Truly terrible game. I played for about two hours and got probably two choices max. I hate it. This is not a game at all and I've played many visual novels that have more actual interaction, even if it was only a dialogue choice. The MC, in the little I've seen, is absolutely annoying and whiny. It was only after playing and realising how bad this was that I went back in and dug through reviews to see that other people had said the same. It is not easily apparent.

The artwork is pretty but that's it. One of the love interests is the MC's cousins too. Ick.

DNF. The art is pretty, but that's it.
I just wanted a regular otome game romance, but instead got a long and boring story about some ninjas and clans and a thief and I don't even know what else, because I just started skipping everything (which was possible because the game gives you almost no dialogue options to choose from).
Also, I didn't like any of the characters. The MC is a 16 year old "way-too-kind" cliché, and none of the romanceable characters are interesting or charming. I honestly don't get why everyone likes this game.

NO ONE TOLD ME MC WAS SIXTEEN?

I honestly don't understand why everyone likes this.

I tried this game on Steam first and then finished it on my Nintendo. The game was enjoyable in the first two routes, I played Goemon and Hanzo's route first. The plot development is very bad in Chojiro and Kuroyuki's route, it left a bad taste in my mouth, both MC and LIs are so stubborn, and so irritating. The poster boy route is good but it's not enough to make me enjoy this game anymore.

I am but a mere human. I can only tolerate reading about how the MC suckled from the same breast, potentially at the same time, as her love interest so many times before I cannot take it anymore. Kuroyuki's route caused me immense emotional suffering for which there is no recompense. It was reeeeeeeeeally funny tho

I hate the controls for this game honestly. There's no humanly possible way to save your progress and everytime you open the game you have to start all over again.

So, I usually don't post reviews. However, frankly, I am EXTREMELY disappointed with this game. This could be due to the fact my first Otome game ever was Hakuouki Demon of the Fleeting Cherry Blossom. But it felt like this game had zero punch to it. At all. Firstly, if you're going to be afraid of showing blood? Don't have a game based around shinobi or samurai. For a game called Nightshade, I was expecting something... I don't know, a bit more impressive? I saw people recommend this game for those who liked Hakuouki, and I'll say it now, if that's the reason you came here, don't. You'll feel extremely disappointed. Even mobile otome games are bolder than this one. If you want a lighter-hearted (in my opinion), game about ninjas, go for it.

I bought this game under recommendation from a friend. There doesn't seem to be a full screen mode? My biggest annoyance is that I had some difficulty finding the "Save" function which for my own idiocy (I take full responsibility for this one) I had to replay the game from scratch only to find now that the "save" function I had discovered and been using doesn't work and I have to replay the game from scratch for the second time today... Not the best first impression and now I'm fully contemplating refunding the game and leaving it there.

I bought this game beacuse it was overwhelmingly positive and I regret not having read all the huge reviews completely, because there I might have found my warning. So, go read the long reviews first lads!

So why its a negative review from me:

1. MC: like many other pointed out, the MC is a typical "damsel in distress" who has no character development, or even backwards development (apart from one route). Shes described as too kind, but on the other hand has no problems leaving behind her protector who could potentionally get harmed or killed. She used a ninjutsu once, just to never use that again, ever. She has no backbone, no deeper character, very shallow and 100% on the pity me train, not even the slightest trace of humor. Not my cup of tea.

2. Story. The story does get very repetetive, with the skip option not really skipping, it's just that the voices are cut out. I thought it would skip reaaaaaaally fast to the point where I can make choices, but it doen't and now its just the same old stuff for hours.

3. Choices. You have barely any of them. There are so few choices that I wonder why they didnt just make a "select a guy" thing and then its a novel, not a game. Also, you don't really get to know the guys in the first 2 chapters but suddenly you're on your way with a route of one of them - It really took me by surprise and I was like, wait, what that's it? I'm stuck with him now?

4. Love interests. They tend to stick to their character without changing much (Looking at Gaemon and Gekkamon there). I played 3 routes and couldn't finish the third cause it's all the same.

If you are going to buy the game, and you want to play all routes, play Hanzo at the end. I played him as my second choice and I was like, this game is amazing. Then i went to Gaemon and it sucked again. The Hanzo route ist he only one (so far for me) where there is character development by him and by the MC, the romance is believable, there were some fangirling scenes and the story is somewhat okay. (There's a little "upsie, changed my mind" thing at the end just to try and tweak some tension in there, which felt forced).

All in all I have to conclude for myself, this was not worth buying, at least not at full prize.