Foreword: Whenever a war story is covered, I always expect something like Saishuu Heiki Kanojo anime story. But in fact Gunjou no Sora o Koete is a normal charage in an unusual setting. There are enough good English reviews (1 2 3 4 5 6), so address them for a more favorable review. Game does not live up to my expectations, so I can't stop being critical about it.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v1069
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxgPzBYzKUg&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-E2DXYizsP4bmQoMlHuSS3
Synopsis: You start off as Yashiro, one of the two first rank students in a flight combat school maintained by the army. Japan is split into two factions and the situation is tense, with small battles being held here and there.
His father was the one who caused the entire splitting up and tense situation, with the proposal of some yen economic plan.
Life isn’t exactly as easy as normal school life over there, with it’s hardcore training. Still, he still manages to talk with friends and just act like a somewhat normal guy of his age should act.
But things never go right. Rumors have that a war is starting. That means he’ll have to go out to the frontlines as a pilot killing people. Can he save what his father has caused or can he even survive till the end of the war?
Game type: Military academy despair story
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 6/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10
First of all, why a story about war take part in a school setting? It's really just a normal school SOL with some occasional flights. Even uniforms are nothing military! Damn, there is even culture festival in-between the deadly flights! There is no shortage of school settings, so this fact can not but irritate.
Next, all characters are voiced, including male characters. But pretty much till the very end of the first route I could not understand who is the protagonist here. Yashiro is just one of male students in here, and he is not focused at all. There is a male instructor with the eye trauma. He's a cool mature guy, and he's the only guy that does not have a sprite. I seriously thought he was the protagonist in here. Only he would be suited to be in relations with the instructor Miki. But there is also Toshiharu boy pilot. There are enough scenes of Toshiharu private dialogues with girls. So it all moves in a messy state till sudden resolution that it's definitely only Yashiro who plays the main part. And I just don't like him, he's nowhere near normal adult level.
Well, heroines... There are three main heroines, plus two side heroines. Instructor Miki is the only really fine heroine here. Wakana disappoints a lot with her initial tsundere attitude instantly vanish after boy's return from the flight. Kanako is just horrible as a heroine, as she combines both naive + whiner parts. The side heroines are hardly given enough time, they feel like an excuse to throw in more and more H events.
The whole independence war of Kanto against Kansai looks pretty ridiculous. Kanto leaders are in the worse position, but they are pretty much pacifists (what?!). They refuse to shoot directly at planes' cockpits and prepare any serious assault moves. All they can is defend and hopefully make some kind of success to get an advantage at negotiations. This is a full-scale civil war, but despite the war being "flashy" there has been next to none fatalities, some dozen of pilots. Characters themselves compare this number with 10,000 traffic fatalities and 35,000 suicides happening each year and agree that it's almost bloodless war. And I still don't understand how it correlates with the throwing bombs from planes. I'd never believe that all these boy pilots are super precise professionals who only aim at inhabited military objects. But we finally enter this war and witness the breakthrough, right? Nope, we just lose. WTF?! Really, after the first defeat we just surrender with all heroes facing trial. What kind of masochistic game is that? Game ends without really starting. But it's very convenient to show a tragic resolution with each heroine. But luckily there this GRAND True End that mends things and shows the true battle, right? Nope. Can only say that there are NO fights in there and there is nothing but hope projected. It all feels really half-baked.
Characters just show off to appear cool. Instructor Miki tries to drill students ... for like 5 minutes, then turns into deredere... Wakana is really tsun at the beginning, but becomes dere after first boy return from the flight. Everyone likes to beat sense into each other and remind about death. It's really depressing when people discuss really grave matters in a forced cheerful voice through tears. Moreover, when these children board the aircrafts, they start to speak only in English and repeat huge rows of senseless numbers... and it's a very horrible crumbled English, as ever. All to appear cool and shock Japanese players. For English speakers it looks ridiculous.
Well, as one of reviews states, Gunjou no Sora o Koete is not recommended for people who want action, people who hate depressing stories, people who want simple stories, people who want the protag to be a “hero”. But game is good in presenting a detailed realistic setting and in telling tragic human stories. Basically, game should be called a nakige or even utsuge and evaluated based on that genre. If we look at it this way, it's definitely a masterpiece. And since it focuses on human stories, there is no just one protagonist, all side characters are equally important for the narration. Political dimension can also be a motivation to read this visual novel. Still, you won't lose anything by skipping Gunjou no Sora o Koete, it's a niche product rather than breakthrough in the medium.
Foreword: I took up Tsuyokiss blindly hoping for a decent charage akin to Majikoi (same writer and also girl with katana) due to the high score this game gets. Moege equals trash for me. With such a high vote Tsuyokiss can't be a moege, right?
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v397
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFHoqzMOFDY&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-zA1QgYUTcnldJqEqo1lT5
Synopsis: Tsuyokiss is about the lives of a group of high school students and the often comedic events that occur around them.
The protagonist is an ordinary boy named Leo Tsushima. He is secretly in love with the eldest daughter of the Kiriya Corporation, Erika Kiriya, who is also the student council president.
One day, a senior female student, Otome Kurogane, knocks out several of the main characters when they were trying to sneak into school being late. Surprisingly, it turns out that she is Leo’s beloved cousin that he had not seen for years. And she decides to move in to the same house with Leo, whose mediocre life starts to change into something a lot more exciting.
Game type: Moege
Character Design rating: 5/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 1/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 4/10
Tsuyokiss is a pure trash moege. If you want to see a favorable review, go elsewhere (1 2 3). I've got nothing but obscene words for this trash game.
Basically all I can do is list multiple flaws of this game:
1). There is absolutely no story. We go to school.
2). There is actually no main heroine. Otome does not really stand out among heroines in any way. Her katana is just a decoration to describe her club. Yoshimi route opens up last and tries to introduce some drama which gets smashed down and thrown in the recycle bin next. Good job.
3). There is no humor. Well, unless crying loudly some crap with a funny voice counts for it, because that's in abundance. Parrot and our poor kani contributes to the most of it (Kanisawa Kinu is called Kani for short, and that actually means crab - it suits her so well). I tried to dissect SOL scenes in search for some humor, and there is no humor that makes sense and can be explained.
4) Tsundere is still a thrilling personality for me (probably because games that I played had usually one decent tsundere). In Tsuyokiss there is only one tsundere Nagomi, strictly speaking. But Otome and Erika have strong elements of tsundere as well. Well, I just can't understand how it's possible to play out tsundere concept that bad with such bland characters.
5) Tsuyokiss equals porn. For a good half of individual routes there is nothing but H scenes in a long long row. Really - about 10 H scenes (sometimes more) for each heroine all smashed together in the end. As everything else it's done poorly and only deteriorates the overall impression by degrading heroines characters.
I played the Complete edition and can only guess how bad original PC edition initially was. PS2 release got the highest score, because heroines save some decency without this marathon of banging. It's a complete mystery to me how a moege can be given somewhat high score, anyway. I follow Candy Soft works since their start in 1997, and they could only make peculiar funny nukige. Well, congratulations to Tsuyokiss, it follows the trend just perfectly. And it looks as Candy Soft just decides to cash out while it scores, so it releases the same games with some alterations of 2gakki and 3gakki later on - how shameless is that? That actually puts it on even worse stature than Circus. Circus at least changes names and hair colors in their endless flow of monotonous crap. Well, the minute of anger is over. I don't want anything to do with Tsuyokiss franchise ever again.
Foreword: I just like everything that has to do MMO. Game has a curious enough concept. The only question is how it's going to be realized.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v5344
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6sLsNyHhw&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_IUvdEluOx80SPFgHQF99e
Synopsis: A boy addicted to internet games starts to search for his disappeared companion wizard Ken in the real world after finding some traces on the net. Will guild-mates and enemies in the game have the same personalities in the real life?
Game type: Rom-com with elements of nakige about playing MMO together and meeting offline
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Game definitely does not reach the masterpiece status. Protagonist leaves a poor impression. The MMO overlook is from a simplistic point of view.
Story is pretty simple. Guildmates decide to meet offline, but leader wizard Ken refuses to come to the meeting for some reason. After the meeting there is just one big quest, after which Ken says farewells forever to everyone and logs out without explaining anything in detail. Guild-mates find his email and patiently work to discover his identity. Further can be already considered a spoiler, so that's where I stop, but as I mentioned there's nakige elements in the story.
Protagonist is an ordinary student who plays a knight of justice protecting the weak and withstanding PK characters. The party includes a priest, and the rest are magicians of different sorts. So, protagonist fails to surprise. In real life he's a normal shy donkan.
As for heroines, they are quite different. For example, priest is 28-year-old secretary. One of mages is a 20-year-old maid hostess. Another mage is a shy journalist. There is also a childhood friend who does not play MMO, but who always accompanies main character Hibiki and tries to prevent seduce attempts. Twin sisters Saori and Sumire are main heroines of this game. The variety of heroines is a good thing, but none of them really makes a serious stand. Moreover, every individual route becomes ecchi very fast, and jokes become ecchi-related as well.
What I did not like in this game is how there is a royal road during which protagonist has to enter in intimate relations with every heroine, but there are also individual routes that repeat absolutely the same H events, but also add a bit of development afterwards. This way I get the impression of abundance of H events in the game. I'd really appreciate only having one royal story. Patch introduced four additional endings, but those are pretty much omake group endings that bring nothing important, just fanservice.
The only recurring theme of the game is of PK and withstanding them. Ken is the one who tries to treat everyone equally and bring PK back on the PVE trail. Hibiki supports Ken in everything. Needless to say, that's a very simplistic theme. Also there is little development in the MMO "Dragon Twilight". If they go on a quest, we basically only see beginning and then loot sharing. Couple PK attacks, but that's it. MMO world mostly exists to chat together and let information shop Shinobu character to share his insights on Ken research. Real life has a bigger focus in this game.
Overall, it's not a bad game. The MMO elements were weaker than I hoped for, but for me every piece of media containing MMO is worth observing. As a comedy or nakige, it's an ok game, but nothing really outstanding, sadly. Common route and True End are pretty much the only parts that I deem worthy.
Foreword: Again, there are already enough English reviews of this game (1 2 3 4 5). But what I noticed is that the most thorough reviews are based on the Chinese version of the game by the speakers of Chinese language. My impression presents more of a Westerner approach.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v400
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mmQ92JtDpQ&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv9MFhOSzB2n_xIyVbArHXgt
Synopsis: The main character is a Japanese college student, who lost his parents in an accident and since then has been cared for by his landlady. He has a strange set of eyes, with one green eye and one red eye. His little sister Megumi, goes to boarding school in England, but still comes back to visit him from time to time. His best friend Ryou has always been supportive of the main character and has stuck by him through thick and thin. Still the main character is an unusual person for he has strange dreams in his sleep, seeing visions of a beautiful black haired maiden with a black umbrella, who speaks to him in his dreams. This begins to become more prevalent when he starts seeing her in the waking world, and does not understand what is happening to him. This leads him on a path to discovering the existence of the Narazaru and playing a vital role that will either save the world or lead it on the path of destruction.
Game type: Action chunige with fantasy elements
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 8/10
Overall rating: 7/10
So I evaluate protagonist and game quality highly. The only drawbacks are that protagonist is a weirdly looking donkan and that graphics relies on 3D images and is overall inconsistent. As for the story and characters, I have big questions and irritation accumulated.
Main things first. Game feels too Chinese to me. And it's not even about the Opening in Chinese. What kind of protagonist is that? Have you seen Japanese college students? Well, Katsuki absolutely does not fit anywhere in that image. He is basically a superhuman. He is huge, absolutely fearless and logical, with eyes of different colors and a monstrous manhood. But he fits well as a traditional Chinese protagonist who is so epic that needs only epic enemies to save the world in the most epic way possible.
What kind of characters are these? Why are heroines just weird representations of nature elements - fire, wind and earth (Hanawa Momiji does represent earth as she even fights with motherly nurture motives and powers - both parts of her name have distinctive nature theme)? Why water is associated with death in the game? Antagonists are fish people, and all the choices about water always inevitably lead to death. This elements analogy feels so stupid and banal that it makes me want to scream.
The SOL scenes of the game are the best part of it. The blunt attitude of protagonist makes for the most jokes of the game. But when it comes to action scenes, it's always the same fish people and faceless human-shaped robots with as much flashy special effects as possible.
Of course, I oversimplify things. There is a lot of unexpected development and side characters in the game. It's fun to read while it lasts. But if you try to ask questions and look at it from global perspective, it loses a lot of charm. I just can't sympathize with heroines that have no past and who are just random generalizations of some elements instead of humans with distinctive personalities.
It's also strange to see how male characters got such sleazy looks out of the blue. There was nothing like that in artist previous works. It's either Chinese/Korean stylization or BL influence introduced after first Nitro+Chiral BL game presentation.
As a raw outcome, I see why Jingai Makyou gets mostly average-to-high scores. It's one of the least known Nitroplus visual novels. Game has repulsive looks and feels really alien. But deep inside it's actually more Japanese than expected. Heroines endings are distinctive and memorable. Writing is brilliant, and action is fast-paced. If you don't mind Chinese motives and heroines generalization, it's a very worthy chuunige. I have strong rejection to manhua and manhwa, so it's much more difficult for me.
Foreword: This is a formal shameless review just to present a video and give score / personal impression. There is an abundance of reviews of this game in untranslated review sources (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8), and I did not even include reviews in the translated review sources.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v646
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkfbKBF3PZE&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8HOd7D19oHjX9NAj_dJRkF
Synopsis: In face of human technological advancement during the Meiji Restoration, the youkai of Japan were forced to make a hard decision:
1) To remain as youkai and watch over the land
2) To return to the netherworld
3) To give up their power and status as youkai and live amongst humans.
While there were some that chose otherwise, the majority of the youkai decided it was best to become human. It was tough, but as time passed these youkai were able to blend in with the human world and live peacefully amongst them.
However, blood is thicker than water. The offspring of these youkai displayed the powerful abilities of their ancestors in times of great anxiety, often manifesting in horrible and dangerous ways, and were labeled by society as monsters.
Officially their condition was named "Acquired Systemic Special Heredity variety Syndrome", or "ASSHS" for short and treated as a non-contagious illness, but the common people began to refer to them as Jinyous (half-youkai) nevertheless.
Of these Jinyous, most were sent to Kamizawa City: an isolated urban area walled off from the rest of Japan to keep all the Jinyous together and away from the human population. However, the ones that were deemed especially dangerous were sent to a medical facility on an uncharted island near the shores of Japan where they would be under constant surveillance.
Takabe Ryouichi was one of those who were sent to said island at the age of five. This is a story about him along with the girl called Suzu, his only friend on the island, escaping to Kamizawa city to live a normal life. What they didn’t expect was that Suzu carried a secret that attracted much unwanted attention…
Game type: Action chunige with fantasy elements
Character Design rating: 9/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 10/10
Overall rating: 8/10
I won't be original here. Game is a firm masterpiece with great action, funny SOL scenes and just perfect quality overall. But different people find different parts faulty. Some people blame protagonist Soushichi, but I actually like him a lot. He is really funny and human-like in conversations. Heroines are the main flavor of the game. They all are really well developed, and pretty much every one of them has fighting capabilities. Each route has a distinctive individuality.
Other people did not like story resolution, but - again - everything felt natural, don't see much of a problem here. My complaint is much more profound. I do not see an interesting story here at all. On a grand scale absolutely nothing happens. There is no intrigue. Basically we get to know from synopsis that Takabe Ryouichi escapes from a clinic for youkai and is searched by the organization controlling this clinic. So what happens during the course of the game? Organization goons finally find Takabe after a few years which is followed by confrontation. That's it. Where the hell is multiple route mystery featured among vndb tags? There is absolutely no need to play different routes to get the whole mystery picture, because there is no mystery. Yes, we have different girls as allies in different routes, and different sources of power are discovered to fight back. But that's not a mystery. There are even no big twists.
