Akemi-tan is hardly a masterpiece of horror. So why is it that I loved it so much?

This has been one of the games I've been avoiding for quite some time because of how terrifying the beginning looked - whenever I'd open the game, I'd close it right away and decide I might as well replay Ao Oni for God knows what time, because DAMN THAT PICTURE IS SCARY. Deformed humans are somewhere close to the top of "the most disturbing things in horror games" list - for me, anyway.

There are quite a few jump scares in this game, but I'd hardly say that's all there is to it - perhaps during the beginning, yes, but in all honesty, disliking a jump scare purely because it IS a jump scare, is ridiculous. If it frightened you properly, it has done its job well. The only time a jump scare is dump/unlikeable, is if it is the same one being repeated too many times, or if it is literally all over the place, none of which is the case here.

The atmosphere in the game is masterfully created - from the lack of music, creepy, solitary sounds and odd, unusual creepy mini-events to the exceptionally horrifying art, Akemi-tan is not giving us plenty of time to get our heart beating back in order. Speaking of which, the art of this game, while most of it average, has some incredibly disturbing drawings and scenes which pretty much, along with the sound of the game, made the game as wonderfully creepy as it is.

Now on to the story which, as the game proceeds, becomes surprisingly good! I thought it would be a classic, slightly boring story about a curse, but as it approached the end, it turns out to be quite more elaborate than that. The main flaw of the game would perhaps be the lack of characterization for some characters and the complete disappearance of the others - just who WAS that brown haired girl in the photo?

And while we're at question, why is the main character wearing dirty clothing? I have to admit I found it quite hilarious, but it got me confused, because for a moment I thought it to be a part of the story - a girl who got lost and was wandering for three days. Then you realize the author was probably just joking, which makes it weird for a horror game and you spend 30 minutes wondering WHY. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely IS distracting.

All over: the art style of the game is not exactly elegant and the game could have been more elaborate about some of its events and characters and a jump scare or two less may be more appealing; but the all of the crazy creepiness that has been going on in it has definitely made it one of the most frightening experiences I had. Doing good, Kona-chan! Keep it up and don't lose your way! :)