95/100
Critics1 review

Where to get it

2021 · Broccoli · Adventure · Otome

Jack Jeanne

Nintendo console exclusive

Jack Jeanne is an opera-themed otome game, produced and illustrated by Sui Ishida (Tokyo Ghoul) and co-written by Ishida and Shin Towada (Tokyo Ghoul light novels). Protagonist Kisa Tachibana is given an opportunity to fulfill her dream of going to the All Boys Univeil Drama School where she must develop bonds and rivalries with her classmates while hiding her identity as a girl.

Released: 18 March 2021
Platforms: Android Nintendo Switch iOS
Genres: Adventure Otome Rhythm Simulation Visual novel
Developers: Broccoli
Publishers: Broccoli
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Text
Themes: Drama Romance
Country: Japan
Age ratings: CERO B ESRB T PEGI 12
Languages: Chinese (Traditional), English, Japanese
Time to beat: 25hmain story35hwith extras40hcompletionist

About

Jack Jeanne (Japanese: ジャックジャンヌ, Hepburn: Jakku Jannu) is an otome visual novel with dating sim and rhythm game elements. A sequel has been announced.

›Story

Kisa is about to abandon her dream of becoming an actor when she is given the opportunity to enroll at the prestigious Univeil Drama School. She is granted admission with two conditions: be chosen as the lead in the final performance and hide her identity as a girl! Competition at the school is fierce and the rivalry is real!

Will Kisa be able to forge powerful bonds with her all-male classmates while competing against them for key roles?

Will she be cast in the lead role in the final performance at the end of the year all while keeping her secret?

Keywords

female protagonist
multiple endings
otome
music and rhythm
nameable protagonist

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Players read dialogue between characters during story scenes in a visual novel format. Players have the option to skip previously read dialogue.

Each in-game day, the player chooses what classes Kisa takes, if she should rest, or if she should talk to other characters. Kisa's health meter depletes every time she takes a class, increasing the chances of her failing a lesson the lower it goes, but it can be replenished by letting Kisa rest. All of these activities adjust Kisa's stats. Kisa's stats, the number of times Kisa visits characters, and what dialogue options the player chooses all factor into which events take place between characters.

Story

As children, Kisa Tachibana and her older brother Tsuki loved acting. Tsuki attended the prestigious boys-only Univeil Drama School, and disappeared after graduating. Wanting to continue performing just like him, Kisa cross-dresses to be able to attend the school.

Univeil has four classes, each with separate dorms. The four classes are Quartz, Onyx, Rhodonite, and Amber.

Development

Sui Ishida created the game's lyrics, character designs, and in-game illustrations, and he worked on the game's worldbuilding. He took on the task of writing the game's lyrics himself because he wanted the character's songs to better reflect them, and he convinced the composer Akira Kosemura to work on the game after being inspired by his songs.

Reception

RPGFan and Digitally Downloaded considered the rhythm game sections "solid additions to the game" and a "nice highlight" respectively. Digitally Downloaded praised the game's art style in its CGs as well as the look and choreography of the game's dancing scenes, though RPGFan considered the graphics of the game's dancing scenes to be "not as compelling as the visual novel illustrations" and distracting while playing the rhythm game.

Reviewers praised the game's narrative. Siliconera praised the game's approach to and acceptance of characters who cross-dress or have a nonconforming gender presentation. Digitally Downloaded writer Matt S. "was impressed by the maturity and restraint" that the writers had in regards to Kisa's cross-dressing.