Visual novels come in various forms, but the latest of its kind A Summer with the Shiba Inu on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, offers an experience that could be considered as barking mad. That’s because it features a cavalcade of dogs, of course!
Ratalaika Games have already brought the likes of Strawberry Vinegar and Blind Men to console, so it’s no surprise to see them add another visual novel to their publishing catalogue. A Summer with the Shiba Inu follows the story of Syd, an adorable Shiba Inu returning to Shiba Island after a ten year absence. Reconnecting with her old pal Max is only the beginning of this homecoming, with the lives of all island residents set to dramatically change upon her arrival. Especially as a result of meeting a rather mysterious Labrador retriever known as Quei-Li.
There’s a whopping amount of dialogue to take in here with 70,000 words present and the replayability factor comes courtesy of possessing three main endings to play out for Syd. Furthermore, the other dogs encountered will reach different conclusions to their stories too, depending on how you treated them along the way. It also features a selection of facts about dogs for the true canine lovers to enjoy.
Anyone wishing to find out how this grand return unfolds and why Syd even left in the first place, can do so by purchasing A Summer with the Shiba Inu from the Xbox Store for £9.99 – currently discounted for two weeks to £7.99. It’s worth noting that you can grab it via the PlayStation Store right now, while Switch gamers must wait until 26th June.
Be sure to tell us if you end up buying A Summer with the Shiba Inu!
Game Description:
When Syd the Shiba Inu returns to Shiba Island after a ten-year absence, she sets off a chain of events that overturns the lives of all the dogs she had left behind. She gets back in touch with her old friend, Max, and along the way meets a mysterious Labrador retriever named Quei-Li. (What’s a Lab doing on the Island, anyway?) They are her only remaining allies as she tries to survive the past that made her leave the Island in the first place. Your choices matter – there are multiple drastic ways to change the fate of Shiba Island, with 10+ variants depending on how you treat the dogs you meet along the way. Features: * 3 main endings for Syd, with 10+ endings for other dogs depending on your actions! * Visual novel with story wordcount of ~70,000 * Random facts about dogs in menus * Dedicated Dog bark button in preference menu
