G-senjou no Maou (The Devil on G-String) Review: A Gripping Visual Novel

    0
    26704

    G-senjou No Maou is a visual novel that grips you, and takes you for a ride. Akabei Soft2 has developed this visual novel. The game has multiple branching plot lines and the player will get an ending according to the decisions they make. There are four main female characters and therefore, four endings to the game. The title “G Senjō no Maō” comes from August Wilhelmj’s “Air on the G String”, an adaptation of J.S. Bach’s original “Air”, and Franz Schubert’s “Der Erlkönig“.

    G-senjou no Maou: Characters:

    Kyousuke

    The player assumes the role of the protagonist- Azai Kyousuke, the adopted son of a fierce Yakuza boss. His wealthy lifestyle is a result of his father’s tutelage. By daytime, Kyousuke is a normal, relaxed school going teenager, and by the end of the day, he turns into a brutal businessman, to help his father, Gonzou. He was adopted as a kid so that he could repay his huge, agonizing debt. Gonzou keeps an account of every yen Kyousuke spends, down to the last roll of toilet paper. He thinks of money as means to everything and employs ruthless ways to earn it. Kyousuke gives out the impression of someone heartless, but as the game moves on, one learns about the compassionate side of him. He has a soft spot for Classical Music.

    G-senjou no Maou
    The PC in G-senjou no Maou: Kyosuke

    Maou

    The titular character of the villain “Maou” is very interesting. He is the kind of character whose name is only whispered in wispy voices. His name literally means “The Devil”. You don’t ever mess with Maou, if you try playing tricks on him, chances are he will one up you in the next move. Maou exploits exceptionally skilled children for carrying out criminal activities because of their low chances of being suspected. He is known to have a lot of pawns who are big leagues in their fields.

    Maou has developed a liking for Haru. According to him, Haru is the only worthy opponent. He devices genius traps and expects Usami Haru to get out of it. The speculation goes that Maou is an alter ego of Kyousuke, but one must find the truth in the gameplay.

    Usami Haru

    Usami Haru is the main heroine of the story. She has a bizarre persona. Haru is socially awkward, which she more than compensates for with her confidence. Haru is a meticulous problem solver with an eye for details. She is the only one capable of matching wits with Maou. Haru plays a violin and has a soft spot for Penguins. She is an excellent seamstress. She calls herself “Hero” and also has a head full of hair, a head which can’t be missed in a huge crowd. The thick haired girl is an unkempt beauty and her eyes give her emotions away. She is here for revenge, and is looking for Maou. Haru is a very private person but she opens up eventually. However, she is careful about never spilling her secrets and never trusting anybody. Usami Haru is my personal favorite, with her unparalleled genius and persistence.

    G-senjou no Maou
    Usami: The main heroine in G-senjou no Maou

    Azai Gonzou

    Azai Gonzou is a crime boss, leading a faction of the famous Japanese mob, Yakuza. He is big, brutal and fearless. Gonzou is the foster father of Kyousuke. He thinks of Kyousuke as an acquired asset, more than a son. He has provided Kyousuke with everything, with an interest and a time stamp on it. Gonzou expects total repayment of the debt with full interest. He wouldn’t flinch when it comes to killing Kyousuke for it. Gonzou has spread the terror of his reign all over. He has his men in each and every area, every nook and corner of the city. Gonzou has a personality anyone would be afraid of. Even Usami Haru, who is otherwise a fearless woman, fumbled when it came to talking to this Yakuza Boss.

    G-senjou no Maou
    Kyosuke’s foster father, Azai Gonzou

    Other Characters

    Ever met someone so kind, they’ll feel bad about “not” being kind? That’s Tsubaki Miwa for you. This selfless character managed to amaze Azai Kyousuke with her relentless calmness and kindness in one of the routes. Azai Kanon, the illegitimate child of the Yakuza Boss Gonzou is a figure skater. She is a delightful bundle of joy who conveniently ignores the happenings around her. She is ever so nonchalant about everything wrong around her. Almost child-like, she also addresses herself in third person, calling herself Non-Chan. However, this attitude of hers is what enables her into becoming an excellent, undefeated figure skater.

    Aizawa Eiichi is yet another amusing character. He is a pervert who is into older women and has no scruples. Eiichi has a sweet tooth and employs cheap tricks to get women to fall for him. He heavily lusts Usami Haru and develops a liking for Tsubaki because of her maturity. This baby faced character acts cute and innocent around everyone else and turns into his misogynistic self while talking to Kyousuke.

    G-senjou no Maou: Plot and Music

    G-senjou no Maou has four endings, and while the main ending is smooth, gripping and absolutely fabulous, the rest seemed somehow just “put together”. It felt as if those are separate, broken parts of a story, glued together sloppily just to conclude the story. It would’ve been much better if the other routes had just as much zest in them. The secondary routes also somewhat predictable.

    Perhaps the most unique part of this visual novel is the sudden shift in mood every now and then. One moment Kyosuke is in class talking to his friends and the next he’s put on his negotiator mask and is extorting money from businessmen twice his age. This really balances the novel, and makes it stand out. Moments of life and death and idle banter lie mere minutes apart in G-senjou no Maou.

    Out of all the characters the most interesting ones are the protagonist, the antagonist and Gonzou. Both the PC and Maou are from the INxJ personality type, focusing on the long term and the bigger picture, while Usami although really perceptive and sharp, tends to miss that. This leads to some nerve-racking stand offs between the two, and points out the weaknesses and strengths of the two personalities.

    G-senjou no Maou Kyosuke is the hardest to read, and sometimes even he’s not sure of his aims and objectives. His mental health problems make him even more mystifying. Maou on the other hand, although similar to Kyosuke, is much more confident and driven. Gonzou is a different kind of character altogether. Despite being a criminal, he has a sense of honor, the mind of an intellectual and regardless of how brutal he may seem at first, makes you want to respect him towards the end.

    The intense drama and emotion is reinforced by the enchanting music, which just enhances the experience of the game. Most of the game’s soundtrack is made of renditions of classical music arranged by Tiko-μ. The game’s official soundtrack was released by 5pb in a three disc set. The YouTube playlist can be found here

    I am not a big fan of Anime, but this game makes me reconsider the decision of not delving into it. I’d recommend this game to every beginner, as it was a great experience for a noob like me. The voice acting of the characters was done beautifully. Every single emotion has been captured by the voice actors and it takes the player for a roller coaster ride. I felt it was an experience worth having. Initially, I was skeptical of the plot, thinking it was just another anime game everybody would blindly go gaga over, but it surely made me feel otherwise.

    REVIEW OVERVIEW
    One of the best visual novels out there
    Previous articleMoonlighter Review – “Economics and Adventure Rolled into One”
    Next article10 Best NSFW Games On PC [Updated May 2018]
    g-senjou-no-maou-reviewG-senjou no Maou is one of the best visual novels out there. Intriguing characters, intricate plot and an enamoring soundtrack keep you glued for a good 10-12 hours. This one is a must try for ever VN or anime fan.

    Leave a Reply