Summary

Release Year: 1998
Genres: Adventure, Puzzle, Visual Novel
Platforms: Sega Saturn
Developers: Chunsoft
Publishers: Chunsoft

Sound Novel Machi: Machi (1998)

A Groundbreaking Visual Novel with a Non-Linear Narrative

Released in 1998, Sound Novel Machi: Machi is a unique and groundbreaking visual novel that tells the stories of eight unrelated protagonists living in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan. The game is played across five in-game days and features a huge number of live-action still photographs. Each of the protagonists has their own unique story that defies genres, and the player must play through all of the stories in parallel, jumping across different protagonists and backtracking to re-select branches. These choices not only affect the active protagonist but also other protagonists through often bizarre twists of causality.

The Protagonists

The eight protagonists of Machi are:

Ayu, a high school girl who is trying to find her place in the world.
Daisuke, a young man who is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality.
Eri, a successful businesswoman who is hiding a dark secret.
Hiroshi, a salaryman who is trying to balance his work and personal life.
Jun, a homeless man who is trying to find a way to get back on his feet.
Kaori, a young woman who is dealing with the death of her father.
Ken, a college student who is trying to find his purpose in life.
Michiru, a young girl who is trying to cope with her parents’ divorce.

The Stories

The stories of the eight protagonists are all unique and defy genres. Ayu’s story is a coming-of-age story, Daisuke’s story is a story of self-discovery, Eri’s story is a mystery, Hiroshi’s story is a drama, Jun’s story is a story of redemption, Kaori’s story is a story of grief, Ken’s story is a story of self-discovery, and Michiru’s story is a story of hope.

The Gameplay

Machi is played across five in-game days. Each day, the player can choose to play as any of the eight protagonists. The player must then make choices that will affect the protagonist’s story. These choices can be small, such as what to eat for breakfast, or they can be large, such as whether or not to confess their love to someone.

The player must play through all of the stories in parallel, jumping across different protagonists and backtracking to re-select branches. These choices not only affect the active protagonist but also other protagonists through often bizarre twists of causality. For example, a choice that Ayu makes on day one can have a ripple effect that affects Daisuke’s story on day three.

The Non-Linear Narrative

One of the most unique things about Machi is its non-linear narrative. The player is not forced to play through the stories of the eight protagonists in any particular order. The player can choose to focus on one protagonist’s story for a while and then switch to another protagonist’s story later. The player can also choose to backtrack and re-select branches, which can lead to different outcomes.

The non-linear narrative of Machi gives the player a lot of freedom to explore the game’s world and characters. The player can choose to play the game in any way they want, and they can discover different endings depending on the choices they make.

The Live-Action Still Photographs

Machi is one of the first visual novels to use live-action still photographs. These photographs give the game a unique and realistic look. The photographs are also used to great effect to convey the emotions of the characters.

The use of live-action still photographs in Machi helps to create a more immersive experience for the player. The player feels like they are actually there with the characters, experiencing their stories firsthand.

The Music

The music in Machi is composed by Ryu Umemoto. The music is atmospheric and emotional, and it helps to create the game’s unique atmosphere. The music also changes depending on the protagonist that the player is playing as.

The music in Machi is one of the game’s strongest points. It helps to create a truly immersive experience for the player.

The Legacy

Machi was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 1998. The game has been praised for its unique and groundbreaking gameplay, its well-written stories, and its beautiful visuals. Machi has also been credited with helping to popularize the visual novel genre in the West.

Machi is still considered to be one of the best visual novels ever made. The game is a must-play for fans of the genre and anyone who is interested in experiencing a truly unique and innovative game.

Conclusion

Sound Novel Machi: Machi is a groundbreaking visual novel that tells the stories of eight unrelated protagonists living in Tokyo. The game features a non-linear narrative, live-action still photographs, and a beautiful soundtrack. Machi is a must-play for fans of the visual novel genre and anyone who is interested in experiencing a truly unique and innovative game.