REVIEWS: A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986

• A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 

A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is the new yuri visual novel that has released on 23 April 2020.

The game is made by team ORACLE & BONE.  A Summer's End,is the studio first ever game and it is visual novel or also know as VN. The story of the game is written by Charissa So and the artist who is in charge of drawing illustration cgs are Tida Kietsungden.

Featuring music from Timecop1983, Crystal Cola, and Stevia Sphere

Visual Novel  is an interactive game where the player can follow the main character everyday's life from their point of view.

In A summer's End- Hongkong 1986 follows the point of view of Michelle, and how she navigates her day to day life one summer in Hong Kong, 1986.

How ORACLE&BONE describe the game.

A Summer’s End - Hong Kong 1986 is a visual novel game. Follow the story of Michelle and Sam, and how their chance meeting evolves into a deeper relationship. Set in vibrant Hong Kong in the year 1986, it is an original story about love, family, and culture.
A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is about seeking identity and meaning in a rapidly changing world where conflicting worldviews and cultures collide. Inspired by Hong Kong cinema, 80s anime, city pop, and contemporary Asian literature, A Summer’s End - Hong Kong 1986 is an homage to the past and a visual delight for fans of retro art and fashion.

A Summer's End will feature over 400 unique art assets:
- Over 200 different character sprites
- 50 plus detailed backgrounds
- Approximately 30 high rendered CG cutscenes

English will be the default language for the initial release of A Summer's End. Other language translations, such as Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean will be made available at a future date.

My thought and opinions about the game.

Disclaimer - Remember that it is my own opinion.

Story

The game started with Michelle on a subway on her way to work while recalled her past how she grew up and her life style with her parents. While playing, the game will change backgrounds to different location depend on where Michelle are or heading.

As you already know the game set in 80s with different kind of people than our society are right now and yet sadly the mindset is still the same to some family . Alot of asians family grew up with tough background or in a heavy strict atsmosphere which i can understand why Michelle can behaved like she is always scare to disappointed her mother who is very strict and traditional.

Michelle (Cheung, Fong Ha) is an ordinary office worker with nothing really going on with her life and days just keep going until she met Sam (Wong Ka Yan).

Sam is a whole opposite of Michelle, She is lively, free spirits, a little bit pushy but in a good way.

Through the story you Michelle will understand Sam more and think of her differently than from their first meeting. Michelle start to smile and open up more than she was which was all thanks to Sam.

I mention before that asians family can be very strict especially to things that can be new for them which they choose to stay traditional and follow their ancestry foot step which was one of the topics in the main story of the game, Michelle had to choose Sam or her mother who she didn't want to disappointed but yet she can't lie to her own feelings. I can understand both side, yet it is still common that parents can't accept their own child even in the 21st century. Back to the story Michelle is 23 year old office lady who never ever has a thoughts of being with another woman before, everything was a whole new world for her and she was scared. She is scared to makes her mom sad and disappointed in her but also she is curious of the new founded feelings she discovered for another woman. For me i can understand Michelle's mom when she said 'What did i do wrong that made you turn out like this?' It is hurt to hear that from your own mother, Michelle's mom obviously didn't expected that and was hurt that her daughter didn't turn out the way she wanted, It was her only daughter and only wish for her to grown up happy but the way she love Michelle was toxic. She never try to understand her and always assume that she will do anything bad which as result it turn Michelle to the way she is, She was scared of her mother. It was not violence that her mom did but the way she talk and intimated her by her harsh words that made her scared to do anything wrong and made Michelle suppress her feelings until she exploded.

Sam is someone that you could learn a lot from, She has many life lesson quote that made me think after too aswell. She may looks very carefree but she herself has go through a lot.
She is straight forward and dreamy which anyone can be charmed by her words and looks but she is really is just a sweet girl. The way Sam think and act is very 'modern' I can say that anyone would want Sam, she is just anyone's dream girl. Sounds to perfect but i think it would also be good if  she was more flawed. 

Sam and Michelle found eachother, It may be a short amouts of time together and for them to  fell in love but i can say that love are complicate when it come to someone you think they are the right one.

When getting to know eachother Sam is more flirty one and Michelle is more on the serious type but when getting shy she would blush slighty and change the subject when she cannot handle Sam's words which was one of the cute moments between them. 




I don't want to spoil much i can say it is a game i can relate to a lot, it may not be the exactly the same but it was very heavy kind of feelings to recall what Michelle's experienced which reminded me of myself as someone who grew up in an asians household.
It is very good game in my opinion, i learned alot from all the characters and understand them.
It is a well written coming of age story with asians adult woman that represent LGBTQ+ which it is what many has wished for.

The writer did good bring stories into life and the words that they use as the dialog is easy to understand even  if you are not a native english speaker or still learning.


The music match the mood very well and are very 80s.

The illustration of the game.

I just want to say that every single background and cgs are increbily beautiful which it really gave out the 80s feels alot and it was on point which bring me a lot of memories that reminded me my own home, examples the food from the food stalls or the shops at night with alot of colorful lights shining from the store or when Michelle and Sam walking down through the streets at night the artist did good and was on point with the sign that give me a lot of emotion that reminded me of home.

The characters drawing are also very pretty, Sam who is very fashionable would look good with anything with her face which she are drawn very attractive.
Michelle has that serious vibe around and her choice of outfits which she can't help much about it since she is an office worker who would wear a suits and skirt on daily but on her day off she would looks more relaxing and the choice of outfits match the character alot with how they looks.
The drawing are very colorful everywhere and it turn out so beautiful in every scenes. 
Definetly 10/10 for the artist.

The Adult Patch.

You can play with or withou the patch.

For someone who want to keep PG i think it won't matter much since the story just flow naturally.
You can download the patch on Steam for Free.

Visit the official website of the game.
You can download the game from Steam and itch.io