Visual Novels

[Xelbair]

Finally got my hands on working Planetarian.. and AIR!

[shinta|hikari]

I haven't played AIR yet because it is just plain tragic.

I am currently playing If My Heart Had Wings Non-Crap Version (aka Japanese version). I have not touched the English one, but I understand how much the game is massacred if all the romantic scenes were removed. It isn't just the ero, even kissing and dirty jokes are supposedly taken out in the English release.

How do you guys feel about censorship in VN localizations? I have gotten bored of H-scenes and actually wish there is a function to skip them, but censorship is a different matter. Having the option to see the product in its entirety should always be present, especially if the parts that are going to be clipped are integral to the plot and/or character development.

[Kraco]

How do you guys feel about censorship in VN localizations? I have gotten bored of H-scenes and actually wish there is a function to skip them, but censorship is a different matter. Having the option to see the product in its entirety should always be present, especially if the parts that are going to be clipped are integral to the plot and/or character development.

Such censorship would be bullshit. While I can't say I'd have gotten bored of all ero, it's true I have got bored of it enough that I'd prefer every route to have just one or at most two h-scenes, assuming the route is romantic enough for it to feel natural. One thing preventing me from getting totally bored is the fact they are oft so comedic. Of course not at FSN level necessarily, but still more often than not. In story heavy (long) VNs I'm kind of looking forward to that scene as well, if I like the game and the characters, because of the aforementioned reason and because it's a part of natural development.

[shinta|hikari]

I am currently playing Grisaia no Kajitsu.

It has been a while since I last played a VN in English, and I am enjoying this title quite a bit. The protagonist is pretty bad ass. He reminds me of the protagonist in Sharin no Kuni since they are both smart and combat capable. The MCs personality is very much like Sousuke of FMP.

All the heroines are nutty in one way or another. If you enjoyed Sharin no Kuni even just a little bit, I suggest picking this up. I guess the only weakness would be that there is no true path.

[Kraco]

I have also been reading it of late. Although I still haven't finished even a single route. It has some really funny scenes, many of them arising from the main character's weirdness. Sagara Sousuke is exactly the character I was thinking of as well when reading it. The slight difference would probably be the deeper darkness in this dude, which shows in his more cynical and pessimistic attitude. Being suspicious of everything and everyone is the same, for sure.

From my perspective the weakness of this VN seems to be the feeling of repetition I started to get. It's almost always the same few places, the same very limited number of people, and thus it feels like almost all the scenes will end the same way as well because the characters are so quirky you soon predict how they will act. I wish they had at least drawn more backgrounds.

[shinta|hikari]

I think that was inevitable because they are stuck in one place with the same people as part of the setting.

I have not finished a route yet, but Amane's goes into a really long flashback, with a ton of new characters and backgrounds. That is something to look forward to, at least.

<3 Kazuki

[Kraco]

I have not finished a route yet, but Amane's goes into a really long flashback, with a ton of new characters and backgrounds. That is something to look forward to, at least.

That's good to know. I guess I was judging the game prematurely in that case, if the emphasis is clearly on the latter portion like I can infer from your words. Although that doesn't change the fact the first portion could have used some more innovative writing to avoid the feeling of repetition. But then again, since all the decisions are quite late in the game, there's no reason to struggle through any of it later for the other routes.

When you said a lack of a true path, did you mean there are no good or bad ends? Or that no girl could be said to be the main girl of the story?

[shinta|hikari]

The latter.

VNs with a true path are usually good precisely because of that path.

[Kraco]

That might be true, but on the other hand some VNs have had such an obvious main girl that I never felt like playing the routes of the other ones because it sort of felt like the main girl was the one that was supposed to happen. Thus I missed a lot of the content, even if I got the main story. So, I don't think a clear true path is always an entirely good thing.

[shinta|hikari]

The thing is, the content that you missed, was fine missed. In any case, most VNs that have a true path usually require you to play most, if not all, other paths before that is unlocked. In fact, I fail to remember a VN that allows you to get the true path without clearing at least some of the others.

[Kraco]

I don't think there's such a universal rule. Some VNs unlock either whole new routes or some alternatives to old routes after you have finished certain prerequired paths first, but there are also VNs that allow you to pick whoever you want in whatever order you want. They might open some bonus later when all is cleared, but that's it.

I was mainly remembering one or two VNs I played years ago that had a kind of title girl, and I never ended up playing any other. It's like playing only Saber's route in FSN, since Saber arguably is the title girl of FSN (and you are even forced to play her path first).

[shinta|hikari]

Like I said, there are exceptions, such as Sharin no Kuni and G-Senjou, where you can directly finish the "true" route without any preconditions. However, that is because these 2 games practically forsook the other heroines. The most common criticism you will see for these 2 games is the fact that all other routes aside from the true one sucks (in comparison, at least).