Ayakashibito is a great game, but its strength is not in depth and mystery. It's in width and details. The story is developed by constantly adding new characters and presenting their backgrounds and sometimes even small stories in great detail. I absolutely like writing, pacing and all. It's an enjoyable reading, but whenever I try to rationalize - why I keep reading - I can't find the answer, and overall evaluation degrades because of that. Ayakashibito remains a game about girls and their magnificent routes. Personally, I hoped for more mystery and twists.
Foreword: I'm quite excited to see the first professional Akabei Soft2 work after their doujin past as Akabei Soft. I'm mostly interested in the initial release of the game, so review will be based on that. I'll also compare initial release with the remake Enkan no Kizuna.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v85
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOJQFOpc5cs&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv93uWlEWyCml-A4kSkxsz4E
Synopsis: Touma busily lives everyday with Kasumi and Nami. One day, they receive an offer. That is to exorcize a monster. And they go hunting at night as usual. But, the monster is too tough to beat, and Touma and Kasumi get injured. Nami tries to beat it up by herself to protect Touma and Kasumi, but she is defeated...
Game type: Monster fighting action story
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 5/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 6/10
The evaluation actually changed several times during playthrough. At first it was so-so with the ordinary SOL scenes after the prologue. Then by the end of Kasumi route there's a huge twist that fascinated me enough to consider it a masterpiece for a short time. But in the end I was not persuaded by heroes' motivation and the whole resolution. The absolute passiveness of protagonist Touma also gave a huge dent to the evaluation.
The synopsis retells the quite long prologue of the game, so it's pretty much impossible to conceal the fact that Nami is not just defeated by the monster. She is also raped, delivered multiple piercing and tear wounds and then eaten alive limb by limb. It's the most emotional scene of the game that determines the whole flow of the game, so this fact must be stated absolutely clearly to go on. That's why I really appreciate it that that Nami is NOT a heroine for capture in this game unlike PS2 release. But I'll get to releases comparison later.
The composition of the game is pretty simple. There are two main parts - prologue till Nami death and the main part where Kasumi has to rely on Touma's help. There are SOL moments in both of the parts. Ai the coffee shop assistant almost entirely governs the SOL scenes and gags. But what surprises me the most is that there is no conflict line in the game. The killer of Nami dies just a few minutes later, so there is no direct antagonist. During the main part we meet a mysterious masked person several times, but short fights never lead to anything serious. We meet shrine maiden sisters who also exterminate lesser demons, but that's it. The greater is the shock of main twist of the game.
As for heroines routes, Kasumi one is definitely the best. Shrine maiden routes are kind of paired with a lot of scenes being the same. They are fighting heroines, which is a great plus, but these routes aren't as fun as Kasumi. Ai is the only heroine that kind of does not fight. Her route just develops the SOL and gag concepts presented in the common route.
Ok, time to mention the "Enkan no Kizuna" edition. It's so much worse than initial edition. Every change done in it is absolutely horrible:
1) Nami route is introduced. Even if some plot twist allows us to etch a dead heroine, such step is absolutely bad for the structure. From a game with a concept it becomes a cliche game where every heroine must be etched no matter what. It kills the soul of the game.
2) All the extreme or sexual scenes outside the H events are concealed. Well, it's again a horrible step. Those scenes actually contribute a lot to the charm of the game. Sometimes it just becomes stupid. Like when Touma wakes up to see naked Machiru on his bed who urges him not to rise voice or Kasumi might get it all wrong. It makes perfect sense with Machiru naked breast, but it looks and sounds just stupid when Machiru wears a fully closed sleeping gown in Enkan no Kizuna. There are a lot of such scenes. But the most horrible part is that the most emotional core scene of the Nami rape and dissection gets pretty much ruined by the black screen that we see in Enkan no Kizuna.
3) Remake adds a ton of filler choices and stupid meaningless battles with some lower beasts. From a normal story it becomes a tormenting selection of the same 10 choices each game when we need to consequently choose each one and fight 3-4 monsters. I actually remembered that I played remake version like 10 years ago without a walkthrough and those stupid choices and battles absolutely confused me to the point of dropping the game. There are a lot of comments about the game from players who dropped it without seeing the end of any route. It's just so bad.
4) Enkan of Kizuna does not include the Another story extra episode. That episode was voiceless in original version and gave an alternative look at the heroines including Nami. It was done mostly to show an extra H event with each of the heroines, but it's still a little nice thing to have. Those nice things contribute to the individual image of the game.
In conclusion, Tamayura is a nice game with a great twist and even midfuck elements. It does not live up to the masterpiece status, but it could easily be one if ending was not failed. But Enkan no Kizuna managed to absolutely devaluate the game to the point that it only brings negative emotions. All the poor votes of the game are probably based on Enkan no Kizuna version. This great action story actually only reestablishes my belief in Akabei Soft brand. I wish I could find the copies of its first doujin plotge - Azazel and Yoru no Kakera. Narumi is not Looseboy, but still a pretty talented scenario writer.
Foreword: I only had to choose this game, because the only other somewhat curious game from April 2005 Gakuen Kaiketsu Kururi! turned out to have a horrible engine for auto-reading with voices getting constantly cut even with the latest patch, at least with win10. I want to ask sincere forgiveness from all those who like vanilla pure love visual novels. Depending on your likes, game can get even couple points more in the overall evaluation. I'm only conveying my sincere impression of this game even though I'm ill suited for that purpose.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v703
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j0yAzjfXI0&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv9FMXe5w9pSH_a01QqO_8qb
Synopsis: Protagonists name is Kaoru, it is a name used for girls normally, he has no idea why his parents decided to name him like that. And just because of that when he was changing schools he gets enrolled to a girls high school by mistake. Unhappy with this turn of events at first, he soon grows to like the new school.
Game type: Pure love story in vanilla girl school setting
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 4/10
Story rating: 4/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
It's insufficient to say that I did not like this game. It was a torture that is painful to remember, actually. There are so many poor elements in it that I don't even know what to start with. I'll try to focus on positive sides in conclusion as well, though. Game quality gets a penalty for poor heroines design, lack of CG and occasional lack of voicing.
The setting is kind of stupid and oh-so-super-convenient.
1). Parents sent Kaoru's papers to a girl's school. Quite possible, just a simple mistake.
2). Kaoru is the only boy on the entrance ceremony, but he stays there till the end and gives out his voice like everyone else. That's ok, boy's probably confused.
3). He wants to transfer to the nearby normal school, but he is not allowed to by that school. Girl's school does not force him out. Well... that's weird behavior on behalf of girl's school, but maybe they did not want to ruin boy's school year during the already started term. Really stupid, but ok.
4) Kaoru is denied dormitory room in the normal school dormitory, so he pretty much becomes a homeless bum. Hinako asks him to make her a company on her way to girls' dormitory. It's strange that school authorities have no concern for boy's living space in such an extraordinary situation, but overall feels almost natural.
5) Hinako asks girl dormitory caretaker to look for a room for Kaoru to stay for one night. But all rooms are taken, so Hinako asks dormitory caretaker to have Kaoru share a room with her. Wait a minute, that's just super wrong. The fact that caretaker girl so eagerly agrees with the condition that divider should be set at the center of the room is increasingly alarming. In reality half of girls would be against that, but no one seems to ask their opinion at all considering the fact that there are no facilities for men in the dormitory.
6) So Kaoru starts to live at the same room with Hinako. Wait, what the hell? Did not he want to find a normal place the next day? What happened with the allowance to stay for just one night?
7) Pretty much the very first day Kaoru relaxes at the bathroom and encounters naked Hinako going to take a shower. REALLY? Freaking boy is allowed to stay for one night and he just occupies a huge bath all by himself without noticing anyone and locking the door? There's total irresponsibility at all levels in this dormitory.
8 ) Kaoru and Hinako set alarm clock for 8 o'clock, but only Hinako is able to wake up on time. She has to trespass to the other side of the room in order to wake Kaoru up. The decision to allow or not allow Hinako to get to this side of room in the future determines whether we enter Hinako or other girls's routes. We already know that Kaoru is a terribly irresponsible boy, but if he actually allows Hinako to get to his side then it pretty much means that he does not care for alarm since is a person to abuse with waking him up. Ok, we get it, he's an absolute failure as a responsible member of society.
9) Roommates decide to hide the fact they live at the same room, but Hinako admits that she is pretty bad with concealing anything, because she is super-naive, and everything is written right at her face. Of course she constantly blushes, stutters and mumbles whenever Kaoru is mentioned in any context. The story gets revealed in no time, but the whole class only encourages Hinako. It looks weird to me that whatever route we enter, everyone is so supportive with any choice made. There is absolutely no room for conflict in this school, so bring in the cakes.
At school we meet other girls, but for some reason the only lively and sharp-tongue girl who basically moves the whole plot by playing jokes on Hinako - is not available as a heroine. Instead, we're offered absolutely isolated stereotypical random girls as heroines. For some reason, neither of the girls was able to interest me. I ended up choosing yet another super-naive and this time also a loli heroine Maria for the second heroine playthrough just because hoped for more lively CG of this small idol girl and because she is voiced by seiyu Naruse Mia in a pretty funny way. How horrible should heroines' personalities be for me to pick a naive loli girl just based on seiyu? And of course I got burned with this decision, because all the funny events of Maria were reserved for the common route. Should personal route always be so miserable to make poor kid cry for three times? I'm not even mentioning disgusting etching. Since this game is only about the looks and fuwa-fuwa atmosphere, I don't feel guilty for revealing the main drama in Maria route. And it's about Kaoru loosing sight of Maria and starting search only to find her around the corner so they could happily reunite. What the hell...
And I'm even so shameless that I want to reveal the main drama of Hinako route (because this game is NOT about drama). It's about Hinako being forces to marry an unknown man that her yakuza father has chosen for marriage. Pretty decent conflict, right? I bet Kaoru steals the bride just at the altar and marries her somewhere in the woods hiding from hired goons. But reality is so much worse. The young people just come the the yakuza father and ask him to throw away clan interests and let Hinako be with the total failure that Kaoru is. I can only guess what harsh measures yakuza father is going to undertake. Wrong guess, as usual. Father does... nothing at all? Hinako just goes to their dormitory room to spend the last time at this school. At the same room with a boy. Holy crap. Why everything in this scenario is so ridiculously stupid? Why any attempt of analysis is inevitably doom to be crushed by the wall of absolute amateurism and irresponsibility? If you possess analytic thinking, please keep out of this game. It does not succumb to any rationalization attempts.
Ojou-sama Kumikyoku is not a bad game. It's a nice romantic story in inspiring atmosphere of rich and fabulous girl school. If features mild humor and supportive environment. Hinako is so innocent and straightforward that she will most probably charm you. Get your expectations within a warm romantic comedy content, and you probably won't be disappointed. It's a pure coincidence that such romcom genre hater as me got to play this game.
Foreword: I liked character designs and wide use of weapons first of all. The story looked promising. Palette is also a notable player on the visual novel scene. I ignored its first clumsy works, but it's high time for it to make a stand.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v2921
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4V5pl8mts&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8VGk_kffrtrok065Qddm24
Synopsis: Main character is an agent of a space development company. He receives a task from his assassinated boss to attack a certain laboratory and destroy girl Theta who represents an important research. He executes this will, but only escapes with the girl instead of killing her. Organization issues a bounty for their heads, but Theta has a strong determination to follow protagonist.
Three bounty hunters set a trap, but one of them is saved by protagonist in the end, so they form an alliance. There can't be peace until new organization boss is defeated. But what secrets does Theta hide with her silence?
Game type: SF action story
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 5/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Well, I'm not impressed. It's actually a weak game that should get 5/10, but heroine Holly (Takumi's lover prior to fleeing from organization) mends things to a certain extent. There are five heroines each with neat character designs. But somehow Saki and Meifeng get only horrible CG and even poor sprites, so they just don't feel right. Rea is a maid archetype, and she does not stand out much of her comfort zone. Theta is our loli main heroine, but she comes right from the laboratory, so she represents naive trait. Only Holly has an interesting background, conflict and development. She's got perfect looks in her leather suit and glasses as well. Game could be saved with characters alone even with such simple story if other heroines were at least half as cool as Holly. That inevitably brings us to the story itself.
But actually almost the whole story is given in the synopsis. Half of the game is taken just to cover the synopsis events. The other half we fight the poor new boss armed only with katana with our squad of experienced fighters with firearms. And the same fight with the same backgrounds and flow happens twice in the game which provokes a strong deja vu feeling... There's a lot of questions to boss motivation and reasoning. Presenting antagonist as a fanatic is a very poor thing to do in any scenario. The first screenshot in the review actually represents how stupid the story can be (but mind it that Theta is not quite herself there). The worst part is that 99% of the story is exactly the same in every heroine route. I wanted to cover all five heroine endings, but the story is just the same, so there's little point in doing so, so I just covered two heroines, plus Holly. There's very little change apart of H event and ending scene. One detail is different, but it's already in the spoiler league. Not everything is bad with the story, actually. I liked the world view of space colony and wicked space development organization pursuing its interests. Three heroines form a bounty hunter unit and fulfill missions together. Both Meifeng and Theta are kind of hackers supervising the missions. So there is its share of goodness. Game resembles D.U.O. ~Song for All~ a lot, but with less mature characters this time. There is even also bar that plays center role in the game.
It's hard to talk about the game that fails to inspire. So let's just look at something that inspires me much more in this game. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Holly!
Foreword: I could not ignore Nitroplus work, especially one without reviews.
Date: 2005-01-28
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v429
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcC4Wki3bo8&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-rllhpCe9B1ueL5w0Uubdn
Synopsis: When people die with hearts filled with negative feelings, they turn into 'ghosts', haunting the world. To send those souls to the other world, angels exist, using their guns to 'kill' them. You're playing one of such angels, Wim.
Game type: Eschatology dystopia action story
Character Design rating: 10/10
Protagonist rating: 10/10
Story rating: 9/10
Game quality: 9/10
Overall rating: 9/10
Rating comments: It was a perfect game for me during the whole common route. The second half was less fascinating, but it's still one of the best games I played.
Protagonist: Wim is mature and cool, but at the same time his consciousness is blank enough to be able to write any story. His earliest memory is white, and then he sees himself with wings and two guns beside same looking angels. He starts to hunt down ghosts of recently dead people just like everyone else. But as game unfolds, he starts to question his life...
Characters: All three heroines feel alive here. Two of them are siblings. Komaki is the older sister. She is a researcher obsessed with the angel theme. For some reason she sees angels. Fuuko is the younger sister. She can see angels as well. The first time she sees Vim, she asks to kill her. But Fuuko is also lying in coma at a hospital simultaneously... Henri is the only orthodox angel heroine. She has wings, gun and follows angel style of life without asking questions. She's tsundere'ish and hates all the ghosts of the dead people. But actually the most important character of the game is rapist and killer Jay. The whole story is based around him. Fuuko and Komaki are his blood sisters. Henri has shared memories with Jay to such an extent that Henri is stumbled every time she sees him. Assassin Issei is the father of Fuuko/Komaki/Jay. But the most cool character in the game is the oldest angel Peter. He witnessed the judgement day and afterwards taught Vim everything. By the genre's laws Peter is just destined to betray Vim at some point, but to my greatest surprise things are much more complicated here, and Peter becomes a most reliable partner.
Story: Actual story is quite complicated. 18 years ago children stopped to be born on the Earth. Most people go to work by inertia, but suicides become a common place, and streets are full of all kind of filth. Angels just patrol in search of recently dead souls - ghosts - and kill them with their guns. Game starts with a suicide and continues at a hospital with many deaths incoming. Two sisters can see angels, and in communication with them Vim starts to get interested in humans.
Thoughts:
1) Game poses a huge number of questions. Why there are people who can see angels? What's the identity and past of angels? Why only Vim and Jay have double guns? Why Fuuko wants to die and what's wrong with her other self in coma? What's so special in Jay? Is there a way for humanity to recover? Finding answers for all those questions is the most fascinating part of the game. But the mid-game we more or less find the answers, so second half full of action does not feel as exciting.
