Parallels: Year One

Parallels: Year One is a visual novel that stays true to the classification, with a focus on gorgeous visuals and a story-first approach. Taking place in a modern, vaguely southeastern American city, an arguably unrealistic high school, and with an occasional dip into alternate universes--Parallels is a drama centered around Ron Harvey and Jessica Wethington. Jessica, a cheerleader struggling with her schoolwork, decides through a few small lies to recruit the smartest student in her class, Ron Harvey, to be her personal tutor. Conflict arises between the two as Ron seems to be unreasonably miserable about their arrangement, despite accepting the proposal. This sets the pair down a path of learning that each of them has more to their story than the tropes they immediately pin each other for, and just might force them to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other.

Art - Gorgeous art rendered in HD to convey the most mundane and quiet moments, to the most grandiose and absurd.

Characters - Ron and Jessica aside, Parallels includes a diverse cast of supporting characters each with their own stories to tell and problems to solve. Annessa, Bonnie, Dhyana, Edith, Griffin, Irie, Khan, Luke, Mariposa, and Rosetta fulfill their roles either helping or hindering the developing relationship between the main duo.

Plot - The game's primary focus as a visual novel. The pair's overarching journey offers a critical look at what it means to "help" someone. Jessica somewhat strongarms Ron into helping her with studying. In turn, she comes to believe she will help him be happier…without a clear understanding of what that entails. Parallels: Year One offers a view into what the start of such a journey would be like.

Multiple Endings, Multiple Universes - Key choices throughout the game's narrative unlock various endings for the characters and, in turn, Squad Stories for players to enjoy at their leisure, featuring the supporting cast of cheerleaders.

Ron and Jessica
To her, he's the shy kid in class that could do with a little more friendship and smiles, and little less with the edgy jokes. To him, she's the unbearably airheaded cheer captain that justifies just how much he detests other people. To the unclassifiable reptile watching over them, they just might be the exception to the countless other times their tale has played out. While, really, it might be that no one gets what they want in the end.