https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZitX3T_bg0

Echo Tokyo is one of the latest and most ambitious visual novels to appear on Kickstarter so far.

The game’s developer describes Echo Tokyo as an open world visual novel and dating simulator. It takes place in a “dystopian, cyberpunk city”, the government of which has collapsed. Apart from exploring the city, running into random encounters, romancing people, and customizing their character’s life, players will take on jobs, which will be resolved through mini-games.

Structure is provided in the game through certain things players need to track; for example, if players don’t take on jobs, they won’t have money to eat.

Players can assume the role of either Shizume Misaki (left) or Light Keiji (right). Misaki is a private investigator, and Keiji is an assassin and thief, and their stories can be tackled consecutively or alternately, with both contributing to the full story of Echo Tokyo.

Part of the funding will go toward creating a graphic novel that will serve as an introduction to the characters. This novel will both appear in the game and separately from it, as a digital or physical bonus for funders of a certain tier or above.

The game is already fully funded, and stands at a little over £9,000. What remains to be seen is how many of its stretch goals it reaches. At £10,000, additional NPCs will be added to the game and characters will get animations; £12,000 will buy an additional romanceable character; and at £15,000, additional clothing, furniture, and items will be created. The £25,000 goal has simply “wink wink nudge nudge say no more” listed beside it.

Something about this kickstarter bothers me. Perhaps it’s the scope of the project, or the scant assets available to backers to judge accurately whether to support the VN. However, the developer is responsible for the The Sword of Asumi visual novel, which has “Positive” impressions on Steam, and has previous experience with graphic novels, so maybe my reservations are unwarranted.

Echo Tokyo‘s Kickstarter is here, if you’re interested. The game is also on Greenlight. Backers who fund the game with £25 or more will also receive a Steam key if the game makes it onto Steam.