I recently did a preview of a new visual novel game called Tears of Yggdrasil.  If you are not familiar with visual novels then you could be in for a treat.  Basically, visual novels are graphical adventures that have more twists and turns than a season of Bones or Supernatural.  Tears of Yggdrasil is one that also happens to pull hard on the emotions with its storyline and choices you are faced with.  I had a chance to talk with John Valentin, aka Moonstar, and discuss Tears of Yggdrasil.

Gravis Ludus) Please introduce yourself
John Valentin) My name is John Valentin aka MoonStar. I’m a pretty big fan of video games, such as RPGs and MMOs, along (obviously) with being into anime and visual novels.

GL) Why a visual novel?
JV) I chose to make a visual novel because it’s an interesting medium, blending the interactive elements of a traditional game, with the focus on story and character development you rarely find in video games. If anything, I’d write stories for manga and anime, but a visual novel is the best way to get my concepts out there in front of an audience.

GL) What is the premise of Yggdrasil beyond the epilogue?
JV) Well as visual novels are primary a story based medium I don’t want to give too much away, but the story will delve into the entire purpose of the tree, and the fate of all nine worlds.

GL) What made you go with such a tragic crux for the story?
JV) I always enjoy stories where the main character isn’t protected by ‘plot armor’. Be it death, or even simple failure, the protagonist in Yggdrasil isn’t immune, like in most games.

GL) What would you like for fans to take away from Yggdrasil?
JV) It will be different from person to person, but I want them to finish the game and realize that the English visual novel genre can really be more than your standard “high school” romance story that is so common on Steam right now.

Check out Tears of Yggdrasil on Itch.io and enjoy the prologue.  The rest of the game, when finished, will be available on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and mobile such as Android and iPhone.