2) Game is organized in the same theater manner as Project-μ games, and considered the action nature of the game a strong presence of Gin no Hebi is felt. Such directing is superb in comparison with other normal games.
3) Unlike other Nitroplus games that I played, dialogues play bigger role here than action scenes. It looks like self-irony to me when Vim tries to explain why he kills ghosts of dead persons and does not try to resist. The only answer he finds is that "gun calls" him to do so. Nitroplus provides so many action scenes, because cool guns call them, but it's not always the case that story must be inferior.
Overall comments: It surprises me greatly how Angelos Armas got so little attention in the West. The Japanese reviews are more or less modest in their impressions, but I've learned it the hard way that the Japanese understand nothing in plotge. It's the best Nitroplus game that I've played so far, so I denounce all my accusation that Nitroplus can produce only stupid action games.
Foreword: Game first arouse my interest as alternative version of Subarashiki Hibi. Then I tried to get the glimpse of it by watching hentai OVA... and it was the worst hentai OVA I ever seen, so I was really infuriated since it did not say much about the game. Finally I've picked it up while investigating year 1999 and it struck me as something more serious than a nukige, especially after seeing those demon mind-screw CG. And it's been a while since I enjoyed a visual novel that much.
Title: Tsui no Sora
Developer: KeroQ
Date: 1999-08-27
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v3246
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENAECnNmAq8vJwICEnwWJOz0Yf6ycKz3
Synopsis: Our guy got waked up by his childhood girl for school. Once they got to their classroom, they found out that a girl classmate jumped from their school roof yesterday. Soon, people started talking about end of the world on day 20th. Some even went crazy, lead by one guy. You get to see the events first through our guy's eyes, then his childhood girl's and two more people.
Structure: There are two routes - for Kotomi and Ayana, then there's the route from Kotomi point of view, then the retro-route from Zakuro eyes, then villain route from Takuji viewpoint. And it all finishes with epilogue route for Kotomi and Ayana.
Length: 7 hours 30 minutes.
Game type: Mindscrew end of the world theme ADV.
Difficulty: Easy since there are only 3-4 decisions to make.
Character Design rating: 8/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 10/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Rating comments: I did not expect such high scores. Characters aren't voiced, but somehow they manage to feel alive. There are so many protagonists in this game that the rest of characters are easy to understand and remember. If it was only for Yukito, protagonist would get a full 10. Story does not seem anything special on the first glance, but with each route it opens up new depths and raises new questions making it a very integral, memorable and personal experience. I can't rate game quality good for the lack of CG, unvoiced heroes and macromedia director engine.
Protagonist:
Yukita makes the perfect protagonist for me. He cites Kant, Wittgenstein, Kierkegaard, Bible all the time. He looks like a hooligan, but is absolutely faithful and reliable even though he tries to shrug it off with crude words. He's pretty much the only one who stays calm, trusts in logic and comes to everyone's rescue.
Kotomi is Yukita's childhood friend. She is quite nice as a heroine, but when she becomes protagonist we get to see her constant hesitations and anxieties. It's a pain to see her crying "I don't know anything anymore", thinking "I must be alone and get stronger" and running away from Yukita at school.
Zakuro is the classmate of Yukita and Kotomi. At the beginning of the game she's already dead having jumped from the roof. But her story was the most impressive one for me. But more of it in the story part.
Takuji is the villain of the game. A shy small boy who at the same time wants to peel everyone naked and sentence to death. He's really cool as protagonist for having all kinds of hallucinations that make the game a mind-screw.
Characters: Who do we have left? There's classmate Otonashi Ayana who has her own route, but is not a protagonist for she's the most mysterious character in the game and her manner of thinking should not be revealed. There's also classmate Yokoyama Yasuko who enters the same kendo club as Kotomi, but at the same time really sympathizes Takuji end of the world ideas. Yasuko brother is the biggest supporter of Takuji as well. There's also guy Ozawa that bullied Zakuro, but at the beginning of the game he's dead. There's a magical girl Riruro, but her existence is under a huge question, hehe. We also have medical department teacher.
Story: I can't really tell about the story without some spoilers (although I'll try to hide heavy spoilers under a banner), so be aware.
I. Game starts from Yukito perspective 7 days before the disaster and he can opt for either Kotomi or Ayana as the main heroine. The choice only determines couple short scenes of each heroine and determines whether Kotomi H event opens up or not. The contents remains the same. First two days are spent in mass neurosis as classmates keep jumping from the roof and rumors about the end of the world keep spreading. Then there are two days of open conflict of Takuji with the school that result in dangerous cult creation. Next two days are notable for Kotomi kidnapping by the Takuji group and her rescue by Yukito. The final day is not clearly shown.
II. Then starts the route of Kotomi which is exactly the same route, but from the eyes of Kotomi. She's there mostly to add girlish thoughts to the narration and of course to show her two days of captivity and torments (read: H events) while kidnapped. So it's kind of non-important fan-service route.
III. Well, when you think that the game is over, the next route opens up. And instead a week before the disaster we go to two weeks before the disaster to the body of Zakuro. She got raped and made photos of by bully Ozawa one day and from that time was blackmailed into intimate relations daily. But once she gets a letter saying "Rejoice, your torments will end tomorrow". Since it's the most impressive route for me I'd only tackle it under the spoiler banner.
IV. The seven days before the disaster are shown yet again, but from the eyes of main villain Takuji. We get to see how his ideas are formed, what pushes him, how he recruits allies and eventually names himself the savior of humankind. From that point it's hard to determine delusions from truth as he sees monsters, magical girl Riruru, her spirit father and gets instructions from them, but most of the time he seems to just be talking with the graffiti wall. He starts as savior of humanity, but through demonic teachings soon recognizes the need to purify humans before the final skies by killing them. The longest and weirdest route, but at the same time it still feels light.
V. Epilogues sheds light on events after the day X and give more questions than answers.
HEAVY PLOT SPOILERS INSIDE
CG: Too few! But characters standing sprites usually look so good that the lack of CG is not that grave.
Sound: BGM includes few, but atmospheric short cycled compositions and there is no voicing at all.
Humor: Apart of this funny moment of skirt flipping there was one real joke. Yukito and Ayano stay at the roof. Ayano asks "- What book do you hold in hands?" "- Kant" " Why would you need a book about girl's genitalia?" "Wrong! It's not about that!" "So it's called just CAN'T? Why would you need a book about impotence?" Then he tries to tell her Kant and Wittgenstein theories. "Wittgenstein? Is that the male apparatus?". I don't remember any more moments, but for me it's important to have at least one funny memorable moment.
Themes: There are a lot of themes.
1) Is the end of the world possible? Yakuto tries to find an answer in Kant, Wittgenstein, Kierkegaard and Bible books. He uses Kant's antimony to make a conclusion that the beginning of the universe is not provable and thus there can't be the end of the world.
2) The war between light and darkness forces to impede/fasten the end of the world - is it real or imagination of fanatics? One certain route is devoted just to this theme.
3) Who actually saved the world? Was it Zakuro, Ayana or maybe even Takuji? All three came to contact to the higher essences and could influence that. Of maybe the world never needed to be saved and those are just superstition and ignorance? We have to figure it for ourselves.
4) The separate question is who is Ayana? Her every word is mysterious. She does not have parents, but she's always present at the most gruesome events late at night at the school.
5) What this game is even about? Again, you decide, the first two collages of screenshots allow to treat the game as spiritual mind-screw, youth criminal drama or eschatological religious confrontation of heroes and devils.
Overall comments: I have not read Subarashiki Hibi and can only judge it by reviews and vndb. But what I see there is that the core of the plot and the characters are absolutely the same. SubaHibi was enlarged immensely to fit the modern demand, but such detail would not be possible without this little weird gem from the 1990s.
Foreword: Abandoner is the second winner of poll for the extra review in 2004. There are actually two reviews already (1 2), but it does not hurt to give it a fresh look. Clephas recommends not to read this visual novel unless we are really hard masochists, but every visual novel reader is at least a bit of masochist for reading such long stories while normal people can't endure even director's cut movie versions. As for me, such question does not even stand - it's enough to look at the number of visual novels I played without really enjoying them. So let's start.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v1182
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eGicIWOOlw&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_qT6p_Y5f1XbwJYUu2TCCe
Synopsis: A cross between fantasy, science fantasy, and mystery. The protagonist is a former detective who is living in virtual exile in a walled-off city occupied by foreign military forces. It is a lawless city, where just about anything can happen...
Game type: Superhuman experiments story
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 6/10
First of all, let's observe the plot since it's so vaguely drawn in both reviews. The stage is an imaginary city that resembles Italian city of the first third of the 20th century. It's under occupation of Tristian forces for the last 30 years. Main character Neil Fox is a former detective who now works independently and takes bounty hunter jobs. This time he is promised an outstandingly generous payment for rescuing some girl from a kidnapper and protecting her. But kidnapper turns out to be girl's guardian. The place gets ambushed by the military police. What makes this girl so important? That's what'd described in the first 30 minutes of the game. We successfully rescue that Helena girl and conceal her in the hideout. The girl is as if from another world since she has a poor grip on the reality.
But then the problems start. Or, rather, nothing starts. Instead of returning girl to the request giver, Niel tries to find Helena's father and find out more about her past in the mysterious laboratory. In the meantime he just hangs around mafia bar and participates in some of their activities that COINCIDENTALLY bring him closer to Helena and Abandoner mystery. Even when Helena disappears at some time of the story, nothing really changes. He just continues to do jobs for the mafia. If even feels like he totally forgets about Helena in the second (longest) chapter. Game has neither an aim nor the conflict. Just for that reason I can't consider Abandoner a masterpiece.
There is also a problem of main character Neil Fox. He takes a job to rescue the hostage and protect her, but he has absolutely no weapons. He carries some rusty gun just as a means of threat, but that's it. He is unable to win any fight. All he does is run away and hide. And thus he can't really influence the outcome of events which - only by some incredible luck - develop in his favor. That's realistic, but kind of boring for the main character.
I rated heroines even lower than protagonist, because they aren't loveable. Helena is our out of this world girl who whispers trivial things all the time. There's little of interest in her. Next is mafia daughter Hilda Lutz. To tell the truth, I can't take girls seriously if their single boob is bigger than their head. She's very knowledgeable, but that's it. She hardly plays any important role in the story. The last heroine is military police sergeant Cecilia. Well, she's the most irritating character in this whole game. She's stubborn and pushy as she considers herself to be the only representative of power in this city. She's that character who does not listen to anyone and just tries to force her opinion everywhere. So I see it why Clephas blames this game of characters not listening to each other, but I don't see any other characters with this trait. Cecilia position and personality is to blame, but not everyone else. The mafia guys are all simpletons and can't be judged harshly. The first time we meet them, one 50-year looking guys cries because he's afraid of BOOKSHELVES. Yeah, stupid, but just treat them as comical characters. The poor Tony eventually just goes into reckless rage crying out "I'm Antonio Beltamo!" over and over. Well, I just did not pay much attention to mafia guys who are evidently just cannon fodder.
I kind of lowered BGM level too much in the video so that music can hardly be heard, but BGM is actually rarely plays in this game. It's the sound of constant rain that plays most of the time instead. Music is nice, but its sudden cut offs irritate.
What I especially want to point out is that there are NO fantasy elements in the game. All the alterations presented can be addressed to the results of human experiments. Just science is very advanced for the corresponding time period taken. There's no fantasy scenes, no magic, no resurrections - nothing. It's an atmospheric hard boiled realistic story that should not be really compromised with fantasy elements.
In conclusion, this is a good story for the story's sake. But in order to like it you need to put up with senile mafia characters, not exactly lovable heroines and passive sneaky MC. This game is not about characters, thus each heroine has just one H event that happens kind of spontaneously at any point of the story when it's convenient - not necessarily in the end. Girls don't really have after-stories and actual roues, because it's not a charage. It's a single road story. If you're interested in the Abandoner mystery and can tolerate the cast, then you can enjoy the story even without being a really hard masochist.
Foreword: It's requested as extra review, so I'm pleased to tell what kind of masterpiece this game is. It does not mean I'm not reviewing Abandoner, though. Both games stood so close in the poll that I could not make my mind in any way.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v1085
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJG1UQavYg&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-73f48qzUpNIceFnIA8Mot
Synopsis: The game revolves around the main character's 3 days repeating over and over again, where he is constantly being killed in the third day of the story (in various ways) but magically being brought back to life in the first day to repeat his 3 days. Your goal here is to solve the mystery behind the death of your sempai and also to find the identity of the murderer.
Game type: Horror looped murder story with fantasy elements
Character Design rating: 8/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 7/10
I only found one impression (1), and it's not very elaborate, so let's dissect things properly. 3days is a classic loop game, but for me it's the same kind of classic as To Heart for galge - boring and exhausting. The same loop of three days goes on for some 15 laps (maybe less if some alternative branches are skipped) and finishes with more and more elaborate ways of killing and sometimes raping. But the worst thing for me is that specific scene needs to be triggered in all of three heroine initial roues. I had to do much more loops, because I triggered only one Tamaki H scene while I needed to find another one for her item to show at the main screen indicating her route fully done.
That being said, first half of 3days is of little interest to me. Watching the same events over and over and girls die over and over in different situations is not really what constitutes for fun pastime. However, the second part actually manages to present a favorable impression by cleverly mixing past, present and future Ryou stories. We get acquainted with the new charming heroine Miyu who has to bear all the positive intentions of the game alone just because she's the only heroine that we don't see dying miserably with torn apart body and face distorted with fear. Magic finally comes to the stage, and game turns into a fantasy battle from a pesky contemporary murder story.
But I don't suffer from short memory, so horrible first part gets a huge evaluation penalty from me. There are also other negative factors. Basically, game is a royal story. That goes for both first and second part. The individual heroine endings take really like a few minutes astray from the main story. Another negative factor is poor CG representation and occasional lack of voicing. I can remember very few CG after playthrough, so it's constant character sprites hell. Also, I can't really stand Harry Potter, so second part is rather repulsive with all the magic domination and stuff. At the same time Tsukiko as the best starting heroine never receives her route in the main game and plays mostly a comical role. There are too many deficiencies to neglect in the overall evaluation.
In the raw outcome, 3days is a masterpiece, but only thanks to the main concept and true route in the second part. It occupies a firm position among classics as one of grandfathers of loop visual novels. Tsukiko and later Miyu don't let the game to turn into total despair. But as to my recommendations... I'm not so sure. Game fails as a detective story and suffers a lot whenever it tries to advance romance. Would I really play this game if I knew that it'd total to magic battle? I'm pretty sure that I would not, although such turn of events was really unexpected. Game really feels old and lacking production quality. It's still a good game at the core, but who would want to get to the core when there are so many better quality stories nowadays.
Foreword: Protagonist looks cool and badass, so I hope for a worthy chunige.
Title: Answer Dead
Developer: Le.Chocolat
Date: 2005-01-14
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v1903
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2A2CAW3OmY&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_iAzf5N3n7qQx-aG-JlXpl
Synopsis: Main character is a weak quiet student who is bullied at school. But one day he meets a girl who wakes up Black King soul sleeping in him.
The White King quickly notices the rival appearance and sets control over the school with the help of magic. The school grounds turn into blood bath, and the royal battle approaches.
Game type: Semi-cliche chunige
Character Design rating: 4/10
Protagonist rating: 4/10
Story rating: 5/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
I did not expect to find another cliche chunige so soon, and this time there's no freshness already, so no remorse. Protagonist Kou is high school student, as usual. But what's much worse this time is that he's a puny hetare who cries and whines all the time looking for someone to save him. One day he just unexpectedly gets control over dark king spirit, so it's just another wonder waffle. All he does in the game is defeats several lower demons one by one, then faces main enemy White King, Game over. What the hell?
