Root Film

Root Film game cover released in all regions

Developer(s)| Kadokawa Games
Writer(s)| Hifumi Kono
Platform(s)| Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Release|

* JP: July 30, 2020
* WW: March 19, 2021

Genre(s)| Visual novel
Mode(s)| Single-player

Root Film is an adventure visual novel video game by Kadokawa Games. The game is a spiritual successor to 2016's Root Letter visual novel and the second entry in the Kadokawa Mystery Games series. The game released on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan in July 2020, and on March 19, 2021 in North America and Europe.

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Story
* 3 Development
* 4 Reception
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Gameplay

The game plays as a murder mystery visual novel; much of the game is spent reading text to advance the story.[1] When the player is ready to accuse a suspect, a fighting video game-styled segment ensues.[2] Other segments include mini-games where inconsistencies must be fixed and stories put together into a narrative, similar to aspects of the Danganronpa and Ace Attorney series of games.[2]

## Story

Similar to its predecessor, Root Letter the game's fictional story takes place in the real-life Shimane Prefecture in Japan.[3][4] The story follows dual protagonists; Rintaro Yagumo, an aspiring but poor film director, and Riho, an up-and-coming actress who hasn't quite had her breakthrough yet.[5][1] In the game, a TV series called "Shimane Mystery Drama Project" has been green lit, and both Rintaro and Riho are excited this could be their breakthrough roles.[4][1] However, a real life murder mysteriously occurs on the set very early on in the process and puts things to a halt, and the two, along with various other crew involved try to find out what happened.[4]

## Development

The game is generally considered a sequel[4] or successor[6][7] to the Root Letter visual novel, grouped together by what is called the Kadokawa Games Mystery series moniker.[8] The two game's stories are unrelated and unconnected, but share thematic similarities, and many voice actors, to give a feeling of a running series.[9][10] Sequel ideas for Root Letter were being considered as early as late 2016.[11] The game's existence as a formal project was known as early as October 2018, when it was announced under its tentative name Root Letter 2.[12] The game was formally revealed and announced under its official name, Root Film, a year later in October 2019.[1][13]

The game was originally scheduled for release on April 23, 2020 in Japan,[5] but received a short delay to July 30, 2020.[4] The game was announced for an English localization in September 2020, with an intended Q1 2021 release date,[14] later solidified down to March 19, 2021. A limited edition version of the game was also announced for its Western release, which includes a 100 page art booklet packaged with the physical copy of the game.[14][4]

## Reception

Root Film received an 8/8/8/8 (32/40) rating from Japanese magazine Famitsu.[15] However, the game did not fare well on the Japanese video game charts; the PS4 version debuted at number 30 in the top 30 selling video games of the week, moving 1679 copies, and the Switch version charting somewhere under it.[16]

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| NS: 69/100[17]
PS4: 70/100[18]
Review scores
Publication| Score
Adventure Gamers| [22]
Nintendo Life| [20]
Nintendo World Report| 5.5/10[19]
Push Square| [21]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Root Film announced for PS4, Switch". October 19, 2019. https://www.gematsu.com/2019/10/root-film-announced-for-ps4-switch.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Root Film Is A Murder-Mystery Visual Novel That's Like Ace Attorney, But You Get To Fight People". January 27, 2021. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/01/root_film_is_a_murder-mystery_visual_novel_thats_like_ace_attorney_but_you_get_to_fight_people.
3. ↑ "Root Film - Announcement Trailer - IGN". 22 October 2019. https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/22/root-film-announcement-trailer.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "'Root Film' PS4/Switch Game's Trailer Reveals March 19 Release in the West". 19 June 2023. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-28/root-film-ps4-switch-game-trailer-reveals-march-19-release-in-the-west/.168877.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Root Film launches April 23, 2020 in Japan". December 24, 2019. https://www.gematsu.com/2019/12/root-film-launches-april-23-2020-in-japan.
6. ↑ Simón, Jaime San (October 21, 2019). "Root Film es el sucesor de Root Letter". Eurogamer.es. https://www.eurogamer.es/articles/2019-10-21-root-film-es-el-sucesor-de-root-letter.
7. ↑ Luster, Joseph (21 October 2019). "Root Letter Successor Root Film to Bring Its Mystery to the West". https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/10/21-1/root-letter-successor-root-film-to-bring-its-mystery-to-the-west.
8. ↑ S, Matt (15 October 2020). "On following up the magnificent Root Letter". http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2020/10/on-following-up-magnificent-root-letter.html.
9. ↑ "Root Film details Shouko Manabe, Monami Haishima". October 28, 2019. https://www.gematsu.com/2019/10/root-film-details-shouko-manabe-monami-haishima.
10. ↑ "Root Film's Director Discusses Root Letter Connections and Improvements". July 25, 2020. https://www.siliconera.com/root-films-director-discusses-its-root-letter-connections-and-improvements/.
11. ↑ "Creator of PS4 visual novel Root Letter talks its inspirations, potential sequels". November 7, 2016. https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2016/11/07/creator-of-ps4-visual-novel-root-letter-talks-its-inspirations-potential-sequels.
12. ↑ "New Projects Root Letter: Last Answer And Root Letter 2 Announced". August 3, 2018. https://www.siliconera.com/new-projects-root-letter-last-answer-and-root-letter-2-announced/.
13. ↑ "Root Film, Mystery Adventure Following Root Letter, Announced for PS4, Switch". 20 October 2019. https://www.dualshockers.com/root-film-root-letter-2-ps4-switch/.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Root Film English Release Set for Q1 2021". September 4, 2020. https://www.siliconera.com/root-film-english-release-set-for-q1-2021/.
15. ↑ "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1651". July 21, 2020. https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1651.
16. ↑ "Famitsu Sales: 7/27/20 – 8/2/20 [Update"]. August 6, 2020. https://www.gematsu.com/2020/08/famitsu-sales-7-27-20-8-2-20.
17. ↑ "Root Film for Switch Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/root-film/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch.
18. ↑ "Root Film for PlayStation 4 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/root-film/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4.
19. ↑ Hilhorst, Willem (30 August 2021). "Root Film (Switch) Review". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/56591/root-film-switch-review.
20. ↑ "Root Film Review (Switch) | Aces high". 30 August 2021. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/root_film.
21. ↑ "Mini Review: Root Film (PS4) - An Enjoyable, If Standard, Visual Novel | Aces high". 30 August 2021. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/root_film.
22. ↑ "Root Film review | Aces high". 30 August 2021. https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/root-film.

## External links

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Official website (in English)
* Root Film at The Visual Novel Database

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