Developer: PicoPicoSoft (Published by Kagura Games)
Genre: Action RPG
Store: Steam, GOG, Denpasoft, Kagura Games store, DLSite (only in Japanese)
Reviewed version: 1.03
Censored: No, except for the DLSite version
Patch Needed: No, except for the Steam version
OS: Windows
Language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese
Chevalier Historie is one of those games I got interested in because of its high-quality art. I have to admit it surprised me in a very good way, even if I didn't check the game's genre or any other aspect before playing it.
Pros
An enjoyable plot with different endings
Solid gameplay with unique game mechanics
Beautiful art and plenty of high-quality H-scenes
Cons
It's way too easy to get overleveled and turn boss fights into a walk in the park
The game is a bit short
Story
For a game that you could sum up its entire premise as "a bunch of evildoers capture the princess and her knight has to free her", the plot is interesting. It's different from the run-of-the-mill "damsel in distress" stories since the protagonist is the princess's best friend, so she has a real reason to try to save her. Moreover, the story has different endings depending on some things, like your Naughtiness/Sexuality levels, triggering special events, and so on.
Gameplay
I imagined it'd be like the average Action RPG, but some of its mechanics surprised me in a good way. For example, there's no equipment system in the game. Instead, you obtain different relics through the game that give you some perks such as stronger attacks, resistance to debuffs, etc. Moreover, you automatically use healing items whenever you need them based on how low your health is. Sometimes it'll use a potion if your HP is low or an amulet to resurrect you if you died. They also redesigned how you interact with NPCs. You can talk to them normally as you'd do in any other RPG, but you can also ask them for info, negotiate with them, steal from them, and seduce them.
On another note, the game is very unbalanced. You can get so overpowered early into the game by fighting some thugs in the slums the entire game becomes a walk in the park. It gets even worse when you take the time to do sidequests and kill any monster that gets in your way because you get strong enough to one-shot bosses.
Audiovisuals
The game's art is as beautiful as the screenshots suggest. The maps are detailed and colorful on occasion, the character portraits are very polished, and the CGs that appear in some scenes are downright stunning. Moreover, the animated bits in some sex scenes are smooth and make said scenes even better. As for the soundtrack, it's a great mix of slow piano tracks with the usual songs you'd find in a fantasy game, plus a slow ending song that plays during the credits roll.
Verdict: Very Good
I recommend this game despite its issues. Chevalier Historie is a solid, beautiful, and entertaining action RPG. You may want to wait for a sale because the game is rather short, but it may be worth getting it even at full price if the gameplay and the art appeal to you.