A visual novel focused on high school life
Class of ‘09 is a premium simulation game that follows 16-year-old Nicole, who is finishing her last year of high school. However, after a tough life of messy parents’ divorce and transfers, she has become a cynical, cold, and tough lady. In her new school, she will create a chaotic mess in the lives of her potential suitors.
Like typical visual novels, the gameplay of Class of '09 lets players make decisions that affect the plot. However, what sets it apart is that it’s voice-acted. Although the production focused more on the audio, the visual representation is fairly simple.
What is Class of '09?
Class of '09 is a comedy that follows Nicole as she goes through her final years in high school. However, the story will not have the usual high school trope of living life as a student. Instead, she would be mocking, manipulating, and coasting her way through life until she graduates, that is, if she doesn't get expelled or kill herself and becomes a necrophile pedophile's dream come true.
The game does not have much of a comprehensive plot or purpose. Rather, players will go through four isolated routes and 15 different endings. Also, it is not about making the right decisions but choosing the funnier options. This can be annoying for you if you are more into story-focused VNs. Nevertheless, the many endings make up for the short run time of each route.
As mentioned, the game comes voice-acted, making it more of an audio drama than a video game. In fact, instead of having the game mix with voiced lines, music, and sound effects, the majority of the audio is made from pre-mixed MP3s and WebMs. Unfortunately, the visuals made way for the audio front. The art style is more on the basic side, combined with a blurred photograph background, making it appear cheap.
Notable extra content and features
Class of ’09 plays almost like a movie, automatically moving from scene to scene and only pausing when it’s time for you to make a decision. For convenience, it includes an ending tracker in the main menu, making it easy to archive and review the endings you’ve unlocked. Moreover, completionists will appreciate that fully clearing the game unlocks bonus lore and extra scenes, adding more to enjoy beyond the main routes. Another nice touch is that characters change clothes in real time.
Is the game good?
Overall, Class of '09 offers an experience that is not typical of visual novel games. The mechanics are familiar, but it is not story-focused. It is more of an audio drama rather than a video game, with its strong voice acting and playful writing standing out. While it is short and the visuals can be underwhelming, it still offers a quirky, unconventional take on the genre.
