Developer: Otomate
Publisher: Idea Factory International
Genre: Visual Novel
Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch
Battlefield Waltz is a character-rich otome that blends romance with the backdrop of a military academy. The story follows Lan, a young woman who becomes bound to a cursed sword after her village is destroyed. She enrolls in a school for warriors and learns to fight.
Lan is a refreshing protagonist. She isn’t a passive observer of her story but an active force who grows strong. Each of the six romanceable characters brings out a different facet of her development. Even secondary characters feel fleshed out and add vibrancy to the narrative.
Visually, Battlefield Waltz is a treat. The character designs are expressive and beautifully drawn, and the abundance of CGs ensures that key story moments feel impactful. The game excels in its audio as well, with fully voiced characters (aside from the protagonist) and a strong soundtrack.
The pacing can be slow, particularly in the early chapters as Lan adjusts to her new life. Choices sometimes feel like they are meaningless, leading to the illusion of choice. Additionally, while the wartime setting is exciting in this genre, the narrative eventually shifts away from its early promise of deeper political and military intrigue to focus more on personal relationships, which I suppose isn’t surprising for an otome. It would just be nice to have a change of pace here.
Battlefield Waltz is a heartfelt visual novel that successfully delivers on its promise of engaging romance and character-driven storytelling. It’s a great fit for otome enthusiasts looking for a game with depth and warmth. The slow pacing and departure from the battlefield doesn’t make it for everyone, but regular otome fans will find more of what they love in this game.
Disclaimer: A review copy was generously provided by Idea Factory International for the purposes of this review.
