A review of "Historia Chapter 1"
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:53 pm
Review of Historia Chapter 1
By J. Kiln
Disclosure: I have had a few conversations with Cpl_Crud before, so in that regard, I am acquainted with Cpl_Crud. However, I am not involved at all with the game "Historia", nor with its creators, Lucid A96 (aside from the mentioned acquaintance with Cpl_Crud).
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"Historia Chapter 1" is a horror Kinetic Novel, by Lucid A96.
Released in January, 2020, "Historia Chapter 1" has so far not attracted a huge fan-base around it, like "Doki Doki Literature Club" or "Katawa Shoujo" before it, despite Cpl_Crud being the lead writer and developer for Historia (Cpl_Crud was also a lead developer and writer on Katawa Shoujo). But perhaps Historia deserves a bit more attention, if not for the well-written story, then certainly for the amazing music, art, and direction.
"Historia" is a Kinetic Novel (a visual novel without any choices for the user to make), and it's certainly not for anyone under the age of 18 -- "Historia Chapter 1" has a few instances of foul language, some violence and horror, and plenty of mature themes. There aren't any depictions of nudity or sex scenes, though. This isn't your older brother's Katawa Shoujo.
"Historia Chapter 1" is an excellent example of a short, but well-produced KN. The game has a lot of amazing artwork for its backgrounds, sprites, and some special effects. The music is wonderful as well, and quite varied, ranging from relaxing and beautiful, to creepy and menacing, to haunting and depressing; even short, suspenseful, or melancholic scenes have their own unique tracks. The directing is also immersive, with all kinds of sound effects and graphical flourishes to draw the audience into the story. And the story itself explores some dark and unsettling themes, based primarily on existential fears and horrors, constantly challenging the protagonist to reconsider what is normal, what is reality, and how far his sense of right and wrong can be bent.
This isn't an anime slice-of-life romance Visual Novel. This is a Lovecraftian existential horror, mixed with some anime slice-of-life, and a bit of romance, Visual Novel.
The story begins somewhat abruptly, in medias res, like how a dream might start. You never really remember how a dream begins, you're just... thrown into a situation, some familiar event or place. Have you seen the movie "Inception"? It too explores the nature of dreams. There is no real beginning, but the writing might evoke enough memories from your last year in school, the pressure from your parents to pass your exams, the uncertainty of what future path you're going to take; your looming first steps into the real world... Doug's feelings are in turmoil when you meet him, and his emotions only get more turbulent as you follow him deeper into his Dreamtime of an experience.
Oh yes, there is a Rainbow Serpent on the loose: a monstrous version of the Aboriginal stories, and it is lurking about the town, looking for fresh victims. Doug's encounter with the serpentine beast sends him spiralling deeper and deeper into a murky world of fear and confusion, and he has to try to live a normal school life in a distorted reality. He has enough pressure as it is already, to graduate and get into a good university, but, the mythical beast is undeniably a grave threat, even if confronting it only twists Doug's life further and further.
The writing is detailed as it describes Doug's thoughts and emotions, how he reasons his actions and navigates his crucial last year in school, and hides his darker feelings in the distorted history. The directing is effective and atmospheric, taking advantage of a flood of art and music to sweep the audience away, as well as a steady stream of smaller visual and audio effects to draw up emotions from a well of confusion that the story might leave the reader in.
"Can love bloom on the battlefield?" asks a lovestruck and confused character in "Metal Gear Solid". The Japanese anime slice-of-life romance aspects of "Historia" does seem to suggest it can, what with the romantic theme music and night scene that takes place immediately after a deadly fight against the watery beast. Doug's sister doesn't see a healthy relationship though, and is instead deeply concerned about Doug and his increasingly erratic behaviour. The slice-of-life drama, with its down-to-earth and relatable themes, leads Doug and the reader back into a more sensible, if mundane life. Even if Doug may not have the happiest home life, he does have an anchor that he can count on in even the worst of tides; learning to fully trust and treasure someone so dear to him might even pull Doug out of the whirlpool he's caught in.
One can interpret the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" as a grand love story, with the antagonists being metaphors for shady figures and political complications from the main character's business, conspiring to keep the lovers apart (while wearing cool fedoras). If you read deep enough into Doug's struggles, you could similarly find an alternate interpretation as well: Is the Rainbow Serpent real? Was Doug hallucinating? Is he going down a dangerous path? Drugs are mentioned as being plentiful and a serious problem in the town, so much so that Doug's Mum has to work long shifts as a nurse due to the junkies. Can "Historia Chapter 1" also be interpreted as Doug hunting down junkies or drug dealers? Is it an outlet for his pent-up rage? Is Doug on a misguided quest to avenge his best friend who was destroyed by drugs? The deft writing of "Historia" seems to leave such a dark and tragic interpretation possible.
What's certain though, is that "Historia" explores what a living, lucid nightmare might feel like; the dread of not knowing what is real and solid, versus what is merely a figment of one's imagination: The terrible loneliness of an unspeakable grief, the unreal pain of loss, the horror of being alone, of forgetting someone you love, or being forgotten yourself. -- Did you exist if you aren't remembered?
If you find such existential themes interesting, and you're in the mood for a horror story (it is October after all), then by all means, give "Historia Chapter 1" a try. It's available on itch.io, and you set the price.
https://lucida96.wordpress.com/2020/01/ ... -released/
I think the production values alone will blow you out of the water.
