Recent reviews by Hideki Saito

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been having an absolute blast waving my hands around like a caffeinated octopus, pretending I’m some kind of world-renowned orchestra conductor. You know, the kind who shows up in documentaries with dramatic lighting and subtitles in six languages.

This is especially impressive considering I don’t actually play any instruments (unless you count those six traumatic weeks with a plastic recorder in elementary school). I also once tried to learn guitar, which went about as well as teaching a cat to swim. The guitar is still somewhere in my room, quietly judging me from under a pile of clothes. Occasionally I give it a pity dusting.

Reading sheet music? Oh, absolutely—I mean, if you count looking at it with mild panic and pretending I understand the little squiggles. So yeah, being a real-life conductor was probably not in the cards. But now, thanks to Maestro, I get to fake it very convincingly in VR.

This game lets you conduct a virtual orchestra with your whole body, waving your arms around in front of a group of impressively well-behaved musicians who don’t seem to mind that you have no idea what you’re doing. It’s a rhythm game, yes—but instead of tapping circles or slapping taiko drums, you’re giving big theatrical flourishes and dramatic hand gestures like you’re about to summon a storm. It’s elegant chaos.

And then there’s Eric. Who is Eric? He’s this pale, stressed-out figure who appears to be in charge of something—your assistant? Your stage manager? Maybe just the guy who had a meltdown and never left. He shuffles over during rehearsals with sheet music and champagne like he’s hosting a party and a nervous breakdown at the same time. Of course, I immediately drop the champagne on the floor like some kind of clumsy diva, and Eric reacts like I’ve insulted his entire lineage.

To make things even better, Eric keeps yelling at someone named Nicole. From the stage. Loudly. Like, “Nicole! We need lights!” and “Nicole! The strings are late again!” And Nicole? Nicole never yells back. She just responds through the PA system like some all-seeing, all-knowing voice from above. She’s basically the ghost in the machine, and I am certain she’s the one actually running the show. Someone’s cleaning up all the broken champagne bottles, after all, and we both know it’s not Eric. She’s probably got a mop in one hand and a production schedule in the other.

Now, as for the conducting itself—look, I have no clue if I’m doing anything remotely correct. But the gestures feel right. And that’s what matters. You wave, you sweep, you point dramatically at the brass section like they just confessed to a crime. It feels powerful. Your movements start to flow in rhythm with the music, and suddenly you forget that you’re in your living room wearing pajamas and looking like a wizard with motion sickness. You are the music. The baton is your wand. You are unstoppable. Until you shatter another glass, and Eric sighs again.

Also, shoutout to my fellow left-handed folks—you can switch the baton to your left hand in the options. That small detail made me feel seen. No more awkward flailing or wrist cramps from pretending to be right-handed just for game mechanics. Thank you, devs. Left-hand rights in the conductor’s pit!

In conclusion, you don’t need to read music. You don’t need to play music. You just need to move like someone who might have been banned from the Vienna Philharmonic for excessive flair. And if you accidentally turn the stage into a glass recycling bin, Nicole’s got you covered.

Would I wave my hands at invisible violins again? Without a doubt.

Parcel Simulator is essentially a high-stakes spiritual journey into understanding why your online orders arrive looking like they’ve been kicked down a flight of stairs, emotionally neglected, and then gently sneezed into a shipping container. And now, you get to be the mysterious figure behind that chaos — the lone parcel handler in a world held together by duct tape, conveyor belts, and probably several violations of labor law.

Your day begins not in an office or a warehouse, but in what looks suspiciously like a converted shipping container someone once called “cozy.” You sleep there. You work there. Your commute is a brisk 30 seconds — which is either a dream or a cry for help depending on your tolerance for concrete walls and silence. It’s the logistics industry’s definition of remote work: no traffic, no coworkers, no oversight, and definitely no HR. Somewhere in a dark corner, OSHA weeps softly.

You run the whole operation yourself. Just you. No coworkers. No interns. No mildly helpful AI assistant. You are the business, the labor, the management, and the unfortunate soul who has to sweep up afterward. Trucks arrive throughout the day, carrying exactly three packages at a time, which feels wildly inefficient until you realize the game is slowly preparing you for a career in chaotic realism. At that delivery rate, I’m pretty sure the shipper’s paying about $1,000 per box. Maybe more if it's fragile. Maybe less if it screams when shaken.

