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Glass Rose
View on Wikipedia| Glass Rose | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers | Cing Capcom Production Studio 3 |
| Publisher | Capcom |
| Director | Kazuki Matsue |
| Producer | Kouji Nakajima |
| Programmer | Keiji Kubori |
| Writer | Rika Suzuki |
| Composers | Kenjirou Matsuo Yuichi Nakamura Ken Inaoka Keiichi Okabe |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 |
| Release | |
| Genres | Point-and-click adventure, psychological horror |
| Mode | Single-player |
Glass Rose (Japanese: 玻璃ノ薔薇, Hepburn: Garasu no Bara) is a point-and-click adventure psychological horror video game developed by Cing and Capcom's Production Studio 3[1] and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 2.[2] It was released in Japan on November 6, 2003[3] and later in Europe on March 26, 2004.
Gameplay
[edit]
The game mainly uses a point and click system.[4] Players do not control Takashi's movements directly, instead using a cursor to select points of interest in the game's environment.[4] This control scheme is also used in some scenes that are similar to quick time events. Mind Points are used if players fail to complete investigating a certain area within a period of time and when mind reading is used.[4] The game ends if MPs are entirely consumed.[4]
A large portion of the game involves talking to other characters in the Yoshinodou household. While engaging a conversation, the player can use the cursor to highlight words in the text onscreen, which allows Takashi to further inquire about certain topics of discussion.
Plot
[edit]Glass Rose primarily takes place in a remote Japanese mansion in 1929. The player assumes the role of an amateur reporter named Takashi Kagetani.[5] While exploring an abandoned mansion with his friend Emi in the year 2003, he is knocked unconscious by a supernatural force and awakens seventy-four years in the past, where the mansion has been restored to its former glory. In order to return to his own time, Takashi is forced to explore the mansion and interact with its denizens, the Yoshinodou family.
Takashi also finds that the time warp has left him with the ability to briefly glimpse into a person's mind while conversing with them.[6] By employing this ability, he can investigate into a series of murders in the Yoshinodou household.[7]
Characters
[edit]Takashi Kagetani - The main character of the game. He is said to bear a resemblance to Denemon Yoshinodou's long lost son. This observation later leads to him being accused of the murders. Masahiro Matsuoka from the band Tokio lent his likeness to the character, as well as motion capture and voice acting.[8] He is voiced by Eric Kelso in the English version.[9]
Emi Katagiri - Takashi's friend and Koutaro's granddaughter. After Takashi is sent back in time, Emi appears to him as a ghost-like apparition, and they lose direct contact with each other. She is voiced by Ryoko Gi in Japanese and Lisle Wilkerson in the English version.[10][9]
Koutaro Katagiri - Emi's grandfather and a former detective. He was called to the Yoshinodou mansion by his boss, Ryouji Ihara, in order to locate Kazuya Nanase for the murder of Ihara's wife. He is voiced by Rikiya Koyama in Japanese and Peter von Gomm in the English version.[10][9]
Yoshinodou Family
[edit]Denemon Yoshinodou - The head of the Yoshinodou family. He is the first murder victim in what becomes known as the "New World Cinema murders" in 1929. He is voiced by Hiroshi Arikawa in Japanese and Barry Gjerde in the English version.[10][9]
Hisako Yoshinodou - The first wife of Denemon and an actress. She gave birth to three children: their son, Hideo, and twins Takako and Kazuya.
Yurie Yoshinodou - The second wife of Denemon, she gave birth to 2 children: Kanae and Marie. It is said throughout the game that she was Denemon's most loved wife, but in reality, she was a bitter woman who conspired to kill him. She committed suicide out of paranoia that Denemon would kill her one day.