By J. Kiln
Disclosure: I have had a few conversations with Cpl_Crud before, so in that regard, I am acquainted with Cpl_Crud. However, I am not involved at all with the game "Historia", nor with its creators, Lucid A96 (aside from the mentioned acquaintance with Cpl_Crud).
-----
"Historia Chapter 1" is a horror Kinetic Novel, by Lucid A96.
Released in January, 2020, "Historia Chapter 1" has so far not attracted a huge fan-base around it, like "Doki Doki Literature Club" or "Katawa Shoujo" before it, despite Cpl_Crud being the lead writer and developer for Historia (Cpl_Crud was also a lead developer and writer on Katawa Shoujo). But perhaps Historia deserves a bit more attention, if not for the well-written story, then certainly for the amazing music, art, and direction.
"Historia" is a Kinetic Novel (a visual novel without any choices for the user to make), and it's certainly not for anyone under the age of 18 -- "Historia Chapter 1" has a few instances of foul language, some violence and horror, and plenty of mature themes. There aren't any depictions of nudity or sex scenes, though. This isn't your older brother's Katawa Shoujo.
"Historia Chapter 1" is an excellent example of a short, but well-produced KN. The game has a lot of amazing artwork for its backgrounds, sprites, and some special effects. The music is wonderful as well, and quite varied, ranging from relaxing and beautiful, to creepy and menacing, to haunting and depressing; even short, suspenseful, or melancholic scenes have their own unique tracks. The directing is also immersive, with all kinds of sound effects and graphical flourishes to draw the audience into the story. And the story itself explores some dark and unsettling themes, based primarily on existential fears and horrors, constantly challenging the protagonist to reconsider what is normal, what is reality, and how far his sense of right and wrong can be bent.
This isn't an anime slice-of-life romance Visual Novel. This is a Lovecraftian existential horror, mixed with some anime slice-of-life, and a bit of romance, Visual Novel.
The story begins somewhat abruptly, in medias res, like how a dream might start. You never really remember how a dream begins, you're just... thrown into a situation, some familiar event or place. Have you seen the movie "Inception"? It too explores the nature of dreams. There is no real beginning, but the writing might evoke enough memories from your last year in school, the pressure from your parents to pass your exams, the uncertainty of what future path you're going to take; your looming first steps into the real world... Doug's feelings are in turmoil when you meet him, and his emotions only get more turbulent as you follow him deeper into his Dreamtime of an experience.
Oh yes, there is a Rainbow Serpent on the loose: a monstrous version of the Aboriginal stories, and it is lurking about the town, looking for fresh victims. Doug's encounter with the serpentine beast sends him spiralling deeper and deeper into a murky world of fear and confusion, and he has to try to live a normal school life in a distorted reality. He has enough pressure as it is already, to graduate and get into a good university, but, the mythical beast is undeniably a grave threat, even if confronting it only twists Doug's life further and further.
The writing is detailed as it describes Doug's thoughts and emotions, how he reasons his actions and navigates his crucial last year in school, and hides his darker feelings in the distorted history. The directing is effective and atmospheric, taking advantage of a flood of art and music to sweep the audience away, as well as a steady stream of smaller visual and audio effects to draw up emotions from a well of confusion that the story might leave the reader in.
"Can love bloom on the battlefield?" asks a lovestruck and confused character in "Metal Gear Solid". The Japanese anime slice-of-life romance aspects of "Historia" does seem to suggest it can, what with the romantic theme music and night scene that takes place immediately after a deadly fight against the watery beast. Doug's sister doesn't see a healthy relationship though, and is instead deeply concerned about Doug and his increasingly erratic behaviour. The slice-of-life drama, with its down-to-earth and relatable themes, leads Doug and the reader back into a more sensible, if mundane life. Even if Doug may not have the happiest home life, he does have an anchor that he can count on in even the worst of tides; learning to fully trust and treasure someone so dear to him might even pull Doug out of the whirlpool he's caught in.
One can interpret the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" as a grand love story, with the antagonists being metaphors for shady figures and political complications from the main character's business, conspiring to keep the lovers apart (while wearing cool fedoras). If you read deep enough into Doug's struggles, you could similarly find an alternate interpretation as well: Is the Rainbow Serpent real? Was Doug hallucinating? Is he going down a dangerous path? Drugs are mentioned as being plentiful and a serious problem in the town, so much so that Doug's Mum has to work long shifts as a nurse due to the junkies. Can "Historia Chapter 1" also be interpreted as Doug hunting down junkies or drug dealers? Is it an outlet for his pent-up rage? Is Doug on a misguided quest to avenge his best friend who was destroyed by drugs? The deft writing of "Historia" seems to leave such a dark and tragic interpretation possible.
What's certain though, is that "Historia" explores what a living, lucid nightmare might feel like; the dread of not knowing what is real and solid, versus what is merely a figment of one's imagination: The terrible loneliness of an unspeakable grief, the unreal pain of loss, the horror of being alone, of forgetting someone you love, or being forgotten yourself. -- Did you exist if you aren't remembered?
If you find such existential themes interesting, and you're in the mood for a horror story (it is October after all), then by all means, give "Historia Chapter 1" a try. It's available on itch.io, and you set the price.
https://lucida96.wordpress.com/2020/01/ ... -released/
I think the production values alone will blow you out of the water.