If someone asked you, “What's the duel of the aristocracy?” not many would immediately answer, “A slap fight,” but encountering the game Rose & Camellia turns that conventional wisdom upside down. Indeed, in this work, members of a distinguished family exchange serious slaps over power, pride, affection, and hatred. The setting is the highly prestigious Tsubakikoji family. Players become one of its members and are plunged into a hereditary “family feud through slaps.” I found myself drawn into this setting, which is somehow ridiculous yet strangely intense.

The biggest feature of the Switch version is the realism of being able to truly “deliver a slap” using your body. When you swing the Joy-Con, your character delivers a full-power open-handed slap corresponding to your movement. Moreover, you are only allowed one slap per turn. You must carefully observe your opponent's movement and strike with a single blow at the perfect timing. This tension is incredibly addictive. By physically moving your hands, your sense of immersion in the game world increases, allowing you to experience an “intense battle” that is more than just a comical premise.

Although “deciding the winner with a slap” sounds like a gag, the story of this work has surprising depth. There are no fewer than five scenarios to play. The narrative unfolds around different protagonists and objectives in each, revealing the hidden side of the Tsubakikoji family and the characters' intentions in episodes ranging from “The Legendary Rose Bride” and “The White Camellia of Vengeance” to “World Youth Arc” and “The Quiet Daily Life of the Camellia.” You'll definitely be drawn in by the poison hidden within the elegant language and the fierce struggles concealed by their refined behavior. The Japanese full voice acting also provides a strong sense of realism, making the nobles' “ugly conversations” resonate even more authentically.

Combat proceeds in a turn-based system, featuring a simple yet exquisite balance: the attacker gets one chance to slap, and the defender has free evasion. The mind games of predicting when the opponent will strike, whether it's a feint or the real deal...... are incredibly intense. If you let your guard down, a rose-like red mark will be instantly branded on your cheek, and conversely, the sense of achievement when your timing is perfect is addictive. It's astonishing that such simple rules can generate this much excitement. Furthermore, 2-player versus mode is possible via shared play (Oso-wake Play). The moment you pick up the Joy-Con, you're no longer in a high-society parlor, but a slapper's dojo.