Review of “Him, the Smile & Bloom” for Nintendo Switch

PQube, MintLip, EDIA, and Team Entertainment have teamed up to deliver a delightful new otome visual novel on the Nintendo Switch: Him, the Smile & bloom. If you’re a fan of romantic visual novels, this one offers a fresh twist by letting you dive into the stories of four different couples, each with their unique dynamics set in a charming flower shop. Instead of guiding a single heroine through her romantic interests, you’ll explore the intricacies of various relationships, with each narrative highlighting a different flower theme. How will the stories unfold at Fill Flower?

For those unfamiliar with visual novels, they typically focus on narrative-driven gameplay. The otome subgenre often features a female protagonist who seeks romance, but this novel switches things up by offering four separate stories, each with its female lead and her male counterpart. The voice acting is entirely in Japanese, a familiar feature for fans of PQube releases, offering an authentic touch to the storytelling experience.

Now, if you understand Japanese, you’re all set to enjoy the voice acting in its full glory. Otherwise, prepare for a lot of reading as you get absorbed into the narrative. You can navigate the game using the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con or make intuitive use of the console’s touchscreen, especially handy when playing in Portable or Tabletop Mode, or if you’re using a Nintendo Switch Lite.

Right from the prologue, you’re free to choose one of four male characters: Wataru Tori, Ginnosuke Sugawa, Tenya Minami, or Hokuto Ichige. There’s no fixed order, so pick whichever resonates with you. You’ll then either select a name for the female protagonist or stick with the suggested ones: Serina Aoki for Wataru, Ami Akashi for Ginnosuke, Miku Yukihira for Tenya, and Fuuka Haruyosi for Hokuto. The choices you make along each path will impact the storyline and decide which of the three possible endings you’ll reach. With 12 endings to discover in total, there’s plenty of replayability. Achieving a good ending unlocks intriguing side stories for the couple, adding depth to their tales.

Throughout your journey, you’ll populate the game’s Flower Book, a neat feature that catalogs the various flowers introduced in the stories, complete with beautiful illustrations. It’s a lovely touch that complements the romantic themes, as the male characters provide extra insights about each flower.

With its unique approach to narratives, Him, the Smile & bloom offers otome fans something fresh. The focus on diverse floral themes—like Anemone, Tweedia, Mimosa, and Nandina—provides a rich backdrop to the character relationships. Given the multiple endings and extra downloadable content like the Flower Halloween Night scenario, there’s plenty to keep fans engaged. This additional content, priced at $2.99, brings a Halloween twist to Fill Flower, complete with special costumes and giveaways, offering a sweet side story about the characters’ cherished ones.

In conclusion, Him, the Smile & bloom is a charming addition to the otome genre, with its creative narrative structure and engaging content that promises hours of romantic fantasy for fans.

(Note: This review of Him, the Smile & bloom was based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by PQube.)