Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume (PC, PS2) (2004, 2006)
Developer: Key and Visual Art's

Review by Faididi and Co.

A bright star in the dark skies

Story: Excellent

Created by Key and Visual Art's, Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume is a digital novel, not an actual game.

This tale's nameless narrator, a lone scavenger, lives in a nightmarish future. A final great war has left the earth ruined and utterly desolate, where rain constantly falls under a perpetual smog, vicious automated killing machines roam free, and the surviving human population dies off by half every year.

As such, when the narrator explores an old planetarium in search of shelter and supplies, he is surprised to find himself greeted by a friendly robot girl, who is a docent left abandoned in the ruins. Named Yumemi, she has been patiently waiting for guests for almost thirty years. Maybe it's the poor thing's absolute devotion to her duties, or maybe it's her short skirt, but the narrator eventually decides to aid Yumemi, beginning by repairing her broken-down projector.

This sci-fi story has its share of light moments, mainly in the awkward interactions between the survival-minded narrator and the ever-adorable Yumemi, whose limitations in her programming leave her failing to grasp the severe changes to the world outside her home.

However, the novel is ultimately a tragic one that's full of the mushy stuff meant to make the reader sob like a schoolgirl. The ironic turns in the plot are easy to see. Yumemi, a mere droid, is the one who helps the narrator reconnect with his humanity. The story is built almost entirely between just these two characters, one of whom never cries (because she literally can't). Yumemi's wishes and sense of faith allow for a fascinating exploration into the qualities of the soul, too. Although her behavior is clearly not human, the unexpected beliefs she holds and shares with the narrator reveal a warmth that makes her fate all the more pitiful.

Controls: Excellent

The controls are flawless, and the numerous options are welcome. Reviewing and replaying previous narration and dialogue is easy. The save files (bookmarks) are neatly grouped according to chapter.

Graphics: Above Average

Planetarian comes with pleasant visuals. Yumemi is drawn well, albeit in poses and on backgrounds that lean on the sparse side. The PS2 version also supports progressive scan.

Audio: Excellent

The PC package version and the PS2 version feature full voice acting for all of the dialogue. Yumemi (Keiko Suzuki) sounds absolutely beautiful as a curious robot whose enthusiasm always overcomes her limitations, while the narrator (Daisuke Ono) is awesome in how he gradually softens his tone over the course of the story, reflecting the growth of his fondness toward the girl. Then, making things as touching as possible is the music. The gentle tunes for the more sentimental scenes are balanced by the quirkier, playful-sounding tunes that reflect a large part of Yumemi's personality.

Overall: Excellent

A dark but sweet digital novel, Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume is monoaware storytelling at its best. This memorable tale is presented with attractive graphics, lovely music, and the wonderful friendship between the narrator and his eternally beaming source of hope.

OST: Excellent

Published by Key Sounds Label, the Planetarian soundtrack includes all of the music from the digital novel, plus three bonus tracks. Of these extras, one is an extended version of the title theme, one is a short version of the ending theme, and the last is truly a surprise: a thundering techno tune that has little to do with the rest of the music.