Full Metal Soul: Amagi is the name of the visual novel that I am currently working on. This is a dedicated space to write about my ideas for the visual novel in case anyone is interested in learning more about my endeavor.
Why a Visual Novel?
My interest in visual novels piqued in 2024. While definitely not new to the genre, my appreciation for the medium grew as I worked through classics like Saya no Uta and Steins;Gate. Previously, I was a huge fan of VA-11 HALL-A, having followed its development since the original Ren’py demo. More recently, I completed Full Metal Daemon: Muramasa. To say that it left an impact is an understatement. It left a huge crater in my being.
I realized that Visual Novels are an incredible medium for storytelling and I like how accessible they are for everyone. Honestly, I’m not too interested in game development either. Making .PNGs talk to each other on top of some music feels more doable.
Why the name Full Metal?
It’s an homage and honestly it’s kind of funny that several pieces of media that I enjoy have that name too.
- Full Metal Jacket
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Full Metal Daemon: Muramasa
While the working title is closer to Muramasa I wouldn’t say it’s largely attributed to that alone. What these titles have in common is that they are stories where the protagonist is working for a government that’s responsible for a bad situation. In FMJ, you have the Vietnam war. In FMA, the government committed a genocide as a ritual sacrifice. In FMD, you technically work for the government, but even if you weren’t … you’re still killing innocent people.
The working title reflects the common theme in these stories and honestly it just sounds cool.
What is the story about?
The story is about an android (named Amagi) who discovers that she’s the key to a world-ending conspiracy that’s been in the making for thousands of years.
Note: I’m terrified about writing this massive story, so I’m starting with a smaller prequel called Wandering Chrysanthemum that’s set 5 years prior to the main story.
What’s the backstory or plot?
While the main story is still being developed, this is what I have so far for the backstory:
In antiquity, Hermes Trismegistus introduced alchemy to the people of the ancient world. Hermes and his students believed in freedom through knowledge and sought to teach alchemy to those who were willing to make the world a better place through its practice.
For a while, humanity prospered and even a couple of Hermes’s most dedicated students even managed to make the fabled philosopher’s stone.
After an incredibly long life Hermes passed away and his students began to fall astray. One former student, Albert Magnus, had an incredible lust for knowledge. He was jealous of the students who created the philosopher’s stone and sought to create his own.
Magnus stole research belonging to one of his peers and began to experiment on people, believing that the human soul was the key to creating the philosopher’s stone. His peers tried to stop him, but it was too late. Magnus had succeeded in creating artificial life and had gone into hiding.
In the shadows, he began to manipulate humanity with his experiments. Installing fake humans in position of power and introducing the world to his greatest invention: The Automaton.
The Automaton was a perfect fusion of science and magic. It evolved throughout history and several hundred years later they’re the backbone of society and provide select humans the opportunity to live in an enhanced body in exchange for their organic one.
It’s during this time in 2100 that the world is experiencing a wild political shift. By the end of the 21st century the leaders of several major countries gave up their sovereignty to establish a new world government. No wars were fought, each leader willingly gave up and handed their country over to the new world order.
The story in the visual novel begins here, in 2100 with Amagi working in the Peacekeeping Force of the New World Government. There are many countries on the planet that cling on to their sovereignty. The NWG calls these “rogue” states and sends the Peacekeeping Force to subdue them.
Themes?
One of the major themes I want to explore is the idea that people ALWAYS have a choice in any situation, but often think they don’t.
Usually it’s because it involves something that they wouldn’t consider doing, so they eliminate it as an option. But sometimes you really don’t have a choice and have to do something that challenges you or makes you uncomfortable.
It’s interesting because it works both ways. Say that you had to attack someone who was actively trying to cause you harm. Let’s say you’re the type of person that wouldn’t hurt a fly, what would you do?
On the contrary, let’s say you had a sick parent but also had your own aspirations in life. Do you follow your dreams and leave your parent behind? Or do you stick with them? Is there even a right choice?
I really like seeing people in complicated situations because it shows you who they really are and what they stand for.
There are smaller themes that I want to include, but that is the major one.
Esoteric Topics
Topics about an actual Demiurge controlling our world, returning to the monad, references to turning people into TANG, it’s all gonna be there. My vision for this is Deus Ex and Girls’ Frontline, but with android catgirls and magic resulting in the second coming of Jesus Christ.
If you’re on board, grab a can of SCRUNT! and relax. It’s gonna be a few years.