Raging Loop
| Raging Loop | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Kemco |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | iOS, Android, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
| Release | December 3, 2015 |
| Genre(s) | Visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Raging Loop (レイジングループ, Reijingu Rūpu, stylized as Rei-Jin-G-Lu-P) is a Japanese visual novel video game developed by Kemco and released on December 3, 2015 for iOS and Android smartphones. It was later ported to the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch consoles and Microsoft Windows. An English version was released in late 2019 on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows. On April 22, 2021, an English version was released for Android devices.
Gameplay
Raging Loop is an interactive visual novel with a branching plotline, in which the player's choices affect the direction of the story. Certain choices reward the player with keys, which can be used to unlock additional choices and explore more of the story. A Scenario Chart allows the player to return to any given scene or choice. There are four main endings, as well as many bad endings, some of which are optional. While the player has some freedom to explore different paths, the main endings must be played in a linear order due to the locked choices.
Many of the game's choices are at key moments in the Feast of the Yomi-Purge, a Werewolf-like social deduction game in which characters attempt to find the identities of the "wolves" hidden among them.
Clearing the fourth and final ending unlocks "Revelation Mode," which allows players to replay the story with additional content. Revelation Mode includes side characters' internal thoughts, additional narration, and scenes that occur outside the protagonist's perspective, such as the wolves' actions. Along with Revelation Mode, two additional endings and five epilogues become available.
Plot
On a trip from Tokyo, Haruaki Fusaishi crashes his bike into the remote mountain village of Yasumizu, where he befriends college student Chiemi Serizawa. Before he can leave, Yasumizu is enshrouded by mist, and everyone in town must begin the Feast of the Yomi-Purge, an event in which several villagers become "wolves" and must kill one person each night. During the day, the villagers share information and vote to hang someone to eliminate the wolves. According to legend, the wolves are yomibito risen from the dead, and must be purged.
As the Feast continues, Haruaki discovers his ability to loop back in time after death, returning to the day he entered the village and repeating his actions. Unable to escape the loop, Haruaki relies on his memories, in the hopes of learning the truth about the Feast's origin, Yasumizu's secrets, and the truth behind the looping.
In one route, Haruaki bonds with Chiemi and learns her fear of God and the supernatural corruption plaguing Yasumizu. The wolves win the Feast and reveal that the mountain god Shin'nai told them the humans are the true yomibito who need to be saved. Haruaki and Chiemi attempt to run away, but they are unable to escape and Chiemi rots away into the mist.
In another route, Haruaki gains the role of the "snake," allowing him to learn whether someone is a wolf or human each night. His deductions lead the humans to victory over the wolves. During the Feast, he grows close to Rikako Uematsu, a mysterious priestess with the power to heal others by taking in their corruption. Haruaki plans to start a new life with her after the Feast ends, but the remaining villagers are suddenly massacred and Haruaki loops back once again.
In the third route, Haruaki becomes a wolf and learns the inner workings of the Feast. He gets to know his fellow wolf Haru Makishima, a girl who lost her parents in a previous Feast eight years prior. Haru is possessed by a god named Mujina, who is aware of Haruaki's looping ability. By questioning her, Haruaki learns more about Yasumizu's gods. Haruaki ultimately wins the Feast, and a monstrous being appears in the sky. Haruaki is greeted by a sheep who explains to him that he is within someone else's dream, and the dreamer is resetting time to awaken the being. The sheep tells him it has been allowing Haruaki to keep his memories, and sends him back in time to prevent the country's destruction.
Haruaki reconvenes with Chiemi and realizes that she also remembers each time loop. Together, they make numerous attempts to escape the mists and change the events of the Feast, but they remain trapped. Haruaki returns to a number of key points in previous Feasts to speak with other villagers, and begins to understand the truth: the Feast is a man-made game devised by the Miguruma clan, a powerful family in the neighboring village of Fujiyoshi. The Migurumas would ostracize certain people and send them to live in Yasumizu, and fabricated their legends and culture to keep the villagers dedicated to purging yomibito.
Haruaki visits the sheep once more, and asks to be sent back as far as possible. Armed with his knowledge, he returns to Yasumizu and poses as a god, asking the villagers to stop the Feast, and restoring their faith in Mujina. He confronts Rikako, the dreamer responsible for looping time. She reveals that she wanted all the villagers to die in the Feast to revive the Tsuchigumo of Dreams, the being that appeared after Haruaki won the Feast as a wolf. With her plans thwarted, Rikako discovers she can no longer reset time with her death. Lastly, Haruaki confronts the Migurumas and puts an end to their control over Yasumizu.
Haruaki leaves Yasumizu and returns to his normal life, considering the events in Yasumizu to be a dream. However, he is later visited by Chiemi, who asks him to take her out on the bike ride he promised her when they first met. Haruaki agrees, and they set out on their trip.
Main characters
- Haruaki Fusaishi (房石 陽明, Fusaishi Haruaki)
- Voiced by: Satoshi Arai
- The main character who arrives in Yasumizu to solve the mysteries behind the feast and the supernatural elements of the village. He has the ability to loop to different timelines, which is essentially the player using the scenario chart to jump to different choices in the game. As Haruaki loops to a new timeline, his memories are stored within 20 different keys scattered throughout the game.
