Platform: Switch
Developer: Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Fellistella
Publisher: Eastasiasoft
Year: 2022
Players: 1
Eastasiasoft has been publishing games from the Genkai Tokki series on Switch, they are ports from the original PS Vita entries. Seven Pirates H is considered the fourth entry, but its gameplay, plot and cast are all brand new. However, it is still fully focused on an echhi RPG style, like the rest of the games in the franchise.
This time, the plot is about a pirate called Parute Kairi and her lewd friend, Otton, they are both travelers on the Monsupi Sea looking for treasures. For this adventure, they will be helped by some additional female pirates, which are all native inhabitants of this sea but they are actually monster girls instead of humans.
Just like the other Genkai Tokki entries, this one doesn’t try to be serious at all nor it’s trying to bring some depth on the plot, cast or gameplay. So, it’s better to evaluate this game considering its actual nature and goals, which are clearly the erotic content mixed with common JRPG mechanics. But, does it actually achieve it? Let’s see..
Considering previous developments from the team, this one is clearly a step forward when we notice how they evolved graphics into full 3D models, music, improved combat system, fan service content and even more challenge.
Gameplay can be summarized as: exploring an island, getting treasures, and beating a boss to continue to the next adventure. But this simple approach actually involves a fun set of game mechanics like: beating enemies to get items, clearing quests to get money/items, using the money for more items/equipment, and, last but not least, the Booby Training. This special training is likely the game’s core, because it allows to change and increase stats for all the characters. And this is also where the big fan service content shows up: its a game mechanic that implies touching the girls’ breast to alter it and modify their parameters.
All changes applied during Booby Training modify not only the girls’ stats but also the form and size of their boobies, and this is consistenly shown on combat and exploration mode. Training uses special items called extracts, these are specific for each character and they are easily obtained after beating enemies. However, even without these extracts, training is still available on practice mode and visual mode.
The combat system is quite straightforward and derived from common turn based JRPG mechanics: attacks, defensive stances, ailments, buffs/debuffs and skills. The game just adds an additional layer which works as an effective/non-effective triangle, based on a special property called pheromones, which are fixed for every chapter and enemy, but they might be changed during combat via items. These pheromones enable a rock-paper-scissors style that affects the amount of damage inflicted and received. But, to be honest, this mechanic only makes sense when the game gets a bit difficult near the end of the journey.
After pointing out the previous topics, it’s clear that the game’s goal is not to provide an open world setting nor a deep combat system, nor a serious plot either. The objectives are obvious and they are to provide a gameplay that is heavily focused on fan service content. However, this approach already bested a lot of games and frachises whose goals are the same, including past entries from these developers.
So, Seven Pirates weak spots are more related to production, including the following mistakes: when exploring an island, all the distant objects and content look too blurry. Besides, the game doesn’t allow to use joystick at all, but everything is controlled via directional pad only. The game’s duration is too short for the standard modern JRPG: it lasts at most 20 hours, without replay value elements or difficulty modes. And the overall difficulty is actually quite easy anyway.
Conclussion
This game’s properties have been explained at some detail, and it successfully fulfills its goal about being a fun ecchi JRPG but the production and duration are big weaknesses. However, it’s still a must-play entry for any player that just wants to enjoy loads of good fan service content. But, other than that, this is far from essential, and people looking for serious or deep experiences must skip this game and look other turn based stuff on the switch.
Score: 7.0
Consoles Universe 