Mr. Saitou

 PC
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Hey Poor Player
    Mar 30, 2023
    80
    Mr. Saitou is a short but sweet romp through the universe of Rakuen, a silly little homecoming to a wonderfully whimsical world. Although it’s not as emotional as the first game, it’s not trying to be; with that being said, I still shed a few tears during the two hours I spent with it. If you listen to Mr. Saitou and set your expectations accordingly, you’ll emotionally relate to the realistic struggles of adult life while feeling healed by the cheerful innocence childhood has to offer. In the very least, Mr. Saitou offers a brief return to the world of Rakuen and the feeling of being hugged by a game.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
  1. robeson1070
    Mar 28, 2023
    10
    Mr. Saitou is a narrative-based RPG game about a person's journey toward leading a meaningful life.  In creator Laura Shigihara's fantasyMr. Saitou is a narrative-based RPG game about a person's journey toward leading a meaningful life.  In creator Laura Shigihara's fantasy world, just as in our real one, life-significance has a lot to do with the quality of our relationships with others. Anyone has the capacity for positively impacting the lives of others and can be encouraged to find meaning with just a little bit of prompting or a little bit of self-discovery.

    Mr. Saitou, I think, very deliberately utilizes "directionless interactions" to reinforce the loneliness of Saitou's world, reflecting at times, in its dialogue, a core starting theme of "isolation in the midst of company".  Our protagonist engages in his routines -- goes to work, eats, travels from here to there -- but lives without fulfillment; without a point to it all; without significance.

    And, that is where we find Mr. Saitou as we begin -- solidly in his routine.  Saitou is a person who effectively carries the phantom walls of his work cubicle with him through life wherever he goes.  He's an introvert and takes time to warm up to others.  One thing that players who have previously ventured into the Rakuen universe may notice is the absence of the built-in "Q" key function -- a way to apply the brakes & have a moment of comfort, clarity, and solace with a companion character.  Mr. Saitou has character-based social opportunities, to be sure, but I think there is something to be said for the absence of an immediate guardian for our protagonist to call upon with insight and love to assuage our poor guy's anxiety.  The absence of "Q" felt significant in a meta sort of way.  From his perspective at least, Saitou is very much on his own at the outset of our adventure. He sails through life's rough waters without a port of call.

    In the spirit of Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince" or Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz",  the characters and environments we encounter in Mr. Saitou are richly portrayed both visually and in terms of their distinct personalities.  Many have life lessons to impart, large and small, explicit and implied, throughout our 2-4 hour journey, depending upon how many side paths we take and objects and people we choose to interact with.  Shigihara uses the classic 1990s 16-bit RPG format to great effect in this narrative-focused journey.

    Moments of levity abound, oftentimes in the form of wry observations related to life's little absurdities.  This game frequently cracked me up &, truth be told, sometimes the journey... gets a little weird.   :-D  This game is steeped in Shigihara's sense of fun, as well as her deep musical conscientiousness, accurately reflecting the story's emotional tenor from moment to moment, whether it be triumph, mystery, Cooool, or introspection.  I would be remiss if I did not also mention Toby Fox's unique & bold contribution to this effort.

    Mr. Saitou's story is largely one of growth and hope.  Perhaps some players, used to the dramatic turns in Shigihara's "Rakuen" story, may come away wishing Mr. Saitou was a longer odyssey or that there was more gravity to their experience.  But then, Mr. Saitou doesn't need to be that kind of a story to get its point across and to touch our hearts.  Very concisely, Mr. Saitou shows us that taking small steps towards self-improvement, whether that be pushing past an insecurity or two, learning to turn our attention to the needs of others, or just showing up when it counts, are all ways to open ourselves to meaningful experiences & grace, perhaps in ways unforeseen at the outset. It is just what it needs to be.

    When I finished Mr. Saitou, I went to hunt down my email signature to find this quote that has stuck with me these past 20 years or so.  I try my best to take it to heart all the time:

    “I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
    -- Stephen Grellet

    I don't always succeed.  I think it embodies the game pretty well, though..  But, I'll let you be the judge of that and won't give away any of the details here.

    I genuinely hope that you too choose to give Mr. Saitou a try.  Have fun & enjoy it for what it is.   I am so happy Laura saw fit to tell this story.  I know I benefited from experiencing it.  You may end up laughing more than crying.  And that's okay.  Ephemeral experiences of joy are pretty swell & can be awfully deep and meaningful in their own right.

    Thank-you.    … Full Review »
  2. McButterstotch
    May 5, 2023
    10
    A funny, sweet, charming and heartwarming story with wholesome messages and an outstanding soundtrack that is short and sweet but FULL ofA funny, sweet, charming and heartwarming story with wholesome messages and an outstanding soundtrack that is short and sweet but FULL of personality and will leave you better than it found you!… Full Review »
  3. botatoboy
    May 5, 2023
    10
    Botato army reporting in. Brandon is a friend. He is such friend. And you will wish you had friends like him. Whoops, forgot to add a score.
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