Setsu
Setsu | |
---|---|
Gnosia character | |
![]() Setsu in Gnosia | |
First game | Gnosia (2019) |
Designed by | Toru Kawakatsu |
Setsu (
They were envisioned as a fierce and aggressive character who valued justice, though this ended up causing them to make clumsy decisions. Their creator, Toru Kawakatsu, found this cute, and despite consideration to tweak their aggression levels, they found a workaround to keep this without negatively impacting the gameplay experience. Setsu was generally well received, with critics praising and analyzing the depiction of Setsu as a non-binary character. They were ranked the number one best indie video game character in Dengeki's 2022 indie games award show.
Concept and creation
Setsu is a character in the video game Gnosia, who serves as a companion to the player. They are a non-binary soldier who, through a series of circumstances, finds themselves in a dimensional loop.[1] They were designed by Toru Kawakatsu, alias Mazukare, who intended them to be a fierce, aggressive person with a strong sense of justice. Setsu ended up being designed to have a clumsy side, which Mazukare found cute, though he did not initially intend this to be a trait. He discussed how he intended these traits to become evident through gameplay, citing how Setsu's attempts to put the character Yuriko into cold sleep after a confrontation demonstrated their aggression. This aggression, they found, made Setsu more likely to be put into cold sleep themselves. They discussed whether they should tweak their aggression levels; however, they also didn't want to change their character for their own convenience. In turn, they decided that, on the next attempt in this scenario between Setsu and Yuriko, the player would instead be given the option to tell them to tone it down.[2]
Appearances
In Gnosia, Setsu, along with 13 other characters, boards a refugee ship to escape the Gnosia; however, due to a Gnosia getting on board and a resulting paradox, Setsu and the player-character find themselves in a loop. The two work together to escape from the loop, accomplishing this by each gathering information for the Silver Key, an entity that puts a person through a loop in order to get information. Their goal is to gather enough information on each crew member that the Silver Key ends the loops.
As the player progresses through the story, they eventually find themselves in the beginning of the story, where Setsu nearly dies. In order to save them, the player gives them their Silver Key, which puts them in the loop but keeps them alive.
Promotion and reception
A special edition of Gnosia for the Switch came with a reversible jacket featuring Setsu, as well as hair pins and ear buds based on them.
Since appearing in Gnosia, Setsu has received generally positive reception, voted as the best indie character of 2022 as part of Dengeki's 2022 indie awards.
Their gender and sexuality has been the subject of conversation. IGN Japan writer Takuya Watanabe discussed how they did not view Setsu as mere friend or lover, but their best buddy. They felt that Setsu's role in the game highlighted the relationship between the game and the player. They viewed Setsu as a representative of the game itself, saying they're non-binary because a game itself cannot be male or female. They elaborated, noting that Setsu is both the first and last character the player sees in the game, and Setsu thanking the player directly instead of the player character, noting that this was Gnosia itself thanking the player.[15] RPGFan writer Audra Bowling identified Setsu, alongside Raqio, as a standout member of Gnosia. They appreciated the presence of non-binary characters in the game, praising the writers for how they handled their gender.[16] Anime Feminist writer Cy discussed Setsu as a representation of both genderqueer characters and asexual characters. They discussed how romance may occur between Setsu and the protagonist, but appreciated the depiction of a "passionate love and bond" that has no sex involved.[17]
References
- Dengeki. January 23, 2022. Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "6000回ものテストプレイが傑作人狼ゲーム『グノーシア』を産んだ!「汎用テキストの再利用」によって誕生した、「本当に1000回遊べる推理ゲーム」の作り方とは". Den Fami Nico Gamer. November 19, 2021. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "ガチ人狼プレイヤーがドハマり! 『グノーシア』セツと過ごした日々に涙【東城咲耶子のおすすめインディーゲーム】". Dengeki. June 6, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ March 4, 2022. "『グノーシア』×ヴィレッジヴァンガードのコラボグッズが発売。セツ、ラキオがデザインされたパーカーやタペストリーがラインアップ". Famitsu. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "『グノーシア』のNintendo Switchパッケージ版が本日から発売開始。ヴィレッジヴァンガードではコラボ商品の受注受付を開始、コーチジャケットやサコッシュなど4種類のラインナップ". Den Fami Nico Gamer. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- Dengeki. November 14, 2021. Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "「グノーシア」とGraffArtCAFE in Ikebukuroのコラボイベントが9月28日より開催". 4gamer. September 16, 2021. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "SF人狼『グノーシア』PS5/PS4パッケージ版の初回特典はことり氏描き下ろしのリバーシブルジャケットとジョナスのドッグタグ。店舗別特典も公開". Famitsu. October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Switch版「グノーシア」,アクリルバッジ3種が付属するあみあみ限定特典が予約受付中". 4gamer. October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
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- Dengeki. Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Toshin, Kagami (June 29, 2023). "ゲームシナリオの解剖学from各務都心:第23回『グノーシア』". IGN Japan. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "紛れもない傑作『グノーシア』を、今こそ再びオススメしたい。これ以上ないほどスッキリと、見事に「終わって」くれる作品だ". Den Fami Nico Gamer. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- Jeux Video. March 14, 2021. Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Watanabe, Takuya (May 18, 2020). "【ネタバレあり】『グノーシア』は「ゲームとプレイヤーの関係性」を見事に描ききった傑作――そのカギは、相棒の「セツ」が男でも女でもないところにある". IGN Japan. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Bowling, Audra (June 28, 2021). "Pride & Progress: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Representation in RPGs". RPGFan. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ "Chatty AF 181: Ace/Aro Representation in Anime and Manga – Part 1 (WITH TRANSCRIPT)". Anime Feminist. March 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.