I feel there is a mysterious law in the world of stories. It seems that the more beautifully a forest is depicted in a work, the more likely something terrifying is hidden deep within it. A quiet lake, a peaceful landscape, an elegant castle. These places, which look fantastical at first, gradually begin to give off an unsettling atmosphere. Then, before you know it, a curiosity to ”want to know what happens next“ and a fear of ”being scared to find out“ can arise at the same time. ”BLACK WOLVES SAGA Weiβ und Schwarz for Nintendo Switch“ is a title that evokes exactly that kind of sensation. It cannot be contained by the term romance game alone, as love, madness, obsession, secrets, and cruel fate are intricately intertwined within it.

A major attraction of this Nintendo Switch version is that the stories from both the PC and PSP versions, which previously existed separately, are included together as a single work. Until now, ”BLACK WOLVES SAGA“ had been developed in the form of ”two halves of one world.“ While the story makes sense even if you only know one side, there are emotions and truths that can only be seen by learning about the other side. The PC version develops around the twin princes, Mejojo and Auge, while the PSP version places Rath, a young man of the wolf species, at the center of the story. Despite being the same world, it is extremely interesting how the impression changes drastically depending on the scenery you view. It feels just like looking up at the same night sky from a different location.

The wish of the protagonist, Fiona, is very simple: ”I want to see the outside world.“ Hearing just these words, it might feel like a commonplace desire. However, for her, having been raised as if imprisoned in the Tower of Charmeßen, those words hold a meaning close to life itself. For someone who could not walk outside freely or talk to others as a matter of course, the outside scenery is a dream in itself. However, this work is not a gentle adventure story. Because what awaits beyond the fulfillment of that wish is by no means a peaceful world.

In the world of the PC version, Fiona is taken to the castle by the twin cat princes and ends up living under house arrest. On the other hand, in the PSP version, she is taken outside by Rath, and days of constantly fleeing from the princes begin. It is an intriguing aspect that even though it is the same event of ”going outside,“ the meaning is completely different. A castle that is supposed to be safe can feel suffocating, while a dangerous life on the run can feel more like freedom. It makes one think that people do not feel happiness based on location alone. Furthermore, the characters' emotions are not simple either. Feelings that cannot be sorted out with just the word ”like“ are constantly entangled. What looks like kindness can actually be possessiveness, and an action meant to protect can be a form of restraint. This ambiguity creates the unique atmosphere of this work.

In the Weblin Kingdom, which serves as the stage for the story, it is rumored that wolves are the cause of the mysterious plague ”Zodiva,“ and a ”Wolf Hunting Order“ has been issued. However, hearing this kind of story makes one want to pause for a moment. Are wolves really the ones to blame? People harbor fear toward things they do not understand, and that fear sometimes turns someone into a villain. The flow of Fiona meeting other species and interacting with them to gradually approach the truth feels not just like a simple romance story, but also like a depiction of mutual understanding between people. The story she was told at first, and the reality she saw with her own eyes. The vast difference between the two might be close to the core of this work.

When people think of romance games, some might imagine gentle words or happy endings. However, ”BLACK WOLVES SAGA Weiβ und Schwarz for Nintendo Switch“ is a title that alters that image a bit. Of course, there are relationships that stir the heart, but it does not end there. The depiction of the characters being toyed with by fate, the pain each one carries, and the way love and madness blend together on a paper-thin line leave a very strong impression. Even if you start playing with the intention of lightly enjoying the story, before you know it, you might find yourself continuously thinking about the characters' feelings. It is bound to be the kind of work that leaves you quietly contemplating, ”Was that really love?“ after you finish the story.