Before you can even think about package inspections, you’ll be spending your workday unloading boxes from those trucks, one by one, because there’s nobody else to do it. You and your human arms are the entire workforce. Hope you like cardio and repetitive motion injuries. You’ll carefully move each box to the floor — or a shelf, if you’ve managed to afford one — and start to understand, deep in your soul, why your packages arrive looking like they’ve seen things.

Technically, you could begin inspections before 5:00 PM. The system won’t stop you. But you’ll be so busy offloading deliveries that it’s a laughable idea unless you enjoy working against yourself. And even if you do sneak in some early inspections, it actually penalizes you — inspecting earlier means fewer packages stockpiled, and less money earned. This game has a beautifully broken incentive system where efficiency and profitability are in direct conflict. In other words: welcome to capitalism, we hope you enjoy your unpaid overtime. If the Department of Labor ever stopped by this warehouse, they'd probably pretend they were just looking for directions and moonwalk out.

When the clock hits 5:00 PM, that’s when the real “fun” begins. You’ll spend your evening hunched over conveyor belts, checking serial numbers, confirming destinations, and occasionally discovering that someone tried to ship a suspiciously unlabeled bottle of “liquid not poison.” If it passes inspection, you slap on a sticker of bureaucratic approval. If not, you deny it with the righteous fury of a TSA agent seizing a bottle of shampoo. Then you slide the box into the appropriate chute with a satisfying thunk — no throwing allowed. This is a workplace, not dodgeball.

At the start, everything is manual. No forklifts. No power tools. No union breaks. Just you and your freakishly strong arms, lifting crates like you're auditioning for the logistics division of the Avengers. But as you earn money, you can automate the entire process. Conveyor belts. Scanners. Sorters. Gradually, your warehouse evolves into a glorious, mechanical ballet of boxes, labels, and satisfying clunks. It’s hypnotic. Beautiful. And probably violating at least six safety regulations per second.

It’s hard to describe Parcel Simulator without mentioning Papers, Please and Satisfactory. It’s like the two went drinking, vented about shipping logistics, and then created a game that simulates the relentless, low-key chaos of modern supply chains. The attention to detail is oddly meditative. The humor is unspoken but ever-present. And the gameplay loop is as addictive as it is existentially haunting. It may not get you a job at FedEx, but it will definitely give you just enough "practical experience" to bluff your way through a warehouse interview with unsettling confidence.

Eventually, you begin to take pride in the chaos. In the layout of your warehouse. In the flow of your machinery. In the methodical rhythm of scanning, labeling, and sorting. And that’s when it hits you: you’ve become the system. A very tired, slightly broken, almost certainly illegal one-person logistics system.

And strangely... it’s kind of fun.

gogh is less of a “game” and more like an ambient productivity pet rock—but cuter, more animated, and slightly more emotionally available. Imagine an emotional support animal… but not an animal… and not particularly supportive either. Just there—quietly vibing with you in the background while you try to get your life together.

Gameplay? Well, that’s a generous word here. There are some light interactive elements: you can hatch eggs (yes, eggs!), and tame whatever creature hatches out of them. But if you’re looking for boss battles or inventory management, turn back now. This is less “epic quest” and more “soft background comfort while you doom-scroll or finally tackle that spreadsheet.”

The real appeal lies in the atmosphere. You get a cozy little 3D character (which you design from a set of charming presets) sitting—or standing—around in a room of your choosing, while 127 lo-fi BGM tracks hum along in the background. Yes, I counted. And if that’s not enough, there are 20 sound effects to sprinkle in, ranging from chirping birds and frogs, to wind, thunder, white noise, and its edgier cousin, pink noise. You can pretend you're working from a tranquil forest, a rainy cityscape, or a peaceful hilltop with suspiciously good Wi-Fi.

There’s also a built-in clock, Pomodoro timer, count-up timer, and a simple to-do list. No, it’s not going to replace JIRA or Microsoft Project—unless your team’s OK with your sprint backlog being managed by a virtual frog—but for solo productivity with a cute twist? It does the trick.

Customization is decent but not limitless. You can’t import your own avatar (which would’ve been awesome), and 3D object import is a no-go. But the art style is cute, and I’ll admit—my little digital buddy grew on me. Like a houseplant, but one that sits in a chair and judges no one.