Heroines are sickeningly one-sided and cliche. Of course he gets a childhood friend and classmate Yuu, then imouto Misaki, ojousama classmate Mimi, mysterious transfer student looking for protagonist Miki, teacher Hitomi. The other heroine archetypes are less beaten, but are hardly any different. It's tarot cards lover gothic loli Michie, some undercover agent Ran and cat transformed into a human Benie (for those who wanted to do it with their cat?). Eight heroines that are included in such number just to extend useless plot as much as possible. The only route that stands out is actually mystery transfer student Miki. She has deep ties and history both with White and Black king. She has a very nice retro story included, and only her ending includes Solomon as character. All the other heroines end up the same - affection towards certain heroine is never explained - then said heroine gets raped by the tentacles - bingo - we love her head and heels. It's done in such a random manner that only deserves facepalm. There is zero story in all the other heroines routes. What annoys me the most is that pretty much all heroines get brainwashed and violent in other routes. It's really hard to see ojousama in what was succubus in previous route.
Answer Dead fails at character design, at CG and even at H scenes due to very primitive low range animation. So let's try to find something actually good in it. Well, Black kings starts out pretty well with the only will to "korosu" not matter who. Be he kind of gets re-educated by our whiner and looses his charm. Well, action scenes are nice. The shooter part is stupid, but can be skipped after the first lap provided that patch is used. Again, the only worthy route is Miki. Even agent Ran's route ends up same stupid as everyone else.
Let's face it - Answer Dead is just a nukige with some B-rate plot and flashy cool protagonist just for the looks. It can't offer quality, so tries to deal with quantity that is repeated over and over in every route. It's the worst type of fake and pretentious chunige.
I believe it's the first time when the number of games in one month exceeds a hundred - 108, to be more precise! And this month can boast of multiple masterpieces - Eigou Kaiki , Sorairo no Shizuku , Peace@Pieces and To Heart 2 . Can't say I'm excited about plotge of the month, so I'm giving the first prize to To Heart 2.
1. D -> A: White [041202] Tonkin House 1
Taking place two months after the events of D→A:BLACK, the player once again takes control of Tōya Shinjō, a "Shinigami" who works together with the angel Yuriel Arlencloyn to guide lost souls called "Creeps" that are lingering in the human realm.
Direct sequel is more interesting gameplay-wise and story-wise, but battles are still not user-friendly. Since battles need to be repeated in future playthroughs, there's little incentive to go on. Branching is super difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the prequel. Ending conditions are super strict, so just one innocent miss in option can ruin it all. Story is much longer, but only extensively by adding material, not depth.
2. Mahou wa Ameiro? 魔法はあめいろ？ [041203] Sirius
Sakutaro, a practice teacher, has a special power. One day, he meets three girls by chance. He knows two of them, but he doesn't know the third one. She suddenly says to him, "Please teach me how to use magic!"
Ordinary moege, as you might have guessed. There is magic, but it only contributes to the setting and entourage. Only sympathy for some heroine can drive to go on after seeing main heroine's route.
3. Futakoi 双恋 [041209] MediaWorks 1
The story begins with Nozomu Futami returning to the town where he was born and raised as a child. He moves in near a shrine which houses a legendary stone that was rumoured to have been the place where twin girls turned into birds. The stone is rumoured to be the cause of an abundance of twin girls who are born in the town. The twins who turned into birds did so because of their love for a man who couldn't choose between them. Shortly after Nozomu enters town he begins to run into the same problems as six pairs of twins fight for his love.
We've already seen Sister Princess 1 and 2 from this company. What can be better than Sister Princess? Twin sisters! Same silly in its absurdity concept. Everyone sticks to the protagonist from the start. I'm just afraid my jaw can go numb from all this sickly sweetness.
4. Sweet and Sweet [041210] Black Package
Main wants to enter a university and become a teacher. He is not sure in his career choice, so he decides to become a tutor for his childhood friend first. In the library he meets a girl standing away from her friends...
Game is neither about scenario, nor it has any charming heroines. That's what happens when nukige producer decides to make something different for a change. Nothing good happens.
5. Tetsuwan Gacchu! 鉄腕がっちゅ！ [041210] Studio Miris
Akemi, Marika and Meimei were live on local radio station as usual when their director assassination occurred. After that the ultimate battle started between contestants to determine the personality of the "new Gachumi".
It's a gameplay oriented game first of all, so need to like gameplay.
6. White Diamond 2 [041215] SystemSoft Alpha
Main character Alberto is the son of the lord in a medieval city Ruenburg. He returns home after studying abroad and finds his native home devastated by monster raids. He learns about the "White Diamond" legend that can help to defeat the monsters and sets on a journey.
It's TRPG first of all, so not sure that it belongs to the visual novel tribe just like as its predecessor. Battle parts is simpler than usual. There are a lot of sub quests devoted to different heroines. There is time limit that really get on one's nerves at times. Any heroine with the highest favorability at the moment of revealing mystery o f White Diamond gets her ending.
7. Eigou Kaiki 永劫回帰 [041217] D.O.
Katsuragi Tetsuo, the protagonist, is a highschool student who lives with his older sister Yuri.
Yuri, having originally lived in a foreign country, is a mainstay of the family and make a living by the work of translation at home. They have a bedridden sister with no consciousness too. The doctor don't know what's the disease what makes her to stay lying in bed as a beautiful doll. Tetsuo have two good friends too, Izumi, his neighbor and childhood friend, and the good-hearted nerd, Seiji. The three had always live in harmony. The story begins in the town where they live, where bizarre events start to occur. Mutilation murders, cases where someone is killed with a huge blade, are happening. Tetsuo thinks himself to be irrelevant to these cases. However, anxiety rising slightly, Yuri starts to be worried about the hero.
Wow, hard-boiled adventure + D.O. + Watanabe scenario + no reviews sounds so good that I can't believe my eyes. Review is a must have here!
8. El Mayflower エルメイフラワー [041217] Alice Soft
The country is under strict control with secret police sniffing around everywhere. All culture activities are forbidden and offenders thrown to prison. One day touch female inspector crashes in youth's place to crack him down. However, she still remains human traits, so the youth starts to get gradually attracted to her. It's free Alice Soft game and contains only two routes - pure love and mystery ones. Play time is only two hours.
9. Hatenaki Sora はてなきそら [041217] Ankh
Main character is a new doctor. He starts to ask himself what's the true mission of the doctor and struggles to find the answers. However, he soon faces a new test... a girl with intractable disease.
Ankh has a reputation of semi-nukige maker. Unfortunately, this work follows the trend. All kind of nurses, patients and patients' relatives can be captured. But the saddest part is that main heroine route does not really stand out here. Second half has serious development, but not even close to Kana imouto level.
10. Shimaima しまいま [041217] Alice Soft 1
Unbeknownst to humans of the world, two succubus siblings live a peaceful existence in Japan. Their lives are forever changed after a fateful encounter with Yuuki Asuma, a uniquely gifted individual who immediately captures the sisters’ hearts and subsequently guides their uncertain future. Will the sisters’ mutual attraction for the same individual strengthen them together or tear them apart? It is a question Yuuki will ultimately decide…
There is an English review.
11 Shinsetsu Ryouki no Ori 真説 猟奇の檻 [041217] Caligula Soft 1
There is a string of 14 mysterious dissapearances in a single department store that started about 15 years ago. Police still can't find any clues. So store manager decided to hire a private detective to solve this strange case. He has only 9 days to finish his work.
There is an English review
12. Sorairo no Shizuku そらいろの雫 [041217] Nico
Main character frequents his father's friend researcher place where girl of the same age resides. The young people spend their days merrily till the day parents get lost in an expedition. As time passes protagonist gradually recovers from the shock. He starts to get interested in the new female transfer student. At the same time mysterious events begin to occur around him...
First lap is reserved for sister-in-law, then for mysterious transfer student, and finally for the even more mysterious homeless person. The contents is juvenile superpower sci-fi battle. It can also be described as a light moege. Volume is a bit small.
13. Soul Link [041217] Navel 1 2 3 4 5 6
Fall, 2045C.E. Aizawa Shuuhei, a second year cadet enrolled in Central Military Academy’s main division, is dispatched to the orbital space station Aries on a training mission. There he reunites with his younger brother, Ryouta, and his childhood friend, Nao, both of whom reside there as cadets enrolled in the preparatory division.
Then a unidentified space ship under the control of Jararacas, a radical terrorist organization, suddenly attacks the Aries and seizes control of the main control room. With all communication lines cut off, Shuuhei and the others have no way to escape; they’re trapped. Trapped in space, 250 miles above the Earth with nowhere to run. In the midst of this desperate situation, the cadets must gather their courage and rise up to take back the Aries. As they do, they draw ever closer to the fearsome truth lurking behind this incident...
Game is localized and has English reviews.
14. Tantei Jinguuji Saburou Series No.05: Akai Me no Tora 探偵 神宮寺三郎 Series No.05 アカイメノトラ [041222] WorkJam 1 2 3
Jake receives a job offer from an old female acquaintance, and is asked to investigate a robbery of an underground casino. Things start to get more complicated when a little girl suddenly shows up at the office, as the truth behind the case begins to unfold.
There are English reviews.
15. Peace@Pieces [041223] Unison Shift 1
Hisato is a temporary homeroom teacher in a wealthy all-girls-school that recently got co-ed. He spends his time brooding over how his life turned this boring until...
The new transfer student accidentally kills him, then revives him and tells him that she is actually a shinigami (god of death) candidate... And that's only the beginning of his not-so-boring-anymore life...
There is an English review.
16. Hitogata Ruins ひとがたルイン [041224] Studio e.go! 1 2 3
In ancient times, in a feudal land, seven clans battle for supremacy and the royal family's favor. There is a tale of legendary weapons called "Makurium", but their existence is considered that of myth. Perhaps to find a way to cease the warring without bloodshed, the princess decrees that she will marry whoever of the seven clans finds any real proof of these weapons. This of course puts those in power in an uproar as they scramble to find them. However, it just so turns out that our hero stumbles upon such a weapon...in the shape of a girl?! Well, if getting an audience and proving her worth isn't enough, all the clansmen are rearing to invade one another again.
There are English reviews
17. Juujigen Rippoutai Cipher ~Aoki Tsuki no Suitei~ 十次元立方体サイファー～蒼き月の水底～ [041224] Abel Software
You and other people are part of some study, and you all have to live in a dark two-story mansion with all the windows shut closed with wooden planks.
Abel Software got turned on detective mystery stories. We get a full-scale investigation game with point and click mechanics and collecting and using items. The red route actually has the Kanno genius touch, but the Blue route is much more disappointing even though it deals more with hidden items and lines. It's not really close to EVE series mystery still.
18. Lime Iro Ryuukitan X ~Koi, Oshiete Kudasai.~ らいむいろ流奇譚Ⅹ ～恋、教ヘテクダサイ。～ [041224] Elf 1
It was Meiji 38 (1905), the Russo-Japanese War that had begun since the previous year was getting hard. In this severe circumstance, they reorganized the Raimu Squad. The members of the Raimu Squad were the girls. They were just like other ordinary girls who went to schools and yearned for love, except that they had “Raimu”.
Inukai Tsuyoshiro was a young man who was newly chosen to be the leader of the squad. He was ambitious to fight for Japan. When the young man met the five girls, the new chapter of “Raimu” began.
There is an English review.
19. Nuigurumer ぬいぐるまー [041224] light 1
This is a world where stuffed animals have hearts, where humans and plushies live in harmony. The Nuigurumer king protects his subjects from the evil Kigurumer, and has an army of human girls who protect the kingdom. However, what will happen when these girls are asked to summon a man from another world to help them in their quest and fight?
There is an English review.
20. To Heart 2 [041228] Leaf 1 2 3 4 5
Following her graduation from middle school, Konomi Yuzuhara enters the same high school as Takāki Kono, her childhood friend. As the new school year begins, they meet their childhood friend Tamaki Kosaka, as well as many new accquaintances. Unbeknownst to the group, their encounters with each other will soon lead to many memorable adventures.
Game is localized and has English reviews.
21. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai ひぐらしのなく頃に解 [041230] 07th Expansion 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni takes place during June 1983, at a fictional rural village called Hinamizawa, which has a population of approximately 2000. The main character, Keiichi Maebara, moves to Hinamizawa and befriends his new classmates Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, and Satoko Hojo. Keiichi joins their after-school club activities, which consist mostly of card and board games (and punishment games for the loser, usually him.) Hinamizawa appears to be a normal, peaceful, rural village to Keiichi. However, the tranquility abruptly ends after the annual Watanagashi Festival, a celebration to commemorate and give thanks to the local god, Oyashiro-sama. Keiichi learns that every year for the past four years, one person has been murdered and another has gone missing on the day of the Watanagashi Festival. Keiichi himself soon becomes drawn into the strange events surrounding the Watanagashi Festival and Oyashiro-sama. In each story arc, he or one of his friends become paranoid, and a crime is committed. Usually, the crime involves the murder of one of their own friends. While it seems impossible to tell their delusions apart from the mystery of Hinamizawa, slowly the truth is revealed.
There are English reviews.
BLOCKED
1. Kiss x Kiss Seirei Gakuen Kiss×Kiss 星鈴学園 [041202] Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Game's goal is to increase favorability while talking talking to boys and handing them lunch boxes with the final event reserved for the Valentine's Day .
Otomege
2. Magical Rookie Manisha マジカルルーキー マニーシャ [041202] OPT WORKS
Main character Taro suddenly loses a part-time job right at the beginning of summer vacation, and he can't find a new one. On the street he encounters a tentacle monster, and a magical girl Manisha from another world saves his life. She calls Taro to help her transport all beasts attacking girls back into her world. Can protagonist survive with just 524 yen on his hands?
Doujin
3. Power Pro Kun Pocket 7 パワプロクンポケット7 [041202] Konami
One day Hanamaru High School Baseball Club where main character belongs, is about to lose in a practice match when a mysterious hero "Red" appears from the electronic bulletin board, and match is won brilliantly. The next day "Red" comes as a transfer student. In addition, other heroes such as blue and yellow appeared, and the Hanamaru High School Baseball Club became a powerful team. But former members, including protagonist, are getting driven away from the main team. They need to take action to regain their robbed baseball club.
Gameboy exclusive
4. Fami☆Resu ファミ☆れす [041203] Sage
Main character hops into family restaurant "Magnolia" to have a midnight snack. The three waitress there behave in a totally unexpected way by taking provocative poses and encouraging flirting. How will it all end?
Nukige
5. Only One 2 ~Naomi Ai no Inori ga Todoku Toki~ オンリーワン2～なおみ 愛の祈りが届く時～ [041203] Globe
Main character starts to date Naomi girl. After one trivial fight he runs away on a motorcycle in an unstable mental state and loses consciousness as a result of a traffic accident. His spirit leaves the body, but shinigami can't capture it unless Naomi strong love link is cut. Protagonist makes a deal with the Grim Reaper to revive just in order to spoil Naomi's memories thus breaking her free from the past relations. The days of Naomi's humiliation begin.
Nukige
6. Ryoujoku Gojuusou ~Ingoku e no Izanai...~ 凌辱五重奏～淫獄への誘い…～ [041203] Anim
After nurses humiliation and molester titles Anim presents a new practical work satisfying needs of those having fantasies over office worker ladies.
Nukige
7. Sakura Yuki 桜雪 [041203] Puppet
Main character graduates from school already being an experienced agent. He killed terrorists and burned down their hidden lairs. He is only saved from law persecution by his father holding a powerful military position. Protagonist's new mission is to escort some secret cargo. He is irritated by such trivial task, but the convoy gets under resistance attack desperate to obtain the cargo. The box gets damaged and a young non-human male shows up from it. He has no ties with the resistance, so his meaning is now known. How the story unfolds depends on protagonist's actions.
