Okarin

In fact the background of Hoshimemo is pretty complex, but one of the causes is because it's never properly explained, and if it is it's conveyed in tidbits distributed among the routes.

About ZTD, it's my opinion only (but it has been echoed by some people here, too). I expected something as good as VLR and Uchi quite didn't deliver it. The game is not truly bad, it's just weak as a Zero Escape entry (don't get me started on those lazy puzzles), and in the end, it just let me down hardly. I wanna try Root Double for a "change of pace" (heh). Oh, and here I'm expecting 12 Riven finally makes it to these shores.

Yes, the soundtrack is good. And summer VNs are always nice, who doesn't want to spend the upcoming summer romancing these girls? One of my favourite pieces, this screams "summer" like no other:

They're cliches. I don't know about the general Japanese humour, but slice of life in animu, manga and VN honours an age-old tradition, and it's rehashed a lot. Like the mandatory beach episode etc. It has been done for decades, and it stays because otaku (I guess) don't mind. I suppose. P.S. Hoshimemo should be better known by its drama. It's classified as a nakige, right? And every route has drama, good or bad. It's not even a flip-flop work, switching between drama and laughs like, say, Angel Beats. Once drama begins, it stays until it's resolved.

Don't be misled. I also was an eager fan of Uchikoshi (Ever 17's director)... before ZTD. What I wanted to make clear is that there aren't that many VNs like these out there. There are, but they are in the minority. Maybe you'll like Steins;Gate or Danganronpa in the future.

But it's strange. You don't go into a route expecting that it's terrible -unless you really hated that character in the common route. So, most often you play it expecting it gets good at any moment, and then BAM! it's over. Most routes however, tend to manage a minimum of interest but that doesn't mean they're memorable either. Most problems are at the ending, there are some jarring endings.

Well... there are some really boring routes out there. >.< The consolation is that you probably play them to unlock better ones. It's not my style to leave routes unplayed, but some deserve it. What usually happens is that when I'm into a route, I just figure "the heck, let's do it quickly and cleanly and never be bothered again with this [route]".

Some Pokémon need so much grinding that it's not worth it

The problem with moege is that they're pretty similar to one another. So if you've played a handful of them, the next will be less interesting. It depends heavily on the theme though (who wants to read about a bunch of ojou-samas and their antics? Well if that's your thing, you're in for a treat).

Don't get me wrong, I've dropped games, and I have games stalled, like Noble Works (I played Koichoco instead, and it was okay, Noble Works is just pretty insipid for me). If you don't like or enjoy the majority of the routes, either the game is bad or it isn't your thing. There are games like Period, with a whopping 8 routes, that have filler routes, sadly. I consider this a mistake. Filler routes shouldn't exist.

Well that's your usual moege thing. It all depends if you like the underlying story/theme, and if you like the characters. I felt very good unlocking Komomo's "dere" side, for example. Also, in Hoshimemo you pretty much spend the whole game waiting for the secret route (that doesn't bar you from liking other routes), if that isn't for you then drop the game, I understand. Besides, you have to like astronomy or the star mumbo jumbo will get on your nerves, I guess. That's why there's such a variety of different themes for moege.

You're mixing contexts. When I say "collect them all", I'm talking about heroines and their routes. When I get 100% for a game like this, I feel a nice sense of completion. Especially if it has a true ending that wraps it all up, but it's not mandatory. I don't own that many moeges... but I will. And you probably can guess how I facilitate some of them Before someone pounces on me, reflect on how Hoshimemo -for example- wasn't officially released in the West. I won't mind dropping a couple of bucks for it, when the moment comes.

Well, probably. Your average moege is a mixed bag. Since, in fact, every route has different feel and probably is aimed to different people. No wonder you don't (probably can't) like them all. I still feel the urge to "collect them all", Pokémon style

Remember 11 is very good and very flawed at the same time. Great atmosphere and premise, with a lot of urgency [if you don't handle your choices well you friggin' die], but with a plot that ultimately is a mess and doesn't make sense. A pity, it could have been one of the greatest VN out there [it was released for portable systems I think, but it could have been re-released].

Huh? I liked both Period and Hoshimemo (Period is worse, and it drags forever too). I must be really tender-hearted.

Stop trashing our wallets >.<

Okabe > Hisao.

Huh, I don't know, but I can use a cheap $12 generic PC controller with PS2 emulator (sorry I don't remember the name). Ask for someone to lend you one and test it. Maybe the PS3 controller proper isn't very adequate here. As for the DS emulator, if you own a tablet (or an adequate smartphone) you can try it there, I did and while it doesn't exactly work like a charm, it does the job. Running Rune Factory 3 wasn't a breeze, though. Depends on the game, I think.

Allegedly it was suicide, so we can't, and shouldn't judge him. We don't know what shit he was through. But I wish nobody killed themselves, and not talented people like Chris. It's sad.

There's also DraStic, but it costs a couple of dollars.

Steins;Gate's Hououin Kyouma. A game with your regular dose of memes that's more than that. Lovable cast of characters and the baddest ass of badasses as MC. Also available in anime format because it's wildly popular.

Oyari Ashito!!!

I don't care too much. Escaflowne is an amazing series. Not perfect, but more rounded-up than, say, Evangelion (even if Evangelion was in fact more ambitious).

Well I just hope it releases a month from here, maximum. Do you people know if the 18+ patch will work with the Steam version? I suppose there has been barely any talk of 18+ patches. Will there be a Mangagamer or whatever publisher version, too?

I'll be sure to pick it sometime. For example, in Summer Sale.