While the ensemble cast in Iwakura Aria is undoubtedly one of the game’s strengths, special praise must also be given to the mansion itself.
With a small cast of characters Iwakura Aria can feel intimate as you come to know everyone in detail.
Likewise, the story is largely confined to the mansion and its grounds, giving players the space to fully absorb and appreciate the world Mages have created. With this, over time you may feel very connected to the household itself.
On arriving at the mansion, you are able to freely roam from room to room via the game’s mansion menu.
Key rooms are highlighted for the purpose of progressing the story but of course much of your enjoyment of Iwakura Aria may come from discovering little bits of character and history as you snoop in every nook and cranny.
By moving from room to room, you begin to appreciate how lavish and detailed the game's environments are. With Ichiko's love of art and architecture, she is quick to convey a lot of detail about each room as she goes in.
By revisiting rooms you may even discover something new. All this helps add depth and significance to each space within the household.
Only by fully exploring each room, through each phase of the story, can you unravel the secrets of the Iwakura family and those that reside within it.
We highly recommend you take your time through Iwakura Aria to explore every corner of this mansion.
It’s a place that, by the story's end, will undoubtedly linger long in your memory.