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Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies

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Developer(s): Yuzusoft

Publisher(s): NekoNyan Ltd. (English), HIKARI FIELD (Chinese), Yuzusoft (Japan)

Platform(s): Windows 7/8/10/11

Genre(s): Visual Novel, Adventure, Casual

Release Date: December 20, 2019 (Japan), March 25, 2022 (English and Chinese)

Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies (営茶ステラと死神の蝶 / Kissa Stella to Shinigami no Chou, lit. "Stella's Café and the Death God's Butterflies") is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Yuzusoft and released on December 20, 2019, for Windows. It was later translated and released in English by NekoNyan Ltd. and in Chinese by HIKARI FIELD on March 25, 2022. Known for its engaging mix of romance, supernatural themes, and humor, the game is an entry into the visual novel genre that emphasizes relationships and storytelling (Yuzusoft, 2019; NekoNyan Ltd., 2022).

Features

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  • Genre: Visual Novel, Adventure, Casual
  • Platforms: Windows (7, 8, 10, 11)
  • Release Date: March 25, 2022
  • Languages: The game is available in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
  • Mature Content: While the game includes adult content such as illustrations featuring veiled nudity and discussions regarding sexual relationships, it does not depict explicit scenes. The mature themes are presented tastefully, which may not be suitable for all audiences (Steam, n.d.).

System Requirements

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Minimum:

  • OS: Windows 10/8/7
  • Processor: Core2Duo 2.4 GHz or equivalent
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 256 MB or better
  • DirectX: Version 9.0c
  • Storage: 10 GB of available space (GOG.com, n.d.).

Synopsis

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The narrative centers around Takamine Kousei, a college student who dies in a tragic accident. After dying, Kousei mysteriously awakens on the morning of the day he died, reliving the same events with a strange sense of déjà vu. His path ultimately leads him back to the site of the accident, where he encounters Akizuki Kanna, a goddess of death, and a talking cat named Mikado Takanori. They reveal to him that while Kousei's fate isn't easily escaped, he has been allowed to assist them in their supernatural tasks, leading to the opening of a café named Café Stella (Gamicus, n.d.; Noisy Pixel, 2022).

Kousei's journey evolves as he takes on the responsibility of running the café alongside Kanna and interacts with a colorful cast of characters—each possessing their story arcs and challenges. Themes of fate, life after death, and second chances permeate the story, exploring how Kousei tries to defy the consequences of his accident while building new relationships (NookGaming, 2022).

Gameplay

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Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies is a traditional visual novel featuring branching storylines and choices that allow players to explore different scenarios. As players make decisions, they can influence how Kousei builds relationships with the other characters. The game consists of multiple narrative routes, with different perspectives, endings, and romantic outcomes available for the player to discover. Gameplay mainly focuses on storytelling, reading dialogue, and selecting choices that shape the story (HowLongToBeat, 2024).

Completion Times:

  • Main Story: ~20 hours
  • Main + Extras: ~36 hours
  • Completionist: ~48.5 hours
  • All Styles Average: ~41 hours (HowLongToBeat, 2024)

Development and Release

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The game was developed by Yuzusoft, which is known for its visually appealing and character-driven visual novels. Amamiya Ritsu, Kazuki Fumi, and Seo Jun wrote the scenario. Kobuichi and Muririn created the original character designs, with additional SD art by Komowata Haruka. Famishin and AngelNote composed the music, and Rodo handled movie production (Yuzusoft, 2019). NekoNyan Ltd. localized the English version, while HIKARI FIELD provided a Chinese version (Noisy Pixel, 2022).

Yuzusoft officially announced the game via a tweet on August 30, 2019, revealing that the release date would be December 20, 2019, and pre-orders began at various stores on the same day (Yuzusoft, 2019). An article from Moedigi further detailed the announcement, including character details and a description of the game's plot (Moedigi, 2019). The game was released digitally and has become available on platforms such as Steam, GOG, and JAST USA, offering features like cloud saves and achievements (Steam, 2022; GOG, 2022). It garnered significant attention for its art quality and voice acting and led to a two-volume manga adaptation serialized in Monthly Comic Alive (Monthly et al., 2020-2021). The game won multiple awards in Japan, including accolades for art, music, and character development at the 2019 Bishoujo Game Awards held by Getchu.com (Operation Rainfall, 2022).

Characters

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  • Takamine Kousei: The protagonist is a university student who receives a second chance at life after a fatal accident. His journey involves navigating the supernatural and balancing responsibilities at the café (Gamicus, n.d.).
  • Akizuki Kanna: A goddess of death over 100 years old. Although playful and mischievous, she reveals her struggles regarding death, reincarnation, and purpose. She works closely with Kousei to collect butterflies—representing souls—and run the café (Gamicus, n.d.).
  • Mikado Takanori: A talking cat who can transform into a human form. He works as Kanna's assistant and contributes to the café's operations, often providing comic relief (Gamicus, n.d.).
  • Shiki Natsume: A classmate of Kousei, known for her beauty and aloof demeanor. She plays a crucial role in establishing the café and has a complicated personal history involving illness and self-discovery (Gamicus, n.d.; NookGaming, 2022).
  • Sumizome Nozomi: A childhood friend of Kousei who often helps with daily chores and has close ties to him due to family connections. She also assists with tasks at the café and is loyal to Kousei (Gamicus, n.d.).
  • Hiuchidani Mei: A spirited girl who works in the café. She is energetic and takes on tasks enthusiastically, adding comic relief to the narrative (Gamicus, n.d.).
  • Shioyama Suzune: An older patissiere who works at the café. She is candid and takes her work very seriously, often clashing with others over her dedication to making perfect sweets (Gamicus, n.d.).