Boys Love
8. Seal Princess ~Ohime-sama wa Fuuinchuu~ シールプリンセス～お姫様は封印中～ [041203] Lusterise
In a fantasy setting world there is a small country sandwiched between great powers. The king is the descendant of an evil king who sealed demon king powers inside his body. The seal has weakened over time, so a ritual is required to strengthen it. The three princesses are the means to perform the ritual and prevent evil king resurrection. They are ready to cooperate and accept any incoming insults.
Nukige
9. HELPLESS [041205] GLYCO.
Inui is sent unknown data that's linked to many acquaintances from "Prince of Tennis". Inui joins the case as a cooperator at first, but case engulfs him very soon. Lost memories of the distant past, events of childhood that can not be remembered, important things that should not exist. Can heroes really get to the truth?
Doujin otomege
10. My Pet Ciel マイペットシエル [041205] MOON GODDESS
4th episode in My pet Tsukihime series.
She who should have died is alive. Additionally, a mysterious girl comes to the scene for a new development. Ciel decides to play along with Shiki in this betrayal story.
Doujin Nukige
11. Sprung [041208] Longtail Studios 1
Brett and Becky have been longtime friends for as long as they could remember. They go on a trip to a ski resort owned by Connor. Their feelings for one another made both of them go on the trip together as an attempt to find not only love but promising future opportunities. Brett is hopelessly placed on the bottom of the totem pole, where he has to deal with Elliot and Conor, two well-to-do men who are richer, more charming and more famous than him. Becky's story revolves around her relationship with Brett, Becky was promised a modelling career by Elliot but the price of the contract was a chance to date her. As Brett tries to win the heart of the girls against the two big shots of the resort, Becky is caught in a model rat race against Kiki and Alex while she wonders who does she really love?
EVN
12. Aku Chuunyuu -Kimi ni Sasageru Akui no Tamashii- 悪注入-君に捧げる悪意の魂- [041210] Matsuri Kikaku
Main character watches a meteorite fall at night and walks to the collapse spot. But he only finds a gothic girl Lilim at that place. Lilim says that she is a devil who arrives to the human world to become a full-fledged person. Protagonist can't help the temptation to teach her the obscene side of humanity. But the story takes an unexpected turn as the wings of destiny approach.
Nukige
13. Bishuu ~Chigyaku no Mesu Dorei~ 美醜 ～恥虐の牝奴隷～ [041210] EXtry
Main heroine is appointed president of a long-established underwear manufacturer “Chris” due to her father's sudden death. Her business partner betrays her, and days of insult training begin. Is it part of a larger conspiracy against the company?
Nukige
14. Chibi Mama ちびママ [041210] CoreMoreco
You are a horny teenager suddenly surrounded by girls! When your mother died, your father remarried a girl only 2 years older than you, and then he passed away. When he died, your stepmother returned to her childhood form from the shock! You also have a stepsister who lives with you, and you can expect regular visits from your childhood girlfriend, and twin sisters who are your neighbors.
Nukige
15. Hitozuma Onna Kyoushi Reika ~Nyuujoku no Mesu Dorei~ 人妻女教師・麗香～乳辱の雌奴隷～ [041210] Guilty
Murakami Toshiaki had a crush for his beautiful homeroom teacher, Tachibana Reika. As his feelings grow stronger, he musters the courage to hand her a love letter, but it was a mistake. Reika tore up the letter after reading it loud in front of all the class's students. Since then his school life became worse, until one day of his 2nd year, he found Reika masturbating on the school toilet. Taking pictures of the shocking scene with his phone, he begins to threaten Reika with those pictures.
Nukige
16. Jokutsuma ~Goriyou wa Keikakuteki ni~ 辱妻 ～ご利用は計画的に～ [041210] Love Juice
Main character is one of the best in the world of dark finance. He is merciless to the other party who delays payment. If the opponent is a married woman, she is demanded to pay with her body gradually depriving her of freedom and breaking her mentally suitable only for sex slave life.
Nukige
17. Mahjong 麻雀 [041210] NekoNeko Soft
As the title implies, the game focuses on Mahjong and was released in celebration NekoNeko's 5th anniversary.
Card Game
18. Miko-san Hosoude Hanjouki Extra 巫女さん細腕繁盛記えくすとら [041210] Studio Fan disc includes: 1. Action game "Fight, Kanae-chan!!" 「香奈恵ちゃんFight!!」 2. After-story “Daily life at Kagami Shrine” 「加賀見神社の日常」
3. Extra H scene collection "Miko's secret" 「巫女さんの内緒」 4. Collection of movies and arranged songs “Green Tea Theater” 「緑茶シアター」 5. Additional scene for Megami-sama ☆ ni Onegai!!
Fandisc
19. Oku-sama wa Onee-chan!? 奥様はおねえちゃん！？ [041210] Tryset
In Oku-sama wa Onee-chan you play as Toshiya, an overly shota-ish high school student, and you find out one day that the onee-san next door (Yukari) that you've had a crush on for a long time is getting married. Later you find out that it's you she is getting married to as part of an arranged marriage between your two families. For most of the game you and Yukari get to know each other better through sex with some side romances with other girls along the way.
Nukige
20. Onee-san Nakadashi Chikan Ressha お姉さん中出し痴漢列車 [041210] MBS Truth 1
The ‘hero’ of this story has just begun his college years. He’s got a thing for a young professor of his, but he just goes home frustrated on the train every day. One time on his way back, he decides to fool around with one of his fellow train-goers. However, he gets caught by an employee on the train. Does he get in trouble? No! Instead, he’s belittled on his poor technique. Now the main character is under the tutelage of his critic. Will he be more successful with each new target?
Nukige
21. Onemuri Sister おねむりしすたー [041210] Wanko Soft
The male protagonist suffers from 'unhealthy interest' for his adoptive little sister and starts 'playing' with her body during her sleep. Who needs to know the rest?
Nukige
22. Pet Tantei Y's ペット探偵Y’s [041210] Amedeo
17 year old Futaba Yuuka is asked by her grandfather to look out for his pet detective agency as he is away. There to help her is his multi-use robot Barious and her friends.
Otomege
23. Requiem レクイエム [041210] Clock Up
The key to this story is the "Demon Violin". When the power of this violin is used, do you turn the heroine into your prisoner, or do you overcome the temptation and reach for a happy end? Moreover do you become a prisoner to the "Demon Violin", and just watch the humiliation take place? What type of story unfolds, is left up to you.
Nukige
24. Yakin Byoutou San 夜勤病棟・参 [041210] Mink
Sora was lying in front of a hospital. He was seriously injured, and when he was about to die, a nurse, Yagami Yuu, helped him. He was sent into an emergency ward, and he met a beautiful woman, Mikage Reika. She was a director of the hospital, and she asked him to become a test subject. Because he didn't have any relatives, he accepted it. Then, Yagami Yuu was supposed to take care of him. Since that day, his fate had changed a lot.
Nukige
25. Asuka Josou Bishounen Ryoujoku Story 2 あすか♂女装美少年凌辱ストーリー２ [041211] Mocking Soft
A beautiful boy had been spending the days out in a school where girls dominate boys. One day, a girl came to the school. How affable transfer studnet, Urasawa Hina changed the life of the boy? The boy begun to like her as things went on. But she had a secret she hadn't said to anybody.....
Doujin Nukige
26. Imokoi Diary~ 妹恋だいあり～ [041213] Chain-Reaction
Main character meets his female cousin who is a ripe woman already. He can't stop fantasizing about her after reading her diary where she describes her affection towards protagonist.
Nukige
27. Probation [041215] Kotama Yuri
The protagonist is a novice adventure white mage who got separated from her party deep in a forest and saved from monsters by some handsome men. It seems that they have also been separated from some party members and are lacking a healer. So they decide to cooperate with her to get out of the forest and reunite with their respective party members.
Doujin Otomege
28. Chikan wa Hanzai! 痴漢は犯罪！ [041217] Fulltime
Main character is a student council president and the most popular boy at school with his personal fan-club. But his true identity is molester and transvestite. Whenever he sees a cute proud girl, he can go any lengths to crush her will and enslave her. He wears girl clothes and approaches his prey under disguise of cute girl Akira.
Nukige
29. Dessert Love -Kare to no Hajimari- Dessert Love－彼とのはじまり－ [041217] TiramisuVilla
Haruka has been working at a general office for several years and has been living by herself in a small apartment for a pretty long time. However one day her job is changed and now she has to work under Ichijou of the Sales Department. Ever since this happened, she’s been encountering strange people…
Otomege
30. Gakuen Toukou Shashin ~Hentai Seiheki no Mezame...~ 学園投肛写真～変態性癖の目覚め…～ [041217] Ail
Main character likes reading erotic magazines. He wants to find a partner to shoot photos and send them to the magazines. On one defecation scene page he recognizes a female classmate in one of the actresses. He seems to have found the right partner just now.
Nukige
31. Gozenreiji no Sanbika 午前零時の讃美歌 [041217] Amagasa Higasa Jimusho
One day main character meets a girl in the underground mall. But when they start dating girl becomes the abuser. Is life of masochism what he desires?
Doujin Nukige
32. Innyuu Kazoku ~Boku to Haha to Ane to Imouto to~ 淫乳家族～僕と母と姉と妹と～ [041217] West Vision
Main character is a spoiled student. After his father's death his mother and three sisters are eager to fulfill any his wishes. It becomes a physical relationship with everyone in the family in no time. His sex habits degenerate as time goes on.
Nukige
33. Muv-Luv Supplement マブラヴ サプリメント [041217] Age
Muv-Luv Supplement is a Muv-Luv fandisc. It contains: * Sakura no Hana ga Saku Mae ni ~Muv-Luv After Episode~, an after story for Sumika's ending in Muv-Luv Extra. * Muv-Luv Duelist, a spin-off of Muv-Luv featuring the Rumbling Angel trading card game. * Muv-Luv ~Another Episode Collection~, an assortment of short stories featuring Muv-Luv's various characters. * Kiminozo Rajio Shucchouban 2 (Kiminozo Radio, part two) * Muv-Luv Alternative trailer with JAM Project's Asu e no Houkou playing as the theme. * The short story "Waga Na wa Meiya" (My Name is Meiya) in Supplement introduces two characters who strongly resemble the super robots Grendizer and Raideen. * Accessories, wallpapers and voice files.
Fandisc
34. Pururun Cafe ぷるるんカフェ [041217] Trabulance 1 2 3 4 5 6
My dad was getting old, so I suppose I should have expected him to eventually collapse like he did the other day. His beloved cafe wouldn't stand his absence while he recovered in bed, though, so I knew my duty - I gave notice at the office job I'd worked since graduating college, and entered the whole new world of cafe management! Cocoa, a girl who worked here part time in the past, has helped me out a lot by coming back to her waitress job while I learn the ropes. We were still just scraping by, until one day my former co-worker Mitsuki stopped by with an offer to work part-time at the cafe as well! Cocoa wasn't too happy, but we needed the help, so I gladly accepted. Little did I know that she wouldn't be the last busty beauty vying for my attention - and that of the customers! Before I knew it, I found myself surrounded by four of the women most important to me in my life. It's wonderful to have them here, and without their help the cafe would be in shambles - but I could do without the stress caused by dealing with the four of them at once! I'm just lucky they're more than willing to help me relax at the end of a hard day's work...
Nukige
35. Shinshou Genmukan 真章 幻夢館 [041217] Ciel
Kido is a private detective. One day, he receives a job offer. It is just to guard his client. He once tries to refuse it, but Mei, Kido's partner, tells him to accept it. Kido reluctantly accepts the offer and visits the client's house. There lives Ayano, a daughter of the client, Shibata, a butler, Imada, a janitor, Nozomi, a live-in maid, and Kaoru, Ayano's home tutor. Kido asks Shibata what's his job, but he just gives a vague answer. He doesn't know what to do, but he gradually gets to know the secret of the family....
Nukige
36. S-TRIPPER [041217] Monoceros
Takeru Hibino was in a sex-only relationship with his boyfriend, Kazuomi and so, leaves him. In order to forget him, Takeru decides to take part in a male-only tour around the world. His best friend, Iida Shinnosuke (who suggested the trip) and his twin brother (with a huge brother-complex), Shinobu, will be tagging along with him. Also, on the tour will be a sports writer, a reclusive writer, an enthusiastic student, a kind doctor and a strange guy who seems to be watching Shinobu. Strange and interesting things happen on the trip. In the end, will Takeru be able to forget about Kazuomi and find new love?
Boys Love
37. Suzumiya Keimu Shoukan 鈴宮刑務娼館 [041217] Alice Soft
In near future private prisons save the overcrowded penitentiary system. They use prisoners' labor as a means of financing. Main character dreams of director's wife, so he comes up with a revolutionary way to earn money - by using female prisoners as prostitutes.
Nukige
38. Tsumi-Batsu 罪罰－ツミバツ－ [041217] Yui Koubou
Kazuhiko lost his parents in an unexpected accident on the way to a family trip, and because of that accident he lost his memory too, having just fragments. He was invited by an old friend of his deseased father to live in his house, with his family. And he became like an older brother to Masako, the daughter of that family, one year younger than him. The time passes in that house, with him living a peaceful and happy life. But one day, Kazuhiko witnesses something completely unexpected. His old memory starts to gradually come back, and he starts to going mad.
Nukige
39. Ultra Mahou Shoujo Manana vol.3 ウルトラ魔法少女まなな vol.3 [041217]
Vol.3 Includes stories №6-8:
6.「お約束満載？ 超恋愛シミュレーションの罠！」 7. 「ダイイングメッセージは猫の先っちょ」 8. 「地獄からやってきたマジカルシスタープリンセス」
Anthology
40. Ura Nyuugaku ~Ineki ni Nureta Kyoukasho~ 裏入学～淫液に濡れた教科書～ [041217] Atelier Kaguya
Main character is a first-class teacher is out of luck. He is commanded by director to retire and take up guidance over three girls who lag behind in studies to pursue their dreams. The aim is to turn them into sex slaves and get them enrolled to a famous school.
Nukige
41. Koibito Double One コイビト・ダブルワン [041218] Pelpan OMT
"Does brother like small children"? - asks Mio-chan who lives next door and takes a provocative pose.
Doujin Nukige
42. Youma Jutai ~Ingoku no Taimashi~ 妖魔受胎～淫獄の退魔士～ [041220] Black Lilith
A mother and daughter whose job is monster buster ends up gang humiliated by monsters! To impregnate them babies of the monsters, a large tentacle bigger than an arm of the young girl, torn into her tight slit. "Ikei no Mono" gang rape the mom's rich, heavenly body, the two are forced to have "futanari' lesbian sex...... It is a nightmare....
Nukige
43. Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi 幕末恋華・新選組 [041222] Vridge Inc.
What if there was a lone girl in the Shinsengumi? What will happen? The game follows certain events in Shinsengumi history like the Sumo wrestlers in Osaka, Serizawa's assassination, the raid at the Ikeda-ya and so on.
Otomege
44. Boku No Natsuyasumi Himitsu Taiken ボクの「なつやすみ」ヒミツたいけん [041222] Complet's
A 3rd installment of "Himitsu Taiken" series.
Nukige
45. Harukanaru Toki no Naka De 3 遙かなる時空の中で3 [041222] Koei 1
One rainy day Nozomi Kasuga and her two friends encounter a strange boy at their high school, who sends them hurtling across time and space to a place in another world called Kyō. This place bears a strong resemblance to Kyoto at the end of the Heian period, where the Minamoto clan (Genji), led by Minamoto no Yoritomo (based on the historical Minamoto no Yoritomo), is at war with the Taira clan (Heike), led by Taira no Kiyomori (based on the historical Taira no Kiyomori). The Heike hope to defeat the Genji by releasing vengeful spirits to disturb the Earth's natural flow of energies and to terrorize the land. The boy that Nozomi met is revealed to be the human form of Hakuryū, the White Dragon God said to protect Kyō, whose powers have greatly weakened due to the presence of the onryō. Nozomi discovers that she has the power to seal the onryō as Hakuryū no Miko, and she allies herself with the Genji in order to seal the onryō, restore Hakuryū's powers, and return home to her own world.
