Vokoca

From what I remember, Tsugumi's and Sora's routes are nearly identical. While it does make sense, it's a shame. Well, at least you'll get to the true route faster I guess, that's where the goodness is. Oh, fellow victim. Enjoy Ageha while you still can - that is, until you get into her route. Then it all goes into shit.

Slowly pushing through the KonoSora common route. There are some likeable moments, but I'm not so sure this was the best idea. Motivation to read dying... Yeah, I also think it's a great shame that Noah is a console only release, it's the definitive version of the story, and the original is quite lacking in comparison. But 5pb. is going to 5pb., they love their console exclusives, and for some reason they love exclusives on consoles who no one owns even more. :/ Thought I'd write up those summaries at least, though it obviously doesn't compare to reading the real thing.

Enjoy, Isuzu's route is the only route I actually had to skip through in any visual novel I've ever read. It was unbearable... and to think that I liked her in the common route/other routes...

If you are interested in the heroine routes/endings in C;H Noah, you can read the summaries.

Yeah, definitely... take that, disabled people! But no, I mean the tsun attitude, I find tsundere characters annoying usually - the more tsun they have, the worse. So I hope she gets better later, she's just a bit bothersome in the beginning. Will probably do her route first, since it's apparently praised as the best one too. Edit: Just finished Himatsubushi in Sui. Oh my god, that epilogue killed me with feels, the culmination of utsuge and meta in that part was absolute genius. Sasuga Ryukishi, there's nothing else to even say at this point. But what does this even matter, when the Wrap-up Party afterwards was so good that it alone justifies the purchase of this VN?! Side-heroine revolutions! Epic fights over line counts! The birth of the Four Dark Emperors and their evil chuuni ecchi plans!!! Chie-sensei finally evolving into her true Ciel appearance, complete with parody sprites, killing for the glory of curry, accompanied by Umineko sounds!!!!!!!!! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING BUT I WANT MORE OF IT!!!!! Another edit: Well, I thought the day would never come, but I'm actually done with Senshinkan. Feels weird now that it's over, after how long it took me to finish. It was a very enjoyable ride for the most part, though I have to say that I also felt it was bothersome to read at times - which is also why it took me so long. Can't really blame that on the VN rather than on my Japanese, though I do feel like Masada did mince words a bit too much at times (where he would spell out what was happening to the last letter, even when it wasn't really necessary at times), but there were also moments when those details and incredibly flowery prose were greatly appreciated. My favourite parts were the fights where new mechanics were revealed and the details of its inner workings were explained, and the plot parts dealing with the actual structure of the VN and its setting. It's also those two places though that were most problematic at the same time. As interesting as some of the fights were, there was a number of them that felt like a mere rehash. They were predictable, and save for the ridiculous scope, also rather boring - this applies mainly to the later parts of the VN, though there are exceptions. This also ties directly to the VNs unusual structure, that lead not only into some less than satisfactory fights, but also into a rather unfortunate set of endings. This is a rather objective thing, but I prefer true endings in these sort of stories, for their definitive conclusiveness and impact - and with Senshinkan's solution... well, without spoiling anything, lets just say that the ending gets quite diluted. There was also one part that I didn't quite like, and that was the absurd focus on shiny ethics and heroics in stark contrast to the brutal and gloomy narrative, as it at times liked to switch from one to the other, but I understand that it was a very conscious decision and I'm not going to knock it just because it borrows from Hakkenden so much. Not every chuuni can be the beautifully grim Muramasa, after all. All in all, I'll give Senshinkan an 8.5. It's definitely worth the read, and I am looking forward to digging into Bansenjin one day. I hope the rumours that it is better than Senshinkan are true.

July 20th or no release.

Making more progress in Senshinkan, I think the only thing I have left now is the final battle. The previous chapter was ridiculous, with so many fights happening at the same time... unfortunately, I can't say they were very exciting though, as they were nothing more but a rehash of what I was already shown. Hopefully the final battle is different, though! And then the endings, which I'm still not quite sure on how they will even work, haha. Other than that, I've decided to actually go back and wrap up KonoSora, as I've only read Ageha's route before, with the Moenovel translation on top of that. Reading it raw this time around. First (although repeated) impressions? Kotori, despite her cute moments, is annoying as hell. Ageha is still the most fun character, but her route is shit. Amane is... well, weird, and the two twins didn't show up yet, but I'm not holding my hopes up for those from what I remember of the common route. The whole thing is painfully mediocre, but the great presentation kind of holds it all together at least. So yeah, after I finish Senshinkan, I will hopefully wrap up KonoSora up as well. Hopefully the other routes are at least relatively fun.

