adamstan

Thanks for above review. I also have Steam versions of all three Grisaia games (got them on winter sale, I think ). It's good to hear that it's good

There's already a thread about it on vndb too. Some people who know the JP original say, that it is filled with japanese memes that would make very little sense when translated directly. https://vndb.org/t12405

Wouldn't middle part of YU-NO (between the prologue and true route) somehow qualify?

I tried to, but gave up. Going just by those little box miniatures, without text labels, it's very difficult to search.

Yesterday I finished to... It's rather obscure charage from 2003 - it had only one vote on VNDB, and 74 on EGS, with average score of 60. It's one of those VNs I stumbled upon while clicking on VNDB frontpage random screenshots Our protagonist, Takanori Sakai, makes living by doing various part-time jobs. As the game begins, he arrives in the small seaside town of 涼ヶ浜 (no idea how to transcribe it ), together with his foolish friend Tomoki Mimura, to work for a month in the small inn. He doesn't have any dreams or plans for the future - his days just pass by. OTOH Mimura is pretty carefree, and his main life priority are girls in swimsuits During this month, Takanori meets five girls, and maybe this will change his life? Yep, pretty standard charage setup, but it's worth noting that at least it isn't school setting Furthermore, protagonist and three of five heroines are adults. (well, young adults, but still, not teenagers). So let's look at the heroines. Miho Ogasawara is first person that we meet during the game. She's highschool student, who came to the town for a week with her friends from history research club - they're searching for local stories and legends. Miho is very serious and hardworking, but also very shy. However, she really wants to change herself. To do this, she later returns, to also work at the inn. Youko Saeki is the owner of the inn - that means, she's Takanori's boss. At the first sight, she might be scary and harsh, but has also very caring side to her. She's the game's tsundere nee-san Besides the inn, she also does part-time job as life guard at the beach. Satomi Mimura - Tomoki's little sister, with serious brother complex. She unexpectedly arrives at fourth or fifth day, because she couldn't stand being separated from "nii-chan". Token loli heroine Besides that, she, together with her stupid brother, serve as a comic relief - she often fights with Youko, accusing her of overworking her nii-chan, and having too big tits Kyouko Shiraishi is another part-time worker at Youko's inn. Always cheerful and hardworking - but is it all that there's to her? Mari Kitazawa - mysterious girl, that sometimes can be seen on the cliff or on the beach, always wearing the same black dress, wordlessly staring at the sea. It turns out, that she still mourns the death of her fiancee, who drowned three years ago while saving little girl during the storm. ******** (routes summary below, light spoilers possible) ********** First route I played was Miho's. She's very cute and likable character. Miho pretty quickly falls in love with Takanori, however he thinks that he's "unworthy" of her, afraid that he will "taint" her. Of course, pure and shy Miho thinks that it's her fault, and that he hates her. Because of this, he had to be scolded by Youko - TWICE, and her rants were epic "Do you think she doesn't have her own will? That she's just a doll? Bullshit - you're just protecting your pride!". Next was Youko's route. She's loved by townsfolk, always ready to help others, but she doesn't let others to do anything for her. She turns down marriage proposals, as she doesn't want to abandon her inn, which she treasures above all else, 'cause she inherited it from her late aunt, who raised Youko after she lost her parents. She's also filled with regrets for going to Tokyo after graduation, so she wasn't there to help her aunt - that's why now she sacrifices herself for the sake of others. Seeing all this, Takanori wants to help her somehow, but it won't be easy to break through the walls that Youko built around herself. Satomi's route is about growing up and "graduating" from her brother complex. When it comes to the love matters, she's even more clueless than Konomi from Princess Evangile Route itself is actally not bad, but it could do without h-content (or they could make her less loli...) Mari is very difficult to approach, because she's completely lost in her grief. She rarely speaks or shows any reactions at all. This route was really good and emotional story about getting over tragic loss and starting to live again. It was much better that the three previous ones. Also, it's the only route with two possible endings. Kyouko's route is another highlight. Her cheerful face masks some great suffering - she's very poor, working herself almost to death with three part time jobs. Her parents were victims of bus accident when she was still in middle school. They haven't died on the spot, but fell in coma. After almost a year in hospital, they passed away, and Kyouko was left with huge bill... But that's also not the whole truth. There are several twists in this route and lots of drama, but the ending felt quite satisfying - I'm glad I saved this route for the end. ************************************************* First three routes (Miho, Youko and Satomi) were not bad, but had some pacing issues. They lacked proper build-up for h-scenes, which happened a bit suddenly. Especially first Youko's scene came totally out od the blue. Also, scenes themselves were pretty meh, with rather stiff writing dangerously close to Ikea sex trope ("put the peg A into hole B") So those routes are what I'd call "standard eroge" routes. However, Mari's and Kyouko's routes are waaaay better, wandering into nakige territory. There are three different writers credited for this game's scenario, so that may be the cause. The art is very nice. Characters have blinking animations both for sprites and CGs - I loved it. Voices are also good. However, the game feels a bit empty, because only main heroines and Mimura are voiced and have sprites. Also, music is almost nonexistent, because there are few tracks, and they don't loop, so for the most of the time game is silent (unless your reading speed is fast enough, but that's not the case with me ). Ending song is very nice. Also, the game marks already read text and chosen choices - neat feature. I read this using ITHVNR + ChiiTrans combo. ITHVNR hooks it without any problems. As for the difficulty - I'd say it was on the similar level as ToHeart - there were certainly some things that I've missed, but it wasn't too hard to follow. So, after first three routes I was a bit disappointed, but Mari's and Kyouko's routes redeemed it a bit. So finally, my score ends a bit higher than EGS average - 7/10.

