TAISHO x ALICE Episode 1 (v2021.02.22)

A fractured fairy-tale romance turns familiar storybook roles upside down, placing the heroine in the position of rescuer rather than rescued. TAISHO x ALICE Episode 1 begins in a strange, colorless world before sending its protagonist through the looking glass into two separate character routes built around Cinderella and Red Riding Hood. Both princes carry emotional baggage, personal contradictions, and problems that cannot be solved by simply waiting for a magical ending. The mood balances playful banter and charming otome comedy with surprisingly heavy themes involving trauma, identity, and the darker side of romantic ideals.

Players read through a fully voiced Japanese visual novel, following the heroine’s conversations and observations as each route slowly reveals its prince’s past. Important dialogue decisions steer the narrative toward different conclusions, so paying attention to a character’s fears and personality matters more than selecting blindly agreeable answers. Episode 1 lets players choose between Cinderella’s route, centered on a vain but compelling young man with a sharp tongue, and Red Riding Hood’s route, which takes a more eccentric and unpredictable direction. There is no action combat or exploration in the traditional sense; progression comes from reading, making choices, unlocking endings, and piecing together the larger mystery surrounding the altered fairy-tale cast.

Its strongest feature is the reversal of the usual fairy-tale formula: the prince is the one who needs emotional rehabilitation, while the heroine actively pushes the relationship forward. The elegant character art, expressive voice performances, and unusual modern-fantasy setting give the story more personality than a standard retelling of classic tales. Each route stands on its own, with different versions of shared characters and distinct relationship dynamics, making the package feel like two compact novels connected by a broader premise. Fans of Amnesia, Collar x Malice, or character-driven romance visual novels will find plenty to enjoy, especially if they appreciate heroines with agency and stories willing to challenge conventional happily-ever-afters.