ALLBLACK Phase 1 is a visual novel by NSAID. Adapted from the light novel of the same name. It’s a mysterious story about lost memories, human identity, and the thin line between dreams and reality. Curious? Let’s dive in!
A Beginning Full of Mystery
You wake up underwater, rescued by a ship, with no clue who you are or why you’re there. That’s the unsettling start of ALLBLACK Phase 1, a visual novel that immediately throws players into a fog of uncertainty.
Our main character, Theodore Quentin, regains consciousness battered and bruised, with total amnesia. People around him accuse him of causing a helicopter crash, but he has no memory to defend himself.
Things only get stranger when he discovers that he can do the impossible. Stopping raindrops in midair. Suddenly, everything feels unreal, as if the world itself is beginning to crack apart.
As you read through the story, you begin to feel the same disorientation and confusion Theodore experiences. The mysterious narrative pulls you into a dreamlike state, blurring the line between reality and delusion. It feels like reading the diary of someone struggling to keep their sanity.
Memory and Humanity
At first glance, ALLBLACK Phase 1 looks like your typical visual novel. But in reality, it’s a kinetic novel, meaning there are no branching choices. You simply read and experience the story as it unfolds. But that simplicity is what allows the narrative to dig deep into its psychological and philosophical themes.
Theodore isn’t just an amnesiac protagonist. He represents humanity stripped of identity, a person questioning the very nature of what’s real. Every line of dialogue, every moment of silence, feels like another piece of a much larger mystery.
The game also uses a clever visual metaphor to express this. In several scenes, background characters appear faceless and featureless, as if they don’t exist fully within Theodore’s mind. Meanwhile, characters with significance to the story are drawn in full detail, complete and expressive.
This contrast isn’t just an artistic choice, it’s symbolic. When Theodore hasn’t yet recognized someone, their face is blank. But as memories return, their features start to reappear.
It’s a brilliant touch that gives the storytelling more emotional depth and subtly visualizes the experience of memory loss.
Visuals and Storytelling
Built using Ren’Py, visual novel developer’s favorite engine, ALLBLACK Phase 1 embraces the charm of indie visual novels. But it still delivers a cinematic reading experience.
Every character is hand drawn in anime style. With soft lines and expressive emotions that convey both fragility and tension.
Interestingly, the backgrounds often use real-life photographs instead of drawn environments. At first, this might feel unusual, for anime style characters standing against realistic settings, but it surprisingly works. The mix enhances the surreal tone of the story, blurring the line between what’s imagined and what’s real.
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The color palette leans heavily toward the blue hues. It creates a cool, melancholic atmosphere that mirrors Theodore’s emotional state. Even though the story is dark, the use of blue brings a sense of stillness, a quiet tension beneath the calm surface.
Scene transitions are also fluid and purposeful. While the sound effects are perfectly timed to heighten key moments.
Whether it’s the gentle patter of rain or the sudden rush of action, the combination of audio and visuals builds strong cinematic tension. It feels less like reading a visual novel and more like watching a psychological film unfold piece by piece.
Leaves You Wanting More
As the title suggests, this is only Phase 1. The beginning of something much larger. Don’t expect all the answers right away!
The game ends on a note that’s both mysterious and frustrating, but in a good way. It leaves you craving the next chapter! Wanting to understand who Theodore truly is, what really caused the crash, and why he possesses such unnatural powers.
Some players might wish for more interactivity, but ALLBLACK Phase 1 doesn’t really need it. It’s about atmosphere, emotion, and introspection. The pacing, visuals, and writing all work together to create a story that lingers in your mind long after you close the game.
So if you’re in the mood for a haunting narrative filled with symbolism and psychological tension, this game deserves a place in your library.
Download it now! And let yourself get lost in a world that’s beautiful, mysterious, and quietly falling apart.
