Wild Romance

Wild Romance is a Visual Novel developed by Norn / Miel and published by Cherry Kiss Games. This VN isn't new by any sort of the imagination with the production date being Oct. 2016, but even so, that doesn't mean it isn't a good or current Visual Novel. I personally find that many older Visual Novels to be ahead of their time and done quite well, not to say new Visual Novels are bad or anything. I would say that both old school Visual Novels and New Age Visual Novels each have their own appeal.

Wild Romance is for the most part a static and straightforward Visual Novel with no real choices that change the ending. There is only one time that you get to make a choice and it is to decide which of the four love interests you want to spend extra time with towards the end of the Visual Novel. I found that simply saving it at the choice and then reloading there to select the different girls was easier than going to the start and Auto rushing through the story to get back to that choice.

While I admit I prefer the more choice-driven stories like that of I x She Tell and Some Some Love Convenient Store, I don't mind a good static Visual Novel from time to time as long as it is decent. And in this case, this one was pretty good, though I will be the first to say it is a bit short again a lot of static VN's are.  

Wild Romance is the story of Kazuma (the protag) and his return to his hometown, a small village located in one of the more remote regions of Japan away from the large cities and industrial centers. Kazuma had left this village for a while to move and spend time learning and working in Tokyo only to realize that he didn't really feel comfortable living in such a large city. So deciding that he no longer wished to live in the big city he decided to move home. 

Kazuma lived with his grandparents who had taken him in after his parents passed. While living with his grandparents he had been introduced to and spent a great deal of time with four girls that he would grow up with and eventually leave behind when he moved. 

Upon his arrival, he is reintroduced to his lifetime companions and friends each with their own unique personality and interests. Each girl is also a member of one of several Yokai families and serves directly under the Earth God. Each girl has her own talents and yokai race she belongs to and it is said that for the most part the Earth God doesn't particularly like yokai spirits and humans interacting but he's not said much when it comes to Kazuma.

Sumire is the oldest and more mature of the group. She considers herself as the big sister of Kazuma and is soft-spoken and very adept at keeping the other three in check. Despite her demeanor, however, she does have a bit of a devious side that she uses to her advantage every chance she gets so she can spend time with Kazuma. She is a 'Fox Spirit' and it shows with her fox ears and tail. She is a summoner and shadow shifter able to summon a familiar and use her shadow as a form and extension of her self. 

Tsubaki is the second oldest or maybe the same age as Nazuna. She is the type that finds it hard to express her feelings and thoughts. She puts up a strong front of toughness but in all honesty, she is very timid and is quick to anger, though it is hard to tell if she is really mad or just putting on a front for that as well. She tends to be upfront with Kazuma for the most part unless it deals with her feelings, she also tends to be a bit overbearing with the other girls with the exception of Sumire who is always able to put her back in place if needed. Tsubaki is a 'Cat Spirit' or Neko Spirit, which is shown by her tail and cat-like ears. She also hates water and enjoys high places. She is a summoner as well with the ability to summon two guardian spirits that are animal spirits.

Nazuna is around the same age and the middle girl of the group as Tsubaki. She is laid back, chill, and doesn't get overly excited about anything. She is quiet and ends every sentence she speaks with 'yo'. She is meek and could be the complete opposite of Tsubaki as for being aggressive and the opposite of Aoi when it comes to energy. She is however very intelligent and uses this to her advantage over the other girls. Nazuna is a tanuki or 'Japanese Racoon Dog' and uses her magic abilities in a unique way. She creates inventions that she then infuses with her magic to create different tools that can be used to capture, detect, remove, or eliminate evil spirits. 

Aoi is the youngest of the four girls or at least as far as looks and attitude go she seems like a child but is actually around the same age as the other girls and Kazuma. She is hyperactive, energetic, outgoing, loving, and devoted. She eats a lot but never really gains a pound and is always looking for attention from Kazuma. She is treated more childlike by the other girls and at times this special treatment can get on her nerves and makes her feel less like a woman and more like everyone seeks her still as a kid. Aoi is a dog spirit and she acts like a dog most of the time even when not in spirit form. When she gets overly excited she has a problem keeping her human form and her tail will show which ends up getting her a scolding from Sumire. She uses her keen sense of smell, keen hearing, and tracking abilities to help Kazuma and the girls.

Upon returning home and reuniting with the girls he grew up with Kazuma learns of their other nature through an accident at the temple and shrine of the Earth God. The Earth God gets upset at the four girls for them showing their true nature to Kazuma who is a human. The girls explain to Kazuma that the Earth God has taken them under his guidance to eventually make them Goddess's of them when they are able to do so.

Kazuma hearing that the Earth God is going to hand down punishment to the girls for their failures of keeping their true nature away from Kazuma, he demands that instead of punishing them that he be punished instead. The Earth God considers this and then decides to use it as a test. He tells Kazuma that he will let them off the hook if he is willing to commit to helping them maintain peace and order in the area with the other spirits and humans and does exactly what the Earth God wants him to do, if he doesn't he will turn Kazuma into a toad as punishment.

After this each of the girls through some different circumstances each comes out and tells Kazuma that they each have feelings for him, it is Sumire to first state it and she then explains to Kazuma that unlike his human logic that spirits like them don't see things the same way. She makes a comment about how he needs to love all of them equally as each of them loves him. It takes him a little while to understand that but he does eventually understand and decides that he will need to do just that. As each girl confesses to him he spends some 'intimate' moments with them and I guess makes 'women' out of them.

Through trial and error and a sorted amount of events, Kazuma eventually is able to convince the Earth God that humans and Yokai can live together and that some humans can even interact with them. After the deeds performed by Kazuma, the Earth God makes his decision to accept Kazuma and to approve of his relationship with the four girls. He then states that at the end of Kazuma's natural human life he will be reborn as a spirit like the girls and that he will become the next Earth God. 

This visual novel is for the most part PG and doesn't show much in the way of mature content, there are some scenes that show some breasts but the nips are removed...because apparently, that is the only part of the breasts that make it 'mature'.  H-scenes are nonexistent at least from what I can tell, there is no 18 patch that I have found yet, but I have seen others say there is one. I will continue to search for it and do an update if I find it. 

I did enjoy this visual novel though and though it was short and static, I can say that it is a nice change of pace and one that I needed. Like some people enjoy reading books, I enjoy reading and see Visual Novels. I know it is old and there is most likely no chance there is any more to this story that I have found yet but I would like to think there is more to their story or at least some additions. I recommend this to those that are wanting to read a straight through VN that is nice and cute in its own respects.