I am not talking about going after the title girl, because every VN seems to have one, but that path's content is not really much different from the other heroines. A true path is usually much longer than any other path, and most of the time requires one to finish some or all other paths.

Examples from those I played are:
Baldr Sky
Clannad
White Album 2
Hatsuyuki Sakura
MuvLuv
Fortune Arterial
Rewrite
Ever17
Little Busters!
Symphonic Rain
Cross+Channel

And these are all really good, mostly because of the really developed true path. They usually require the reader to finish the other paths because the information gleaned from those are essential in understanding the actual story the VN intends to tell.

The distinction I am trying to make can be seen from Dracu-riot!. The main girl is clearly the redhead, but there is no true path, no after story, no story more developed or longer in length than the rest. Another example, for clarity, is Kono Oozora ni Tsubasa wo Hirogete and Kotori, its main girl. Generally, those types of VNs are mediocre at best. There are of course exceptions like Tsukihime and FSN, but Nasu's work is hardly representative of the average VN.

Another trend I seem to notice is that games with no alternate paths are usually great. Higurashi, Umineko, and Steins;Gate all fall into this category.

[Kraco]

Haha, I can't really argue with you. You must have read many times more VNs than I have, gaining a much better statistical understanding of their structure. But I suppose it's safe to say that, statistically speaking, it's like you said: VNs that invest heavily in a good story do place limitations and requirements more often that the flimsier ones. Probably the folks at the studio would even be sorry if people played only one route of the more extensive quality VNs, which might serve as one reason encouraging them to code in an unlocking sequence, in addition to needing to reveal the full story in parts and differing perspectives.

[shinta|hikari]

Almost done with Yumiko in Grisaia no Kajitsu. Finished all the others.

The most interesting parts are indeed after making a path choice. The endings are also very satisfying and conclusive, some more than others. While all the girls have sad or downright traumatic pasts, there is still great variation on how the story develops and what kind of role Yuuji plays. Yumiko and Makina paths have the most action, but I think the Michiru and Sachi paths are more emotional. Amane's story feels the weakest but it really isn't even about her, but the best girl in the VN, so it is still a good read. Overall, this is a really good VN, a definite exception to the usual mediocre no true path VN.

It has not delved too deeply in Yuuji's past, because that seems to be tackled in the sequels Grisaia no Meikyuu and Rakuen, which I am currently downloading.

[shinta|hikari]

Sorry for the double post, but I think this update is worth some attention.

I just finished playing the main story for Grisaia no Meikyuu, and I was wrong about this story not having a true path. The succeeding games contain that true path, while the first introduces most of the characters. Overall, this series of VNs are kamige. The sequels aren't translated yet but they will probably be eventually because of the sheer quality of this VN series. Anyone who wants a great read should give the Grisaia series a try.

[Kraco]

Alright, I have finished Yumiko, Amane, and Sachi of Grisaia. I have trouble believing in my chances of playing Michiru and Makina. Michiru's normal mode seems so goddam stupid and listening to Makina is like twisting a knife in your ear. Yumiko, Amane, and Sachi were good, though.

One thing I found amusing is Yuuji's looks. I think it was in Sachi's route where some kid said he looks evil. And indeed he looked like a killer. In the last scene of Yumiko's route his older looks were that of a host from some host club. I guess that's development, after a fashion.

[shinta|hikari]

You have to play Makina's route at least. She isn't as noisy because there are so many things happening around them that she has no time for her jokes. It is also probably the most action oriented path, and a lot more serious and dangerous for both Yuuji and Makina.

Michiru's route was something I really enjoyed. Her current self is nothing like her past, and she also has a side to her that is infinitely less annoying even in the present. Her route resembles Sachi's more, because Yuuji tries to help her with her issues with little risk to himself. Michiru's straightforward idiotic dedication to Yuuji is also very charming at times.

[shinta|hikari]

Has anyone played Yumina the Ethereal? I was just wondering if story is worth playing through the RPG parts. Does it get more serious or will it end with school life and the election?

[Xelbair]

I've played past the election - except SF themed game, with fights vs aliens(and prior to that - mechs)

[shinta|hikari]

Conquered Kirara's route and almost done with Ai's.

The gameplay of Yumina the Ethereal is way too repetitive and time consuming. Even with the fast forward on all the time, it still takes forever to advance the story. The quests are also retarded.

Kirara was extremely cute. I love the gap between her deep voice and loli moe appearance. Her facial expressions are the best, especially the triangle mouth expressions. I am not enjoying Ai's route as much, but that is to be expected considering my preferences.