Otomege
46. Pink Haze 2 [041222] Hanjuku Nora
Main character has been working in a semen clinic for half a year already. Friend's pharmacist deliberately wants his semen. One day another pharmacist comes over and evaluates his sperm as "not that interesting". What's the fate of protagonist and his semen?
Doujin Nukige
47. Erumani 2 えるまにーに [041223] Shinjita Baka ga Ore Datta
An incomplete sequel to Erumani.
Doujin
48. Barbaroi [041224] Xuse
The greatest toys in the world are something that cannot be bought, rather, they must be made, crafted if you will. In Asuka Takamiya's eyes, no other is more suited for the task. Hauntingly beautiful, with a dark allure; these are tools, gifts, curses, all of which are used to slowly reel in prey, their pain will be Asuka's greatest pleasure...
Nukige
49. Oyatsu no Jikan おやつのじかん [041224] Studio Ring 1 2
The protagonist is a young pâtissie who wants to become a world class bakery chef. Because of his knowledge of sweets he takes a job as a school nurse at Sweets School, a school where sweets learn everything from sports to cooking. As the school nurse, he uses his knowledge of baking and cooking to take care of them when they become sick or injured often by adding sauces or toppings when they're ill.
Lolicon
50. Ryoujoku Guerilla Gari 2 凌辱ゲリラ狩り2 [041224] Liquid
The stage is a country, where a civil war is taking place. The main character is a member of a guerrilla group, fighting against the government every day. His frustration accumulates day by day due to this endless battles. One day, he meets a soldier of the government army. He often gets money from companies by extortion in the name of protecting from the guerrilla groups. The main character decides to betray his guerrilla group and starts to hang with him. And he sends the girls of his guerrilla group to the soldiers and insult them. What will happen to them in the end?
Nukige
51. Slow Step ~Hajimete no Ren'ai~ Slow Step～初めての恋愛～ [041224] Image Craft
Main character decides to protect a new transfer student when she gets bullied. A common sense of sympathy overgrowing into love is born on that day. But what about childhood friend and school idol that he is already secretly in love with?
Nukige
52. Volga Series 1 ~Moteasobareru Onna-tachi~ VOLGA SERIES1 ～弄ばれる女達～ [041224] Tam's
The collection of three stories with the themes of cat ears, female teachers and SF parody: 1.「配達される仔猫達」 2.「となりのＭＹティーチャー」
3.「怪しき淫人」
Anthology Nukige
53. Ningyou no Yume to Mezame 人形の夢と目覚め [041227] Sol-fa-soft
The protagonist moves to a different town during the summer vacation. He is lonely and misses his friends, whom he could play with. One day, while out exploring the new town, he meets a girl living in a big mansion. She is very sheltered and rarely leaves her home. The two become fast friends, and while playing with each other, they gradually learn what sex is.
Doujin Nukige
54. An☆Devi -ANGEL or DEVIL- えん☆でび -ANGEL or DEVIL- [041229] Haikara Kissa
I am hopeless in real life, playing games in my room all day..... My life has been like that for months since I failed the entrance exams of university...... But, an angel appears to save my life, I comes to live the angel together in my room.
Nukige
55. Hime Choukyou Yugami Kitta Ai no Katachi 姫調教歪みきった愛のカタチ [041229] Chinsoft
Princess of some country comes to Japan to attract companies to her country. Genius Japanese trader offers his services to introduce the best companies. As a gratitude for help princess has various gifts to offer.
Doujin Nukige
56. Like Life Hyouko Ban LikeLife 氷庫版 [041229] Hooksoft
In additional to wallpapers and system voices game includes additional mini-scenarios related to original game.
Fandisc
57. Machikado no Boulanger ~Chuumon no Ooi Panya-san~ 街角のブーランジェ～注文の多いパン屋さん～ [041229] F&C FC01
This bakery exists in the suburbs for several generations. It's famous for fresh bread, cute waitresses and especially for accepting custom orders. Main character needs to manage this enterprise while his parents are away on a trip. There is only his cousin and his childhood friend to help him. This is a story depicts three people's relations deepen as they work together under a single roof.
Lolicon
58. Nekomimi Honey Life ネコミミハニィライフ [041229] BornClunkers
One day, the protagonist, Takaki, looks into a pet shop window and sees a catgirl for sale. He instinctively decides to buy her. Thus begins their cohabitation.
Doujin Nukige
59. Toy Tsumechaimashita! TOYつめちゃいましたっ [041229]
Clover Heart's append disk
Fandisc
60. Again ~Sakai no Machikado~ Again～再会の街かど～ [041230] Effort
Main character receives an anonymous letter saying "I want to see you". According to the mark, the sender is someone who lives in Hakodate, the town of his childhood. There were three girls he was particularly close to. He takes the plane to chase his love. Doujin
61. Friends 2 ~Child Fruit~ フレンズ2 ～Child Fruit～ [041230] Shiritsu Sakuranbo Shougakkou
Sayaka sneaks into her uncle's room at night and starts to cry and kiss. Her sister witnesses the scene and approaches as well. Two elementary school students love their uncle. How long will this punishment last?
Doujin Nukige
62. Fukigen na Imouto 不機嫌な妹 [041230] Stray Moon
Main character is asked to take educational guidance over his relative who does not attend school. The situation unfolds in the way that two young persons share fever this day.
Doujin Nukige
63. Funi-kun no Obenkyou フニ君のお勉強 [041230] Nest.
Main character is the most unhappy student in the world as he never receives Valentine's chocolate.
This year he is desperate to get some. And he gets a bar of chocolate... from a furry kid Funi. The kid likes to study, but he has difficulty washing his head, so he asks protagonist to lend a hand. What will main character do now?
Doujin Boys Love
64. Hanasaku Otome no Tame no Kiyuukyoku 花咲くオトメのための嬉遊曲 [041230] Lover Soul
Baseball bus crashes on the way home. Many people die, and main character loses his feet. His lover is in the woman baseball team and currently recruits members for a new team. Protagonist gets invited to become this team's coach. Doujin
65. Isshou ni Ichido Dake Saku Hana no Namae de 一生に一度だけ咲く花の名前で [041230] More More Entertainment
Main character notices the silhouette of a tower in the blue sky. Some call it "Tower of flame heat". At the same time human body evaporation incidents start to occur on the streets. He meets a girl and unwillingly gets involved in a fight among three factions...
Doujin
66. Lewdness Leccion ~Midara na Maid to Kodoku na Goshujin-sama~ Lewdness Leccion ～淫らなメイドと孤独なご主人様～ [041230] Parthenon
Hentai sim game, feat. an ill-starred beautiful maid. You play a family head of Mido's, happens to take over a young lady Yuki Mana whose father killed himself because of large debts to Mido's. Defloration, bondage, gangbang, etc. Voice acted by Aoyama Nagare
Doujin Nukige
67. May Reason [041230] Soft Circle Courreges
I want to cum inside a swimsuit...and inside of buruma (gym shorts), and inside the hidden creases of school uniforms... I want to masturbate to the underwear that my older sister was just wearing, and I want to do it wearing buruma. The main character, who can't have sex with his beloved older sister, happened upon an idea...use his sister's clothes instead! His sister in turn accepts his passions -- this is a brother and sister erotic story. In the end, they end up fulfilling their desires in different places -- just as you might expect.
Doujin Nukige
68. Mimosa ミモザ [041230] in the air
A young man Klein helps girl Mimosa in the forest and takes her to the village. She asks about his destination, and it turns out to be legendary "Death Forest" full of treasures. Mimosa ridicules him for believing in fairy-tales. Villagers distrust stranger, and village swordsman girl Yomi rudely asks him to dispatch early. He regrets helping such a village and intends to leave it...
Doujin
69. Ryuuguu Gaimu ~Garasu no Naka no Tsubasa~ 流寓街夢～ガラスの中の翼～ [041230] Neco-inco
Sai and his sister, Ifa, grew up in the mountains of Szechuan. Their parents are dead. Ifa's lover, Koan, is a chips and offers to bring both of them to live in Eden. They both arrive in D. Zone as visitors and Sai is adopted by an old man, who teaches him how to be a pickpocket. Ifa is offered a counterfeit chip by a kind stranger, Hayami. She wanted Sai to go into Eden first but he told his sister that she should go ahead and be with her lover. Ifa promises to earn money and get a chip for Sai when she can. But she disappears and was supposedly executed in a government crackdown on visitors with fake Chips, according to her lover who passed a bloodied chip (supposedly Ifa's) to Sai's guardian eight years ago. Sai goes on a journey (with a partner of your choice) to find Koan and about what really happened to Ifa.....
Doujin Boys Love
70. SchoolxSchool [041230] Arufa to Yukai na Nakama-tachi
Main character is an ordinary high school student living his life casually surrounded by a colorful cast of unique personality friends. The summer sports festival on the sea approaches triggering a complex net of emotions and rivalry.
Doujin
71. SF: Onee-san Teacher エスエフ おねえさん☆てぃ～ちゃ～ [041230] Fan-na
Akira was struggling with his exams, when an older and busty private instructor, Lumina, can into his life. His sister like childhood friend also gets involved in his daily routine, of studying and love and sex. What waits ahead... and a surprising turn of events for the 3 of them?
Doujin Nukige
72. White Lady [041230] Splush Wave
White Lady is a game in which you have to train an elf princess from a far-away land.
Doujin Nukige
73. Asa no Hikari ga Matenakute 朝の光が待てなくて [041230] Conohana
Kosuke is bullied by classmates every day, and stress accumulates. His older sister Mika sympathizes with him very much as she also faces bullying at school. Parents rarely return from work, so Mika offers her body to brother, and the two drown in sexual pleasures. They dream about the time problems disappear, but in reality things become only worse now aggravated by the sense of immorality of incest.
Doujin
74. Injoku Kissa 淫辱喫茶 [041231] Studio-Sakura
Main character is a family restaurant manager. He invents a plan to insult two co-workers - a clumsy girl and an elegant woman. Will he succeed? Doujin Nukige
75. Inclusion ~Suishou no Furiko~ Inclusion～水晶の振子～ [0412] Ritz software
New college student Futaba arrives at school one day to find the dead body of a professor--and it seems the professor's death was less than natural. Then Futaba comes into the possession of a crystal belonging to the late professor, and his life takes a turn for the strange and inexplicable....
Doujin Boys Love
76. Moonrise [0412] Kumys
Teacher warns main heroine that Sakura-kun has the same ability to turn feelings into power at night. The only way for her to get to college is to defeat the opponent side at high school. Can teacher be trusted? Which side will she take?
Doujin Otomege
77. Aki no Koi. 秋の恋。 [0412] Shibashiri Koubou
Main character is a student who is requested to inspect different school clubs. Depending on his choice he will end up with one of the persons there.
Doujin Boys Love
78. Haru no Koi. 春の恋。 [0412] Shibashiri Koubou
Main character is a student on a lunch break. He may choose to speak to his acquaintance, eat alone at the cafeteria or eat outside. Depending on that he will end up with one of the persons there.
Doujin Boys Love
79. Kaleidoscope カレイドスコープ [0412] NaGISA
Main heroine has a fun school life with her childhood friend and classmate. Summer vacations approach and they plan to go to the sea together. This story depicts Megumi learn about the preciousness of life and growing up, as well as hope for tomorrow and the courage to go on.
Doujin
80. Kanrika! カンリカ！ [0412] Mujirushi Labo
Five employees in the management section are suddenly informed about restructuring! The only way to save the job is to get to the top in the company!
Doujin Boys Love
81. Kichiku Yuugi "Momo" 鬼畜遊戯「桃」 [0412] C-Space
Become a protagonist who needs needs to raise his subordinate into and a nasty ass slave in 15 days to cover his huge debt.
Doujin
82. Madataki まだたき [0412] Action Film Theater
Celeste looks at the peaceful sky. Someday, he will travel to the wide world. But for now the ordinary life is good and full of fascinating encounters.
Doujin Boys Love
83. Mamushi no Ohime-sama マムシのお姫様 [0412] IRON MAIDEN
The Seigaku Tennis club has won numerous battles in the Kanto tournament to reach the finals. The opponent team is overwhelmingly strong and has the full support of the public. Only a few days left before the grand finale. Main character and his colleagues start their training.
Doujin Boys Love
84. Mari X Ali Tactics ~Ute! Namida no Tsundere Arisu~ まり×ありたくてぃくす ～撃て!涙のツンデレアリス～ [0412] Yaoyorozu-Kobo
Mahjong Club sets a camp to start special training for the summer national tournament. The members decide to hold a strip mahjong competition to tune their skills.
Doujin Card Game
85. Natsuiro Zensen なついろ前線 [0412] Action Film Theater
No idea, not a single trace of it
Doujin Boys Love
86. Natsu no Koi. 夏の恋。 [0412] Shibashiri Koubou
Main character is a student. He may choose to go to the sea, socialize or rest after part-time job and depending on that reach one of the prepared endings.
Doujin Boys Love
87. Re-Act re-Act -リアクト- [0412] ThisArmor
Main character forgets his gym clothes and bullies his juniors.
Doujin Boys Love
88. Saeko-san to Issho! 冴子さんといっしょ♪ [0412] Terios
Fandisc contains a mini-scenario devoted to Rindou Saeko heroine.
Fandisc
89. Teikyuu Yuugi - Stories 庭球遊戯 stories [0412] Cookie
There are three stories:
1. Tezuka and Fuji are looking for a mysterious witch Yukimura in an isolated Western-style house
2. What is the sad dream that protagonist sees every night? The search for the destiny prince begins. 3. A genius gets tricked and struggles against the remnants of a married couple.
Doujin Boys Love
90. Tsukasa no Satisfaction ツカサの☆さてぃすふぁくしょん♪ [0412] Terios
One year after events of Natsuiro ☆ Communication ♪. Main character is visited by Tsukasa suddenly while he prepares to summer with his lover Chinatsu. Tsukasa wants help with practice for the drama club. A long night of trouble begins.
Fandisc
91. Work/Worth ワーク・ワース [0412] Mujirushi Labo
Company management love SIM. Become a president and get along with employees while rebuilding the company.
Doujin Boys Love
92. Finderd Eyes ファインダードアイズ [0412] Reimonya
In order to regenerate the terrestrial environment degraded by the Third World War, humans migrate to underground cities. The oppressed artificial intelligence society is formed in these unsuitable conditions. But one day people are seen flying in the air. They are called "finders". Their air battle with underground society begins.
Doujin
93. Half Line Pan 2 [0412] Studio HLR
It's a warm pants story between main character and heroine Mito. It shows the irresistible charm of pants glimpses.
Doujin
94. Sougetsu Miko Kitan 蒼月巫女奇譚 [0412] Milk House
Shrine maiden protects gates to another world. But as she goes to the settlement of monsters, she is lured in the trap set by tentacle beast.
Doujin
95. Half Line Pan 2 ~Pantsu Shijou Saikou no Pantsu-ge~ Half Line Pan 2 II ～パンツ史上最高のパンツゲー～ [0412] Studio HLR
Main character returns to this city for the first time in six months. The place he stayed at is under reconstruction, so he has to find an inn. There are six cute girls who live nearby. And they wear the most fabulous pants protagonist ever seen...
Doujin
Year 2004 pleasantly surprised me with the number and especially quality of visual novels.
New portion of Visual Novel Openings 2004 with songs.
My list of masterpieces in 2004:
3days ~Michiteyuku Toki no Kanata de~
Akai Ito
Carnival
Dear My Friend
Eigou Kaiki
Fate/Stay Night
Forest
Paradise Lost
Peace@Pieces
Realize
Remember11 -The Age of Infinity-
Sorairo no Shizuku
Sorauta
Symphonic Rain
To Heart 2
Uminomichi
I rate only Paradise Lost and Realize as 10/10, but the latter one has technical problems with voiced console release, so technical victory is with Paradise Lost.
