The market for visual novels and interactive movies is growing significantly and is increasingly offering more deep and interesting games. This trend, which was a major fad decades ago during the first two generations of PlayStation, is more alive than ever thanks to games from China that offer different proposals. While some titles clearly rely on photos and videos of models as their main attraction, we must give a special shout-out to Knowledge, or know Lady for the depth of content it provides.
The game, also known as Ladies’ School Prince, in what seems to be a move that is not very clear from its actual title, is available on consoles and Steam. We initially saw it on Steam and later made it to consoles like PlayStation 5 in digital format.
Its story is about the only student at an all-girls high school/university, who has just arrived with the intention of studying and “surviving” the constant attention she will receive from her new friends. The story, which could be the basis of any manga or anime, becomes the focus of an interactive movie with more interaction than one could imagine.
Gameplay
In many interactive movies, all we do is watch videos and, in some cases, make decisions that branch out along different paths. But the development team at Knowledge, or know Lady has worked hard to introduce more gameplay depth. This can be seen from the first few minutes of the game, as we’ll not only make decisions but also participate in QTE sequences whose outcome will influence the progression of the story.
These QTEs are usually simple, such as pressing a button at the right time or performing a specific movement with the controller. It’s still possible to rewind the scene to change the outcome and try again if desired, but this doesn’t detract from the gameplay that strives to give the player more objectives than one might imagine.
Furthermore, throughout the story, we’ll also collect items that can play an active role in the development of the rest of the game. For example, in the first chapter, you can collect some candy and then give it to one of the girls when she tells you she’s hungry.
Like any good romance game, in Knowledge, or know Lady, your decisions also influence how your relationship with each of the main characters improves. As if you were playing a simulator like Tokimeki Memorial, you can develop your relationship with one or more of the girls, always looking for the best options to foster the type of path you’re interested in. The game has a lot of replayability, since it’s not easy to see all the endings and win over all the main characters, who, however, in some cases seem more willing to fall in love than you might expect. If we can fault the game for anything, it’s precisely that: the story, from the beginning, seems too simple. After all, even with the most “difficult” girls, it feels like the protagonist has a free way to win his love.
Another of the game’s successes and failures is the continuity offered in terms of the items collected throughout the story. While in other titles, items are limited to a specific use within their episode, in Knowledge, or know Lady, items have continuity, and one you didn’t obtain in the first episode could become necessary in the third or fourth chapter to advance along a certain route. This disrupts the game’s dynamic somewhat, as many users will decide to go back instead of continuing forward. In any case, it’s brave of the development team to create a more complex game, and, except for a few moments, it’s much more appropriate for the items to cover the entire story and not just specific episodes.
As a visual novel or interactive film, given that in this case everything is based on constant video, Knowledge, or know Lady is a proposal that surprised us and demonstrates the potential that specialized studios can have in revitalizing this type of game. Some clips may be too short and repetitive, and a timer would be necessary for some moments where the story should push the player, but the overall impressions gained from the game are very favorable.
Graphics
As we mentioned, in Knowledge, or know Lady, everything is video, a constant series of recordings that could be used in a television show. The production value is higher than the usual, as even real locations are used, such as the school classroom or the gym. A large number of extras are also included to accompany the scenes so that the action isn’t solely focused on the protagonists.
The development of the scenes is dynamic and fluid, and although there are occasional abrupt cuts, overall there is a good pace and great visual fluidity. The protagonists act well, and although they follow the clichés of characters with very recognizable profiles, they are still essential to the progression of the story. Thus, each of the actresses fits a very specific profile and contributes their part so that, overall, Knowledge, or know Lady is the typical game where users have no trouble finding their favorite heroine.
Special mention must also be made of the menus, as they are tastefully designed, with pastel colors and a pleasant interface. Some elements particularly stand out, such as the use of a mobile device within the game, including a WhatsApp-like app that allows you to send messages and have conversations with the girls at specific times. Although it could have used more interaction, it’s a nice addition both visually and in terms of gameplay.
Music & Sound
The soundtrack is symbolic. It’s present in the background and has accompanying rhythms, but they’re still encompassed by what you’d expect from elevator music that simply does its job. The voices are where all the focus lies, although unfortunately they’re only available in their original Chinese version. The good news is that you can choose different subtitles, including an English option. The translation has some moments where it seems a little awkward, but overall, there are no problems following the story and capturing the personality of each character.
An interesting option the game offers is the ability to turn off the voices of the protagonist, the guy we never see and whose presence is presented in first-person. By turning off the voices, the player can feel more immersed in the story. And, on the other hand, it’s not a bad option if you don’t really like the way the protagonist speaks.
Conclusion
Live-action visual novels are becoming increasingly common in today’s video game catalog, but not all of them achieve adequate levels of quality. What we find in this interactive film, brought to the market by Niu Gamer, is a game that is more polished than expected and offers a great deal of gameplay depth.
With more than 10 hours of gameplay, considering its price, it offers a more than adequate value for money. It has the appeal of offering a good level of freedom, charismatic characters, and more gameplay than other titles. It’s easy to understand why it has very positive user reviews, although it would be great to have more subtitle options in languages like Spanish, French, and Italian.