Room customization is a nice bonus—you can decorate with desks, beds, shelves, and other furniture. Plus, you can display your own images (including animated GIFs), webcam streams, or even OBS feeds, which opens up fun possibilities… like projecting a live feed of your cat watching you work. Productivity recursion!

If you're looking for a peaceful digital companion that doesn't talk, doesn’t judge, and never asks for a raise, gogh might be your new favorite coworker.

This isn't your usual DLC where you get extra gameplay content. Instead, the CLANNAD 10th Anniversary Artbook offers something different and special: a PDF version of a beautiful artbook.

Back in 2013, KEY celebrated CLANNAD's 10th anniversary by hosting an art contest on Pixiv, gathering entries from fans and professional artists alike. The result was a large, serial-numbered artbook that originally sold for around 7000 yen. (I own a copy myself, and it's a real treasure.)

Now, with this DLC, you get an English-translated version of that book. The original Japanese version is the kind of rare item you probably won't find sitting on the shelves at your local bookstore, let alone outside of Japan. Considering it was a limited print run back in 2013, it's doubtful that any Japanese bookstore would still have it either. If you really wanted a physical copy, it would mean binge-hunting through used bookstores, and even then, finding one would be pure luck.

It's important to note that artworks related to the anime adaptations (from Toei and Kyoto Animation) that were present in the original Japanese physical book are omitted here, likely due to licensing issues. Still, the collection remains impressive, showcasing a wide variety of fan-submitted illustrations alongside official package and concept art.

If you're a CLANNAD fan, a collector, or someone who appreciates beautiful artwork, this is a fantastic addition to your digital library.

You get access to a wonderful collection that is hard to come by. It features many different art styles, and it includes some official materials as well. While it doesn't include anime-specific art and is a PDF rather than a physical book, it is still a wonderful celebration of CLANNAD's legacy.

Highly recommended!

The CLANNAD Original Soundtrack (Steam Edition) is a treasure for any fan of the game. Containing pretty much every single track used in the original visual novel by KEY/Visual Art's, it spans a wide range of music styles, from emotional instrumental pieces to vocal songs (both in shortened and full versions).

What makes this Steam Edition particularly special is that it isn't just a direct port of the original soundtrack. All tracks composed by Shinji Orito have undergone subtle remastering and retuning. Orchestration changes, sound balance tweaks, and even slight melody line adjustments can be found throughout. Some tracks even feature additional outros, giving them a slightly fresh flavor while preserving the essence of the originals.

For those curious about exactly which tracks have been altered, here is a list based on my research:

Disk 1: 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20
Disk 2: 1, 2, 3, 9
Disk 3: 2, 3, 4, 18

While opinions on these remixes are divided, I personally enjoy the updated touches. I find that they enhance rather than detract from the emotional impact of the music. That said, taste is subjective, and purists may prefer the "classic" versions, which have been available through digital music stores and streaming services like Spotify.

In short: if you're a CLANNAD fan who appreciates the world and emotions it built through its music, this Steam Edition soundtrack is well worth picking up. It offers a slightly different, but lovingly crafted take on the unforgettable soundscape of one of the most iconic visual novels of all time.

Aviassembly: Where Flight Sim Meets Frankenstein Engineering

The premise of Aviassembly is gloriously simple: slap some wings on a thing, fly it around, deliver some cargo (medicine, batteries, inexplicably perishable fruit), make cash and scrap, then upgrade your monstrosity of a plane and repeat. It's part courier service, part aviation experiment, and part banana crisis management simulator. Seriously, I’ve had bananas survive a full day in my backpack—how are these in-game ones turning into compost in five minutes? Are we flying through a microwave?

This isn’t Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane—you won’t need a binder of checklists, a headset to yell “roger” into, or a PhD in switch-flipping. There’s no ATC barking at you for taxi clearance, and if you're wondering about autopilot—nope, that’s not on the menu. You’re flying this baby yourself, wobbles, regrets, and all.

