Saya no Uta | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Nitroplus |
Publisher(s) | |
Director(s) | Gen Urobuchi |
Producer(s) | Digitarou |
Artist(s) | Higashiguchi Chuuou |
Writer(s) | Gen Urobuchi |
Composer(s) | Zizz Studio |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Android[1] |
Release | Microsoft Windows
|
Genre(s) | Visual novel, eroge |
Mode(s) | Single player |
Saya no Uta[2] is a horror eroge visual novel computer game.[3] It was developed by Nitroplus and was first released only in Japan in December 2003, it follows the story of a young student who suffers bizarre cognitive disorder-like symptoms that progress into constant horrific visual scenery that occurred after enduring a car accident that killed his entire family, sans himself. The original plot was written by Gen Urobuchi, who took inspiration from reading Lovecraft novels during a lonely time in his life.[4][failed verification]
In 2009, an English fan translation patch was released. Later, in 2013, American company JAST USA officially published an English localization using a revised version of the fan translation and also re-released hardcopies on DVD-ROM in 2020 for outlets such as J-List with a more modern VN engine. A Chinese version was also released by Kagura Games in co-publishing with JAST for the game service Steam, which also takes use of a more-modernized engine in its code, though this version is heavily censored due to China's censorship regarding pornographic material. The game was released on GOG under the moniker of "Directors Cut", although no changes were made to the originally intended writing or visuals.[5]
A three-issue comic book based on Saya no Uta, called Song of Saya, has been produced by IDW Publishing.[6][7] The monthly issues were released from February though April 2010.[8] This westernized take was panned by critics for being unfaithful to the source material at best, and for avoiding and sanitizing the heavy and unsettling plot points touched on in the VN and not showing understanding of the original work at worst.[9][10]
A feature film adaptation was in development by Sav! The World Productions, although no news has been shared since 2017.[11]