fault - SILENCE THE PEDANT Demo

Most visual novels are basically interactive anime movies, especially since many of them barely feature any interaction at all. It’s all about the stories, on the other hand, since it doesn’t really matter how much control you have over your character if the plot is worth seeing through. In some cases your decisions alter the course of the story, so multiple playthroughs are possible.

fault - SILENCE THE PEDANT is a visual novel with a few point & click adventure elements, and it is actually the third episode in the fault saga. Granted, this installment is far more standalone than the previous entries, so you do not actually have to be familiar with the other games in order to enjoy this. Obviously, it might make more sense if you go through the rest of the games beforehand.   In short, this episode takes place five years after the events of the first game, so it’s more of a semi-prequel. Hence, you follow the exploits of a young girl by the name of Ritona, who is striving to become a royal guard and serve the ruling elite. However, she gets a bit disoriented along the way, especially when she considers the point of loyalty in the grand scheme of things.

The whole series is designed to feel more like a movie than a game, and it’s obvious from the way the scenes are presented. Unlike in a regular visual novel, the frames are always moving, zooming or shaking, so the action feels much more dynamic. Don’t expect too many choices in the gameplay department, on the other hand, which is kind of a bummer, given the premise of the game.   Lastly, the artwork is truly magnificent, and you can tell that the artists are top-notch. Every scene is very detailed, and so are the characters, most of which have many poses and facial expressions. There are also quite a few backgrounds, so the experience does not feel repetitive at all. Not the same thing can be said about the music, which might get on your nerves after a while, even if it’s not bad.

Fault - SILENCE THE PEDANT is not a particularly interactive visual novel, but the story is worth the effort, so you can give it a shot even if you are not a fan of the genre. The artwork deserves a special mention too, because it really adds to the overall atmosphere.