Ayako Yoshinodou - The third wife of Denemon. She married Denemon in order to use his money to pay off her family's debts, and she is said to be untrustworthy by her stepchildren. Ayako wanted to escape from life in the Yoshinodou mansion but died before she could do so. She is voiced by Miki Yamazaki in Japanese and Rumiko Varnes in the English version.[10][9]
Hideo Yoshinodou - The eldest son and current head of the Yoshinodou family. He is the husband of Youko Yoshinodou and has a son named Taki Matsubashi. He was the second victim of the murders. He is voiced by Masaki Terasoma in Japanese and Walter Roberts in the English version.[10][9]
Takako Yoshinodou - The second eldest girl in the family and Kazuya's twin sister, albeit without her knowledge. Following in her mother's steps, she also became an actress, and her fiancee, Kiyohiko Yoshikawa, was helping her career as a director. She is later murdered, and her body is found by Takashi. She is voiced by Saori Yumiba in Japanese and Bianca Allen in the English version.[10][9]
Kazuya Nanase - Denemon's long lost son. While he is still loved by his estranged father, Kazuya is a vengeful man who orchestrates the murders. He is voiced by Masahiro Matsuoka in Japanese and Eric Kelso in the English version.[10][9]
Matsunosuke Shimada - A gardener who works for the Yoshinodou family. He is involved in Yurie's conspiracy to murder Denemon. He is voiced by Noboru Mitani in Japanese and Jeff Manning in the English version.[10][9]
Development
[edit]Capcom held a press conference to promote Glass Rose on February 21, 2003.[6] According to Tatsuya Minami, Glass Rose's graphics were inspired by Art Nouveau.[1] He also said that the decision was made to give players the feeling that they're watching an old movie.[1]
Masahiro Matsuoka's voice and likeness was used in the game.[4][5]
Reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 41/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Adventure Gamers |    [12] |
| Edge | 3/10[13] |
| Famitsu | 29/40[14] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 10/20[15] |
The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven, one eight, and two sevens for a total of 29 out of 40.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Minoru Funatsu (February 21, 2003). "カプコン、TOKIOの松岡昌宏氏をCGとフルボイスで完全再現絵画調のグラフィックも新鮮なPS2「玻璃ノ薔薇」". Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/tgs/2003/screen/ps2/garasunobara/index.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Ps2「玻璃ノ薔薇（ガラスノバラ）」の詳細 - Gameman（ゲームマン）". Archived from the original on 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e "Glass Rose Playtest". 12 November 2003. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b "New Glass Rose Details". 21 February 2003. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ a b https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/gsnews/0302/21/news07.html Archived 2024-02-19 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
- ^ "松岡昌宏主演のサイコサスペンスアドベンチャー。カプコン Ps2「玻璃ノ薔薇」".
- ^ IGN staff (February 21, 2003). "New Glass Rose Details". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Glass Rose (2003 Video Game) - Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h "Glass Rose (2003 Video Game) Cast - Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b "Glass Rose (ps2: 2004): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Parker, Robin (July 9, 2010). "Glass Rose review". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Edge staff (May 2004). "Glass Rose". Edge. No. 136. Future plc. p. 108.
- ^ a b "玻璃ノ薔薇". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 778. Enterbrain. November 13, 2003.
- ^ Killy (April 1, 2004). "Test: Glass Rose". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
External links
[edit]Glass Rose
View on GrokipediaOverview and gameplay
Premise and setting
Glass Rose is a suspense adventure game centered on a dual-timeline narrative, where the protagonist, reporter Takashi Kagetani, is transported from 2003 back to 1929 Japan while investigating an unsolved serial murder case known as the "Cinema Mansion Serial Murder."[3] This time-slip mechanism allows the player to explore events surrounding the murders in real-time, blending modern curiosity with historical intrigue to uncover the truth behind the 70-year-old enigma.[4] The primary setting is the opulent Yoshinodou mansion, a sprawling estate in rural Japan that serves as the epicenter of the mystery.[3] Designed with vivid color tones and artistic styles evocative of the Taishō era (1912–1926), the mansion captures the elegance and decadence of early 20th-century Japanese architecture, transitioning seamlessly into the early Shōwa period backdrop of 1929.[4] Its interiors are richly detailed in an Art Nouveau aesthetic, featuring ornate decorations, intricate patterns, and a sense of lavish isolation that heightens the atmosphere of psychological tension and hidden family secrets.[5] At its core, the game's premise revolves around a psychological horror mystery tied to the Yoshinodou family's dark past, where long-buried secrets and interpersonal deceptions fuel the unfolding drama.[3] The narrative employs a mind-reading ability as a key plot device, enabling insights into characters' thoughts and memories to peel back layers of deception without revealing specific events.[5] The titular "glass rose" serves as a recurring symbolic motif throughout the story, embodying themes of fragility and concealed truths within the family's legacy.[3]Core mechanics