Aerodynamics? Streamlined. Physics? Negotiable. Want to build a plane with ten fuselages duct-taped together like some kind of metallic centipede? Go right ahead. Six wings stacked like lasagna? Absolutely. A tail in the front and wheels that come off like dollar store shopping carts? Yes, chef. Your creations will (probably) fly, (sometimes) land, and (almost never) explode in mid-air without a good reason. Honestly, it’s a miracle of modern duct tape engineering.

Landing is usually the hardest part of any flight sim—ILS, flaps, wind vectors—but not here. In Aviassembly, the landing process is more of a suggestion. Sure, a wheel might bounce off and roll into the distance like it's quitting its job, but hey, if you’re still in one piece and cargo’s not on fire, that’s a win. No idea what these planes are made of, but I suspect it's mostly hope and scrap metal.

Worried about grinding to unlock parts? Don't be. There's a Sandbox mode where you get everything right away. It’s like the cheat code version of engineering school—no classes, just chaos.

And considering it's in early access, the game is surprisingly stable. The roadmap looks promising too—like it might evolve from “chaotic postal flight simulator” to “chaotic galactic postal flight simulator.” One can dream.

Just don’t expect Boeing or Airbus to come knocking after seeing your plane design. And no, this game won’t get you a real pilot license… but come on, would you really want to be in charge of an actual aircraft after what you just built?

VRM Dance Dream MV is a neat little early access app that lets you import your VRM avatar and make it dance. That’s the pitch—and it mostly delivers, assuming you’re okay with a few rough edges and the occasional “wait, how does this work again?” moment.

You pick a song from the included selection (which is… not huge), apply a dance animation, and watch your model do its thing. It even lets you export the whole thing as an MP4, which is perfect if you’ve always dreamed of uploading your avatar doing interpretive finger guns to YouTube or social media.

You can also import your own motion data, which opens up more possibilities if you’ve got some files lying around from other tools. That said, the interface is still a bit clunky—it’s not always clear what buttons do what, and figuring things out sometimes feels like a dance of its own, one choreographed by someone who really likes hiding features behind vague icons.

Still, it does what it says on the tin. If you want a quick way to animate your VRM without dealing with full-blown 3D animation software, this is a fun and (mostly) easy option. Just know it’s still a work in progress. If you're the kind of person who gets excited by seeing your model groove to canned animations, it's worth a shot. If you're the kind who wants polish and custom everything, maybe wishlist it and check back after a few updates.

Recommended, but with the understanding that it's more “bedroom DJ debut” than “world tour.”

Zundamon DLC is a character add-on for Desktop Mate which, as the name subtly suggests, adds Zundamon. Yes, that Zundamon. For the blissfully uninitiated, Zundamon is a character born from the noble mission of promoting the Tohoku region of Japan after the 2011 earthquake—starting life as the pet of Tohoku Zunko, the regional mascot. But somewhere along the way, the pet gained sentience, legs, and a surprisingly bold personality, and has since gone full anime and infiltrated every corner of YouTube like a sentient meme with a purpose. She (or it? Or they? Let’s go with she because the internet said so and I dare not argue) has evolved from mascot sidekick to full-on virtual star. That’s Zundamonlogy 101.

Now, what exactly does this DLC do? It blesses your desktop with the presence of Zundamon herself. But not just any static mascot—no, this one talks. Yes, this is not your regular Desktop Mate DLC where the characters just stand there looking cute and silently judging your browser tabs. Zundamon has things to say. And say them she does!

Click on her and she talks—simple, effective, and possibly addictive. No, it’s not powered by AI, so you won’t be having deep philosophical debates about the nature of sentience or why your cat stares into the corner at 3AM. But let’s be honest—do you really need a conversation when you can have Zundamon saying random things in that signature chipper voice that’s somewhere between adorable and dangerously motivational?

It’s like having your own pocket-sized chaos gremlin on your desktop, occasionally reminding you that life is better with a little more Zundamon energy.

A must-have for fans of Zundamon, Tohoku Zunko, or chaotic virtual sidekicks in general. If you’re not a fan yet, this might just be your gateway into the wholesome madness of the Zundaverse. Enter at your own risk—and enjoy every second of it.

So you’ve got a fancy VR avatar, and you’ve strutted around in VRChat, waved at your virtual friends, maybe even danced a little. But now you’re wondering—what if I could make a video with it? Not just any video, but something that looks good without requiring me to sell my soul to the animation gods or take out a loan for software subscriptions? Enter VARK SHORTS Premium, the premium version of VARK SHORTS—which, by the way, no longer has a free version. (It used to, but that one was more for general use and had some collaboration templates. The premium version is where all the creative freedom went.)