Ah, I loved Koi Iro Chu!, but this thing was actually annoying OTOH "previews" at the end of each chapter were nice. Heart de Roommate handled this whole "episode" thingy better - exactly because it didn't replay the OP each time. So Damekoi does this too...

Maybe he meant that he refuses to change FROM metric while translating (which is used in originals, as Japan uses it)? EDIT: Looks like it BTW It seems that my memory of Fureraba wasn't as unreliable as I was afraid Unfortunately, probably because of aforementioned short deadlines and similar reasons, it doesn't work as it should - from the SolPress titles I've played so far (Sakura Sakura and Hitotsuba), it was always obvious which version was the "true" one, as the other one had various hiccups. Probably because nobody had the time and money to retranslate it using different style that would suit the selected option the best - there were just quick replacement-like edits, and IMO they were not enough.

Hmm, my memory might be a bit fuzzy, but I certainly remember it from one of the translated VNs that I've played in 2018. But if not Fureraba, then what could it have been... Probably not Chrono Clock, as it was based more around british slang... hmm... Now I'm confused... Maybe it wasn't quoted in full, but some variation of it? Nevertheless, for some reasons I associate it with Fureraba...

I love how last column (4kids) has even mirrored images On a more serious note, actually, on this image there's no TL-style that I'd fully like. First one is the closest to what we're most used to, I think, but currently to me it sounds a little bit stiff and "overly literal" - but it's still the best of all the options presented, and when translated release is at this level, I certainly won't complain. Second one is ridiculous, it definitely crosses the line for "overly literal" and goes right into "half-translated" territory I don't think I've seen such a thing in VN translations (except some odd instances of leaving "Itadakimasu" untranslated - I think it happened in Kanon). Third one is what I really dislike - it goes absolutely overboard with its "creativity". I think that's what most people are afraid of when they're ranting against "liberal translations" (although in this case, it's not only "liberal", it's just bad Also, I absolutely hate the "Rubadubdubthanksforthegrub" expression - for reasons unknown... I think it was the only thing that actually annoyed me in Fureraba's translation) fourth and fifth are absolute gibberish, and the last one is, well, definitely "overlocalized" So, going by this image alone (I know that it's a joke...), we're stuck with "Learn Japanese" If it accurately portrays the situation in anime subs, then I have to say that we have it better with VNs, as there are numerous translated releases that somehow manage to find a good balance IMO BTW There's a typo in first panel of "What you want"

Yeah, I could wish that they toned it down just a notch, but ultimately it didn't bother me. OTOH in Chrono Clock... I felt like editor went totally overboard, and there it annoyed me to hell. (I talk about first version, haven't read newest one yet, so I don't know how it differs).

Actually, it was changed (or rather made more "open"?) for the Memorial Edition, wasn't it? (And english version is based on that release).

I'd like just to chime in about Princess Evangile. While it's true that some heroines have a backstory involving the MC, and it may seem that the common route pushes us towards Rise and/or Chiho, I think there isn't "main heroine" in this VN - all routes are ~equal. (And I liked them all, to the extent of rereading PE recently ) As for the topic itself - it doesn't bother me. I havent read the VN where I'd dislike one heroine so much that it would spoil the game for me yet - I even liked Chisato from KoiChoco, who would also fit this topic

Whoa, congratulations!

Yeah. A few, as you say, were good and meaningful, but most were just pointless fanservice. Another mood-wrecking thing, connected with this, were pantyshot CGs used in serious moments I agree. I think that new Mizuki's look is passable, and also Ryuuzouji is practically unchanged. Eriko's design is similar too. But the rest - not too good. Something horrible happened to Mio's face (however, she looks a bit better in the trailer, when lip-sync is in action) I think he was actually fully voiced in Saturn release, but the script in Saturn version was sligthly different from PC98/Win version. Unvoiced parts in TLWiki's version would be the lines that weren't present in Saturn release. I think that walkthrough still might be neccessary, but it should be easier to use it

Remake is going to be less annoying gameplay wise (greying out exhausted choices, option to show all hotspots, and two more jewel slots) - so if you're okay with new art and voices, wait for the remake. Otherwise, play the original (by "original" I of course mean TLWiki's version with voice patch, as it's most complete version ever).

