Every once in a while, a game comes along that is unlike anything else in its genre. These games take something that has been done to death but put their own spin on it to make it something completely new and unique. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, the result is something that will be burned into your mind forever—that's exactly what will happen if you play Steins;Gate.
For anyone who's never heard of it, Steins;Gate is known as one of the world's best time-travel stories in any form of media—not just in gaming. This entry in 5pb's long-running "Science Adventure" series has gained a large following since its debut. Since its original release, it has received multiple spin-offs and sequels, multiple manga series, a full anime series, and even an anime movie that continues where the game's plot left off. Needless to say, Steins;Gate has already had a big impact on the world, and now the game has once again been released in the West to a much larger audience on multiple platforms. No longer the 360-exclusive it once was, the game can now be played on PC, PS3, Vita, and soon PS4 and others such as iOS devices. It's a game that many people now have access to, but the real question is: is it worth it for you to pick it up?
Despite being critically acclaimed, the simple fact is that it may not be for everyone. First of all, if you're not a fan of novels (or reading in general), then you may be better off watching the show. As a visual novel, Steins;Gate is something you watch and read with minimum input from the player. Second, if you're not a fan of sci-fi, well, again, this may not be for you. Although this game is much more grounded in reality than many other similar stories, it is still sci-fi and it may turn you off—there's no getting around that. As for the final reason, however, it really does come down to what type of media you enjoy in general. If you're not into anime, gaming, or any other form of Japanese culture, once again Steins;Gate may flip that switch and you'll be stepping away from it. With the game's setting being Akiba, a lot of both worlds are seen throughout it, and it is much more enjoyable if you can follow everything that is said (especially when it comes to the references that may make you laugh).
Opening the Steins;Gate:
Steins;Gate is the second entry in the Science Adventure series and takes place in 2010, roughly a year after the events of Chaos;Head. It follows the story of the "Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma"—real name, Okabe Rintaro—who is a 19-year-old college student. He, his classmate Daru, and his childhood friend Mayuri have opened a mini-laboratory where he pursues his dreams of becoming a scientist and inventor who will bring chaos to the world.
In this makeshift lab, which is actually a room rented above a CRT TV shop, the three friends live out their daily lives in Akihabara as they work on creating "future gadgets" that may or may not change the world. While many of these devices are simple little contraptions that have no real practical purposes, one accidental invention is about to change their lives forever.
When the story begins, Okabe and Mayuri are attending a lecture by a man who claims to have figured out time travel. Upon arrival, Okabe runs into a young woman named Kurisu, who tries to question him about what he "tried to tell her before." As he looks at her like she's crazy, he pulls out his phone and begins talking to himself about some sort of "organization." This is just who Okabe is: a guy who's caught up in his own fantasies and is willing to pull anything out of thin air to deal with the situation. When he's questioned by a girl whom he's never met about what he tried to tell her "before," he uses this craziness as an excuse to ignore her and get as far away as possible.
Of course, this is only the beginning of what's to come. After escaping Kurisu, Okabe makes his way to the lecture and instantly notices something is wrong. This so-called "scientist" in front of him is nothing but a big fake; nearly everything his lecture covers has been ripped off from none other than John Titor—yes, the "REAL" John Titor.
In the year 2000, a user named "TimeTravel_0" appeared on the internet and began posting across multiple forums about the future. According to him, he was from the year 2036 and had been sent back in time to 1975 to retrieve an IBM 5100 (renamed to "IBN 5100" in-game). According to Titor (a name he didn't use until 2001), the IBM 5100 and its secret programming language were needed to debug legacy programs in 2036. Besides this, Titor also went on to explain that his time machine was small enough to fit into the back of a Chevy. He stated that the many-worlds interpretation was correct (in which all possible choices and outcomes exist on their own world lines) and that, because of this, the grandfather paradox is impossible. He also mentioned that CERN (called "SERN" in-game) would be the ones to create mini black holes (a fear many people had when the LHC began testing) and pave the way to time travel. On top of this, he also made predictions about what would happen in the future; due to him stating that the many-worlds interpretation is right, he also made it scientifically impossible to say he was wrong when his predictions didn't come true (which they didn't).
With Okabe being the "mad scientist" he is, he already knew nearly everything there was to know about John Titor and was easily able to call this "scientist" out as a fraud. This resulted in the lecture ending shortly after, leaving everyone feeling ripped off—except for Okabe.
As he makes his way out of the lecture hall to begin his search for Mayuri, he hears a scream coming from a nearby hallway. Curious, he rushes toward the source and is greeted by a horrifying sight: Makise Kurisu, the woman he had an awkward conversation with only moments ago, is lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood.
As Okabe rushes out of the building along with the crowd, he sends an email to his friend Daru back at the lab. Suddenly, he is overcome by a strange sensation. In the blink of an eye, everyone around him vanishes, and a satellite appears lodged into the side of the building he just exited. Did it crash? When did this happen? Where did everyone go?
Questions race through Okabe's mind as he realizes the world has changed. Upon returning to the lab, he finds that the lecture was canceled due to the crash before it even started—and that the girl he saw dead is, in fact, still alive. After seeing her again at a college lecture, Okabe approaches her to find out if what he is seeing is real. He asks her about her death, which angers her, leading to a debate over time travel—a concept she claims is impossible.
While his ramblings might deter most people, Kurisu becomes intrigued by Okabe and his insistence that she had died; she even decides to track him down. Unknown to her, she is about to be caught up in something she never expected. The moment she sets foot in Okabe's lab, her life is changed forever. This is the choice of Steins;Gate.
