Eroguro is something that’s really interesting to me, the sort of disgusting beauty that it can provide to something. Slowly, I am starting to build up my tolerance to read some of the more popular ones, so smaller games are of great interest to me. Browsing VNDB, I came across a game called Sweet Pool, a 13 hour BL game made by the same creator as Dramatical Murder.

After a bit of research, this game immediately pulled me in. It centers around a young man named Youji, who has been sickly his entire life, spending time in and out of the hospital. However, after finally returning to school after a long break things seem to take the worst for him. He starts to see hallucinations of blood and viscera everywhere around him, things that no one else but him seems to see. As well as that, three of Youji’s own classmates suddenly start becoming a little too interested in him, making his situation even worse. 

Sweet Pool utilizes a very interesting twist on the classic choice gameplay that most visual novels offer. Every time a choice appears the player is offered two choices, one being reason, and one being instinct. These are represented by colors in the corner of the screen, with a calming breeze playing when you hover over reason, and a strong heartbeat playing when hovering over instinct. 

Reason on the bottom left, instinct on the top right.

This is so unique in the fact that, the game straight up doesn’t even explain it to you. Yea. You are presented with the choices with no idea of what will come next, no real context to help you choose what you want to do in that situation. In fact, the first time I played through the game, I just chose reason the whole time. Because hey, blue is good and red is bad, right? RIGHT? Yeah, no. Not according to the game. To be fair, this is an Utsuge, or easier known as a game with no real happiness, but nothing could have prepared me for that first ending I got. It is very hard to get certain endings without a guide because of this, you simply just don’t know what will bring you where, all because of the lack of explanation. 

Visuals and Sound

The music in this game is FANTASTIC. The game’s ost is very centered around rock, and it’s really great. The game can be so uncomfortable at certain times simply because of the music. For example, this track. I can’t even tell you what instrument that is, but god, it does such a great job at making everything so eerie and odd. As well as that, the game has it’s own opening (that slaps) and separate ending songs for each ending. There was not a single track in the game that I didn’t find myself liking. Honestly, I would be able to listen to the whole thing simply in my own time. 

The game does have voice acting as well, which is top notch. However, I found myself more attracted to the music than the actual voices. But that’s not to say the actors didn’t do an amazing job. The actors did a great job of displaying the uncomfortableness and eagerness in the characters’ voices. I especially liked the performance of Midorikawa Hikaru, who voices one of the game’s main characters. His voice was perfect in the game, so loud and eccentric, you could not imagine my surprise when I realized it was Seto Kaiba. 

The games cg and sprite work is also great, and when you 100% complete it, you get a nice little picture of all the games cast having a pillow fight. How cute. 

SPOILERS BELOW

Now, let’s dig into what actually happens in the game. The main plot centers around Youji who starts getting really, really, and I mean really, horny out of the blue. As well as that, Youji also starts to… poop out organs? Every time he has sexual encounters, whether it be with someone else or himself, he then ‘births’ the little organs, and he has no idea what the hell is going on. At the same time this is happening, Youji’s classmates Tetsuo, Zenya, and Makoto won’t leave the poor guy alone. Slowly throughout the game you learn that something not quite right is happening, as everyone that is around Youji seems to go bonkers. Eventually, it is revealed that Youji is a perfect Mesu, while Tetsuo is a perfect Osu, and they have the urge to breed and created a pure blood.

The pure blood originates from a species of human that were exiled from god, forced to forever roam the world as pieces of meat and flesh parasites. The pureblood is a human form of this race, and the only way to reproduce. I know what you’re thinking, the plot of this game is mpreg? Yes. But it’s much better than I am explaining it I promise. 

A pure blood, distinguished by red eyes.

Characters

Youji and Tetsuo are the main characters, as mentioned above being the Mesu and Osu. The game is quite surprisingly a beautiful love story between the two, and you find yourself falling in love with them throughout the course of the game.

Zenya is an example of a failed Osu, as his father tried to manually insert the parasite. His body rejected him, essentially eating him alive everyday. During his ending, he captures Youji, in attempt to make purebloods, and keeps him captive, raping him, for the unknown remainder of time.

im ngl he scared the shit out of me

Makoto is Youji’s Classmate, a seemingly normal boy who’s one of the only people in class who is nice to him. However due to unlucky circusmtances, despite Makoto being a human he ends up becoming drawn to Youji due to the Mesu, and becomes obsessed with him. In his ending he rapes Youji, eats him, and then when he runs out of Youji’s body, starts eating himself instead. 

first ending i got. needless to say i was surprised

There are the endings for both Zenya and Makoto are both earlier in the game, but the real story comes from the four Tetsuo endings. In three out of the four, it ends with one of the two dying, the other having to tragically go on without their lover. However, in the ending Red Road, both Youji and Tetsuo decide to give into the cult, creating the pureblood. They make love for the last time, then quite literally fuse together as they slowly become the pureblood. This ending ends with Tetsuo and Youji both deceased, only the newly birthed child in their place. 

This is easily my favorite ending out of the four, despite that fact it is a horrid end, it felt to me that it was happy at the same time. They were content with their lives, and ready to become something else. 

SPOILERS OVER!

Breakdown

Pros

• Great Ost (!) and Voice acting
• Impressive Visuals
• Many Choices
• Interesting Story, Keeps You Engage

Cons

• Confusing Choice System
• Guide Needed

All in all, I think it is a fantastic game. A must read for almost any visual novel fan, especially if you are into guro or BL. The only negative side is the need for a guide as I said, I don’t think it would be possible to get all the endings completely blind. But really, that being the only negative it is a great game. As a warning, this game does have a fairly high gore content, if you are not comfortable with that, be wary. I highly recommend!

Buy here! Thanks Jast for the official translation!