Touting itself as a love letter inspired by retro anime and PC-98-era gaming. Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog immediately caught my attention, as I’ve found myself drawn to that era of Japanese-centric titles. Having recently played through games like Policenauts and the fan translation of Dead in the Brain, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog successfully scratches that nostalgic itch for retro anime and sprite-based visual novels that were popular in the 90s.
Outside of its genuinely interesting sci-fi, mech-inspired story, if there is one thing Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog excels at, it is its visual presentation and overall aesthetics. I am quite picky when it comes to my anime-inspired or JRPG-adjacent games, particularly when a non-Japanese studio handles them, so I was apprehensive about how a Welsh-based developer like Space Colony Studios could manage a project so deeply rooted in a distinctly Japanese intersection of media. Thankfully, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog absolutely nails the look and feel of classic PC-98 titles.
“Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog absolutely nails the look and feel of classic PC-98 titles.”
In fact, my biggest complaint with Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is simply wanting more of its gorgeous sprite-based artwork, particularly the animated sequences that infrequently punctuate the otherwise mostly static walls of text. Realistically, however, I recognize that Space Colony Studios is a small collective, so what they have delivered is more than enough for a first outing.
In terms of gameplay, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog follows the standard visual novel format, offering little in terms of unique gameplay sequences, with the focus instead on the player’s ability to problem-solve and explore the environment. It should also be noted—although I never got stuck—that Space Colony Studios has done a good job, including a mini-map and task indicator, making it easy to navigate and progress through the game without excessive backtracking.
Doubling back to its narrative, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog sees players assume the role of a lieutenant-turned-security officer on the titular Gun-Dog spacecraft. The story’s impetus comes after a brief but intense flashback sequence that explores the aftermath of a failed launch during a critical skirmish between Earth and a Mars-based coalition, which results in the player character becoming a pariah, relegated to his security officer role.
“Taking only around five to six hours to complete, the story quickly picks up by the end, with plenty of critical junctures that encourage multiple playthroughs.”
From here, things briefly slow down, taking time to introduce the player to its extended cast of characters, who all appropriately feel tropey and slightly exaggerated. Taking only around five to six hours to complete, the story quickly picks up by the end, with plenty of critical junctures that encourage multiple playthroughs to explore branching endings. Despite this, I wish Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog were a little longer, especially due to its cliffhanger ending, which happens just as things start to get really interesting.
Nevertheless, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a solid visual novel that encapsulates the spirit of the PC-98 and old-school mecha anime—making it a must-play for those looking to experience a new but nostalgic trip into a far-flung sci-fi future accentuated by giant mechas and character-driven drama.
