Yuri Visual Novel Review: A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future

A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future is a visual novel developed by Rosetta and iMel, published by Medibang Inc. English localization released February 2, 2023. Download on JASTUSA for $10.19 For Windows PC. Full Japanese voice acting. Censored genitals.

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STORY

We follow the exploits of a young astrologer, Izumi Mizushiro. She and her younger sister, Towa, run a coffee shop where Izumi works part-time as a fortune teller. Her desire is to make people happy.

What starts out as a happy-go-lucky yuri fun fest quickly turns dramatic when Izumi starts noticing plenty of unusual phenomena around her. To help make sense of these strange events, a mysterious girl, Maki, shows up at the shop. The game is filled with fun, stereotypical girls. You have Izumi, the steadfast fortune-teller who loves her sister, Towa, and her cat “Aru,”. She is kind and attentive. Tow is a freelance photographer, but a little shy and a little clingy with her elder sister. Maki has a blunt personality, but stays cheerful. Rino is the owner of “Harukaze” café and the apartment complex where Izumi and Towa reside. She has a distinctive, warm, and jovial nature, she’s adored by patrons and neighbors alike. And lastly, Jun is Izumi’s nurturing senior at work, embracing her as a protege.

The game plays out like a typical slice-of-life drama where these girls have fun, learn about themselves through activities with one another; be it going to the hot springs, sleeping over, or doing typical anime girl activities. The game works hard to portray each girl as someone with their own insecurities and uses the somewhat generic narrative to explore and grow them. It’s really wonderful to experience.

GRAPHICS

A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future is an absolute visual delight, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and stunning design choices. The character sprites are particularly impressive, each boasting at least two attires that add depth and variety to their appearances. They also have a handful of expressions and a couple of poses. The inclusion of moving mouths and periodic blinking in the sprites’ animations further enhances their realism, making them come alive on the screen. The character designs are beautiful and realistic, with well-proportioned figures.

The dynamic camera is another standout feature, as it adds a sense of realism to the game world. The character zooming, panning, and simulated room movement make scenes feel more engaging than static scenes. The backdrops are rich in detail. The multiple time-of-day variations for morning, afternoon, and night create a sense of time progression and make those same CGS pop in a new, but welcomed way. The world itself is rich and diverse, offering loads of indoor and outdoor locations.

The CG artworks are exceptionally beautiful, offering variations that can change character expressions, add new elements, or remove certain aspects. The visual quality of the game is further accentuated by its excellent lighting and shadows. The use of tame colors in the bright and vibrant scenes, and skillfully utilized lighting all contribute to a breathtaking, visually immersive experience.

MUSIC

With nine songs on the soundtrack, players are treated to a variety of musical compositions that complement the slice of life vibe perfectly. While the soundtrack is generally filled with soothing and calming songs, one track, ‘Taurus Starts Dancing,’ tends to be overused to the point of becoming repetitive and somewhat grating. However, this minor flaw doesn’t overshadow the rest of the soundtrack, which manages to create an atmosphere of calm and casualness, perfectly in line with the game’s theme.

The use of original instruments, including the piano, xylophone, keyboard, harp and guitar, adds a unique touch to the music. During intimate moments, the tranquil music perfectly captures the emotions and ambiance. The expert placement of tracks throughout ensures that the songs always fit the atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments. Whether it’s a heartwarming conversation between characters or a contemplative moment, the music complements each situation masterfully.

GAMEPLAY

A Maiden Astrologer follows a linear storytelling approach, offering players a focused narrative with no branching plots or multiple endings. The ‘Extras’ menu offers players access to various features, such as the ‘Gallery’ option that allows players to view artworks. The ‘Memories’ section caters to those interested in intimate scenes. The ‘Music’ section allows players to enjoy the soundtrack.

There are ample save slots available. Given that there isn’t any branching story, I couldn’t tell you why the developers went to the trouble of including so many. Players also have the freedom to adjust various aspects of the experience, such as text speed, auto-play settings, and more, using an impressive (and extensive) gameplay customization menu.

VOICE ACTING AND SOUND EFFECTS (SFX)

The voice over is an absolute treat. However, it’s the performances of Jun, Maki, and Izumi that truly steal the show. Each of these characters is brought to life with remarkable depth and authenticity by their respective actors. Jun’s portrayal is powerful, capturing the essence of her character flawlessly. Maki delivers her lines with such finesse that players can’t help but be drawn into her story arc. And Izumi, the standout, delivers an awe-inspiring performance, showcasing the young woman’s insecurities expertly.

The voice actors’ line delivery is solid throughout, effortlessly conveying the characters’ emotions and comedic moments. Whether it’s heart-wrenching scenes or lighthearted banter, the voice actors nail every beat with precision, adding charm to the interactions.

There are no in-game sound effects, however, the menu selection has a few abstract dings and pings.

HENTAI

Disappointingly, A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future only features four sex scenes. Even more disappointing is that these scenes all occur after you play through the entire thing, taking place one after the other. While these scenes are cute and filled with wholesome yuri fun, it comes across as trolling. If you removed these scenes, nothing is lost and the fact that you have to play through 40 hours of content for a grand total of thirty minutes of sex does not sit right with me.

As for the actual scenes, they all feature Izumi inviting the player back to her apartment and steadily becoming more intimate with them. You get to cutely eat out her pussy, while in another scene you fondle her chest before making her cum. She pleasures you back but since Izumi is the only character, the attention quickly goes back to her. There is also a scene where you two have fun in the shower.

The scenes are very romantic, but lack a certain degree of lewdness. The camera zooms in on Izumi’s breasts, but in the same breath we only get to see her pussy lips spread, but no visual of a character eating her out or fondling her breasts. We are simply told through text what it is happening.

CONCLUDING WORDS

While the sex is an absolute letdown in this beautiful and romantic visual novel, the rest of the content is wonderful. If you’re into cute yuri girls doing cute yuri things together, I recommend picking up this title. Great art, fantastic music and a wonderfully intimate and fun story awaits you. There’s a lot of good here, even though the hentai content, especially its placement and the pacing of its delivery need serious improvement.

Recommended for fappers worldwide. Download Maiden Astrologer. And don’t forget to pick up my new light novel ‘My Life as an Ero-Magi Sucks! All Roads lead to Perversion!!’