A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986

Set against the vibrant, neon-lit streets of 1980s Hong Kong, A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 weaves a tender tale of self-discovery and queer romance amidst a society on the brink of transformation. This visual novel by Oracle and Bone Studios is a way to dive into the life of Michelle, an introverted office worker, and Sam, a free-spirited video store owner, whose chance encounter births a romance that defies cultural norms and personal insecurities.

A Love Story Anchored in Time and Place

A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is remarkable for its attention to historical and cultural context. Set a year after the 1985 Sino-British Joint Declaration that initiated the process of Hong Kong's handover to China, the game parallels the inner turmoil of its protagonists with the existential anxieties of the city. Michelle's journey, torn between familial duty and her growing affection for Sam, runs parallel to the precarious position that Hong Kong inhabits as a melting pot of Eastern and Western influences.

Rather than relying on the tropes so often aligned with queer stories, the narrative focuses on more low-key, introspective moments of vulnerability in the characters. The choices that one makes via the dialogue eventually result in two endings: a bittersweet and a hopeful one. The above branch-like structure shows how tenuous the bonding is between people in the face of Tradition versus Modernity.

A Summer's End will appeal to fans of Butterfly Soup (2017), another LGBTQ+-focused visual novel, due to its honest exploration of cultural identity. While the latter game relishes in humor and youthful ebullience, A Summer's End is far more contemplative, which speaks to the weight of societal expectations placed on its adult protagonists.

Visual and Auditory Nostalgia Handcrafted with Love

Oracle and Bone Studios has turned A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 into a time capsule with dedication to period authenticity. Hand-drawn, it is inspired by 1980s anime and the cinematic palette of Wong Kar-wai, immersing players in smoky mahjong parlors, night markets abuzz, and alleys drenched in rain. More than 400 hand-crafted backgrounds and character sprites evince Hong Kong's retro glamour-from Sam's brash fashion statement to Michelle's crisp office look.

Equally important to the experience is the synth-heavy soundtrack, which fuses vaporwave and city pop in a way that's both emblematic of the era's eclectic energy. Tracks from Timecop1983 and Stevia Sphere swing between upbeat rhythms and melancholic melodies, perfectly capturing the ups and downs of the protagonists. This audio texturing enhances the intimacy of the narrative, much like the lo-fi beats in VA-11 Hall-A elevated its cyberpunk bartending sim back in 2016. Yet A Summer's End does something a little different by grounding its aesthetic in real-world history, letting players escape while also learning something.

Review: 8/10

A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is a triumph of storytelling and style. Its nuanced portrayal of queer romance, coupled with a richly realized setting, makes it a standout in the visual novel genre.

Pros:

• Compelling, emotionally resonant narrative with mature themes
• Eye-catching 1980s-inspired artwork and atmospheric soundtrack
• Thoughtful usage of Hong Kong's culture and history in the story
• Meaningful player choice, which raises replayability

Cons:

• Limited gameplay, as expected from any visual novel genre out there
• Somewhat short length may result in players needing more closure