This is what happens when others attempt the Ten/10 technique. A downward spiral of despair. [2:54:01] Hanako 百合: I read Sara Zero Point [2:54:11] Hanako 百合: I seriously read that [2:55:16] Vokoca: I believe you, I involuntarily read harem as haram now whenever I see it [2:55:52] Noel (aka madvanced): yeah that one is a common one to make [2:56:21] Noel (aka madvanced): sometimes I even need to czech what I'm reading a couple of times [2:57:01] Lino: lel [2:57:39] Sarayne~: [2:55] Noel (aka madvanced): <<< yeah that one is a common one to make sometimes I even need to czech what I'm reading a couple of times LOL [3:00:42] Vokoca: sometimes I even need to czech what I'm reading a couple of times I can't stand these puns anymore, I'm russian out of this chat. [3:01:13] Noel (aka madvanced): well at least take care of yourself we wouldn't want you to get hungary [3:01:32] Vokoca: But I already am, for some turkey perhaps. ;_; [3:01:42] Lino: Hungary? Nah man... I just Finnished supper. [3:02:40] Hanako 百合: need quote title : JP learning group making Country's puns [3:02:41] Vokoca: There's norway you ate dinner this late, Lino the Liar. [3:02:55] Hanako 百合: USODA [3:03:06] Noel (aka madvanced): well the sleep that I'm about to take Isreal

Yeah, that's a good point. I have yet to try it out properly myself, but I might end up that way too.

The 57 endings sounded intriguing at first, but all of the curiosity and excitement disappeared just as soon as I saw what exactly the game is. I take it it's not even that good for what it is, judging by the reaction? As Fuwanovel's #1 Chaos;Head fan, let me recommend this great VN! No, but really, C;H is pretty great, but definitely don't go in expecting S;G, it's quite different. It focuses more on dark themes and has a purposefully hetare protagonist, so just keep that in mind before you get into it. Kara no Shoujo is also a great pick, if you're looking for an utsuge with an unforgiving mystery. I'll also just be paraphrasing Ayana here, but it might be a good idea to space out the better VNs with things you don't have so much expectations for - if you have titles like that - as not to diminish the value of the potentially great VNs just because you read them one after another. I'll be attempting the same thing myself, curious on how it goes-- but it does sound good in theory.

I was hoping the synopsis wasn't representative of the VN's writing, but the screenshots.... D: The art is nice, though.

Shinku keeps me from playing Iroseka, and it's all Steve's fault. I'll get around to it eventually though, as it supposedly has a good story. Also your Ushinawareta signature is giving me intense PTSD. Finally, I just pretty much dropped everything yesterday and made progress in the infinite VN, Higurashi Sui. I've finished the Someutsushi arc - one of the "advanced stories", as they call them, arcs that originally weren't in the story but add to it with other details and hints (or mislead you further, because yay Ryukishi). This arc was largelly based on the spin-off manga arc, Onisarashi, with the main difference being a new detective character, Mirai Tomoe, replacing a different character who would've otherwise been a spoiler at this point in the story. Someutsushi takes place shortly after Tatarigoroshi (the Satoko arc), focusing on a completely new cast of characters in Tokyo. The main character is Kimiyoshi Natsumi, who has moved away from Hinamizawa/Okinomiya with her family, trying to start a new life in the capital. Among them is a grandma, who is as superstitious as the other elders in Hinamizawa, however. As they say, anyone who leaves Hinamizawa behind gets cursed, and this arcs shows us if this is true or not... Overall, I found this arc very good. The new characters were refreshing - Natsumi was cute, her classmates funny, and Tomoe awesome. I'm not sure who wrote this arc, but it was significantly better than the other new arcs I've read so far, Tsukotoshi and Taraimawashi. Except for a weird moment in the second to last chapter, the pacing was great, feeling like any other Higurashi story - starting out fun and peaceful, and ending, well... The BGMs and SFX were also very nicely used (this was a disaster in Tsukiotoshi for some reason), also showing much better direction. The art was a small minus, in my opinion, as the classmates' sprites looked noticeably different in style from the rest (their eyes were really small, not sure what happened there), but it did help separate the story from the main Higurashi even better. That doesn't mean it didn't fit, though - quite the opposite. It surprised me the most how it actually fit right in, sprinkling hints and lies where some were needed, serving as a great epilogue to the question arcs. All in all, Someutsushi was my favourite new arc by far. Next up is the new section of the story, can't wait~

