Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

First Kiss Story follows the classic visual novel template, offering a largely text-driven experience punctuated by occasional branching choices. Players spend most of their time reading dialogue and narration, with interactions limited to selecting locations on the town map and choosing dialogue responses when prompted. These choices determine which character events trigger—marked by hearts on the map—and ultimately influence which heroine’s route you pursue.

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The map-based navigation adds a light strategic layer: timing matters, and certain girls only appear at specific spots or after particular story beats. While this isn’t a deep simulation or dating-sim engine, it instills a modest sense of planning as you juggle school life, social outings, and one-on-one encounters. Replayability comes from exploring different routes, uncovering each heroine’s storyline, and triggering alternate CG scenes.

For players accustomed to more interactive adventures, the pace may feel slow or simple, but that’s by design. First Kiss Story emphasizes narrative and character development over minigames or stat-building. The decisions you make matter in shaping the ending, so even though there are fewer mechanics than in a typical adventure, each choice carries weight and invites another playthrough.

Graphics

Visually, First Kiss Story shines with its hand-drawn 2D artwork—standard for mid-’90s Japanese visual novels yet still appealing today. Character portraits are expressive, capturing a range of emotions from bashful smiles to playful winks. Backgrounds depict the town of Akitsuki in gentle pastel hues, setting a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.

The original PC-FX version presents crisp sprites and CGs, while the PlayStation port enhances color depth and adds alternative illustrations for key romantic scenes. Both versions keep nudity out of the picture, but occasional mildly erotic CGs underscore the game’s flirtatious tone without crossing into explicit territory.

Technical limitations of the era are visible—occasional dithering in background gradients and simple UI elements—but they lend a retro charm rather than detract. Fans of ’90s anime aesthetics will appreciate the soft outlines, clean character designs, and consistent art direction that tie the visuals together.

Story

At its heart, First Kiss Story is a harem romance set over the month before the unnamed hero’s high school graduation. Left in the care of the Orikura family—widowed mother and two daughters, Kana and Manami—the protagonist navigates daily life, forging bonds and wooing potential girlfriends around town. Beyond the Orikuras, a dozen other local girls offer diverse personalities and subplots.

The narrative unfolds through character-driven chapters, each focusing on one heroine’s background, hopes, and heartbreaks. Dialogue choices steer interactions, reveal secrets, and unlock special events. While the overarching scenario is light and occasionally cliché, individual routes deliver emotional payoffs—moments of gentle humor, tender confessionals, or bittersweet goodbyes.

True to visual-novel form, pacing is deliberate: expect plenty of exposition and heartfelt monologues before reaching climactic scenes. The writing balances school-life slice-of-life with romantic tension, making every encounter feel personal. Though the story doesn’t grapple with deep philosophical questions, it succeeds in creating a cozy, endearing world where first love blossoms.

Overall Experience

First Kiss Story appeals most to fans of retro visual novels and collectors of PC-FX or early PlayStation titles. Its leisurely pace and minimal interactivity aren’t for everyone, but those seeking a gentle romance with multiple endings will find it rewarding. The month-long time frame provides a clear structure, encouraging replays to discover every character arc.

The dual-platform history adds an extra layer of interest: comparing the single-CD PC-FX release with the expanded two-CD PlayStation port offers insight into mid-’90s console development. Additional CGs and scenes in the PlayStation version give dedicated players fresh content to explore, enhancing the core experience without altering the game’s essence.

While it may lack modern conveniences like auto-saving or skip functions found in today’s visual novels, First Kiss Story remains a charming time capsule. Its warm art, heartfelt storytelling, and simple yet meaningful choices combine into a nostalgic romance that’s both approachable and endearing—perfect for anyone curious about the origins of console-based dating sims.

Retro Replay Score

null/10