Chronotopia: Second Skin Reviews

A very interesting visual novel!

This is a very good game. Well worth the wait.

I had written 4 paragraphs praising the game, but the page closed and it wasn't saved. Take my advice and buy the game, you won't regret it. It's a heart wrenching, beautiful, visual novel that pays tribute to dark fairy tales written in the medieval and renaissance times.

Disclaimer: I worked on some of the art for this game and tested earlier builds. I bought this copy of the game. Chronotopia is fun. In the sort of... twisted... gut-wrenching... thrilling... painful way. Kionna's journey to find a happy ending is one that I loved observing, as painful as it was, with a twist on time-loops and in-depth explorations of each attempt. She grows so much as a character, but has flaws that is equally satisfying and painful to read. I really love Chronotopia - it's a hefty game with a lot of content, and I think absolutely worth it.

Still have got to finish the game so I'll update it then but so far I can say this is a very interesting and very compelling narrative experience in the form of a videogame. Good job, devs!

If you, like me, are fairly ignorant of classical fairytales, don't worry; although themes and story beats are clearly inspired by a menagerie of them (all of which are helpfully summarized in the game's archives), they are woven together into an engaging and believable narrative that stands on its own. Familiarity with the source materials is nice, I'm sure, but in no way a prerequisite. At its core, Chronotopia is the story of a young princess named Kionna who finds herself stuck in a time loop, trying to escape a terrible fate. She starts out naive and immature, but as she makes various attempts to lead different lives (all of which culminate in some horrific manner), Kionna gradually grows and changes into someone who can truly earn her happy ending. Watching her growth over the course of the story was sincerely enjoyable, and perhaps the most exceptional facet of the game. The game's art is terrific as well; lots of beautiful sprites and backgrounds, great music (always an important aspect for me), and a UI that captures the fairytale aesthetic. There's also the occasional visual effect or flourish that really enhances the depth and feel of the game, especially at certain critical moments (no spoilers!) If you like time loops, classical fairytales, stories with a strong focus on character growth, or just plain beautiful VNs, don't miss out. There's a lot to love here.