What could have been an authentic, thought-provoking narrative is now tarnished. This is a big shame because, in my opinion, it ruins the validity of the game’s story. But what was changed specifically in the dialogue I was unable to find out. Some were easy to find like punishment turning into motivation, and “Girl’s Order” becoming “Girl’s Wish”, from the mini-game screens. Some game text was also censored by being translated differently than in the Japanese release, as said by NIS themselves.
If I didn’t wait a couple seconds after starting, the actions would not work the action icon would move but do nothing. You need to use both the front and back, but for some reason there was an odd delay glitch on the front screen. In the censored version it actually made it look like she was rubbing her vagina, but actually she was nowhere near it in the uncensored only problem with the mini-game, and granted it could be only a problem on my Vita, is I was having touch screen issues. During the mini-game she moves her hand and fingers. One good example was a scene where Ran had her hand on her butt. Opaque mist blotches were added to some of the highly suggestive poses, but as I was playing it I found it actually caused the image to be more suggestive and sexual than if it wasn’t censored. NIS took the equally controversial route of censoring parts of the mini-game. There are four levels per punishment item for each girl, and the higher the level the more revealing the picture. What makes the mini-game controversial is the fact it is BDSM-based, and has the girls in sexually provocative clothing and positions. Successfully completing the mini-game will help level up that character to unlock new skills. There will be a floating icon on the screen, you have to hold a finger over it on the touch pad, and the action is automatic to get rid of the icon. During a punishment you will be playing a basic mini-game. The CM can be used to either buy items or be used to perform punishments. Players gain experience and CM when winning battles. The punishment system, or ‘motivation’ system as it has been censored as, is what makes this game stand out from other RPGs and also is what makes it so controversial. While at times it gets tedious when you unlock many skills, and would rather just use certain ones to speed up combat, it does add a fun layer of strategy. Each girl will give you a random attack from their list of unlocked skills. But what is unique about the combat, which ties into the punishment system talked about later, is you have one of four choices of commands. The player performs the role of commander, giving the girls commands during combat. You’re never having to think ‘when is this going to end and the characters shut up?’ But as you get further into the game it becomes more philosophical and thought provoking. The pacing kept me interested in the game, even if the storyline was light in the beginning. Go to a new floor, and bam, another one-two minute spurt. Each story segment is a minute or two and then you’re back in the action.
You’re a prison guard, for lack of a better term, who is charged with helping seven girls complete their trials through hell. The story, as alluded to, is very simple.
This is an update and localization of the PSP version which we did not see in the West, and which was released back in 2010. Take charge as the reformer of a group of criminal girls, helping them through their trials and tribulations in NIS and Imageepoch’s newest game on the Vita, Criminal Girls: Invite Only. It is a weird, desolate place where criminal convicts run around, and the chosen few are allowed to reform and fix their past sins in order to escape.