In addition to the official content warning, there are a few more I'd like to point out, particularly if you're going to get the R18 patch. Despite its cute visual, Bokuten contains quite a lot disturbing contents. The list goes: socially stigmatised homosexual, sexual assault, cheating, sex slavery (implied), threesome incest, masturbation in public place, etc. If you're concerned with any of those, I'd advise you think twice whether to get the patch or the game at all.

Wouldn’t it be better if our heart could fracture and be gone with it the entailing sorrow and pain?

Unfortunately, in the world of Bokuten, beings called Angel would perform angelery to return the fractured shard regardless, believing it would bring back happiness to the person.

The story starts with Tomoe, our antisocial and indifferent protagonist, meeting with the passionate fledging angel Aine. The common route consists of six chapters, each of which tells a love struggle between different people. Inevitably, someone involved would have their heart fractured, and it’d be up to Tomoe and Aine to decide whether or not to return the broken shard to its owner. You will be prompted to choose, and the choice not only decides how the chapter ends but also which heroine Tomoe ends up with.

As you can tell from being called an utsuge (depressing game), not a single ending is technically a good ending, including those of couples in common route and all the heroines. Each and every one of them leaves a sour taste in mouth, as sacrifice is always made for you to keep something important. Common routes are generally well written with some of them better than the others. In comparison, heroine routes are weaker for three main reasons. First, Tomoe, being a person sustaining severe psychological trauma, does not resonate well with readers. Sometimes, his logic just seems too twisted. Therefore, his love story with the girls makes even less sense. Second, Yuri and Minamo just don’t get enough screen time. They feel even less relevant than those common route couples. You start to get to know them only after getting into their respective route, which for certain feels abrupt. Third, route choice is arbitrary. The choices you make along the way has literally nothing to do with the heroines, directly or indirectly. They affect only the outcome of the said chapter. Only Aine and sometimes Naruko are aware of your choice. Aine always asks Tomoe to return. Naruko doesn’t have her own opinion, and Yuri and Minamo are completely left out.

Later revelation of the true nature of the angels also puzzled me, feeling somewhat out of place. For one moment, I was even worried the game might come to a wholesome end. Fortunately, it did not. The true end nevertheless is a bit lacklustre and anticlimactic.

Art and music are both top-notch. Saddening soundtracks are the best, setting up the depressing vibe well.

If you’re eager to bring out your inner masochist, or are already one like me, then Bokuten certainly would quench the thirst. It’s not perfect though just as love itself is not.

[i]In addition to the official content warning, there are a few more I'd like to point out, particularly if you're going to get the R18 patch. Despite its cute visual, Bokuten contains quite a lot disturbing contents. The list goes: socially stigmatised homosexual, sexual assault, cheating, sex slavery (implied), threesome incest, masturbation in public place, etc. If you're concerned with any of those, I'd advise you think twice whether to get the patch or the game at all.[/i] Wouldn’t it be better if our heart could [i]fracture[/i] and be gone with it the entailing sorrow and pain? Unfortunately, in the world of Bokuten, beings called Angel would perform angelery to return the fractured shard regardless, believing it would bring back happiness to the person. The story starts with Tomoe, our antisocial and indifferent protagonist, meeting with the passionate fledging angel Aine. The common route consists of six chapters, each of which tells a love struggle between different people. Inevitably, someone involved would have their heart fractured, and it’d be up to Tomoe and Aine to decide whether or not to return the broken shard to its owner. You will be prompted to choose, and the choice not only decides how the chapter ends but also which heroine Tomoe ends up with. As you can tell from being called an utsuge (depressing game), not a single ending is technically a good ending, including those of couples in common route and all the heroines. Each and every one of them leaves a sour taste in mouth, as sacrifice is always made for you to keep something important. Common routes are generally well written with some of them better than the others. In comparison, heroine routes are weaker for three main reasons. First, Tomoe, being a person sustaining severe psychological trauma, does not resonate well with readers. Sometimes, his logic just seems too twisted. Therefore, his love story with the girls makes even less sense. Second, Yuri and Minamo just don’t get enough screen time. They feel even less relevant than those common route couples. You start to get to know them only after getting into their respective route, which for certain feels abrupt. Third, route choice is arbitrary. The choices you make along the way has literally nothing to do with the heroines, directly or indirectly. They affect only the outcome of the said chapter. Only Aine and sometimes Naruko are aware of your choice. Aine always asks Tomoe to return. Naruko doesn’t have her own opinion, and Yuri and Minamo are completely left out. Later revelation of the true nature of the angels also puzzled me, feeling somewhat out of place. For one moment, I was even worried the game might come to a wholesome end. [spoiler]Fortunately, it did not.[/spoiler] The true end nevertheless is a bit lacklustre and anticlimactic. Art and music are both top-notch. Saddening soundtracks are the best, setting up the depressing vibe well. If you’re eager to bring out your inner masochist, or are already one like me, then Bokuten certainly would quench the thirst. It’s not perfect though just as love itself is not.