Pumpkin's Video Game Diary!

[Pumpkin]

fault milestone one (Steam)
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fault milestone one is the first part of the fault series of visual novels. It should be noted that the other parts are not yet released, although milestone two does now have a demo available. If you want to play the complete series, you'll have to wait a while. Also note that there is an occasional graphically violent scene, but they are few and far between. There is no nudity or sexuality of any sort.

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fault milestone one is a visual novel that takes place in a fictional world, a world where magic plays a large role. At the beginning of the story, we see a city being burned to the ground by some mysterious people. Our heroines are introduced shortly, one is a Princess named Selphine, kind-hearted and sweet, and her personal guard and adept magic user, Ritona.

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It isn't long before the girls realize they're fighting a losing battle, so Ritona pulls out some crazy magic and teleports them somewhere. However, they end up somewhere they don't want to be and don't know very well. After wandering around a while they learn that they're on the "outer-pole", a place where magic is scarce and most people don't take kindly to those who use it. Instead, the outer-pole has put a lot of focus on science and development to make due with their lack of magic and the difficulties it has afforded them.

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While in the outer-pole, they meet a girl who calls herself "Rune". Rune helps the girls get situated, find some money, and make plans to leave the outer-pole and head for home. Rune is rather mysterious though, and Ritona can't tell at first whether to make heads or tails of the girl. Eventually she grows to trust and even like her. Sadly, things then take a turn for the worst.

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The girls meet a man named "Rudo", who speaks of Rune as if she's property. Worse yet, he insists her name is Sara, and that soon she'll be punished for a theft she committed in order to help the girls out. After doing some investigative work, our heroes learn that "Rune" was actually a child who used to live in the village. A hellion of a child who committed many atrocities, such as severely wounding a child and torturing animals before she died. Why is Sara calling herself Rune? Why is she treated like property? These are questions our heroes want to discover and learn as they try to help Sara/Rune out of her punishment. But bad news, if they stay on the outer-pole for too long, their body will go through shock from mana (magic) depletion, and they'll be stuck on the outer-pole forever.

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This game is a visual novel, although there is only one choice present in the game as far as I'm aware. Most of the gameplay is simply reading about the adventure. You can of course save, and the game also provides you with an encyclopedia to learn more about the terms, and once you've completed the game you'll get access to a gallery as well as have your new character present on the start up screen. When playing, there will be a menu on the bottom of the screen, which you can access by scrolling over it. This menu allows you to quick save, quick load, view the encyclopedia, and a few other things. By right clicking on the screen at any time, you will gain access to a menu with options and the option to save as well.

Characters:
In no particular order:
9zlLz8G.pngRitona: One of the protagonists, she also serves as the narrator to our story. She's a wise young woman who is highly skilled in many ways and is fiercely loyal to Selphine, her Princess. She serves as more of the serious realist.
P9OFO4H.pngSelphine: A young Princess, she cares deeply about her people and almost everyone she meets. She has many valuable skills and is an excellent people person. Very sweet and caring.
GyauRIH.pngRune(Sara?): A girl the two heroes meet on the outer-pole, she is very helpful to them and does her best to aid them, even stealing something they need despite the consequences. She calls herself Rune, but others say her name is really Sara, and she's called "it" and treated like property.
UiSX4H4.pngRune: A young girl infamous in the town for being a Hell Spawn, she committed many violent acts against others and displayed psychotic behavior. She died before the start of the story.
wXmI910.pngRudo: A man in charge of a very prominent corporation in the advancement of science, he treats Rune/Sara as property. Very short tempered, he lived through some trauma involving his younger sister, Rune.
EsINdJc.pngCid: The now deceased father of Rudo and Rune, he was incredibly influential in the advancement of science on the outer-pole. He was a very passionate man.
hUBLypm.pngEline: Cid's wife and mother of Rudo and Rune, she was very supportive of her husband and a very loving mother, however she was born rather frail and ill.
s2If24g.pngAlbas: Albas helped Cid start up the company and helped with the advancement of science in the outer-pole in place of magic. He serves as second in command to Rudo.
UboK3dR.pngHertzwaan: The town drunk with a good set of skills, good people skills, and a lot of contacts. He knew Cid and has known Albas for a long time.
H4DU5Gi.pngMelano: Indicated to be the big-bad of the story, she is responsible for the attack on Ritona and Selphine's home that forced them to flee.
UbNzfi3.pngKoko: A skilled magician girl who's skills rival Ritona's she is responsible for a lot of the destruction to Selphine and Ritona's homeland. She feels justified doing these things if it protects the ones she cares about.
OCbs6DE.pngMharie: A skilled magician and in league with Koko, she is very quiet due to her speech impediment, but is very skilled.
PCk2jtw.pngSian: Another one of the bad guys along with Koko and co., not much is known about her yet, but she seems very level-headed.

Overall, I wasn't sure what to expect of this story, but it got good reviews so I picked it up. I wasn't very invested at first, but once things start to pick up, I could barely take my eyes away. The story was interesting and engaging, the characters made me care, and it left me guessing. The game does feel a bit amateur, but I don't mean that in a bad way. It just seems a bit less polished than other visual novel's that I've read, but that gives it a certain charm. I am a bit sad that for the price it was only one part and I have to wait for future installments now.

Verdict:
LIKED IT A LOT

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