Pantsu Hunter: Back to the 90s (2019)

Simple and entertaining visual novel about the search for true love between Kenji, the protagonist, and different girls we will try to meet through their knickers. Artistically and musically is very successful, but the game has narrative issues that not explode the possibilities of the game, and they end up turning the experience into a continuation of trial and error situations, with some really absurd choices. However, and surprisingly, he achieves his goal about remember those wonderful 90s.

Pantsu Hunter: Back to the 90s has some good intentions but while it does a competent job at creating a nostalgic environment, its gameplay experience feels rather poor and uninteresting, mostly due to its dull puzzles and sub-par structure. This is a pity, as the game clearly has ideas that could have brought it further but the way they were implemented simply does not lead Pantsu Hunter to a memorable or remarkable threshold.

If the developers bring a lot more focus Pantsu Hunter, and more carefully consider how to make the various gameplay and narrative elements fit together, this could yet become something special.

It has taken no lessons from its contemporaries, instead choosing to glimmer briefly with its retro anime art style, which is superficially propped up by an asinine story full of senseless characters.

Even that weird cursed chair was pretty funny to see explained after the fact; I just wish it wasn't so intrinsically linked to some really frustrating and boring puzzles. If Pantsu Hunter had fully committed to being a visual novel like its final chapter instead, I'd probably like it a lot more. Unfortunately as it is, it relies too much on extending its runtime through cheap instant death puzzles without clear solutions to make me feel like I could appreciate the few things it does right.