ネオ アンジェリーク 天使の涙
（Neo Angelique Tenshi no Namida）
Publisher：Otomate （Koei Tecmo）
CERO：B
Date published：2017/12/07
メリークリスマス！
As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, I’ll be slowly restarting my reviews as my financial stability returns.
Until then, the updates will be sporadic.
In terms of perspective, I think I’ve come to be more jaded with オトゲー characters… And I have those 異世界 （Isekai）novels to blame… Especially those ‘reincarnated into オトゲー settings’ stories.
Heck, add those revenge incarnation to the mix as well.
Those novels are saturating the net with a whole lot of bad writing, common tropes and 1D characters to the point that the novelty of the concept has worn off.
Gone are the days when I could settle for anything less than realism in terms of characters.
Perhaps it’s just me growing up and shedding the idyllic view of romance; relationships are built on mutual work and not just neurotransmitters being trigger-happy 24/7 or on carnal desires.
And with that comes the want for more complex characters and interesting stories to stimulate my dopamine trigger.
TL;DR: I want more intelligent characters instead of stupid ones without a backbone or characters that are the embodiment of a singular characteristic. But this isn’t news, is it?
So will I give up オトゲー？
Not likely, considering that there are some good ones out there.
But I do have a much lower tolerance for ‘stupid’ characters than before so my reviews would be even more scathing and perhaps, abrasive.
…The same could be said for formulaic tropes.
Without further ado, let’s start with my first rage…
Random rant： I am in need of a good blazer not made from polyester. I see no point in wearing plastic for the price of linen!
豆知識 Needed lingo in this piece：
アルカディア（Arukadia；Arcadia）：
The name of the country in which the game is set in. It is a large island rich in natural resources.
女王の卵（Jouou no tamago）：
The citizens of Arcadia believe that 「女王の誕生する時、全ての悪しきものは消えて去りこの世界は救われる」 which translates to the birth of the Queen （女王）will banish the evils of the world. This occurred 2 years prior to the current story where the heroine was able to purify and defeat タナトス（Tanatosu；Thanatos）with the help of オーブハンター . It should be noted that if one were to be Queen, she would live in a parallel dimension and oversee Arcadia. She would remain frozen in her age until her powers have diminished, to which then she is allowed to live the remainder of her life as she wants.
オーブハンター（Oobu hantaa；Orb hunters）：
A group comprised of レイン、ニクス、ジェイド、ヒュウガ and アンジェリーク. They received the name after recovering power-infused orbs after the defeat of Thanatos.
セレスティア教団（Seresutia Kyoudan；Celestia Religious Group）：
A religious group that reveres the Queen; the primary religion of the people of Arcadia.
銀樹騎士（Ginjyu Kishi）：
A group of knights who are have the power to purify but were unable to purify the evil that was Thanatos. It is also the group ヒュウガ is affiliated with.
アーティファクト財団（Aatifakuto Zaidan）：
A research group which is responsible for research of artifacts and its uses, and technological advancements for the better of Arcadia.
ジャスパー・ドール（Jaspaa Dooru；Jasper Dolls）：
An ancient technology which served as a weapons. They have human-like features and are also capable of emotions and thought. ジェイド and ジェット are Jasper dolls
It should be noted that this is the sequel to 「ネオ アンジェリーク」 which was published back in 2006 in the Playstation 2. The full-voiced version was published two years later in 2008 in the same platform, and a Special with 4 additional characters in the PSP just half a year later.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the 「アンジェリーク」 back then so I didn’t play the game.
Plot：
アンジェリーク（Angelique）returns to being a normal student at the University of Arcadia after defeating エレボス（Erebus）two years prior to the current setting. She decides against taking up the role as Queen and instead, registers herself as a medical student; her comrades have also went on their own ways after the final battle. The newly restored peace has now shattered as two mysteries plague Arcadia: there is a sudden increase in the population of Arcadia and the sudden appearance of monsters from the unknown attacking the citizens of Arcadia. Angelique now faces a dilemma on the decision she thought was final, and regroups with her comrades to restore peace in Arcadia.
The game does branch off into 遮断派（shadan；reject）and 開放派（kaihou；accept）which are exclusive to some characters.
I have no recommended order of play so you can go wild and play in whatever order you like.
Characters：
レイン（Rayne）：
A determined and passionate researcher who has taken over from ヨルゴ（Jorg）, his elder brother, and now heads the Artifact research group. It was pretty obvious that he liked Angelique from the start and was rather straight with his feelings later in the game.
ニクス（Nyx）：
The (un)willing antagonist in the previous game, he’s now going around doing charity to redeem himself. I wasn’t particularly paying attention in his route… Which pretty much says what I felt about his route.
ジェイド（J.D）：
The ‘original’ Jasper Doll who is really kind and gentle. I don’t understand his end… Why?! If it worked out in the other routes, why not his?
ヒュウガ（Hyuga）：
Another route that I didn’t really pay attention to… 申し訳ございません。
By this time, I was already annoyed with something… Which I would rant below.
レネ（Rene）：
The archbishop of Celestia. Another end which I thought was weird.
ベルナール（Bernard）：
The “お兄ちゃん” next door when Angelique was a kid, now a journalist covering the incidents in Arcadia. His end was pretty normal.
マティアス（Mathias）：
This… Why does he exist? It made no sense for him to exist… And the ending made no sense either, at least to me. It just felt like it was all for fan-service.
ジェット（Jet）：
An improved Jasper Doll with a huge disadvantage. Although I like his CV, I don’t understand the need for Jet’s existence… Maybe because he was a significant route in the main story…
ロシュ（Roche）：
The information broker who works with Bernard. I can understand his frustrations but I don’t see the point of doing something as stupid as the revolution he was trying to start. It’s stupid when you try to use things you’re not trained to use, OK?
カミーユ（Camille）：
The doppelgänger that looks exactly like Angelique, just that he’s a guy. He has to exist, but his existence is merely a plot device.
Overall afterthought：
I don’t think it was a good idea that I bought the game without playing the prequel, mainly because I couldn’t understand the significance in some of the routes. Despite not having played the prequel, this felt more like an FD to provide closure to the characters instead of a full-fledged sequel. How…? Because most of the content was mainly to affirm their affections or her choice to be Queen or not.
No comments about the BGM…
As for the heroine Angelique, I can’t see any defining qualities other than her ability to purify. Nothing else, really.
Verdict：
The only consolation to this is the illusion of self-sacrifice; going through the monetary and time loss for the sake of others. The plot was neither fresh nor the characters exciting; one’s legacy can only carry you so far.
Replay value：
Unlikely
※Disclaimer: The illustrations used in this post are the creative properties of IDEA FACTORY/ KOEI TECMO.
※「ネオ アンジェリーク 天使の涙」の感想・リビューに使用されている画像の著作権はアイディアファクトリー、主に株式会社コ―エーテクモゲームスに帰属します。
