Soul Nomad was absolutely one of my favorite games back in the day. Not what I would consider a classic game, but one I really enjoyed. I did a ton of fic and art for it throughout 2008. And some afterwards, as you can see, such as this lovely couple who would rather you stop staring at them so they can go back to thinking about each other and hotpods.
While SN wasn’t Nippon Ichi’s best game, I think it was one of their narratively strongest games, at least in their first decade. It certainly struck a tone I really enjoyed -- funny, zany at times, but also dark and heartfelt. It wasn’t just there to subvert expectations and make you laugh. There was a good story, and they wanted to tell it seriously. I don’t feel like any of the other NIS games I’ve played hit that exact balance for me.
I recommend the game, though with many warnings -- Gig’s language in particular is often very offensive and uncomfortable. And it’s not as if this game is a diamond in the rough. It has plenty of shortcomings, and it was made on a much smaller budget than other games of the era. But for me, the most deserving games aren’t always my favorites, and this was a game that spoke to me despite its many flaws.