Glass Rose employs a traditional point-and-click interface, where players control the protagonist by moving a cursor across pre-rendered 3D environments to select interactive hotspots, initiate dialogue with characters, and examine or manipulate objects. This system allows for precise navigation through locations such as the Yoshinodou mansion, serving as the primary exploration hub, without direct character movement controls. The interface supports both gamepad inputs and an optional USB mouse for enhanced accuracy in targeting elements on screen.[6][3][7] Central to the game's resource management is the mind-reading mechanic, known as "Divine Judgement," which enables players to probe characters' thoughts during conversations by highlighting suspicious words or phrases with the cursor. This action reveals hidden insights necessary for progression but consumes Mind Points (MP), a limited resource representing the protagonist's mental stamina. MP can also be depleted during environmental examinations or if investigations exceed time limits, with exhaustion resulting in an immediate game over; players restore MP by collecting ethereal butterflies scattered throughout levels or at chapter ends. Failure states tied to MP loss emphasize careful allocation, as overuse in one area can prevent advancement elsewhere.[6][8][5] Investigation sequences form the core puzzle-solving loop, requiring players to systematically scan scenes for clues within strict real-time constraints, often measured in in-game hours that advance automatically. Incomplete searches before time expires incur MP penalties, adding tension to clue-gathering and encouraging thorough yet efficient exploration of rooms and objects. These mechanics integrate with the mind-reading system, as uncovered evidence frequently unlocks new dialogue options for further probing.[6][8] Tense moments incorporate quick time events, termed "Suspense Events," which interrupt gameplay during chases, confrontations, or revelations, demanding rapid cursor selections or directional inputs to evade threats or make split-second decisions. Success averts MP loss and advances the sequence, while failure may trigger retries or penalties, heightening the stakes in critical scenes. These events draw from pre-rendered cinematics for dramatic effect, blending action with the otherwise deliberate adventure pace.[6][3][8] The inventory system supports environmental puzzle-solving by allowing players to collect items from hotspots, store them in an accessible menu, and combine them in logical ways to overcome obstacles or reveal new information. For instance, items like notes or tools might be merged to access locked areas or decode hints, promoting deductive reasoning without exhaustive listing of all possibilities. This mechanic reinforces the game's emphasis on observation and experimentation, with collected evidence often feeding back into mind-reading or investigation phases.[8][3]Story
Plot summary
In 2003, freelance reporter Takashi Kagetani investigates a series of unsolved murders linked to the abandoned Cinema Mansion, prompted by a mysterious invitation from Emi Katagiri, whose grandfather documented the case. While exploring the ruins with Emi, a supernatural time slip transports Takashi back to 1929, where the opulent Yoshinodou family mansion stands intact, and he assumes the identity of the family's estranged son, Kazuya Nanase.[3][9] Stranded in the past with Emi's spirit as a guide, Takashi delves into the central conflict: a rash of brutal murders within the Yoshinodou household, beginning with the poisoning of patriarch Denemon Yoshinodou during a lavish gathering. Over three frantic days, he navigates the mansion's tense atmosphere, using a unique mind-reading ability—gleaned from fragmented "heart pieces"—to probe the suspicions and secrets of the family and staff, racing against escalating deaths that threaten to alter the future timeline.[3][7] Mid-game developments expose layers of betrayal, including hidden familial ties, intensifying the horror through revelations of long-buried psychological traumas that echo across eras. These twists heighten the mystery's supernatural undertones, forcing Takashi to confront how inherited secrets perpetuate cycles of violence.[9][7] The narrative builds to a climactic showdown with the perpetrator, intertwining the 1929 events with Takashi's modern quest, where player decisions determine one of multiple endings that resolve the time paradox. Throughout, the story explores themes of psychological inheritance, the inescapability of the past, and the fragile boundary between historical truth and present consequence.[3][7]Characters