Again I ask you to choose one of five visual novels for video and review among the following candidates that I consider curious enough:
3days ~Michiteyuku Toki no Kanata de~
Abandoner - The Severed Dreams
Peace@Pieces
Sorairo no Shizuku
To Heart 2
Foreword: I could not pass by such curious looking chunige.
Title: Eigou Kaiki
Developer: D.O.
Date: 2004-12-17
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v9790
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GfYjxdQ7Y&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv9HwGDuJtaW_7Xb7oD2dWge
Synopsis: Katsuragi Tetsuo, the protagonist, is a highschool student who lives with his older sister Yuri.
Yuri, having originally lived in a foreign country, is a mainstay of the family and make a living by the work of translation at home.
They have a bedridden sister with no consciousness too. The doctor don't know what's the disease what makes her to stay lying in bed as a beautiful doll.
Tetsuo have two good friends too, Izumi, his neighbor and childhood friend, and the good-hearted nerd, Seiji. The three had always live in harmony.
The story begins in the town where they live, where bizarre events start to occur. Mutilation murders, cases where someone is killed with a huge blade, are happening.
Tetsuo thinks himself to be irrelevant to these cases. However, anxiety rising slightly, Yuri starts to be worried about the hero.
Game type: Cliche chunige
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 6/10
Story rating: 7/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Well, no mood for structured review, so let's keep it in the flow of thoughts style. First of all, game kind of disappointed me for how cliche it is. Let's just numerate some of them. School student protagonist. Life in adopted family. Mysterious murders happening to the people he contacted last. Descendants of secret sword clans. Wonder waffle he suddenly discovers, and with such power that it can easily destroy the world. Time loop. Just really - what wicked number of stamps. But in game's defense I should add that no game before actually had such distinct and full number of a classic chunige features. So I guess I'll use Eigou Kaiki as a paragon of chunige till the time I find something even more sickly.
We're not done with the negative part yet. There are five heroine routes in the game which are set in predetermined order. And heroines are actually quite shallow here. Childhood friend Izumi at least has much time to shine, so she's probably the most memorable one. Older sister Yuuri is cool, because she knows the most about the clan secrets, but she still does not live up even to Chizuru from Kizuato. Sleeping in coma Hinano route is the worst as poor girl only has time to sleep in coma or have sex, pretty much nothing else. Fourth route is partly intriguing, because Elfriede is actually our antagonist. Fifth heroine Yun is the True heroine that makes separate routes a united story, but she has a small yet important role to play, actually. Journalist Takami was probably the most intriguing heroine, but she did not get her own route. As a raw outcome, only Izumi is a likeable heroine, especially in her interaction with Tadashi classmate. Basically, there is no fighting heroine apart of antagonistic Elfriede. That was a pity for me. At least there was enough gore, partly due to the reason there are no other heroines able to defend themselves.
All right, lets finish with negative sides already. I still consider this game a small and shaky, but masterpiece. It has enough action scenes and small revelations to keep interest. Different heroines' view is refreshing. The true route sums things up neatly. Game could be even better with some surprise element or more developed heroines. Eigou Kaiki can be roughly translated as eternal regression. I'm glad this concept is explained, but it turns just moving backwards in time, nothing big. I enjoyed this game for the whole first route, but not further due to repeatability. Not sure I'll be as generous to generic chunige in future, though.
Foreword: Game interested me with its concept of parallel universe.
Title: Ano Sora no Mukougawa
Developer: High Soft
Date: 2004-11-26
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v1212
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1sFJZ_BWLw&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_VZRGzArVahzwnVXBEy7Gu
Synopsis: Main character starts to date his classmate Miho with the mediation of childhood friend Sayaka. Miho often looks at the sky and prays to it as if in ritual. After the first real date Miho disappears, and another girl Misa with the same surname takes her place. Misa claims that Miho died in a traffic accident while they were children. In this world only protagonist, Sayak and friend Yuki remember grown-up Miho. Is it possible to return to the original world with Miho alive?
Game type: Parallel dimension youth drama
Character Design rating: 5/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10
What surprised me in this game is how different it is from rival charage. It has a strong concept. It has interacting between themselves characters. It's NOT centered around love. Those aspects should be enough to feel the difference. After Miho route I was even going to give this game a masterpiece status. Alas, I got disappointed later on.
Miho is our usual naive and somewhat shy heroine. You probably know by now that I can't stand such heroines, but this time there's a lot of freshness in the heroine, because... she only appears in the first quarter of the game! She's rather a concept than a real heroine - something bright to get to. Her absence is the source of so many novelties numerated.
Misa on the other hand is kind of genki underage heroine. She's cute and cheerful, so she does not irritate. At the same time game brings a revolutionary change for the heroine concept - Misa has NO H event. It's absolutely unthinkable for the modern game. How can everyone have H scenes and one heroine be spared of it?
Sayaka is our bitchy childhood friend. Her image suits this role very poorly, but I admit she managed to produce a significant impression on me with her story and personality.
Ano Sora no Mukougawa is not about love - it's about guilt. No, really. Miho has guilt before her dead sister Misa. Protagonist has guilt before the girls that he needs to "erase". Sayaka is just a single complex of reflexing nerves. But main character's drama is at the center of the narration. He needs to choose - he either kills his lover Miho or he kills her sister Misa and also absolutely innocent bypasser girl Madoka. The torments of hesitation overwhelm the three friends including Sayaka and Yuki. But what was most disappointing for me - is how this conflict is settled. In Miho route one day Miho comes in a vision and asks to bring her back, and it kinda gets decided. In Misa route protagonist just assures himself that Miho wanted Misa to live.
Misa route is an absolute twin of Miho route. What's only added is couple kiss and hug scenes. It's an absolutely worthless route that does not bring anything new to the scene at all. I wish I played Madoka route instead, but I had to cover both main heroines.
An interesting element to notice is Sayaka - Yuki relations. I really like it when main character's friend has his own love and development line. Basically Sayaka - Yuki pair is what kept me playing. There is another less interesting moment... it's that Yuki has his own Boys Love line... yuck.
Overall, Ano Sora no Mukougawa is notable mostly for the game concept. But I can't get rid of the idea that witch such scenario and such novelty features game could be presented in a much better way, with much more complex leads and conclusions. Pretty much any other popular company would make it better with the same material. What game has is honesty. But honesty does not sell well.
Foreword: Well, I just liked the cover - looked like today's charming covers.
Title: Koijibashi
Developer: Raccoon
Date: 2004-08-13
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v4247
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN2JN8bkyZk&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-YnknXUNJpQwDtOqLsGr9p
Synopsis: Yuta Tachibana was supposed to graduate this march, but he decided to do a graduation trip with his childhood friend instead. In their destination, they find Yuta's cousin waiting in a bridge rumored to bring fortune to lovers. What Yuta doesn't know is that even stranger things are waiting around the corner...
Game type: Mythological school trip
Character Design rating: 5/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 5/10
Overall rating: 5/10
Rating comments: Game with 6 score would mean that it has some interest for me. But it does not. Despite the positive moments game can't offer anything to me.
Protagonist: Yuuta does not have a face and is our nobody. No point observing him, really.
Characters: There are as many as six heroines. All the heroines can be roughly divided in two categories - classmates on the school trip and heroines met at the place of destination. Hazuki, Mikoto and Nonoka are our classmates. All of them have pretty much the same flow boring routes with interesting spots only hinted at best. But the other category is much more curious. Karen is our weird half-Japanese who is of unique simpleton personality, but she can actually do miracles thanks to it. The way she handled main conflict of the game is just hilarious. Shiho is Yuuta's pervy cousin. She behaves as a horny OL, but she actually has the most interesting action and mythological scenes inside her route - very similar to Kizuato. Lastly there's one secret'ish heroine Makoto. And I basically can't say anything about her without spoilers. The only thing I'll mention is that she's only available after clearing Mikoto route while all the other heroines are available from the start.
Story: The weirdest part of it all. And weirdest it's because of the bridge that hardly really plays any role in the game. It's just a notorious place to visit. In some routes the final scene has something to do with the bridge, but it's pretty stupid to pull it out by the end while keeping in in shadow along the way. There's very little in the story department in the game. A group of five students (two of them are boys) go to a graduation trip to some onsen near some legendary bridge. Classmates heroines pretty much stop there and after some development have their boring ending. Non-classmates have more or less unique stories at the onsen site - well, memorable, at least.
Overall comments: Don't really want to take much time discussing Koijibashi. It's the debut work of Raccoon and thus with many flaws. Humor. Boy side character Ryuu. Heroine sprites and majority of CG. Everything is really mediocre. And that cute girl on the cover in reality is chaotic Nonoka with her hair being disturbed at all times. Game has no good story. There is no True route. The list of flaws is so big that I really struggle to find anything really worthy. Well, those action and mythology scenes were nice - but again - terribly short. The only route that stands out for me is Karen's. Her unique personality, development and some really nice CG might be enough reason to try to read her route. A pity that such brilliant cover can be totally misleading.
Foreword: This is going to a slightly unusual review, because I'm going to totally ignore main three heroines and focus solely on two side heroines because of Masada scenario writing and uniqueness of these two heroines compared to conventional ones.
Title: Dear My Friend
Developer: light
Date: 2004-07-09
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v519
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvEtF1Nh89A&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-vEHq8MQwNWKJi9NyRbYch
Synopsis: This light-hearted, high school eroge surrounds the exploits of a soon-to-be non-average student named Kyoichi Morikawa. The son of the odd paring of a nurse and a poorly-selling novelist, he’s been living his life in mind-numbing virtuosity. One auspicious day his father returns home after running errands with a girl (about Kyoichi’s age) claiming to be orphaned. Being the good Samaritan, our hero’s father adopts the hapless girl. Now Kyoichi must explain the extraordinary circumstances to his one and only friend. Furthermore, seeing the main character with a girl has caused several of the female student body to take notice of him...
Game type: Charage
Character Design rating: 9/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Rating comments: I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the game. The two heroine routes I saw were unique and charming, protagonist contributed to gags a lot, and side characters really shined in here. A firm masterpiece, I say.
Protagonist: Kyouichi is not really our usual nobody. He has a face and a strong personality. He does not have piety towards girls and plays jokes on them a lot. He's almost as fun as Taichi from Cross†Channel, just less pervy.
Characters: There are five heroines.
Kushiro Mai is our main heroine. And - according to To Heart tradition - the most boring one. She's blushing at every second line and is extremely shy overall. But even she has something fun about her - she leans to Kyouichi all the time despite the environment. That becomes the source of some nice joyful moments. She's the only naive heroine in the game.
Kurihara Tsukuyo is the second heroine that's available from the start. She's our traditional ojou-sama, polite and kind. It's good that she's serious and not naive, but all the other heroines look more interesting to me.
Kitazawa Miyako is the last of three heroines available from the start. She's a genki heroine, but really intelligent at the same time, kind of Ayaka from To Heart. She would be my natural first choice if not for the other two heroines...
Kurosaki Komugi is our crazy alien or so she's introduced in the game. The cute girl with bunny ears swears like a sailor and picks up on everyone. She makes every scene whirl around her. By To Heart analogy she's definitely Multi.
Nagamura Saeka is kind of joker of this game. She looks like a serious sempai, but she turns out to be of mischievous kind. Masada went a long way to invent all kinds of plot twists for her route. The one fact is that in her route Kyouichi dates.... drums-drums... Mai! And Saeka kind of tries to support them. Finishing with To Heart analogies, she's definitely Shiho.
Story: Don't think there is integral story. Mai just starts living in Kyouichi family and attending the same class. Game starts with the choice between heroines, but if we start following Mai route there's later branching to Komugi and Saeka routes. I especially want to take notice of Kyouichi parents - they're marvelous and really funny. Guess now it's time say a few words about my attitude towards heroines. Both Komugi and Saeka routes were really good for the comedy part and quite good for the drama. Not really should game would make it to the masterpiece status for me without these two brilliant routes written by Masada.
Overall comments: I'll be brief since it's not a plotge. I never really cared for charage and grew a disgust towards the titles with great evaluation like Mashiro Iro Symphony or White Album 2 (I hope to bitch about it some day too). I got assured that I can appreciate a charage only in conjunction with some great story like in SubaHibi or Cross†Channel. So Dear My Friend really took me by surprise. There's no great depth or drama in here, but it's an absolutely enjoyable cozy read. And it's not all Masada's praise as Kyouichi's parents written by main author are equally enjoyable. Guess Dear My Friend produced a little revolution in me, and I've yet to know how to live with this thought.
Foreword: There are a lot of praising reviews of this untranslated game (1 2 3), which was a great surprise for me. Are we really observing a great mistreated masterpiece in this case?
Title: MinDeaD BlooD ~Shihaisha no Tame no Kyoushikyoku~
Developer: Black Cyc
Date: 2004-06-11
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v1060
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5YBK4CASw&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8DxlQByl9ojtAByJ-gdpN6
Synopsis: Just off the coast of mainland Japan is the island of Chisakura, home to a city of the same name, where the heralds of darkness are slowly gathering. Host to a prosperous economy, with a nationally renowned academic institution for young women and an equally upstanding medical research facility, the community has unwittingly attracted the attentions of dreaded supernatural creatures with few equals: vampires. Yet even these immortal predators have daring individuals who hunt them, and a secret war between the two powers is quickly racing to an apocalyptic conclusion. At the center of this nightmarish struggle is a man who has the potential to tip the scales in favor of one side or the other. His choice of allies - the hunters, the vampires, or none at all - may very well determine the fate of humanity and the undead.
Game type: Vampire amnesia action nukige
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Since there are other reviews, just some personal impressions are enough. NO. This game is NOT a masterpiece. It was a huge mistake on my part to even launch this game without checking it out properly. Let's try to observe some of its elements.
MinDeaD BlooD does have an ok story, but it's not a great one. The only "events" of the story is getting closer to different heroines and together triggering some kind of ending, often with action scenes. The "events" of bonding are dozens of H scenes with each heroine, over a hundred of events overall. Is there anything worthy about this game - action scenes / heroine stories / amnesia information recovery ? Nope. So why do all these people praise the story? Just one reason - because this game is a nukige. If nukige has some kind of plot involved, it's already treated as a great feat. And if there are complex routes and multiple different endings to contain mystery elements - it's fresh, it's new. Compared to Yami no Koe and Mushitsukai this game really has a good story. But compare it to any normal plotge - and MinDeaD BlooD becomes just an average nukige.
Game has over a hundred of H events, many have the same CG or slightly different CG. Those events are absolutely devaluated. They become mundane means of communication that repeat over and over during the 60 days course of the game. More than that, they are drawn in absolutely disgusting way, so it's no wonder reader gets an immunity over those and just skips them. When real heroines have their final bonding event, there's no emotion left for it, it gets skipped as well. Nukige nature of the game leaves a stamp of disgust on all its elements and really hinders evaluation of the story.
The only way to get game and story interesting is to introduce really interesting characters that start to live on their own creating meanings. I absolutely can't see serious heroines behind these chunks of meat. Protagonist Shizuru with his cool attitude is ok, but basically he is a serial rapist, and I don't have the slightest desire to get to know his psychology.
Game composition is absolutely horrible. For each of 60 days we get to choose where to go both for Shizuru and vampire twins Mana and Mayu. It's absolutely impossible to do anything without a walkthrough here. Even with walkthrough it's very easy to screw something up. There are some 27 endings (don't cite me on that) with some 15 being named ones. But among those named ones most are still bad endings. Some endings only take couple minutes. Some are only accessible through normal mode (not easy mode) and only prior to clearing the rest of the endings. It's really a mess. There aren't heroine endings, just some named ones. Gameplay is such a torture. Hopefully, I covered all the big branches in my video. I really wanted to see all the meaningful branches to be able to evaluate the story properly, but this game does not care about readers at all.
In the raw outcome, MinDeaD BlooD can't be compared to normal plotge like 3days ~Michiteyuku Toki no Kanata de~. It has such gross nature, that it can be compared only to fellow nukige games, and these review scores of 7/10, 8/10, 9/10 should be treated as 7/10, 8/10, 9/10 among nukige games where having any kind of plot is already a boon. Vampire theme got a boost after Tsukihime, but none of the vampire visual novels were able come close to it. I call it Tsukihime curse.
