Description

Ciconia When They Cry takes place in a world that narrowly survived World War III, spared from nuclear winter by cutting-edge technology. A century later, technological progress has produced the Gauntlet: an ultimate military innovation that captures the imaginations of children around the globe. Its arrival threatens to make every conventional military force obsolete, leaving the future of warfare in the hands of the few boys and girls capable of becoming Gauntlet Knights. These young people should be the protagonists of their own age, yet older, more calculating powers treat them as pieces on a game board. Must they kill one another at someone else’s command? Behind the looming conflict lie questions of who controls the game, who carries out the players’ wishes, and what each participant considers victory—peace, war, or total annihilation. Even the foretold tragedy remains uncertain: is it a calculated scheme or a delusion, something still to come or a reality already unfolding? At the heart of this sinister game is a ruthless assertion of control. The pieces are not invited to challenge the players or determine the rules; they are expected to capture, be captured, and provide entertainment through their suffering and emotions. Resistance itself is dismissed, and the privilege of becoming a player is withheld. This unsettling divide between those who act and those who are manipulated shapes the story’s ominous premise. Produced by Ryuukishi07, Ciconia When They Cry is the newest entry in the When They Cry visual novel series, with this release presenting its first chapter. It features HD graphics, more detailed animations, and newly created songs from many of the composers behind Umineko, alongside several new musical contributors. The game is playable in both English and Japanese.