Blooming Panic Overview
Title: Blooming Panic: Full Bloom Edition!
Creator: robobarbie
Writers: robobarbie, Destini, & Allie Vera
Genre: Otome Visual Novel
Themes: Discord Server, Web Novel Fandom, Overcoming Challenges (past and present)
Where to Find: Itch.io https://robobarbie.itch.io/blooming-panic Free to download
Blooming Panic: Full Bloom Edition! is a romance visual novel that wraps inviting characters, humorous interactions, a unique fandom, and surprisingly deep discussions in a heart-fluttering package. The game is set in a Discord-like chat server filled with like-minded people who just want to gush about “Blooming Panic! I’ve Become a Monster?” their favorite web novel.
There is so much to love about this visual novel, starting with the moment you open the game. Hold onto your socks because Blooming Panic has a theme song. No joke! The creators and voice actors took the time and effort to sit down and record a theme song that plays when the game’s home screen is open. And it’s wonderful! I have literally sat in front of my laptop tapping my toes and grinning like an idiot while I listened through the song once (or thrice, but who’s counting?). I mean, how is this a free game?!?!
That brings up another reason to adore this game: the voice actors. Oh my gosh, the VOICE ACTORS! I love it when there are voice actors; it makes things so much more immersive and interesting. The information for the voice actors is also on the Itch.io page so check it out if you want to learn more about them!
Alright, I’ll try to rein in my excitement for a bit so I can get through this overview. Phew. I’m good now! So, let’s start at the beginning.
The game opens with your character reading the latest chapter in their favorite web novel. When they finish, they noticing a link to what looks like a discord server for fans of the web novel. Deciding to ignore the fact that it’s super late and they have work in the morning (relatable), they download the server.
You’re greeted by the server bot and prompted to choose a username. One nice thing about this server is that you’re almost guaranteed to get your first choice since it’s a small group. It’s always frustrating when I go onto a new website or server and put in my normal username only to find it’s unavailable. Another nice feature, as you can see in the picture above, is the four text speed options. So if the chat is going too fast or slow you can adjust the speed to your liking.
Something I’m seeing more and more in visual novel games is that you can choose the pronouns of your character. Blooming Panic has this feature too and I think it’s really nice to have that inclusivity. My pronouns are she/her, but you can also choose he/him or they/them so everyone can feel comfortable getting into the role of the character!
Once your username and pronouns are selected the server bot offers to explain how the server works. Being able to skip that when you replay is super nice! It’s a feature I’ve used many times since I’ve played through the routes, you know, a few dozen times.
After you’ve gone through the tutorial (or chosen to skip it) you meet the server members currently online. One of my favorite things about the setup of Blooming Panic is that you can choose your nickname for everyone to call you. I love this added customizability of the game, it just makes the whole experience more lifelike!
The eclectic cast of server members is honestly one of the highlights for me. In addition to the four love interests, you also have an ultra-studious college student, a high school senior who plays piano, a loud and proud lesbian who gives heartfelt advice, a peppy “Blooming Panic! I’ve Become a Monster?” superfan, and a grandpa who is devoted to his second wife while still honoring the memory of his deceased first wife. I mean… how could you not love learning about all these colorful and beautifully supportive side characters?!
Even when the server members are arguing they are respectful. There is, of course, some good-natured heckling and bickering, but it’s all in fun. If it ever does get out of hand someone always speaks up. The conversations flow so naturally. Some members even like to interrupt each other which really makes it feel like you’re on a Discord server chatting with your buddies.
As you play through the intro your choices will naturally send you onto one of the four romance targets routes. The first time I played through I got Quest (the biggest of sweethearts). It was fun to go back and experiment to see which options would lead me to the other guys.
All four routes have something unique and interesting to keep you engaged and excited to discover more. My favorite route is definitely xyx, the server’s (loveable) troll. He is absolutely hilarious, a closet cat-dad, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s got a killer accent (Australian or New Zealand, I think. I have a hard time differentiating those two). However, Toasty (aka NakedToaster), a Final Fantasy XIV superfan and web novel aficionado is adorable. And nightowl, a by-choice insomniac who always has a supportive word to share, is also wonderful!
There is a walkthrough available, but I actually was able to get the good endings without it, which was kind of nice, in a way. If you want the walkthrough it’s on the itch.io website listed here: https://robobarbie.itch.io/blooming-panic. If you want to save time of course you can use the walkthroughs, but this is one of the rare visual novels where I prefer to make my own choices and see where it takes me.
At the end of the intro, one of the four romanceable server members will suggest a video call. This. Is. Why. I. Love. This. Game. So. Flutterin’. MUCH!!!!! Oh my goodness, the video calls with the guys make my heart flip flop and I let out so many embarrassing squeals throughout their conversations. The voice actors really pulled out all the stops and the art is so unique but sweet and cool at the same time. Sigh, so much effort and love obviously went into this game.
No matter which route you end up on you won’t be disappointed. This game is fairly short yet the storyline is surprisingly deep. Depending on the route, topics such as insecurity issues, emotional trauma, and many more are explored and highlighted in a realistic and relatable way. As the romance targets sing in the theme song you can, “know [them] as much as you’d like to”. You can choose to develop a close relationship with your chosen romance target or simply remain surface friends who enjoy the same web novel.
If you give Blooming Panic a try I can guarantee you will have a variety of heart flutters. From the warm fuzzy kind to shocking jolts and then racing heart flutters that will abound as the guys do their best to casually seduce you.
And the best part? The game is free! So there is no excuse to not give this wonderful game a try. I hope you will enjoy the story! I will post reviews for the individual routes in the next few months. Thank you for reading! Have a fluttery day.
