Released: March

Developer: Jellyfish Parade

Genre: Sci-Fi, Otome, Amare, Romance

Platform: Mac/PC/Linux

TW: The full version of this game contains brief flashing and blinking background effects. If you have a sensitivity to these types of effects, you can turn off animations in the options menu.

Steam and Itch.io

This year has been on fire with more indie otome games. Especially ones where customization is available. However big or small, I always appreciate games that allow me to self-insert to make it more personable. Also, as someone who has been wanting to get into Sci-Fi more, an Otome Sci-Fi themed game with a black female main character was most definitely on my bingo card.

Summary

Aureve is an android, content with a life of weaving silk tapestries alongside her master–but when he dies, his family sells her off due to her being a rogue: a self-aware android.

Thrown into a new home of refuge for rogues, the newly freed Aureve must find her place amongst them and answer the question once and for all: how does one weave a new identity when the strings to the old have been cut?

Inspired by lore from the likes of Cupid and Psyche, The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio and other beloved tales, Belle Automata is the journey of an android reinventing herself. Join Aureve and the others as they forge their own paths dealing with love, self-acceptance, and grief for a life left behind.
VIA ITCH.IO PAGE

Features

A renameable heroine
100,000+ words of professionally written dialogue
7-10 hours of gameplay (depending on reading speed)
Full voice acting (English)
2 romanceable characters (Victor & the Nightmare Prince)
6 endings

CHARACTERS

VA: zerov0ld

For Aureve, choices were always a world unknown–but now her life is full of them. Stripped of her purpose and her past, her only choice is to face the future.

VA: Brandon P. Jenkins

The perfect butler, Victor can do it all. Organizing, cleaning, gardening, yes. But feeling? Now that might be too much to ask…
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle I.

VA: Noah Belachew

Aureve’s reclusive purchaser is known only by his online handle, “the Nightmare Prince.” What happened to convince this dreamer that he’s a nightmare?
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle I.

VA: Jerron Bacat

Replaced by an upgrade, Zaffre is a former virtual popstar adjusting to life working behind the scenes. Just… don’t call him Zaffrey.
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle II.

VA: Tareek Talati

The handyman of the house with a mask of cheer, Diego holds a secret. He can fix anything–if only he could fix himself…
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle II.

VA: Davon Oliver

This absent-minded psychologist and mechanic solves everyone’s problems but can’t figure out a hypothesis of his own: can love be borne of artificial means?
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle III.

VA: Maximus Singleton

Hard to read and harder to understand, Roman is the charming elder brother of the Nightmare Prince. What guilt hides behind his endearing smile?
Exclusively a love interest in Belle Automata: Chronicle III.

Conclusion

I never thought I’d enjoy playing a coming-of-age game about an android. And this was just the FIRST chronicle. Every step was enjoyable. Admittedly, in the beginning it was a little slow but you did need to get to know all the other characters and situation. Once the ball started rolling, we learn a lot about the world Aureve lives in. Romantically, I was conflicted because I loved both LIs. Victor did make me laugh more with his snarky and smart remarks. It was like talking to me. Diego was equally adorable since he had no filter either. And of course the main man The Nightmare Prince, he did manage to steal the show (even if my true allegiance was with the butler).

In theory, this could’ve been a lot darker with the preface and what we learn about humans and androids but I welcomed the light-hearted feeling. Each character brought a different layer to the Belle Automata universe. Without being completely biased, so far I am a Victor girl. Klaus is a cool second and Zaffre is third. All in all, I do enjoy all of the characters. I feel as though each of them brings out thoughts that Aureve might’ve never thought about had she not come to this house. In a way, she was sheltered before having to face reality, but it is that innocence that makes her so likeable.

Lastly, I’m normally not a full english VA kind of gal but I think everyone did an amazing job. It didn’t sound cringey or cheesy, you could really feel the emotions of each actor. Dare I say it heightened the experience of gameplay for me. That and the artwork *chefs kiss*. This game really hit the trio; Artwork, Voice Acting, and Story.

For a game that presents black and brown characters in a unique and beautiful way, this game is a must play. I absolutely cannot wait for the next two chronicles! Please make sure to add this to your wishlist.

ABOUT JELLYFISH PARADE

Jellyfish Parade is an independent visual novel BIWOC developing duo dedicated to bringing ethnically diverse casts in every game across a variety of genres! Our main characters take the helm of their own love stories – whether they be chronically unemployed bunny girls, personified moons, or androids discovering a whole new world.

They specialize in character-driven GxB romance stories that focus on emotional intimacy and positive relationship dynamics – just beware of the more bittersweet bad endings! Join the parade and fall in love with our androids and celestial bodies, our ice princes and ocean kings, our perfumists and knights – and more to come! Belle Automata is the studio’s 6th project so I encourage you to explore their other games!