Do you know how you would spend your last days on Earth? Do you have a bucket list you want to accomplish, or do you want to be around friends and family? We all will have to answer this question, but only some are ready to answer or even think about it. But what do you do when your whole life is spent in hospital rooms, and you have to think about it? Finally, what should you do when allowed to do anything with your last few weeks? It’s a fascinating question that the visual novel Hookah Haze uses to tell its story.
Hookah Haze is a visual novel from the developer Acquire. You play as Tooru Sumiki, someone who is at death’s door. With the bit of time you have left, you are allowed to do anything. Tooru is asked to manage a Hookah Lounge as it aligns with their interest. They agree and are given two weeks’ worth of medicine to manage any pain. From there, you try to live an everyday life as you tend to the lounge. The following two weeks are yours to live, and who knows, maybe you’ll develop a connection with some of your regulars. Enjoy this story of loss and acceptance that may not fully hit the mark but has enough heart to stay around.
Opening Shop
You have two weeks to run the Hookah Lounge of your dreams in Hookah Haze. With two weeks of meds, you have little time but plan on making it worth it. Over these two weeks, you can develop friendships with three potential customers. Each of them has their own story to tell and hookah preference.
The first one you meet is Amu Aigami; she is quite the center of attention and works at a maid cafe. The first day you open up, she shows up terrified, and you let her in to calm down. From there, a friendship blooms, and you get your first recurring customer. It’s very easy to befriend Amu, but under it all, she hides insecurities. She wants to be the best and find her place in life. A goal you might be able to help with.
On the second day, you meet Kokoro Meigetsuin, an energetic girl who seems to do everything. She is pretty smart and always seems to greet you in a new way. She dawns a big smile with bright clothing but hides something under it all. Past trauma haunts her as mentions of family have her on edge. Kokoro is hiding something that is hurting her, and maybe you can help with that.
The last customer is Kurumi Koromi, and unlike the previous two, you have to make her show up. She is a timid and reserved girl who has trouble speaking to others. She barely says a word after finally showing up until she needs to go. While reserved, she’s a talented seamstress who can seem to make anything. Maybe you can help her finally set out on her own.
I enjoy Hookah Haze’s story, but it sometimes took a backseat. The premise has a lot of potential but loses focus. They take over when you meet the girls, but this isn’t bad. They are all distinct characters with something to enjoy. I liked talking to all of them and wanted to help them all.
Each connects to the main character differently and progresses the story well enough. I completed each girl’s route to see what happened and help them if possible. They all have relatable problems that are very easy to sympathize with. I wanted to help them all, but then that’s where my main criticism started.
Hookah Haze’s story explores many big themes, including death, loss, family, acceptance, etc. It tries to tackle a lot, and I was invested in everyone’s story. The problem starts when not a single one gets fully explored. Even the main character’s impending death feels more like a backdrop than a story motivation after the beginning. It only feels essential again at the end of whatever story you pursue.
Each character could’ve been expanded more, and there is strong potential here. I still did enjoy my time with it, and I even made sure to get every girl’s happy ending and the true one. You can do a playthrough in an afternoon and even get the true ending in about 10 hours. While I wanted more out of it, I still think this is a good time that most visual novel fans would enjoy.
On the Job
Hookah Haze provides a few additions outside of the standard visual novel fare. Since you run a Hookah Lounge, you have to mix different flavors to make different blends. Depending on the customer, you will have to prioritize specific flavors. You also have to change the coals in the hookah, as it is tobacco. This doesn’t add much, but I would lie if I said I didn’t enjoy it. Despite this being entirely skippable, I enjoyed mixing flavors and swapping the coals. You also have a social media page where you post the day’s flavor. This will decide who visits you that day, so pay attention to the girl’s favorite flavors.
One thing Hookah Haze nails is in the video and audio department. It has this neon aesthetic with fun pixel art that I would stare at. The characters are all unique and stand on their own with fun animations. Combined with the neon backdrops, it gives a fun aesthetic with great vibes. The music doesn’t disappoint, and the soundtrack accompanies the neon aesthetic. I just left the game on while I picked a color profile and let the music play. The game enables you to make a custom playlist of the music, but I just let it play on its own.
Closing Shop
Hookah Haze is a short but sweet visual novel. While it never lives up to its initial premise, it’s still a story I can recommend. Spend time with your favorite character and try to get all their endings. You can finish a playthrough in an afternoon and even get the true ending in around 10 hours. Fun visuals and a great soundtrack accompany you through this journey. It was a short and sweet experience that was easy to enjoy, even if I wanted it to do more.
