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Overall Score: 9.1/10

The game feels unimpressive at first, but by the time you finish it, it turns out to be far better than expected.

The story is set in a future where AI has taken control of the world. Since my background is fairly deep in the AI field, I usually avoid works centered around AI because they often trigger me with a lot of unrealistic or hand-wavy nonsense. However, this is one of the very few sci-fi titles about AI that I feel handles the topic fairly well. Sure, there are still a few moments that feel dumb or unrealistic, but overall it’s much more grounded than most similar works I’ve come across. For me, that’s a huge plus.

Throughout the game, the player is repeatedly placed between two (or more) opposing ideologies regarding the same issue. None of the choices are completely right or wrong, yet you’re still forced to choose one and accept the consequences.

By the midpoint of the game, it’s fairly easy to predict where the story is heading due to being a Key title and knowing their usual emotional manipulation. That said, the way the story is carefully built up toward that conclusion is very well done, and the emotional payoff was extremely satisfying for me. The only downside is that the game occasionally inserts some awkward infodumps in the middle, which may turn some players off.

Score Breakdown:

Story: 9/10
Minus one point for being somewhat predictable. Other than that, it’s excellent. Even though I could foresee the direction of the plot, it still left a lingering emotional impact after finishing, which I’d call a success.

Visuals: 10/10
Every CG looks amazing and very polished.

Voice Acting: Philia ∞/10
You must play with Philia’s full voice on. The male lead can be safely skipped.

BGM: 6/10
Not very memorable, with few standout tracks. At one point I was playing while listening to the NGNL Zero OST, and it honestly fit the mood better than the game’s own BGM.

OP / ED: 10/10
The opening is fantastic, and the ending theme hits hard emotionally. More than enough to deserve a 10.

Pacing:
Solid overall, slightly on the fast side. It doesn’t drag, but also doesn’t rush so much that you can’t absorb each arc.

Key and their wheelchair: Check

I can't wait until AI robot wife girls are real...

Easily my favourite Key kinect novel and best in the AI girl series they have, great post apocalyptic world building that makes Planetarian (as much as I love that game) look weak in comparison, the father daughter relationship the main two characters have is really well developed throughout the game - Philia herself especially by the end is so well developed from the naive girl she is at the start and its such a natural almost unotacable change. A fair bit darker than most Key games as well (save for a few routes like Saya and Lucia in other game) that really makes it stand out amongst Keys almost perfect imo track record. Plot is fairly predicatable at times but the world surrounding it and the B plots more than make for it's minor short comings.