Robotics;Notes DaSH (PC) Review

Taking off a year and a half after the first game, Robotics;Notes DaSH takes the cast back to Tanegashima island for a whole new adventure. As with the previous entry, the story is fairly light-hearted and straightforward, which plays to the in-game world's strengths. This time, along with returning main character Kai, this also includes a front and centre cameo from Daru The Super Hacker (DaSH) from Steins;Gate.

This time there are also a lot of crossover elements, including the illustrious Steins;Gate itself, and in general a slightly heavier emphasis on player choice. Characters are now explored further, and many aspects of the writing are dialled up as the characters are no longer in school. It feels like a genuine next step for the world they dwell in.

As with the previous title, and many other visual novels, the main brunt of the playtime is made up of reading text. To be fair, the writing is outstanding, so it's not a problem, however some players will get more out of this than others. Luckily, there are some other bits to the gameplay that make up the choice element, as well as the returning encyclopaedia feature used throughout the Science Adventure games.

This encyclopaedia breaks down terms used by characters or in flavour text that normal players might need expanded, for example the term 'Otaku' may not be something everyone gets, so this will explain it in simple English. Besides the encyclopaedia, there is the return of the interactive phone which houses the in-game map. This navigation app is essentially what drives player choice through the story, as different places hold different events and characters, meaning that it is possible to play things in a different order or way, which may inspire replays.

Deciding to integrate some of the wider Science Adventure series into the story actually elevates things quite nicely above the preceding title. It adds a flavour not present in the original that shakes things up, keeping the flow and intrigue going. It has also influenced the art style slightly with all the characters looking a bit more refined. In general, the art direction is really strong and interesting. Sharp, modern manga-style character designs fit seamlessly into a colourful and realistic setting.

This also uses 3D models for characters in many scenes, giving it that unique sell that made the first game stand out. It's all very expressive, and compliments the story and tone perfectly. Sound also contributes; it completes the atmosphere with some excellent musical tracks that are quite memorable, as well as excellent voice performances and sound effects bringing the characters to life. Honestly it is a joy to experience.