Because We're Here - Act I

I had a literal list while playing this game of every glaring issue I had with it, but by the end I didn't care anymore after spending way too much time slogging through it. Mostly I'm trying to figure out if there's any way I can get my money refunded, because I certainly have no way of getting those precious hours of my life back.

Recommended without hesitation if you have any interest in historical settings or war drama/romance! The writing is excellent, all the characters are compelling in their own way, and there is an incredible amount of nuanced worldbuilding as well. Just remember that Act I, which is already very impressive, is really an extended introductory chapter (you should be able to read through it in 3 to 5 hours). If you like it, you're guaranteed to love Act II even more, and to have your heart thoroughly shattered in the process.

I've never had a game make me breakdown in tears as many times as Because We're Here has, it's a strong emotional story and completly ripped apart all my expectations then proved to be better than anything I could have imagined. Alot of those lost haunt me hours after finishing the game and it came so unexpectedly that each time one goes I'm stuck with some vague hope that there's a misunderstanding and that character will just pop up again. It's bleak and heartwrenching and the game makes you hope desperately that Elf will find some way to save everyone. //fingers crossed for oTTO CRIES If he goes then I'm sticking Elf so hard to Kettle but even that's not entirely safe. It really sales the hardships of war. ):

The first act is pretty short, feels more like a proof of concept than a game. It however is a pretty good concept. Portrays war rather realistically especially in the beginning of the game. I'm not sure if this game is what your local recruiter wants you to play or not. Is it anti-propaganda or a little bit inspiring? XD Either way I appreciate the MC, Elfreide, a lot. I'll keep going with it, so I would say it's definitely worth the price of admission. The development however is very slow. I have held off playing this for a couple of years now. Hopefully act III gets done this year. Because if I were to adopt this game's mentality, you or I could very well realistically die before this gets finished. :P

i'm cryi ng thank u must protecc wolf at all costs

Wow, what a fantastic start to a game! The writing flows very well, has great moments of levity to balance out the darker moments, and the characters are all compelling and unique. I especially appreciate that the story remains the same regardless of what route you’re on, with the route presenting as side moments within the story. Your being on someone’s route might change their personal arc (I can’t speak beyond part 1), but it doesn’t change what ultimately happens to some characters. The sprite artwork is gorgeous and emotive, and the backgrounds, while a little messy, help set the tone and mood wonderfully. My only critique is that the art style for the CGs is very obviously done by a different artist, and the style unfortunately clashes hard with the style of the sprites we see for the rest of the game. It is by no means a dealbreaker, it’s just rather jarring. Overall, a fantastic little game that I can’t wait to see the rest of.

I haven't quite finished the game yet but I LOVED what I've played so far. It is fantastically written and all the characters have such well thought out personalities and backgrounds. They're not carbon copies of each other and complement Elfriede in different ways. Cant wait to play Act 2!

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.

I recently played an otome by the name of "Steam Prison" and was looking for another game that possibly had similar-ish vibes. I stumbled upon Because We're Here while looking through my recommendations on Steam. My temptations got the better of me, and so I bought the game. (I'm leaving a review for Act I and Act II, because I had trouble obtaining it on Steam, so I improvised with the itch.io version.) This review is written after my first play through, and I have to say, without any spoilers, that this is hands down one of the best otome visual novels I've played yet (and I've played quite a ton) It was a lot lengthier than I had imagined, which was good, because it kept me at the edge of my seat at all times. I loved all the characters, especially the MC herself, Elfreide. Her personality was a breath of fresh air compared to some other commercial games I've played. As for the other characters, I did get emotionally attached to most of them. My personal favorites were Marius, Horst, and Wolf. Walter was annoying at some times, but I never really hated him. The only thing that I could find -sort of- negative would be some of the routes. I'm not gonna spoil anything and be specific, but some characters only had tragic endings and I wish they had at least one more option for redemption somehow. It was also an angst fest (which I personally enjoyed, lol) I truly enjoyed playing this game and I hope we will get Act III in the near future :)