And what does this wizardry let you do? Well, for starters, it lets you make videos—without having to deal with keyframes, curves, or any of that soul-crushing animation nonsense. You pick a template, press some buttons, and BOOM—you’ve got a video file ready to upload to YouTube, Twitter (sorry, X—because if there’s anything Elon Musk is good at, it’s making things harder to find in search engines), Facebook, or TikTok (assuming your government hasn’t declared it a threat to national security).

But wait, there’s more! Since this is VARK SHORTS Premium and not VARK SHORTS Lite (which doesn’t exist, but if it did, it would probably just be a single button that says "Imagine a video")—you get creative freedom! You can select different motions, backgrounds, and even toss in extra objects to craft your own digital masterpiece. Feeling extra fancy? There’s a webcam-based motion capture feature too! It’s not going to replace professional mocap studios, but hey, if you’ve ever wanted to flail your arms and make your avatar mimic your chaotic energy, now’s your chance.

Now, don’t expect Blender levels of control here. If you want to sculpt, rig, and animate every frame of your magnum opus, you should be using Blender—which, fun fact, is also on Steam! (See? I saved you a Google search.) But if you just want to throw some images, audio, video clips, and captions together for something fun, unique, and mercifully simple, then this is your tool.

So why use it? Because you can make your cute avatar do cute things, your cool avatar do cool things, and your ridiculous avatar do absolutely ridiculous things. Whether you want to create the next viral meme, a goofy animation to entertain your friends, or even a slick promo video for your business, VARK SHORTS Premium has you covered. You’re only limited by your creativity—and, let’s be honest, sometimes that’s a pretty low ceiling to bonk your head against.

Just a heads-up, if you’re a VRChat user, you’ll probably need to convert your avatar to VRM format first. Don’t panic—there are plenty of tutorials out there. (YouTube has like a million of them, probably narrated by someone with a soothing voice and an avatar that blinks too much.) Your mileage may vary depending on how "optimized" your avatar is. If you’re rocking some 5000-material, 2000-shader monstrosity that drops everyone’s FPS into the negatives, well… maybe take this as a sign to re-evaluate your life choices. (Seriously, your friends aren’t admiring your avatar—they’re just pretending to see it while silently cursing you.)

Final Verdict: VARK SHORTS Premium is an easy, fun way to make short VRM videos without needing an animation degree. Is it going to win you an Oscar? Probably not. But will it let you make silly, stylish, and snappy videos with minimal effort? Absolutely. Now go forth and make your avatar do weird things!

Ever felt like your desktop was missing something? Maybe it was a little too lifeless, too mundane, too… non-Miku? Well, fear not, because SNOW MIKU 2025 Ver. is here to turn your digital workspace into a winter wonderland of cuteness!

This delightful DLC for Desktop Mate lets you summon none other than SNOW MIKU 2025—yes, that SNOW MIKU, the annual winter-themed version of Hatsune Miku, who graces the snowy festivities of Hokkaido every year with a fresh new look, because why have just one Miku when you can have infinite Mikus, each with seasonal flair?

For the uninitiated, think of SNOW MIKU as Hatsune Miku, but winterized—like she fell into a magical snow globe, got a cozy yet stylish new outfit, and is now ready to spread frosty vibes across your desktop. And since this is the 2025 version, you get this year's SNOW MIKU, meaning she’s cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, and certified fresher than fresh powder snow.

Once installed, SNOW MIKU will live on your screen, accompanying you through the daily grind. Need moral support while working? She’s there. Procrastinating? She’s there. Accidentally closing an important document? Yup, still there, but looking adorable while you cry.

In summary:
✔️ Summon your very own SNOW MIKU like a desktop spirit guide.
✔️ Instantly increase your desk’s waifu-per-pixel ratio.
✔️ Perfect for those who love winter, Miku, or just need a virtual companion who won’t judge them for opening the same five apps over and over.

Would recommend to anyone who wants their desktop to feel 20% cooler (and I don’t just mean temperature-wise).

10/10, would let Miku sit on my taskbar again. ⛄🎤❄️