TAISHO x ALICE episode one is an otome visual novel where the player saves Prince Charming. The store page was recently released on Steam, featuring English subtitles and Japanese audio.
The title first launched in February 2015 in Japan, with a complete edition released on the Nintendo Switch in April 2019.
According to the Steam page: “DUALICE (TAISHO x ALICE episode I) is a fairytale visual novel in which YOU must save your Prince Charming! You will take on the role of the fairytale heroine in order to rehabilitate your chosen love interest and guide him to his “happily ever after”!”
The heroine is lost in a new world with a severe case of amnesia. With the help of “Alice,” a handsome young man with blue-eyes and blonde hair also suffering from amnesia, they travel together through the darkness. The pair comes across a crystal mirror into the Looking-Glass World, where the heroine meets an assortment of classic fairytale characters.
The story takes fairytales as gamers know them and switch up their stories. Classic characters who have typically been females, such as Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Gretel, and Alice are now males.
This story is an adventure-romance tale, so the significant characters are also romanceable. The first episode features two love interests: Cinderella and Red Riding Hood.
The official website details the chapters to come. Episode II will feature Kaguya from the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Gretel of the Brothers Grimm fairytale Hansel and Gretel.
Episode 3 contains romanceable characters Snow White and Wizard. While Snow White is from the classic tale, Wizard is a more unique character that gamers will have to play to understand.
The final episode is the epilogue and the final tale that ties everything together.
While TAISHO x ALICE is an otome romance visual novel, it contains a story with many complex themes.
TAISHO x ALICE was later released in English, but with major issues. The translation was mostly incomplete, with most of the text being in Japanese. Usually, when a game is translated in English, this includes the stories and menus.
Developer Primula with publisher Pencil is giving the game another chance with a proper English translation. The story will remain the same with no other known changes.
TAISHO x ALICE Episode 1 will be released on Steam on November 28, 2019.
