[Review] Genso Manège on Nintendo Switch

Genso Manège is brought to you by PQube, Mages, and Love and Art, and it delves into the romantic world of Otome visual novels on the Nintendo Switch. This intriguing tale unfolds in a fresh interpretation of France, nestled near the eastern border in a quaint town named Blancbourg. Here, the roving amusement park, La Foire du Rêve, is about to kick-off another exciting season. Playing as Emma, you set off on a path of personal discovery, unravelling your true identity along the way.

As you dive into the story, you’ll uncover a chilling truth about La Foire du Rêve. The crew there isn’t free to leave but is held by a magical binding. Fortunately, Emma has a unique power that might just break this spell. You’ll need to accumulate magic by working at the amusement park to change their fate. However, a prior accident has left Emma with memory gaps spanning ten years, and the fragments of what she finds will only come together as you progress through the game.

If you’re not familiar with visual novels, these games concentrate heavily on storytelling, guiding you through either a fixed narrative or one that branches based on choices you make, potentially leading to various romantic paths. True to its genre, Genso Manège portrays a female protagonist on her quest for love, complemented by immersive character voiceovers primarily in Japanese.

When playing, you can utilize the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons or rely on the touchscreen capabilities in Tabletop, Portable Mode, or on the Switch Lite. Navigating choices is straightforward using the Joy-Con’s analog sticks or D-Pad, with the A button finalizing selections, and enabling Auto Mode transitions dialogues smoothly by pressing the Y button.

Central to the game is retrieving Emma’s magical abilities through a mini-game called the Éveil System. It involves gathering stars scattered across the screen via analog sticks or touching them directly. This builds a gauge and culminates in matching a star-shaped outline with the star Emma holds, requiring precision pressing of the A button. Although there’s an option to bypass the mini-game after its initial tutorial, doing so automatically grants an A rank.

Throughout your adventure, you’ll get to know a vibrant cast: Hugo, the courteous yet mischievous Director; Serge, his somewhat aloof right-hand accountant; Crier, the caring young performer; Lyon, the perpetually costumed mascot; Luciole, the introverted mechanic; and Arnaud, Emma’s hometown childhood friend who now works as a journalist.

The captivating journey of Genso Manège, with its scenic backdrop of Blancbourg, extends beyond storylines. Exploring the Extras section grants access to a CG Library with unique game visuals, a Sound Library, a Clear List, and a Special section with surprises best left unspoiled. Genso Manège debuts on the Nintendo Switch with a retail price of $49.99, offering an evocative and enriching gaming experience.

This review of Genso Manège is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by PQube.