A World of Drama and Comedy:
At first glance, it is difficult to tell exactly what type of story Steins;Gate will be. On one hand, it is a science fiction tale that relies heavily on real-world events and theories; on the other, it is a unique storyline that builds masterfully upon its own established lore.
While the early sections of S;G focus on character development and setting the plot in motion, there is a specific moment where "the button is pressed," and the story becomes a nonstop emotional rollercoaster until the very end. It is a narrative filled with twists, turns, and moments that pull at your heartstrings and refuse to let go. Of course, this is only one part of a much larger picture.
Hououin Kyouma (Okabe), Daru, Mayuri, Kurisu, and the others are all incredibly likable. Okabe rambles on about his own fantasy world, Daru is a die-hard otaku, Mayuri is a kind, simple girl who is... hard to explain, and Kurisu is the genius scientist who may teach you a thing or two before the game is over. The supporting characters have their own charm as well, making it easy to get pulled into their lives.
The interactions between these characters provide some of the best moments in Steins;Gate, and many of their conversations will have you laughing out loud. The way Okabe calls Kurisu "Christina" or his "assistant" just to tick her off, the way Daru completely recontextualizes a conversation with his otaku slang, and Mayuri’s general "Mayuriness" are all sure to bring a smile to your face.
It is clear the writers had a lot of fun with this game, though not everyone will catch every joke or nod. While the use of real brand names is limited (with the exception of Google and a few others), many references are parodies of other media. Those who understand the humor will enjoy these moments all the more. From Okabe grabbing his arm and yelling, "Releasing restrictions—" only to be cut off, to the nickname "Shining Finger" and the naming of a system key to both the gameplay and plot, the game is full of memorable references.
Although it doesn't look like it at first glance, Steins;Gate is a pretty funny game, but it is also a serious one. It has something for both fans of comedy and drama, and it blends the two elements perfectly—something not many stories are able to pull off.
The Cell Phone:
Despite Steins;Gate being primarily a visual novel, there are gameplay elements you can control, all of which stem from the use of Okabe’s phone and the game menus. Throughout the story, Okabe receives emails and browses the popular online community @channel. During these sections, you can read and reply to characters you meet to get to know them better, and you will also learn more about John Titor and the events revolving around SERN.
While some of the emails and phone calls you receive only provide extra lore, there are moments where your interaction can change the plot entirely. For example, Okabe may receive a phone call, and it is up to you whether to answer it. If you answer, you might learn a piece of information that leads to a new location; if you ignore it, Okabe may stay put and run into a different character instead.
These branches provide the game with significant replay value and encourage experimentation. Although the main story remains linear with major events still taking place, seeing these extra scenes reveals new information about the plot and aids character development. Furthermore, specific emails and calls are key to unlocking the story’s "True Ending," as well as various character endings—all of which are worth experiencing and were not covered in the anime.
Another feature, while not tied to the phone alone, is the "collectibles" system. Throughout the game, certain emails contain attachments that add extra customization options to your phone’s settings. For example, some emails include songs from a popular band featured in Chaos;Head, while others provide new wallpapers for your in-game phone.
On top of that, keywords encountered throughout the story are added to a "Tips" library. This glossary explains terms you may not understand or have heard before—such as the references to Back to the Future and the "jigowatt" misspelling. These tips are a nice addition that help flesh out the game’s world and keep the player informed.
Furthermore, any endings reached and CG images seen during the game are added to a gallery accessed from the main menu. Those familiar with visual novels will be pleased to find these standard completionist features present here as well.
Should you read it?
Steins;Gate is a game that many will enjoy, but it is also one that some may want to avoid. When it comes down to it, this title is a visual novel; as such, there isn't a lot of "gameplay" in the traditional sense. You will spend most of your time watching, reading, and listening, with only a handful of moments where your decisions to send or ignore emails actually alter the plot. It is essentially a novel enhanced by visuals and sound. If you aren't a fan of reading or the anime art style, Steins;Gate may not be for you. However, for everyone else, this game does so much right that it is a story you truly shouldn't miss.
Although it is a visual novel, the game relies heavily on sound, and every single line of dialogue is fully voiced. While the voice acting is in Japanese (interspersed with some English words), the actors do a phenomenal job of conveying the characters' emotions to the player. The descriptions of the action paint a vivid picture so that you never miss a beat, and the art direction has a unique style that helps the game stand out. Everything is meticulously detailed—characters' mouths move as they speak, and full-page CG illustrations bring key story moments to life. In short, Steins;Gate does everything a good visual novel should, but what makes it stand out above all else is its incredible story.
Using a mix of real-life history and science fiction, Steins;Gate goes where few other stories are willing to venture. It keeps its sci-fi elements grounded by using real-world theories to get its point across, and it is not afraid to show the devastating consequences of time travel. While the game has a slow start, the buildup to the critical turning point is essential for the payoff.
Steins;Gate does an amazing job of pulling you into its world; before long, you will find yourself loving the characters and never wanting to leave their side. In many games, it might take the entire story to form a connection with the cast, but Steins;Gate accomplishes this early on. Because of this, you will find yourself deeply sympathizing with Okabe when the story takes its dark turn. The emotions this game evokes will shift constantly, and by the time it is over, you may never look at the world the same way again. Throughout your life, you will come across stories that leave a lasting impact on you—Steins;Gate is almost certainly going to be one of them.
Overall, Steins;Gate is something truly special. While the slow start can turn some players off, both the emotional weight and the payoff in the second half are more than worth it. Players will find themselves missing the "good old days" as they are thrown into a sci-fi time-traveling epic that will test how far they are willing to go.
El Psy Kongroo.
VERDICT: Essential
Reviewed on PlayStation Vita
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