Rating
Norn9: Var Commons
The PSVita port that includes a mini game and bonus content. While on a school field trip, child prodigy Sorata Suzuhara wanders off after hearing a mysterious song and blacks out. When he comes to, he finds himself in unfamiliar place, and soon encounters a girl who informs him that he’s currently in turn of the century Japan! In order to help hi...
Details
- Released
- December 11, 2014
- Also known as
- Norn9: Norn + Nonette VAR COMMONS
- Developer
- Otomate
- Genres
- Adventure · Visual Novel
- Publisher
- Idea Factory, Aksys Games
Player pulse
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Norn9: Var Commons Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
Now that it’s been cleaned up, Norn9: Var Commons is one of the stronger romance novel entries on Switch. With a neat plot, no time to get bored with a suitor because there’s still plenty to go, and just enough hints to guess where the common ending will go, it'll be worth some time heading to meet The World.
Far from a complaint, however, I appreciate that visual novels such as Norn9 have the confidence to stand by the experience they offer, and don’t try to appeal to people looking for a “game” by throwing in action or mechanics. Norn9 is an intense, in-depth look at relationships and romance, and it’s a really lovely, enjoyable expereice at that.
Explore a History that Never Existed! Sorata, a child prodigy, wanders away from his class field trip and awakens in a new but oddly familiar setting. He is taken to the Norn, a massive floating airship. Aboard he meets others – young people known as Espers, each with unique powers to control elements... or human minds. The land below them resembles the past, but everything is changed and under the control of a massive organization known as The World. Unravel the mysteries surrounding Sorata’s journey and his companions. Switch version reviewed.
Because I like visual novels and appreciate the unique perspective that otome games offer, I went into Norn9: Var Commons wanting to like it. Sadly, I did not. It’s like with pizza: it’s a food I enjoy eating, but not every pizzeria’s pies excite my palate. This game is not inherently bad, but merely uninspired. Aside from the above-average graphics and music, this game is as run-of-the-mill as it gets. I’m all in favor of seeing more localizations of otome/”girl’s side” games, but not if they’re mind-numbing swill like Norn9: Var Commons.
Norn9 is a decent title, but when a superior otome game released mere weeks earlier, this is a tough one to recommend.