Nice work! On the pronunciation especially, I tend to pay more attention to it than I'd like to at times, but you did really well! What else do you imagine under the term "cover", then? It's a very basic music term.

"I tried putting a book on my screen, but nothing works!" Ayana, 1995 - 2015

Am I the only crazy person who read everything of Insects without skipping even a single line? :x Well, you're through most of the ero now, I hope you enjoy the rest!

Considering how it came to be, it is very nicely put together - but I also feel like it gets too much credit exactly because of what it is. If I were to rate it as any other visual novel, I'd say it's a decent story with some nice ideas, generally nice art and nice sountrack. It's an OELVN that tries too hard to be japanese, and I feel like I'd like it much more if it didn't.

You wouldn't put away totono, would you? Would you?

Oh believe me, if there is anything to make you embrace bad ends, then it is Muramasa.

What do you mean, she's totally cute.

I think I am slowly nearing the climax of Senshinkan, as the main plot was just explained completely. I have to admit that the entire infodump felt kind of... awkward... maybe too long, too, but I can't say it wasn't fitting, at the very least. With the end-goal clearly in sight, I'm starting to get an idea of what Bansenjin will be about. I'm afraid they will cut it at a stupid time because of the sequel, but at the same time if my predictions for the sequel are right.... oh my god, Bansenjin will be nuts. o.O God, I couldn't imagine how that scene is like with the voiced version. I will nightmare tonight. It's complete PTSD material with the voices, I can tell you that much. D: How's the new art in that scene, by the way? Also, it's only going to get worse from here. Enjoy.

Or maybe he just wants to make us think it's a joke, when in reality... D:

Yeah, it's such an awesome and fitting plot device that Grisaia trilogyy Michiru related spoilers

I feel like I didn't post an update here in forever - but I finally made some progress, so I actually have things to write about. First of, I made progress in Senshinkan (crazy, huh?), finishing Rinko's route. Wow... where do I even begin? This route felt much longer than the other two, having not just a single major conflict, but nearly four! I thought they would leave Kuubou for much later in the VN, since it is on such a ridiculou scale of power that I couldn't even imagine a fight happening - but with some clever role changing and mixing the game up, the wicked dragon was actually one of the main parts of the route. And it's not even worth saying now that I absolutely loved the fights... this route was just even more creative than the first ones in terms of the chuuni, exploring more dreams, ideals and Kantan mechanics in general... amazing! The plot got also shifted around a lot... I think I have just the true route left, and really looking forward to that! I also made quite big progress in Higurashi Sui. I finished Tatarigoroshi - probably not much to say here since it's the original arc, but damn, even if I hated it in the first half, the mysteries in the second half more than make up for it. Amazing read - and I bet whoever voiced Keiichi probably couldn't even speak for at least a week after that performance. I also nearly lost my hate for Satoko - that was until I played (and finished) Tsukiotoshi, one of the new arcs. This arc basically sshows the worst of every character - it felt very rushed at first, but once it gets into its own plot, the writing gets much better, and Tsukiotoshi turns into probably the darkest and most messed up arc in the entire series. It doesn't introduce any new mysteries, but it's an interesting scenario. Now I just started Someutsushi, and all I can say so far is that I really like the new characters. Mirai, a new female detective on the case, is one badass lady - and the main character of the arc, Natsumi, is easily the cutest in the entire arc. I know absolutely nothing about this arc, not having even read the manga it was based on - very curious where this one goes! Not seeing Kimika in all her badassery would pretty much be a crime, haha.