose-your-own-adventure well. Unlike the branching paths of Stay Night, Hollow Ataraxia just gives you a map of the city and you choose where you want to go and get into some shenanigan with whoever is there. One day is usually divided into 3 parts, morning, afternoon and evening, but some shenanigans take up more than one third of a day. There are no consequences for choices here, just getting through the right kind and amount of shenanigans would push the plot forward.
Hollow Ataraxia should not be taken seriously and it tells you that plainly from the very beginning. The game opens with the telling of a horror story but it’s merely the set-up for a joke with people’s overreactions being the punchline. Fake cliffhangers are present as well, like after a long discussion about which girl is best at being a little sister, a discussion about which woman is best at being a big sister is initiated before it’s cut off. Those should be taken as punchlines on their own instead of set-up for something else, as the very last scene plays out in the same fashion.
Despite being in a 4 days long time loop, everything a high school comedy has to offer is present. Culture Festival in the fall? No problem, even though the real thing will take place beyond those 4 days, they can do a dress rehearsal, which makes no difference if you are reading it in visual novel form. Want to see pretty girls showing skin, tits and asses by the beach? Though it’s October, they can do that in the safety of an indoor marine park.
It’s not all fun and game though as there is the subplot about cleaning up the aftermath of the Battle Royal. And some contents there is problematic to say the least. An obvious rape would take place soon before all is said and done, even in the “cleaned up” Vita port yours truly had played. They sure were pushing that CERO C, 15 and above, rating. Pull one out for Japanese voice actress Ami Koshimizu here, voicing the moaning, screaming victim in that scene must had taken a tone on her throat back then.
Despite that ugly business, yours truly would recommend Hollow Ataraxia to those who enjoy Groundhog Day. Time-loop rom-com is as rare as good comedy in video game form after all. Hollow Ataraxia has enough comedic energy to keep its about 50 hours long run time not dull.