The protagonist of Glass Rose is Takashi Kagetani, an amateur reporter who becomes entangled in a series of mysterious murders after visiting the Yoshinodou mansion with his friend; he possesses the ability to warp through time, appearing in 1929 as the presumed lost son of the family head, which drives his investigation into hidden family secrets and deceit.[9] Takashi's character embodies curiosity and determination, often clashing with the mansion's inhabitants due to his outsider perspective and the psychological strain of his temporal displacement, revealing layers of doubt and isolation in his psyche through interactions. He is voiced by Masahiro Matsuoka in Japanese, who also provided the likeness and motion capture, while Eric Kelso provides the English voice acting.[10][11] Takashi's primary ally is Emi Katagiri, a fellow investigator and close friend who joins him in probing the unsolved case; as the granddaughter of a former detective, she shares familial ties to the mystery through her lineage, appearing as a spectral figure visible only to Takashi in the past, which underscores their bond and her role in guiding his revelations about the family's concealed motives. Emi's supportive yet ethereal presence highlights themes of trust and loss, with her interactions exposing vulnerabilities in Takashi's resolve amid the horror. She is voiced by Ryoko Gi in Japanese and Lisle Wilkerson in English.[9][12] Another key figure is Koutaro Katagiri, Emi's grandfather and a retired detective whose past investigations into the Yoshinodou family connect the modern and historical narratives; his skeptical demeanor and authoritative presence challenge Takashi, fostering tense alliances that peel back the layers of familial control and betrayal. Koutaro's voice is provided by Peter von Gomm in English.[11] The central antagonist dynamic revolves around Denemon Yoshinodou, the patriarchal head of the Yoshinodou family, whose iron grip on wealth and legacy embodies deceit and manipulation, setting the stage for the murders that ensnare the protagonist; as the first victim, his influence lingers through the family's fractured relationships, with his decisions fueling cycles of resentment and hidden agendas. Denemon is voiced by Hiroshi Arikawa in Japanese and Barry Gjerde in English.[9][13] Supporting the ensemble are the Yoshinodou family members, whose intricate relationships—marked by multiple marriages, illegitimacy, and rivalries—drive the psychological tension; Denemon's first wife, Hisako, a former actress and mother to the eldest son Hideo, twin children Takako and Kazuya, represents faded glamour and maternal protectiveness twisted by family pressures. Hideo, the current heir and a stern businessman, exhibits ruthless ambition that masks deeper insecurities revealed in confrontations. Takako, an aspiring actress and Kazuya's twin, brings vulnerability and artistic sensitivity, her engagement to Kiyohiko Yoshikawa adding external pressures to the clan's isolation. Denemon's second wife, Yurie, mother to daughters Kanae and Marie, conspires in deadly schemes born of desperation, while third wife Ayako, motivated by financial gain, embodies opportunism and eventual downfall. Kazuya Nanase, Denemon's estranged illegitimate son and Takashi's mistaken identity, orchestrates the central deceptions with cunning intellect, his fractured psyche emerging through manipulative dialogues that blur ally and foe. Other supporters include Matsunosuke Shimada, the loyal yet complicit gardener, and Ryouji Ihara, a scheming associate enforcing the family's control. These characters' interactions in the mansion hub expose suppressed traumas and motives, amplifying the horror through relational betrayals without overt violence.[9]| Character | Role/Relationship | Japanese Voice Actor | English Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hideo Yoshinodou | Eldest son, heir; ambitious and controlling | Masaki Terasoma | Walter Roberts |
| Takako Yoshinodou | Twin sister of Kazuya; tragic artist | Saori Yumiba | Bianca Allen |
| Kazuya Nanase | Estranged son; mastermind antagonist | Masahiro Matsuoka | Eric Kelso |
| Kanae Yoshinodou | Daughter; involved in family plots | Reiko Mizumachi | Bianca Allen |
| Ayako Yoshinodou | Third wife; opportunistic | Unknown | Rumiko Varnes |
| Ryouji Ihara | Family enforcer; scheming | Kazuhiro Yamaji | Barry Gjerde |
| Kiyohiko Yoshikawa | Takako's fiancé; outsider influence | Tomohiko Imai | Unknown |