The highest definition of “Uguu” is now available for purchase digitally on Steam.
With the announcement by Visual Arts and Prototype that “Kanon” would be coming to Steam with a revised HD makeover on May 17th, it was unexpectedly revealed today that Key’s iconic romance visual novel is now available on Steam.
Released in 1999, “Kanon” is a landmark in the genre of “crying games,” known for its emotional and touching storytelling. It is the debut work of the visual novel studio Key, which later produced classics like “Air,” “Planetarian,” “Summer Pockets,” and fan favorites “CLANNAD” and “Little Busters!”
“Kanon” was adapted into two anime series, the first in 2002 and the more iconic remake of 2006. This new Steam release offers a revised HD experience, bringing this beloved story to the largest PC marketplace.
Surprisingly, while many other Key visual novels have been available on Steam, this is the first time “Kanon” has graced the storefront. Whether you prefer the original or not, this release is a revised HD edition, featuring crisper and more detailed CG artwork.
The colors have been adjusted to look more accurate on modern LED displays, a significant upgrade from the original 1999 release, which was limited to a 4:3 aspect ratio and CRT displays.
In Kanon you take on the role of Yuuichi Aizawa, a teenage boy who moves to a Japanese town where his aunt, Akiko Minase, and his cousin, Nayuki, live. Yuuichi’s parents have moved overseas, but he didn’t want to leave the country. Although Yuuichi visited this town seven years ago, he has memory gaps from his time there.
As he adjusts to life in this snowy town during winter, he meets various characters who become potential love interests, and his memories of the past start to return.
The Steam release is the all-ages version, meaning it omits the explicit content present in some other versions. Despite the absence of illicit CGs, there are six female romantic routes to choose from, each with multiple branching choices typical of a visual novel. Early choices determine which girl’s route Yuichi will follow, while later choices influence whether you’ll achieve a good or bad ending.
The potential romantic partners include Nayuki, your cousin, Ayu, a girl Yuuichi bumps into who loves taiyaki, Makoto, an amnesiac who always tries to pull pranks on Yuuichi and seemingly dislikes him, Shiori, a first-year student at Yuichi’s high school who has a long-term illness.
Mai, a third-year student who fights ghosts, naturally she’s socially awkward, and Sayuri, also a third-year student who is Mai’s best friend and is very friendly.
Kanon features full Japanese voice acting, except for Yuuichi, who is only partially voiced. The game includes plenty of beautiful CGs and a varied soundtrack. There are Steam achievements, and there’s a good chance that Visual Arts might add Steam Cards later, as they often do with their more popular and iconic releases.
If you’re hoping for a user-made patch to reintroduce the 18+ content, you’re out of luck. For those who want the full experience of a visual novel, including explicit content, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Your best option would be to pirate the original release of “Kanon” to experience the sex scenes, as this HD version is essentially a re-release of the Nintendo Switch port. While some content is cut, it remains a compelling story that will keep you hooked until the very end, that I can assure you.
The Steam version of Kanon also supports touch controls, making it playable on tablet PCs and Valve’s Steam Deck, disappoint your friends and family even when out and about and on the go.
Combined with color adjustments and HD graphics, this enhances the overall experience. As with most new Steam releases, there’s a limited-time 10% discount for the first week. It’s worth purchasing if you don’t mind missing out on the sexual content. Alternatively, you could pirate the original visual novel from sites like Nyaa or Sukebei and buy “Kanon” on Steam to support Key and Visual Arts.