It has, but is treated more in a comedic way, not as a source of drama. It's just two heroines "competing" for protagonists' affection - so no "true" love triangle I guess. And there's absolutely no NTR in any form. After all, it's "just" a RomCom (and that's good for me ) As for two protags - it's just kind like two chapters, or two VNs in one, that share the characters. First you play as Tooru, and here you have Sakura's and Nanako's routes. After completing those two you unlock second chapter, where you play as Naoki, and heroines are Akira and Kurumi. Completing this unlocks epilogues/after-stories for all four heroines.

While console versions of YU-NO remake were released in 2017, Spike Chunsoft has been working on PC version and English translation. Recently they announced planned release date - 2019.10.01 YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World (link to Steam store) Additionally, translated version will be also released for PS4 and Switch. According to publisher both japanese and english PS4 versions have some mild censorship (in one CG lower part of naked heroine is obscured by ray of light - not unlike original Windows version from Elf ). While japanese Switch version doesn't have this, apparently translated Switch version will be the same as PS4. However nothing above affects PC version, which is said to be "uncensored". Still, it has 17+ rating. If I understand correctly what @Ramaladni wrote on vndb, there are sex scenes in the story, but without explicit CGs. That's fine with me. Incidentally, HCGs in original PC98 version also were rather mild, as all heroines were drawn with "barbie doll anatomy" - meaning no genitals at all (so no mosaics as well, because there was nothing to hide ) While I'm still lamenting the change of art style and voice actors (I'll be missing especially Kikuko Inoue and Aya Hisakawa ), I'll probably give it a go once it's released. At least there's apparently option to switch to old soundtrack. I wonder how will the translation quality turn out, and how will it compare with TLWiki's version. Some more screenshots from homepage:

It is great, but OP said that he doesn't like too much drama. OTOH he liked Katawa Shoujo and Yoake... so yeah, Princess Evangile should do too, even though it isn't as lighthearted as Fureraba. Also, maybe Sakura Sakura?

Michiru from ChronoClock perhaps? Putting translations aside for a moment - the VN I'm currently reading ("to...") has one pretty weird heroine. Satomi is serious case of brocon, but MC isn't her brother - she's little sister of MC's idiot friend, and initially she declares that she hates MC because he's taking her beloved nii-chan from her I haven't read her route yet, but I wonder how will it play out.

If I haven't misunderstood things horribly, Aoi's and Shiho's routes in first ToHeart are mostly this. Aoi's bored me to death, but Shiho's route was nice. Its ending hints the possibility of future romance, but for the route itself, they're just friends.

I have "demosaic trauma" after Harukoi Otome. If you're going to draw something so hideous, better leave mosaics on

Now you got me interested Are there other similarities, besides characters' ages? (Asking about Damekoi of course, as I really liked Kazoku Keikaku) And I have to agree that Kazoku Keikaku is great. While I rated it only at 7.5, it was mostly due to editing issues in translated version. It's one of the most memorable VNs I've read.

I seem to have a thing for older titles... Today I started reading to... - it seems to be pretty old and obscure VN (with only 1 vote on vndb). I stumbled upon it while clicking on random screenshots on vndb front page. It's summer, protagonist comes to small seaside town to do one month part time job at small ryokan (together with mandatory idiot friend ). There he meets some nice girls (including inn's owner). Meeting the heroines will change him and those around him. (that last sentence is from official story summary ) Pretty typical old romance VN setup. I liked art style, so I decided to give it a go. (first heroine, and first person that we meet in the whole VN - Miho) First impressions: It has unskippable opening movie, so I disabled it by renaming the file - it complains with error window, but then continues Art is indeed nice It has blinking animations - even for CGs! (I think it's third VN with this lovely feature that I'm playing - remaining two being Sakura no Kisetsu and Sakura Sakura) Music isn't looped, and only main heroines and protag's friend are voiced, so for the most time it's rather quiet It's a bit dating-sim like, with map movement as main system. But there are no stats or other such "gameplay" elements. I guess, maybe it's not "dating-sim" like, but just "oldschool VN"? First ToHeart used similar system, as well as DaCapo and some other titles. (Map movement screen) I wonder how will it turn out. BTW - thanks to rather strange title, searching for anything about this game, or the game itself, was absolute nightmare. I had to add character's name to query to get any usable results

It looks interesting, definitely going to buy this. It would be great, if MG also ported and localized all ages console version - like they did with Princess Evangile. But I guess that slightly increased sales don't justify the extra effort. Maybe I'll try reading all ages JP version, as it's hookable in emulator...? (But still going to buy MG version as well) Now, this review makes me really want to read it.

On a side note - I think that to some extent, the longer the title, the greater the probability of the game being nukige Lots of them seem to almost have those ridiculous synopses built right into the titles (which then take up to 3 or 4 lines in vndb page)