Voltage: Era of Samurai: Code of Love - Toshizo Hijikata Review

So to sum it up, the Shinsengumi is a popular topic for otome games.

You (MC) are an apprentice medical doctor, working in a clinic, when it is burned down. The Shinsengumi save you and you go to live with them, providing first aid and other odd chores as thanks. You are assigned a protector, who will become your love interest.

For round two, I picked the only other character available at this time, Toshizo Hijikata, the “Demon Deputy”.

There are many parts, especially at the beginning, where you spend time with Okita or Honda. They serve as the mouthpieces for Hojikata, explaining things that he himself won’t. Being as I just played Okita, I liked it, but it does suck when you’re expecting more opportunities to know Hijikata and interact with him. In that aspect, he feels a bit dry. It doesn’t help that he’s the sort of character that has a lot of walls to break down. Plus the fact that MC spends about half of the route liking another character entirely.

In that aspect, I think they failed to make an intriguing romance. On the other hand, when the big bad guy rears his ugly head (okay, it’s pretty obvious but let’s give the story the benefit of the doubt here) the time they spent building up his character makes the shift more poignant. But if I had to choose between the two, I would rather have a cartoon-ish bad guy and a stronger romance.

There are three scenes between Hijkata and MC that stick out in my mind, and I want to say it’s because it’s really the only three romance scenes we get with them… He’s stubborn and reserved, and unlike most other routes of this archetype where MC is basically a puppy near him all the time, she spends a lot of time alone and/or with other characters. Granted, they’re usually talking about him or the plot. A lot of the scenes with him are strictly business, and that aspect makes him seem cold much of the time. His “Demon Deputy’ is played up a lot and MC gets to go on intelligence missions (granted, she doesn’t know she’s doing that at the time) and I liked that she got to do more than be a pretty face at the base.

The stronger focus on the plot would be forgiven if it was good. But it’s a redux from Okita’s. The character involved is different, but everything else is entirely the same, right down to the heroine considering another suitor. Something I found odd was a character that had a sprite in Okita’s story doesn’t have a sprite in this one, even though it’s the same name and everything. It was weird. Why make the sprite if you’re not going to use it, ya know?

MC is not as good in this as she was in Okita’s, but I still enjoyed her a lot. She’s assertive (well, you can make her so by choices), she is confident in her knowledge of medicine, she has a “gentle strength” whereupon she’s not physically strong, but her integrity builds up and heals the other characters.

I really liked the music here, especially the track that plays on the main screen/the main theme. Love love loveeee it. I just like that sort of traditional mixed with modern orchestrated stuff in general.

I was bored several times reading this. And even though I bought it on release, I dawdled getting the second ending. And then the phone dying thing happened, and naturally, I didn’t get my back up code. I usually only do that when I uninstall the app. So uhh… not buying it again. The only plus is my cloud drive had the few screenshots saved.

Rating:

My heart scale is defined as follows – 5 hearts = a story everyone will fall in love with, regardless of preferences; 4 hearts = a well-done story that people who love the concept will adore, and people who don’t may end up liking it; 3 hearts = if you like this type of story or this type of hero, then you will enjoy this, but those who do not like either of those things will probably not; 2 hearts = it had potential, it squandered it; 1 heart = just a waste of time from the get-go; 0 hearts = why was this made?

Favorite Moments:

Pretty much me being thankful to be born in an era where women have a choice in what to do with their lives
That devil expression is pretty good, though. A++