Foreword: Only chose Dingir as the only plotge of the month.
Title: Dingir
Developer: Patisserie
Date: 2004-05-21
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v204
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdYk3gR_Mgc&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8rKP5oDa1nzt0KevjFrmhw&index=29
Synopsis: Year 1014 by local calendar.
Peaceful life is interrupted by betrayal and assassination in the court. Dying king conveys main character Baal the prophecy and asks him to try and save the endangered world. Girl As suddenly appears before Baal and agrees to help him on the journey to the Tower of Judgment.
Game type: Ancient Mesopotamia fantasy adventure
Character Design rating: 4/10
Protagonist rating: 4/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 3/10
Overall rating: 4/10
I don't have much to say about this game. It struck me that I could find only ONE Japanese review of the game. Usually even nukige have at least couple. So game's really neglected for some reason. I was curious to know why.
From the very start game infodumps tons and tons of names. Each such name is underlined, so it's possible to point at it and read an extract regarding each. It's possible, but there's hardly any motivation to do so.
It strikes the eye that half of the girl characters are simplistic with some being totally ugly. But it only does so till you see the first male characters. 100% of them are ugly beyond redemption. Male characters usually move the story and contribute for the atmosphere of the game the most. Here male characters kill the game just from the start.
Talking about this compromised ugly game further on is difficult, but let's try to. There's no real story beyond the synopsis. Only pointless talks and some armed clashes clustered here and there make for the length. Baal only needs to get back to his mother castle and battle impostor with his minions. That's it. Whether he does it together with princess Mertina or wiithout determines two main branches. I only recorder the one available from the start - without Mertina in party - because game's horrible beyond redemption at that point already.
BGM actually contributes to the irritating factors as it's repetitive and quite simple. The gag BGM is a total sham. And "gags" here aren't any-what sophisticated, like Gills damaging her bra and having boobs out during the fight.
Overall, game produces only negative emotions. There are more adequately drawn female characters from the second half of the game, but it's too little too late. Every element feels half-baked with the result leaving much to be desired.
Foreword: This perfect game made me re-evaluate... Coμ -Black Dragon in a Gentle Kingdom-. What do these games have to do with each other? Hop in to figure out.
Title: Realize
Developer: PlayM
Date: 2004-04-23
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v2025
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IChpMO4Jhz4&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_Z8T8hfm3788JmL-mH3l3m
Synopsis: One morning during the class, Matsuura Ryou saw a strange object flying in the sky. Orange body was falling in a strange dancing pattern, vaguely resembling movements of the life form. This was his first encounter with EGO which led to contact with mysterious girl - Shibaura Yae that completely changed Ryou's life and destiny.
Game type: Robot familiars fights chunige alongside touching human story
Character Design rating: 10/10
Protagonist rating: 10/10
Story rating: 10/10
Game quality: 10/10
Overall rating: 10/10
Rating comments: No words really needed here. I had my doubts whether it should be 9 or 10, but it continued to surprise me over and over taking all the doubts away.
Protagonist: Game has not one, but two protagonists - Ryou and Shuuji. And those two co-exist in the same space and time. They are good friends, actually. Their bonding is the cornerstone of the game. Having two protagonist is also a great way to get out of one boy - lots of girls dilemma in a long one road story. Both protagonists are strong personalities with different focus - realistic and idealistic.
Characters: There are four heroines, and all are very nice ones.
Kei is our more traditional love interest, kind and romantic.
Rin is an attentive, polite and cheerful child that we want to protect.
Yae is the cornerstone of the story and the most mysterious heroine.
Saya is our tsundere with absolutely blunt attitude to everyone from the start and very charming awkward transformation. And she has the hugest sword - of course she's my favorite heroine!
Story: What I like the most in Realize is that game is not really that much about the story. There's no ultimate aim to reach like in most of chunige. Ryou just sees some robot familiar one day, then is summoned to the roof by his classmate Yae who shows him her familiar and answers some of urgent questions. That concludes the prologue. Later on he gets involved into the conflict between PK characters and some PKKs. This very fact already rose estimation level to the skies. Talking about PKs and PKKs 10 years prior to Sword Art Online! This was a moment of impact similar to that of Coμ when prestige traditional Wizardry classes Lord and Bishop entered the scene to compliment normal classes. I actually waited for ninja and samurai prestige classes to make them company, but - alas - those estimations were left without realization. What I want to say is that Realize has a lot of great Ego fights and all, but it's not the gist of the story. There are four endings in addition to the True ending. Half of those are kind of bad ones leaving us out without getting the needed power of losing allies. The other two are really nice and showing the game yet from more sides.
Thoughts:
1) Robot familiars are called either Ego or Proxy in the game. Try to google that and you'll get the title of the best anime in history.
2) There are too many similarities between Realize and Coμ.
a) Both games are based on the conflict between the aggressive group of traditional PKs one one side and peacemakers PKKs on the other side.
b) The name of strongest PK is - guess what - Black Dragon.
c) Both games have a mysterious legendary fighting machine that acts by unknown principles with the identity remaining unknown
d) Both games have to do with μ symbol. Realize even explains its meaning for the game.
e) Both have two males as part of the coalition band. I always considered Shuu to be and odd one out. Never could understand his role in Coμ. Now I tend to think that he's implemented under influence of two protagonists great bond in Realize.
One or two similarities is a coincidence, but FIVE ?! Now I look at Coμ at a completely different angle. It's a great standalone game, but it has ways to go to reach the bliss of its spiritual predecessor - Realize.
Technical difficulties: Of course there are some. Only PS2 release is voiced, so I had to take it as the base. But console releases are known for poor hooking capabilities, so I had to satisfy with only translation of the first line in each screen slide. There were rarely more than five lines on one screen, but it still hurts to see words cut in the mids.
Overall comments: It saddens me greatly to see such a superb game in oblivion. Realize is one of the very few games that I can enjoy at any moment, at any page without relation to the development of the plot. That's the biggest praise a piece of media can get from me (the paragon is Vladimir Nabokov novels). Realize is written by a mastodon veteran of scenario writing - Takahashi Tatsuya. It's the person responsible for a good half of Leaf biggest works. And we all know that Leaf is the biggest benefactor and driver of the media - the company that always brings innovation. Realize is his first work after leaving Leaf and starting to write what he desired himself. It's a piece of history that's unjustly forgotten.
Foreword: Routes gets 5 votes cumulatively while closest rival sits at 3 votes, so here is review of this game.
Title: Routes
Developer: Leaf
Date: 2003-02-28
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v204
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV1wg2BZOpM&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8K_WdeDpxSgGZzjGORqw_b
Synopsis: The story takes place in 21st Century Japan (approximately at the end of April 2010). The main character Nasu Souichi is a perfectly ordinary high school student, who tries to do as little as possible everyday, and sleeps though most of his classes, only ever to be woken up by his friend Yuasa Satsuki. They believe they are living in a peaceful time, where no large wars are occurring.
However, these peaceful days are destroyed, when a number of large ships disappear at sea, almost instantly, and with no explanation as to why. A strange woman named Lisa＝Vixen suddenly appears and attacks Souichi... however Souichi also has his share of secrets.
Game type: There are two different games here - spy thriller and medieval rural mystery
Character Design rating: 8/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 8/10
There is already a good review of this game (1), so I'd better present personal impressions acquired during the course of the game. There WILL be spoilers, although I don't consider them to be big enough to really spoil anything - they are needed to present the structure of the game.
Game starts with Lisa Vixen route, and she is the real main heroine of the game. She is both stunning blonde beauty and a great super-agent. There is great teamwork and unexpected resolution there. But unfortunately only this route really resembles spy thriller. Next four routes required to reach true route are less impressive. From second playthrough there is a hint about a strange medieval-looking man as well as two choices - whether to go to school or stay home. Going to school leads us to our osnajimi Yuasa Satsuki route or her best friend Fushi Yukari route. I decided only to play thoroughly through Satsuki route. There is an attempt to fill it with SOL and humor, but it works out so-so. The worst part of it was how it ended up being so much overextended. I was hoping to get a fast H event and move to story already, but this route had as many as three (!) unsuccessful attempts of etching pushing story further and further. In the end, story development stars without getting into intimacy stage, but ends up a degraded version of the same Lisa route, just without the unexpected twist.
The other three heroines routes are even worse, a total bore-fest. Two of them are just an average town girl and an average town lady with their stories having NOTHING to do with the spy theme. The true route is the shortcut of the same Lisa route AGAIN, just with all three main heroines at support - Satsuki, Lisa and Fushi. There's nothing really special about it, and game just could not be called a masterpiece at this point after all the routes and the True route.
But then right after true route a totally another game kicked in - "Roots". That's a samurai rural story about the powerful sword and fighting the greater evil. This story has a bright cheerful scenery and a cast of funny characters with numerous memorable moments. Then the connection between "Routes" and "Roots" was revealed, and game finally could be seen as an integrative complex story above the giri-giri masterpiece level up to the point of firm masterpiece level, or 8/10.
I can't evade discussing technical difficulties here. Only console versions are voiced. But console versions can't be hooked - I tried all the variants possible. Without voicing this game does not really worth the effort. So I ended up running recording high resolution PC version screen and text acquired through hooking, but at the same time running PSP version to get voicing from it. PSP version has auto-reading, but PC version does NOT. So I had to manually click through every phrase following PSP auto-reading tempo. This causes all those un-synchronized lines. As if it's not enough trouble already, PC hooking is same clunky as both Kizuato and Shizuku, which means that lines appear consequently on the screen making hooker tools see it backwards. There was a special hooking script developed for Kizuato and Shizuku making lines be translated in the right order, but not for Routes, alas. That's why translation must be read from the end sentences to the first sentences properly. Leaf games really suck for hooking. Moreover, since I had to manually click through 30 hours of gameplay, I made text appear in full blocks skipping some mid-line animations. Just wanted to noted that, because actual PSP version looks much more alive than what I got as a result.
Routes turned out to be a real challenge for me due to really poor systems of PC version. I spent so much time recording it that it may even affect the pace of my next publications since none are left prepared. Unfortunately, only Lisa route, True route and Roots are really worth playing making the leftover heroines routes feel redundant. Game has a really decent "Roots" story which is difficult to get to due to numerous technical difficulties encountered. I just hope that more people will be able to appreciate the game through my video of it.
Foreword: Absolutely unknown game in the West that has overwhelmingly positive evaluation in Japan. Which side would I take?
Title: Rocket no Natsu
Developer: TerraLunar
Date: 2002-10-11
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v4190
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_HLI2A5oFE&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_3lP089VAcjTRvabUf9dJf
Synopsis: There used to be a season called "Rocket summer"...
The Earth has become a member of the Galactic Federation and has accepted multiple emissaries from aliens. Silver rockets are launched from the Earth on daily basis, but one day all inter-galaxy contacts cease and space port doors get shut.
Main character has dreamt of space travel since childhood. One day he decides to help girl Chise to participate in self-made rocket competition "50 Miles Over". Together with princess from the other star they form a rocket club. Will their dreams come true?
Structure: Roughly a month from 05.07 till 06.11
Length: 7 hours for initial route, some 3 hours for each of remaining 4 routes. Plus 3 hours for omake.
Game type: Space dream youth comedy with aliens
Difficulty: Moderate
Character Design rating: 8/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 7 or 8/10
Rating comments: It's 7 if you have sound stuttering like me and are't crazy about the genre like me. It's 8 for everyone else.
Protagonist: Takashi is pretty cool. He's so knowledgeable of rockets and so patient and attentive that I'd happily have same intelligent protagonist everywhere.
Characters: There are five heroines which are very different. Chika route is forced as first - and she's the only normal human among all the heroines. She has the only normal route about passion for rocket building and normal romance. But after that surprises begin. There are two routes for each of aliens - Selen-chan and her guard Berthia. Characters are pretty crazy and so are their routes, but it was really sad for me to see ignorant and vain Selen-chan to have teary face in the end. Tsundere should never cry! Haruhi-sensei is... android teacher. And Akira is our normal childhood friend with a huge secret about her - the most shocking route for sure.
Story: Main route only covers characters getting together around Chika desire to build a rocket and being joined by aliens. Then each route has its turns.
CG: No complaints at all.
Sound: Everyone is voiced, including protagonist. That's absolutely superb. But sound stuttering that I got at Win10 really started to kill the fun around the third route I played. Freezes also got more and more frequent, so I did not record past 3rd route.
Thoughts: It's the third rocket club theme visual novel that I play, and it's actually the best one of the three. The reason is the variety of routes and only interesting scenes. There's tension that leaves your interested from beginning to the end. Full voicing, bright atmosphere and colorful characters add up to the feeling. Omake about space adventures fits greatly to the picture as well.
Overall comments: Game is a masterpiece, no doubt. It's not a breakthrough game to become a pillar of new visual novel world. No, it's just a cosy cool place to visit and have a rest. I guess it's the real reason why it went unnoticed in the West - we need a breakthrough. The Japanese can be jerks about plotge, but they can rarely be wrong about a good calming charage.
Foreword: I got on the hook of some reviews praising the story. Now I'm mad.
Title: Sora-iro no Organ
Developer: The Lotus
Date: 2004-03-26
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v962
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX7seUlNpmE&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8-QvoBMKw8KIUTf1tEqOdw
Synopsis: In order to save your cousin, who's been sucked into a mirror, you decide to jump into the mirror yourself. You find yourself in a strange, beautiful world of fairies. As you work through the game's storyline, you'll take part in interactive conversations. The game includes an "encore mode" which allows you to view previous event scenes and listen to music that you encountered on your adventure.
Game type: Some strange moege in fairy entourage
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 3/10
Story rating: 3/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
This "review" ain't gonna have a structure, because it does not deserve one. And I'm accustomed to just retell my impressions in the way they progressed in such cases. Spoilers are inevitable, although it's needed to be something good to spoil it.
The first thing that struck me is that game is not voiced. REALLY? What cruel joke is that not to give voicing to a charage? And I don't have spare 120$ to get voiced ps2 version.
The second thing that enraged me is the protagonist that comes right from BL games, it's a typical seme. I can't hide my irritation by this fact.
Game starts with what I see as protagonist Tomoya flirting with his cousin Sarasa and getting a slap on the face because of that. Sarasa runs away in tears and gets sucked into a mirror followed by Tomoya. And here we should start experiencing the great story. But it does not come. For the half of the game (10 chapters) Tomoya just flirts with all the girls he finds scoring with two of them. Then he finally finds Sarasa. So is it time for development now? Not so soon, lads. Sarasa is in vegetative state which lasts for 6 more (!) chapters. So what do we do in these next ten chapters from 11 to 20? Well, we kinda don't care about our cousin, but score with two more girls. Well, we're finally out of heroines and need to get closer with Sarasa. She's engaged, but is almost kidnapped on the ceremony day. She is saved by some sticky ice mass from the ice-cream (???). Short awhile she kinda throws herself on Tomoya. He asks "Do you understand you'll betray your fiance this way"? Her answer is as pathetic as stupid "I want to betray the whole world now". Then in some time they both get to original world. So what the hell is this? Where is my supposed great story? So I though till saw the writer's list of works. And those are all generic moege without even a glimpse of the story. So it probably is a great story compared to those total failures.
I'm greatly dissatisfied with artist here. CG and character sprites of uneven quality here, but males are the worst. All of them either come directly from BL or Otomege.
The only things that I liked in this game is that it had auto-reading mode and that both lolis were spared from trampling. Game had some chibi CG which were supposed to add humor to it, but the only humorous part for me was how game zoomed on the hips and breast of Stella - the most skinny boy-ish type heroine. Just laughable.
In the raw outcome we get a weird single road story with zero interest but with lots of pretentious motives, pictures and BGM. It looks like a decent game, but scratch it and it will rot.
