Root Double: Before Crime * After Days

Game Overview

Root Double unfolds inside the sealed research facility "LABO," which has been thrown into chaos after a mysterious nuclear accident triggers reactor meltdowns and lockdown protocols. The narrative is split into two distinct viewpoints: Before Crime, following rescue captain Yuito Watase who suffers from selective amnesia as he tries to guide survivors out, and After Days, following high school student Hazuki Sasame nine days prior as events spiral out of control.

Unlike traditional visual novels with standard text-choice prompts, Root Double utilizes the innovative Sense Telepathy System (S.T.S.). Instead of picking what your character says or does, you gauge their emotional resonance and trust levels toward other characters by assigning trust values using a percentage slider. These trust levels dictate how characters react and determine whether you successfully navigate hazardous situations or plunge straight into one of the game's many tragic "bad ends." The PS Vita version features gorgeous, high-resolution artwork, touch-screen optimization, and an extensive flowchart to help you piece together the mind-bending mystery.

Quick Specifications

Key Features

• Dual Perspective Narrative: Experience the suspenseful disaster from two interlocking timelines—one heading toward the disaster and one trying to escape it.

• Sense Telepathy System (S.T.S.): Replace traditional text choices with an emotional trust slider, managing how characters feel toward one another to alter the course of survival.

• Masterclass Sci-Fi Creator: Crafted under the visionary direction of Takumi Nakazawa, offering intricate plot twists, psychological tension, and scientific realism.

• Extensive Flowchart Navigation: Track your progression across dozens of branching narrative paths and alternate endings using an intuitive timeline jump system.

• Enhanced Handheld Presentation: Enjoy crisp high-definition character portraits, atmospheric event illustrations, and tailored PS Vita touch controls.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q: Is Root Double: Before Crime * After Days available as a physical cartridge for the PS Vita?

A: Yes, though with a catch. While the game was primarily distributed digitally via the PlayStation Store, Limited Run Games partnered with Sekai Project to produce a limited-run physical cartridge edition for collectors in the West.

Q: How does the Sense Telepathy System (S.T.S.) work compared to normal dialogue choices?

A: Instead of selecting specific dialogue options, you assign trust percentages to characters or situations based on your read of the psychological tension in the room. High or low trust values shift the story down entirely different survival branches.

Q: Is the game fully voiced?

A: Yes, the game features a stellar voice-acting cast in Japanese for all major characters, heightening the claustrophobic tension during the facility's frantic escape sequences.

Q: How long is the game, and are there multiple endings?

A: Root Double is a massive, sprawling visual novel. Depending on your reading speed and how many branches you explore to uncover the true ending, a complete playthrough easily spans 40 to 60 hours.