Review: Maid Cafe on Dien Street Brings a More Peaceful Life

If you think about a maid cafe, what do you expect? If you only hear about them through games, like Nekopara, Steins;Gate, or Akiba’s trip can think of. That could mean a vision of something bright, colorful, poppy, full of energy, and with employees who are exactly the type of idols. Maid cafe on electric street is an adventure game that feels like it offers a different, more realistic experience while also giving people a chance to experience the possibly quieter day-to-day life of Japan.

Maid cafe on electric street Start with an identifiable situation. A young man working for a company counts every second he is or is not on the clock. Going to the bathroom or going to work takes a few minutes too long due to delays, and there are threats of pay cuts and dire consequences. After saying nothing more, he walked out. However, that also meant knowing that he would lose his company housing. While walking the streets of Nipponbashi looking for a recruitment place, he came across the small Fuwa Fuwa cafe. It was a maid cafe with only one employee left, Shira, who barely served him due to intimidation. A quick chat revealed it was closing, needing a manager and providing a place above the restaurant, which meant an opportunity for a new kind of living.

While you are the manager of the cafe Fuwa Fuwa is in Maid cafe on electric streetyou’ll be serving customers and engaging in some very light management tasks and making some decisions, this isn’t really a management game. It’s more of a visual novel (with multiple endings), about getting closer to the women who work as maids and enjoying life in Japan. Shira, Favna, Honoka, and Miyu might be a bit more personable as individuals, but they are pleasant people who I enjoyed meeting and working with. You make choices when you work with them, work during the day and spend some time after work.

That pairing means there is an element Maid cafe on electric street that can be a bit tiring. Because it has an element of light management and daily life, it can get a little tedious as you go through the motions. The development process may be interrupted by the need to return to work at the coffee shop by choosing the type of coffee to serve. I was fine with it and enjoyed the experience, but I wish the pace was increased a bit.

I also appreciate the effort put in Maid cafe on electric street to recreate the experience of exploring Japan. Special after visiting JapanWalk down the shopping streets in areas like Dotonburi and Shinsaibaishi and see places that have real maid cafes. There are actual Japanese businesses referenced here. And if you visit gachapon machine, you’ll see capsule toys based on real indie games. It’s fascinating.

Especially since Maid cafe on electric street is an incredibly beautiful pixel art game. Everything is presented from a side-scrolling perspective, where we see it all as if we were watching a movie presented on a screen. The sprite work is fantastic, especially when it comes to the environments. It does a really good job of setting a move and building the atmosphere.

Maid cafe on electric street it feels like it was designed to recreate the experience of living in Japan, being in a maid cafe environment and going about your daily life. However, it’s done in a way that isn’t exactly idealized, as the reality is that there are still moments that remind you that real life isn’t always fun and happy, and being at a coffee shop is girls wouldn’t be a great thing. Life is easy with everyone always vibrant, full of energy and a perfect idol. I appreciate its quiet and simple moments and how it allows me to gradually work towards a better tomorrow.

Maid cafe on electric street available for PC via Steam.