Reception and Community Opinions

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Upon release, Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies received generally positive reception, particularly for its well-drawn character designs, engaging storylines, and romantic routes. It holds a positive rating on platforms like Steam and GOG, with players praising its immersive art and story (Steam, 2022; GOG, 2022). Critics highlighted its voice acting and character development as critical strengths, though minor criticisms arose regarding typographical errors in the localization (NookGaming, 2022).

The game won several awards in Japan, including top spots in art, character development, and music at the 2019 Bishoujo Game Awards (Operation Rainfall, 2022). However, there was some minor controversy related to similarities between a setting in the game and an actual pastry shop in Japan, which led to an apology and a revision of the game’s assets (Operation Rainfall, 2022).

The Visual Novel Database (VNDB) community had mixed opinions about the game, particularly its pacing and story structure. A review by the user "forever-here" criticized the pacing as being "90% boring café scenes, 9% romance scenes, and 1% shinigami/reaper plot" (VNDB, 2022). Another user, "AmanoKaze," countered this critique, arguing that the café setting was essential to allow characters like Kanna and Mikado to blend into human society and perform their duties (VNDB, 2022).

Reviews from Fuwanovel and Noisy Pixel echoed some similar sentiments. Fuwanovel rated the game 6/10, praising its character diversity and appealing art style but criticizing its music and the excessive slice-of-life content, which was seen as repetitive (Fuwanovel, 2023). Noisy Pixel appreciated the character routes and comedic elements but noted that the supernatural elements felt underutilized, making the core plot somewhat shallow (Noisy Pixel, 2022). Medium reviewer Pallas Raven rated it 8/10, commending the character writing, visual quality, and variety of quality-of-life features while pointing out the inconsistent characterization of the protagonist and a formulaic route structure as downsides (Pallas Raven, 2022).

Despite these mixed reviews, the community acknowledged the positive reception from new players, particularly those new to the visual novel genre. Some reviewers found the character development lacking and the romantic routes uninspired. In contrast, others praised the relaxing atmosphere of the game, indicating its appeal to players seeking a light, comforting experience (VNDB, 2022).

Controversy

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In November 2019, it was reported by Kobe Shimbun that the exterior design of Pâtissier S. Koyama, a famous Western-style confectionery shop located in Hyogo Prefecture, had been used without permission as the setting for an adult game—Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies (Kobe Shimbun, 2019). The production team admitted to using the store as a model but explained that there was "no copyright issue" due to changes made to the color of the stone walls and the removal of the store's logo. The store expressed concerns about its image being tarnished due to the adult nature of the game and considered taking further action after the game’s release (Kobe Shimbun, 2019).

As the controversy grew, Yuzusoft, the developer, decided to replace the background images in question. An article by NetLab described the developer's apology and decision to revise the background, noting that while the release date remained unchanged, the offending design elements would be removed (NetLab, 2019). Despite these changes, the issue led to debate within the fan community regarding the ethics of using real-world settings in adult-themed games without explicit permission.

Localization

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Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies underwent localization for English-speaking audiences by NekoNyan Ltd., a company well-regarded for its work in translating Japanese visual novels. The localization process was generally well-received, although some minor criticisms emerged regarding the consistency of the English translation, with reviewers occasionally noting untranslated lines in the initial release. Nevertheless, the localization successfully preserved the original humor and personality of the game, appealing to both long-time visual novel fans and newcomers alike (VNDB, n.d.).

Awards

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Upon its release, Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies received numerous awards in Japan, particularly for its outstanding art and music. This further established Yuzusoft's reputation in the visual novel genre. The game has become a notable entry in the studio's catalog and has contributed to the studio's continued success in the industry (Noisy Pixel, 2022).

Availability

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Café Stella and the Reaper's Butterflies is available on multiple platforms, including Steam and GOG.com. The Steam version features additional capabilities such as achievements and cloud saves. In contrast, the GOG version offers a DRM-free experience, which is particularly appealing to users who prefer offline play and digital content ownership. Both versions have attracted a dedicated following and continue to garner positive reviews for their narrative depth and visual appeal (Gamicus, n.d.).

Content Warnings

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The game contains mature themes and adult content, including illustrations with partial nudity and references to sexual relationships. While explicit scenes are veiled, the game is recommended for players aged 18 and older. The storyline also touches on topics such as death, reincarnation, and fate, which may not be suitable for all audiences (Steam, 2022; JAST USA, 2022).

Manga Adaptation

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A two-volume manga adaptation was serialized in Monthly Comic Alive from March 2020 to April 2021. The manga, titled the same as the game, visually represents the main storyline, focusing on crucial plot events and romantic arcs (Monthly et al., 2020-2021).

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  • Official Website
  • Steam Page
  • GOG Page
  • JAST USA Store Page

References

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