You and Me and Her

I have had this game for a little bit, I actually bought it the same day it came out after seeing some people talking about it in a discussion forum for upcoming VN's. On the outside, this Visual Novel looks wholesome and the artwork is unique. I wasn't sure if I would like the style of art myself but after playing it through a couple of times the artwork really works well with this VN and the artwork kind of grows on you. The music isn't bad and it does have several tracks. I will say the music really does go well with the mood and feelings that are portrayed through the VN. 

So now that I have touched on those aspects slightly let's talk about the meat of the VN. Before I start, I want to say that there are some new terms that I will be using so if you're not familiar with them I will attempt to explain them as best I can. Honestly, there was one term I had to look up myself because I didn't know that this type of writing had its own tag.

So quickly let me start off by saying that this type of VN is something that I have a love/hate relationship with. Why you ask?  Because there are multiple endings that I do enjoy greatly. That said there are few choices, but more than that certain endings require special interactions or extra steps that sometimes are just a pain. Not to mention that unless you have access to the 'Guide' you may or may not find out about those 'special endings'. In other words, they take a simple task of decision making and then add stipulations and steps that while not all that bad does take away from the game itself in my opinion. 

You play as the protag named Shinichi, who wants nothing more than a simple life without having to do too much. Which seems to be the primary protags coming from Japan these days. Shinichi is your average High School student that doesn't cause many waves. In fact, he's pretty much off the radar and likes it that way. But as is notorious with Visual Novels the Protag doesn't stay that way for very long.

During a trip to the roof of the school to take care of some after school choirs, he finds a phone on the roof. Looking at it you can make the choice to look at the call log to see if you can figure out who's phone it is. However, if you do check the call log you find only one number being called at any time and that is under the name 'God'. 

Soon a girl falls into his lap...no literally, she falls from the top of the primary room and lands on him. And that girl is Aoi, who you find out is a very interesting character with some really weird characteristics.

Aoi is a loner, she doesn't exist on anyone's radar really, and the way she acts many just ignore her. Her eyes are always devoid of any sign of emotion and she stares off into space often not really paying attention to anyone around her. However, there are rumors about Aoi, not so good ones.

However, after a brief and unusual conversation, another girl enters and she is not too pleased to see Shinichi laying there with Aoi on his lap.

Miyuki is a long time friend of Shinichi, but upon entering High School they really haven't spoken much to one another. Miyuki used to be the odd girl out and wasn't treated very well through school. However, upon entering High School she quickly became seen as the 'Queen Bee' of the school. She is respected and in some cases feared by students and teachers alike. 

Miyuki is an aspiring actress and she is really good at it, so good that no one realizes that in reality, the persona that she displays to everyone else is not her real self at all, but a self she created to make things easier for her. The only person that knows the truth is Shinichi and he's not going to say anything. 

Shinichi taught Miyuki a few things when they were growing up and it was during that time he realized something and once he realized it there was an unspoken deal between them.

The story as you may know from other Visual Novels enters a period of developing your feelings for the characters. This of course also revolves around the fact that Shinichi decides to help Aoi to become better aware of the world around her and to help her make friends. Miyuki at first wants nothing to do with her, but after realizing that in a strange way Aoi was like Miyuki in her earlier years she takes to Aoi and decides to help Shinichi with Aoi.

The game takes a couple of weird and unexpected turns that make you question the reality of the Visual Novel. Honestly, it kind of reminds me slightly of the style used in the Visual Novel game Doki Doki Literature Club (I have done a review of said VN which you can find in my blog archives.)  The game has roughly 8 endings with one end being one you want to wait and only do after unlocking all the others. From what I read it could ultimately end up changing the game files and erasing your save games. Now I am not sure why it does this but it is something to remember.

As time passes you will be faced with some different choices that will lead you into taking one of the two girls for more than a friend. This is also where things can get complicated. Aoi keeps telling you that Miyuki is the 'primary love interest' and that Shinichi has to get with her. That is one path that you can choose and end up with Miyuki. Now I'm not going to give any spoilers as far as telling you how or what happens afterward if you want that information you will need to play the game. 

As for Aoi's route, I have to be upfront here and tell you that I honestly had a thing for Aoi and thought she deserved to be 'best girl' in this Visual Novel. (Best Girl is a reference to the primary love interest in most Manga's, Anime's, and Visual Novels. They are seen as the girl that the main character SHOULD end up with.) So yes, Aoi was the girl I had picked. However, I was greatly heartbroken when I found out what would happen if you went down that route. The ending I got wit Aoi was in a nutshell an NTR ending. 

NTR also referred to as Netorare, is in the Japanese media meta represents the concept of cheating or unfaithful to one's significant other. So using that as your reference you can imagine what happens and the sad shape that things turn into. I won't like with me picking Aoi as 'best girl' and then her ending being an NTR one means I am 0 for 2 of best girl picks. Now points added to you if you remember who my first pick was and what anime it was on. Though I haven't mentioned yet the ending of that particular anime because it is still in production just know the manga is done and I already know who the main character picks to be with...and I wasn't thrilled but it is what it is.

This game isn't for everyone, if you get the 18+ version it adds several H-Scenes which are nice if you like that. It will play on your emotions and you will find yourself connecting with the characters and looking for a happy ending where everyone is happy...but like real life very seldom does that happen. In the end, You and Me and Her is a love triangle VN with some unique twists and turns that make it both exciting and interesting to the end. 

I would highly recommend this to those that enjoy a good mind-twisting, emotion drilling, and multiple ending style Visual Novel.