Him, the Smile & Bloom, the latest release from PQube, MintLip, EDIA, and Team Entertainment, blossoms onto the Nintendo Switch as a refreshing take on the Otome visual novel genre. Allow me to take you through our engaging review of this floral-themed adventure!
In this unique game, rather than following a single heroine’s journey through various romances, you’re invited to explore the narratives of four distinct couples. Each couple’s story is highlighted by a specific flower, enhancing the storytelling experience with floral flair. The question remains: what narrative will Fill Flower unfurl for us?
For those unacquainted with visual novels, these are story-focused games. This genre, often compared to novels due to their length, particularly in the Otome subgenre, usually centers on a female lead finding love. However, in Him, the Smile & Bloom, the spotlight is shared across four stories with four separate protagonists and their male counterparts. The game is presented with Japanese voice acting, a hallmark of PQube’s visual novels, immersing players in an authentic auditory experience.
If you’re fluent in Japanese, you’ll appreciate the voice acting. But don’t worry if you’re not — there will be plenty of reading for you! On the Switch, you can play using Joy-Con controls or take advantage of the console’s touchscreen capabilities, whether you’re in Portable or Tabletop Mode, or on the Switch Lite.
Once the prologue sets the scene, you’re free to choose among the four male leads, with no particular order suggested. Dive into the story of whichever character piques your interest—be it Wataru Tori, Ginnosuke Sugawa, Tenya Minami, or Hokuto Ichige. After making your selection, you can either choose a name for your story’s heroine or stick with the given one. Each male lead pairs with a specific protagonist: Serina Aok with Wataru Tori, Ami Akashi with Ginnosuke Sugawa, Miku Yukihira with Tenya Minami, and Fuuka Haruyosi with Hokuto Ichige.
Your decisions will influence the narrative paths and determine which of the three possible endings you’ll reach with each couple. This branching structure adds replayability, with a total of 12 endings to discover. Achieve a couple’s best outcome, and you’ll unlock an extra side story, offering further insights into their tale.
As you weave through each couple’s narrative, you’ll gradually fill up the game’s Flower Book. This delightful resource catalogs various flowers mentioned throughout the stories, each accompanied by a stunning image and additional insights from the male characters, adding an educational twist to the game.
Venturing further into the game, every couple’s story not only revolves around their personal dynamics but also focuses on a specific flower theme: Anemone, Tweedia, Mimosa, or Nandina, each bringing its own symbolism and mood to the tale unraveling in Fill Flower.
With so many endings and the promise of a diverse narrative experience for Otome novel enthusiasts, Him, the Smile & Bloom offers substantial content. Don’t forget to explore the Gallery, where you can browse the CG scenes you’ve encountered, relive the music of each chapter, and delve into the enriched Flower Book. Additionally, an extra scenario, “Flower Halloween Night,” is available for $2.99. This downloadable content features a charming side story about Fill Flower’s employees preparing for a festive Halloween, complete with costumes and loving conversations.
In summary, the review for Him, the Smile & Bloom highlights its charm as a flower shop Otome visual novel centered on four unique couples. Its engaging stories and multiple endings promise a vibrant experience for fans of the genre. My review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy generously provided by PQube.
