wattstax

Nice to see some fellow friends of classic rock here. I prefer the 60s & 70s, any band with great guitars or simply great in general. Most of my iPod is filled with that period (around 300 different bands). From The Kinks to Rory Gallagher to Black Sabbath. Fave band would be UFO with Michael Schenker on guitar. But generally I am not bound to a certain genre. Depends on my mood actually. To name a few examples which would match fuwanovel: Anime-/Movie soundtracks by Kajiura Yuki and all of her side project bands like Kalafina. Japanese idol bands: Passpo, Momoiro Clover Z, Aya Hirano. Recently I discovered korean girl pop. *blush* My faves here: T-ara, 2NE1 or 4minute. Classical Music (Chopin) or indie-rock (Rilo Kiley) is also nice. And I have a broad collection of asian rock/pop. @Arturia ONE OK ROCK is a great band. I went to their London-concert in Octobre and it was fantastic!

If regarding asian cinema: I am a big admirer of Wong Kar Wai and his artistically melancholic movie-style: for example - 2046 - Ashes of Time Most movies in my collection are korean. Favourites are - Memento Mori - Cyborg She - ...ing From Japan high lights are: - Goth - Way of the Blue Sky. Regarding Western cinema some silent film classics like - Nosferatu Or for recent ones: - Cashback - The Virgin Suicides - Pan's Labyrinth Just on a side note: Is there an american audience for Bud Spencer / Terence Hill movies?

A good example for a VN with voiced monologues is the Dvd-Version of "Hourglass of Summer". And in my opinion it has done a great deal, both for atmosphere and characterization of the protagonist. But I never think of the protagonist of myself. It's the same for me like reading a book in first-person-perspective - just part of the story.

Second that. Choices are nice if it changes the direction of story telling. But if the plot is doomed right at the beginning because of a wrong decision I fail to see the fun in it. I like my stories mysterious, not the choices i am presented with Though bad ends aren't necessarily wrong, IF it is a story-based VN. What I don't like is the miss of a kind of True Ending in pure romance-based game. Some sort of "every girl loves you, but we keep it open-end for your imagination". Know what I mean?? At least I would love to get the background stories of the girls in the common route and only at the end I get to choose my favourite. Granted I haven't played that many VN so far...

A list out od the top of my head. No specific order: 1. Gunslinger Girls 2. Legend of the Galactic Heroes 3. Saikano 4. Noir 5. Aishiteruze Baby 6. Another 7. Texhnolyze 8. Kino no Tabi 9. Nana 10. Onii-sama e... Special place in my heart for sentimental reasons: Sailor Moon Brought me to Anime and consequently japanese pop culture in general. I especially enjoyed the Live Action Remake a few years ago. Out of ranking, because of existing VN, which are superior: Requiem of the Phantom Tsukihime Kanon

What combination do you mean? I find it suprising that most of you don't use the Auto Read Option. Thats the first thing I look into when starting a new game. And it really frustrates me when it's not working (like with Grisaia). On the topics of dubs. I don't mind them if they are good. Remember watching Noir in Dub and felt no necessity for the original. Was also pleasant, to actually attend my full concentration on peoples faces instead of looking at a text on the bottom. But still, original voices with subs are the best. The seiyuu-work ist outstanding.

Also I normally would prefer a girl like Yozora, but I don't like her that much, when she is so mean against Sena. Just my personal attitude of never making fun of your "friends" in public. So I voted for Sena, although she is the kind of character I hardly consider attractive - too pretty and well-proportioned, too girly. But I find her cute when interacting with kodoka at home and such (and feel the aforementioned pity for her stupidity when acting with Yozora/Rika ) Can't really explain, but she is the most likeable and "normal" character for me. Other girls are plain too young for my taste and too much cliche without depth. They also share the traits I dislike the most - too obedient and without self-awareness, too perverted and geeky, too lively and over-the-top. Though I agree wirh Sena here that Kobota is as cute as a button

Don't worry. I will continue it sometime. The rest of the story so far was excellent. And that is what counts for me.

Hey Darood, I feel with you. I had the same reaction to this scene - totally found me off-guard because of its OOC. I honestly didn't expect anything like that so "early" in the game and under these circunstances, being chased and what not. I am currently put the game on hold and started another one to get these Images out of my mind. Skipping those scenes is nice but the frustration of its uselessness stays in my mind.

Thanks for the list advice. Appreciate it. Obviously there are at least some completely voiced games? Expected the opposite. The money-factor could be an issue, though that depends on how the majority of readers see it. Don't know if there are many people who care of a voiced protagonist. This is not saying, that I don't see the benefit in the mostly reading approach. Stories like Narcissu actually benefit from the spare voicing of characters. It really gives you the impression of reading a novel. Whereas a completely voiced VN like Phantom of Inferno can be nearly enjoyed as kind of anime. Imagening games like Grisaia - would be much better this way than the partial voice acting. I agree here with Vokoca.

Okay, haven't read all the comments so I just state my opinion in fear of repeating: I generally skip the H-Scenes, as in most cases they tend to be unneccesary breaks to the storylines. I was raging, when the first of this scene came during Fate - it put me totally out of the mood, seeing Rin and Saber acting that 'out of character'. I also have to point out, that even in movies I find sex scenes irrelevant

Thanks for the warm welcome. I heard many good things of Saya no uta, but as of now I haven't found it yet. Higurashi: Saw the anime, but I don't like the short-story-concept I try out the other ones. Thanks. And yes - Sakaki Yumiko of course. Have to make her my avatar

Really? In most cases I could slap them for acting stupid

What comes to mind: Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Never saw anything quite es epic and deep. Shiki - impressive take on vampires, though strange art-style St. Luminous Mission High School - reminded me of Twin Peaks Oni-sama e... - wonderful tragic shoujo I guess these are titles hardly mentioned.

I am from Germany and just started reading VN after finding this site at New Years by accident. Games I played so far: Phantom of Inferno (splendid!!!) Hourglass of Summer (perfect school romance imho) Ever17 (was okay, but didn't captivated me for some reason) Figures of Happiness (didn't like it) Right now I am playing Grisaia no kajitsu (Great so far, though it has some lengths) Fate/Stay Night Narcissu Swan Song I prefer dark/sad stories and occasionally nice comedy-romances. My favourite type of VN-girl would be the kuudere. Can't really get a hang for quirky, loli or overly cute characters. Hope to find some fun and suggestions here Anything else you like to know?

I really liked the complete voiced narration of games like Phantom of Inferno or Hourglass of Summer. Can someone explain to me, what the reason is behind not voicing the narrator/male hero in most VN? I mean, it adds so much more atmosphere to the story - my opinion.