- Chiemi Serizawa (芹沢 千枝実, Serizawa Chiemi)
- Voiced by: Shion Kitazawa
- A 21-year old college student. She has a cheerful attitude which makes her the favorite among locals in Yasumizu.
- Rikako Uematsu (回末 李花子, Uematsu Rikako)
- Voiced by: Minami Okamura
- A resident of Yasumizu and the last remaining member of the Uematsu family. Haruaki's first impression of her is of a beautiful yet mysterious lady.
- Haru Makishima (巻島 春, Makishima Haru)
- Voiced by: Miki Kariya
- A student resident of Yasumizu and Kanzo's grand-daughter. She has a "illness" which was thought to be a wolf's possession, but it is actually more sinister.
- Yasunaga Oribe (織部 泰長, Oribe Yasunaga)
- Voiced by: Kyohei Matsumoto
- A student resident of Yasumizu. He is the first son of Kaori and the older brother of Yoshitsugu. He is among the smartest in Yasumizu, and even the village elders listen to him when he is talking.
- Chikamochi Kamoshida (醸田 近望, Kamoshida Chikamochi)
- Voiced by: Nana Ikuta
- A student resident of Yasumizu who possesses high intuition. He talks and dresses strangely, but still people consider him intelligent despite having bad grades in school.
- Takumi Muro (室 匠, Muro Takumi)
- Voiced by: Takuya Saito
- A resident of Yasumizu. He is the leader among young adults in Yasumizu. He also managees the farmlands in Yasumizu.
- Kaori Oribe (織部 かおり, Oribe Kaori)
- Voiced by: Yumiko Uemi
- A resident of Yasumizu who typically heads the dining hall. She is the mother of Yasunaga and Yoshitsugu.
- Yoshitsugu Oribe (織部 義次, Oribe Yoshitsugu)
- Voiced by: Takanori Kamono
- Yasunaga's delinquent younger brother. He is the 2nd son of Kaori and a student and a resident of Yasumizu.
- Tae Yamawaki (山脇 多恵, Yamawaki Tae)
- Voiced by: Yumibo Tai
- A Yasumizu elder.
- Kanzo Makishima (巻島 寛造, Makishima Kanzō)
- Voiced by: Kazuma Matsumoto
- A Yasumizu elder and Haru's grandfather. He is in charge of hunting for the village. Every morning, he also patrols the entire village for wolves or other dangers.
- Kiyonosuke Nosato (能里 清之介, Nosato Kiyonosuke)
- Voiced by: Shinnosuke Katsuhata
- A rich resident doctor of Yasumizu. He is usually viewed as a jerk among the villagers. Incredibly protective of Rikako.
- The Old Man Who Cried Wolf (狼じじい, Ōkami Jijii)
- Voiced by: Naoki Ozawa
- A seemingly senile old man. His background is mysterious.
- Meiko (めー子, Mēko)
- Voiced by: Miho Minami
- A lost little girl with no name or memories of her past. She is called Meiko due to her tendency to say "mei", with the female pronoun "ko" added in the end.
- Hisako Mamiya (馬宮 久子, Mamiya Hisako)
- Voiced by: Yuka Iwamoto
- A journalist specializing in foreign and exotic foods. During her amateur writing years, she specialized in the occult. Haruaki describes her as very beautiful.
- Yudai Hashimoto (橋本 雄大, Hashimoto Yūdai)
- Voiced by: Akihito Momose
- A professional photographer from Tokyo. His giant stature makes him intimidating to look at.
- Clerk (コンビニ店員, Konbini Ten'in)
- Voiced by: Marina Shimizu
- A Convenience store clerk.
Music
SweepRecord released an Original Soundtrack CD in late 2018.[1]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 79/100[2] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Famitsu | 32/40 (8, 8, 8, 8)[3] |
| Nintendo Life | 5/10[4] |
| Digitally Downloaded |   [5] |
| Gamereactor | 7/10[6] |
| MeriStation | 7.8/10[7] |
Raging Loop was well received by critics, according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[2]
Adaptations
| Raging Loop | |
| レイジングループ (Reijingu Rūpu) | |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Imprint | Seikaisha Comics |
| Published | April 12, 2019 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | amphibian |
| Illustrated by | Kageyoshi |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| Imprint | Seikaisha Fictions |
| Original run | April 15, 2019 – October 15, 2019 |
| Volumes | 7 |
A "Perfect Book" (完全読本, lit. Complete Guidebook) was published on March 30, 2018.[8]
Manga
A 128-page manga anthology was published on April 12, 2019.[9]
Novelization
A 7-volume novelization by the original author was released from April 15, 2019 to October 15, 2019.
References
- ^ "レイジングループ オリジナルサウンドトラック". Sweep Record. 28 October 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
- ^ a b "Raging Loop for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ "レイジングループのレビュー・評価・感想". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ^ Laverde, Jake (November 15, 2019). "Raging Loop Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ S., Matt (October 17, 2019). "Review: Raging Loop (Nintendo Switch)". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ Bishop, Sam (October 17, 2019). "Raging Loop". Gamereactor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ Rodríguez, Aarón (November 12, 2019). "Raging Loop, análisis". MeriStation. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ レイジングループ完全読本 (ホビージャパンMOOK 858). ASIN 4798616680.
- ^ レイジングループ REI-JIN-G-LU-P アンソロジーコミック STAR (星海社COMICS). ASIN 4065154391.