Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo Looks Great, but Reads Awkwardly
Is there anything more disappointing than finding out a Japanese game that looks really promising did somehow get an English localization, but said translation reads like something Google Translate or AI spit out? If it’s something that isn’t text-heavy, sometimes we can live with it. DankHearts and WhisperGames’ _Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ is in that sort of situation as, while it looks great and features some genuinely thought-provoking puzzles, the localization still feels rough even after some updates.
Soto, Zena, Itsuki, Honoka, Kaito, and Hiyori all find themselves in a strange version of Tokyo, but gaps in their memory mean they don’t know how they got there or if they even know each other. Like games such as _999_ and _Danganronpa_ , something isn’t right here, complete with an odd mascot named Spectre who knows more than they’re sharing. Everyone agrees they want out, but they need to learn the truth about their lives in order to do so. Said reasons are often quite traumatic, and those going in should be aware of serious subjects like self harm being an issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tk_g3cfpTg
We’re supposed to connect with Soto, Zena, Itsuki, Honoka, Kaito, and Hiyori and feel for their situation, and it’s difficult to do that in _Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ in its current state. The game deals with some dark subject matters, such assault, bullying, and death, and the localization being what it is at the moment means it isn’t tackling them well. Even with the patches to fix things, the script doesn’t spend the amount of time necessary to properly develop characters and situations. Fortunately, it doesn’t get too in the way when it comes to solving puzzles. But since this is a visual novel style adventure game that often involves following branching routes to unlock others’ pasts, it’s disappointing when things sound unnatural, don’t flow, and are poorly translated.
It’s disappointing, as the actual escape room challenges in _Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ are pretty good. The first few are interesting and involve dealing with a room filled with water, working out a formula on a ladder so you can escape, and finding the palettes for a palette case to use the right colors on a hanging mannequin’s face. But things can get more difficult as we get into later scenarios.
Images via DankHearts
Especially since the art direction and character design are amazing. _Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ looks so stylish. The environments in this other version of Tokyo are gorgeous and vibrant. Even if they’re unsettling or unnerving, the artistry is great. The teens we’re following also look great. It’s a stylish game.
I’m hopeful _Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ could get better. There have been three localization patches since it launched in September 2025. The thing is that I’ve been holding off doing coverage in hopes that there would be major changes since those started rolling out. While it is definitely better, the script still doesn’t flow naturally. Adventure games and visual novels live and die based on their stories and characterizations, and it still doesn’t feel like it is quite there yet.
_Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo_ is available for PCs.
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