Chaos;Head Noah / Chaos;Child Double Pack

Chaos;Head Noah isn't the best game in the Science Adventure series, but it is a great point for players to jump in if they're new to the genre. Visual novel veterans will find plenty to enjoy here as well, with a story that goes to some dark and unsettling places. The plot makes no attempt at making sense and there are times when we wanted to strangle Takumi for being such a weirdo, but it remains engaging and fun throughout. This is an easy one to recommend, either on its own or as part of the bundle with its sequel.

Overall, the spin-offs kept me well entertained, but I’d already been a fan of the main games and characters. I also like the direction they’ve taken. Thanks to the broader scope and the less repetitive structure of the character routes, I actually prefer the second spin-off slightly more. As with the main games, I enjoy the style, voice acting and music.

The root of the story is legitimately interesting, but the problem is that there is a lot of work to get there. Between various platform issues and a meandering plot, the payoff often isn't worth it - which is unfortunate as some aspects really stand out. While the overall premise of the story is memorable, everything it takes to get there is not.

If you are a Science Adventure superfan with strong faith, give Chaos;Head NOAH a try. If you're just curious, check out the sequel Chaos;Child instead.

Chaos;Head is bold, powerful, and one of the most thematically interesting visual novels you can read. Despite its substantial flaws, Chaos;Head NOAH is the only way to officially experience Chaos;Head in English, and I highly recommend it.

If you're OK with putting up with -chan lingo and otaku of the highest order, then it might be worth sitting down with Chaos;Head Noah for a weekend - or even if you want to see what led to the Steins;Gate series. As for me, I'm going to head to the sequel and hope the main character is a little less irritating. (Or maybe J. Michael Tatum can make him not sound like a complete twit, I don't know.)

The team behind Chaos;Head Noah, did a fine job doing what they set out to do, but confusing choices surrounding their game's interactivity and accessibility features aren't enough to save its gorgeous animation or strong plot and characters.

The Chaos; series has remained one of the most iconic visual novel series for years, and with good reason - despite some dated visuals and slow pacing, both titles offer jaw-dropping stories full of winding twists and incredibly well developed characters. The pacing hiccups, length and obtuse ending requirements won't be for everyone, but if you're trying to explore the history of visual novels and want to play the biggest ones, you owe it to yourself to add this double pack to the list.

With a nontraditional protagonist, quite intriguing mysteries, shenanigans and a meticulously considered cadence of events, CHAOS;HEAD NOAH delivers an intriguing story that's impossible to put down before the credits. While the content of this work remains excellent almost 15 years after the original release, this release is hampered by a series of problems inherent to the work of conversion and localization, such as the impossibility of completing the true ending of the game and the censorship of moments in the story, important for understanding its mysteries.

Fans of the Adventure Science series will get some enjoyment out of seeing its origins, and the mystery does eventually come together in a satisfying way. However, it’s hard to suggest it as an entry point for new potential fans when there are much better options available.