Because We're Here - Act I

This is a review for Act 1. To preface it, I want to say that I've liked this game quite a lot. The setting is interesting (and as I've never cared about learning history in detail I'm as in the dark about what's going to happen as with any fictional story), the protagonist has personality and none of her choices seem out of character while being decently varying, everyone else is believable and likable despite their flaws, the story flows smoothly and draws you in. But there still are some things that kept the game from being perfect. First off, it's too short. For some reason I just assumed that act 1 would last until we get to the scene shown in the prologue and the next part would go from there. But no, just as things start getting interesting I get hit with a "To be continued" screen. Some music loops felt too jarring, with the volume constantly going up and down, and the sound effects started grating on the ears after a while (to be fair, the ones I remember as being the most annoying were the gun noises in the prologue and those worked well in setting up the tension.). The writing is good, no scene felt too long or dragging out. The explanations of game mechanics ki…

A well-written and engaging visual novel, with a short run time but a lot of interesting creative choices packed into that. The art style is soft, the background music is lovely, the care for the (fictionalised) historical setting is clear. Mechanically, the game has "battle of wits" segments that highlight emotional breaking points of the protagonist and reward paying attention, as well as points where you select which love interest's story to follow further - with one character being clearly signposted as non-romantic. The writing is engaging, full of jokes and witticisms, with characters' personalities quickly established and given the benefit of the doubt by Elfriede, the kind and optimistic narrator. [spoiler]A willingness to take narrative swings such as killing the main initial love interest is striking and further strengthens the core themes of the futility and waste of war.[/spoiler] I really enjoyed it, and will be playing Act II when I get chance!

I'm glad I played this game, especially as Animé art is not my first go-to with visual novels. The story about a village girl, trying to get back in contact with her friends during the war, is amazingly well-crafted, especially thanks to the diverse characters you're going to meet in the game. All of them are written in a distinct way with their very own perspective on the war. It was quite exciting to explore their attitude and how they develop over the course of the game, even when you dislike them. And be prepared: The game has quite some twists up its sleeves that I didn't think of. So, highly recommend this to every VN fan with a liking for historical drama and a well-researched foundation.

Because We’re Here - Act I is a deeply emotional otome visual novel developed and published by Studio Elfriede that combines romance, war drama, and psychological storytelling into an experience far more serious and mature than its presentation initially suggests. Set during a fictional conflict heavily inspired by World War I, the game follows Elfriede Rauss, a timid Postal Corps volunteer who becomes entangled in the lives of soldiers and civilians struggling to survive amid fear, violence, and emotional exhaustion. What begins as a character-focused romance story gradually transforms into a haunting exploration of human vulnerability during wartime, creating a narrative that feels tragic, intimate, and emotionally honest. The game’s strongest achievement is its writing. Rather than romanticizing war or using the setting as a simple backdrop for attractive characters, the story constantly emphasizes the psychological and emotional consequences of conflict. Every conversation carries a sense of uncertainty because the characters are fully aware that their futures may disappear at any moment. This atmosphere gives even small interactions remarkable emotional weight. Moments of war…

Great visual novel, i haven't played act 2 yet but i plan to. The world war 1 inspired setting is well made and original; in a short time you get invested hard into the characters.

Very interesting story, and the minigame is fun. some characters can be hit or miss but after playing both acts I can say it’s intentional because the characters are human; they’re not perfect people. Gerhardt is my bbg… I mean he’s my favourite character. For fun I have made a list of characters who remind me of characters from other media and it’s interesting who reminded me of who. If you’re into romance visual novels I think you’ll like it but i personally could take it or leave it. You might ask why I’m recommending it then; and it’s because while I’m only caring about one route, I think others would really like this game.