My spoiler free thoughts after playing Takuyo's game, DistortedCode!
Disclaimer that this is NOT a proper review because I am terrible at critical analysis. Just my thoughts and feelings!
The game's story is split up into three separate stories. Psycho Horror Hen, Kasou Genjitsu Hen, and Occult Horror Hen. They're sort of like alternate universe stories? The same characters, but some different circumstances. The story is slow paced, especially in the first story, Psycho Horror Hen. It spends a lot of time on build up, but the endings feel pretty rushed. again, especially Psycho Horror Hen. I was hoping there had been more cool horror stuff in it. I wasn't even expecting that much in the first place but even then I was bit disappointed. There was only like 2 scary parts in the entire game.
After playing it, I understand why Takuyo didn't put romance in the game's genre. Normally Takuyo's otome games have romance (恋愛) included in their games' stated genre. But DistortedCode only had otome-muke (乙女向け). Psycho Horror Hen had romantic endings with the main characters. Kasou Genjitsu Hen had rather minimal but still there I guess romantic endings(?) with the main characters. The final story, Occult Horror Hen, did not have any romantic endings. So I understand why they avoided the romance genre. May have made some people angry if it were stated as romance but the final route didn't even have any romance in it.
My favourite of the three stories was definitely Kasou Genjitsu Hen. I think it was the most interesting of all of them, and the pacing felt way nicer to me. My favourite character is Kaname! He is so cute. poor Kaname. He's so pitiful so often throughout the game. poor tired overworked man having to go along with these crazy kids. Every time they increase his workload with complete disregard to his feelings and he makes that appalled face of his. It never gets old. His circumstances are really relatable too. I really wish we could've spent more time with him. I miss him now that the game is over.
The highlight of the game for me was definitely the characters and their dynamics with each other. I enjoyed a lot of the character interactions. I think they are all very charming together. The side characters as well. I really liked them. Especially Nanamori in Kasou Genjitsu Hen. I didn't really like Narumi much as a romantic interest because he isn't my type at all, but I still like him a lot as a part of the group. He's always bullying Kaname. #1 cop hater.
In conclusion, it was a pretty okay game. and I personally would not call it a horror game, despite the officially stated genre on the website.
Would I recommend it? Nah, probably not. Only if you're like super desperate to play any otome with horror in it. There isn't much though.