1997 RELOADED | PC Review
It’s been a hot minute since I dove into a visual novel. I’m always on the hunt for an engrossing story that will allow me to escape into the world of the characters. Gaigo Studio has achieved that with their title 1997 RELOADED. It’s a kinetic visual novel that is rooted both in real life and in an alternate version of the year 1997. I found myself entranced by the narrative and couldn’t wait to uncover more of its secrets and mysteries.
The Beat Goes On
The story starts in 2023 Hove, England. Three friends, Marco, Federico, and Shirley, are hanging out together. Marco and Federico are visiting from Italy while Shirley is hosting them. They decide to go to a flea market, where they quickly find an antique answering machine (boy, do I feel old) with tapes still in it. Upon playing it, they discover a message from Andy Quinn, a member of the ‘90’s alt-metal band Alias/Insane. His death was believed to be a suicide, but his message on the machine implies that he and his lover were actually murdered. The group decides to head to the United States to investigate and try to unravel the true story. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in both the 2023 timeline and jumping back to the “Roxyverse” (named after an in-game character) version of 1996/1997. Both time periods were engrossing and kept me hooked on the central mystery.
A Wonderful Trip
1997 RELOADED plays like a typical visual novel. You click to progress dialogue and continue on to the next scene. There is a certain section where you have to type in answers that you can only find in the hidden lore of the game, which I found intriguing. I actually wished more of the game had included segments like this. The game sometimes offers you the choice of playing in either English or Italian at certain points, which was another cool touch. There are also points where you have to choose to follow either Marco or Federico in the storyline. Whichever you end up choosing, the other route is explained afterwards, so you don’t miss out on what happened.
Another interesting wrinkle is that Federico largely speaks in Italian and his lines are often translated, but not always. Marco is left in charge of relaying what Federico is saying to Shirley and whoever else they may encounter. I did find this a tad confusing at first since some lines are only interpreted by clicking on a globe icon, which the game doesn’t tell you about. It’s a small nitpick, but it was initially frustrating and had me in the settings trying to figure out how to read it in English. Another gripe I had was the use of a slur in the 2023 timeline. It’s included near the end of the game and it rubbed me the wrong way. It’s sadly an ableist term that people still use to this day, but I’m particularly sensitive to it. Most players probably won’t be affected by it, but if you’re bothered by the use of the slur to imply cognitive impairment, be aware that it is spoken by a character.
A Fully Immersive Experience
1997 RELOADED is heavily reliant on its visuals and sound design to communicate its narrative, and it works. The art style is delightful. Everything is hand drawn, and it adds a human touch to the story. I loved the rough-around-the-edges vibe of the graphics,which differentiate this from the usual anime style of visual novels. The dialogue is presented in comic-book inspired speech bubbles instead of in a traditional text box, and I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation.
The audio design truly sings (pun fully intended). While the dialogue is not voice-acted, the songs mentioned in the game are able to be played and listened to at any time you wish after they appear in the story. There’s alt-metal music, of course, but also pop, folk, and even blues tracks included. Every song is excellent and is obviously crafted with care and expertise. They really add to the narrative and allow it to shine incredibly.
The Final Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with 1997 RELOADED. It’s a unique visual novel that includes dual time perspectives and relies heavily on its visuals and sound to communicate its themes and story. It only took me about two hours to play this, but I’m a fast reader and anticipate this taking at least a couple more hours if you’re not a speed reader. If you’re a visual novel fan, this gem of a game is begging you to play it and become immersed in its world.
To hear me talk about 1997 Reloaded, be sure to listen to the June 3rd, 2026 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.
This review is based on a PC copy of 1997 RELOADED provided by Gaigo Studio for coverage purposes. As of the time of this writing, it is exclusive to this platform.
1997 RELOADED
TBD
Pros
- Fascinating Duel Timeline Story
- Unique Visual Style
- Excellent Sound Design
Cons
- Translation Option Isn’t Always Clear
- Use of an Ableist Slur