VA-11 Hall-A is one of the great visual novels of 2016.

A lot of it has to do with the powerful writing.

Let’s take a look…

This article contains spoilers forVA-11 Hall-A.

Bartending in Glitch City isnt easy, and bartender Jill knows that first-hand.

Of course, one of her favorite parts of the job is meeting new people.

Sukeban Games bartending simulatorVA-11 Hall-Ais a game built around its clientele.

The game takes place in a section of the city called VA-11 Hall-A colloquially known as Valhalla.

Its where Jill serves drinks for the various men, women, and animals that enter her bar.

Its at this bar that you’re able to find one of the best gaming experiences of 2016.

Each ofVA-11 Hall-As characters have complicated stories to share.

Ironically enough, she joined the force after being terrorized by a White Knight as a child.

When another White Knight came to her rescue, she was inspired to join the force for help others.

After Sukeban chose a basic foundation for each patron, they proceeded to add depth to their characters.

Stella, for instance, is an Ojou-sama sympathetic to Glitch Citys downtrodden.

Dorothy is a sex worker who deals with Glitch Citys dangerous underbelly while taking pride in her career.

And the list of unique characters goes on.

Sukeban created characters that are complex and not defined by one way.

The patrons are vital toVA-11 Hall-As success.

After all, mixing drinks would grow stale without the games vibrant cast of characters.

We got fed up and decided to approach things from the other side.

Theres a drive for nonconformity that certainly fuels Sukebans approach to its characters.

Theres a political edge to the world, too.

VA-11 Hall-Ais kind of tame in comparison, the team explained.

It was [a] really hard thing to stomach.

We eat what we can get.

The everyday problems that Ortiz and Damas friends and family deal with are not just mirrored inVA-11 Hall-As world.

They become represented in every characters life.

Dana takes care of a young intern working feverishly under the Augmented Eyes abusive boss.

Streaming-chan broadcasts her daily life to a group of voyeuristic fans just to make ends meet.

Stella worries for her close friend Sei after the White Knight security group is disbanded.

The outside world overpowers the people Jill serves at Valhalla: theres simply no escaping Glitch Citys problems.

This organically fused the games representation of Venezuelan life without overburdening the plot.

Not thatVA-11 Hall-As influences are particularly apolitical, of course.

As the team explained, cyberpunk anime was a driving force behind Jills world.

The latter allows the player to experience the world through each characters opinions, struggles, and life stories.

Not because they choose to, but because they have to so you can get by.

Moreover, the idea of friendship seems to be painfully underrated and deemed unnecessary in some cases.

By doing so,VA-11 Hall-Aisnt just a realistic game.

By the end ofVA-11 Hall-As story, you feel like youve really gotten to know these characters.

After awhile, theyre more than just people youve met on the job.

TERMS:

*Term used in Japan for women over 25.

**Rich girl archetype.

***Self-explanatory.

Ana Valens is a freelance contributor.