What are you playing?

[Seraphim]

Just out of curiosity, what happened to the characters in the ending you got? There are several variations for each of them.

[adamstan]

11 hours ago, Seraphim88 said:

Just out of curiosity, what happened to the characters in the ending you got? There are several variations for each of them.

Yeah, I know, the walkthrough lists them. But it's pretty cruel (and clever at the same time), that

Spoiler

you can enter the character's route while being already doomed to the bad end.

That surprised me.

Spoiler

 

For the first playthrough I got Megan's bad end. Since I fucked other girls, Megan rejected me after final confrontation with Leah. Peter got shot by his police friend. Liam got together with Elise and got better. Protag reunited with Ana. I got "hospital" scene after credits.

And just now I got Megan's good end. NOW WE'RE TALKING! Marriage ending - love'em In this case Liam got together with Rena. Peter lives but is in prison. And I got "red carpet" after story.

 

Also,

Spoiler

When doing subsequent playthrough, some of the scenes with Leah give that weird vibe after you already know that she's murderous yandere

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by adamstan

[adamstan]

Okay, finished Acting Lessons (completed all the routes and got all major endings. Didn't bother to uncover every single of little ending variations)

It was really good. In addition to what I have already said, I agree that they did the protagonist's male friend thing really well.

After hitting bad ending on the first playthrough, the good one was all the more satisfying.

This VN surprised me a few times, made me shed some tears, and had some nice comedic bits as well. With 3D EVNs it's really hit and miss, since many of them are just plain nukiges, sex sims etc, but this one is really one of the gems.

8/10

[Plk_Lesiak]

So, as I'm done healing from the worst alcohol poisoning of my life (I don't think I'll be able to look at vodka again without thinking "barfing", which is probably a good thing anyway...), I've got back to reading VNs, particularly Chemically Bonded... And damn, I can't say I like much about it so far. While I liked ds-sans' writing in his previous two games, even though the stories were very simple, there's something fundamentally broken with how it flows in this one. The inner monologues are both benign and extremely bloated. The characters act in an unnatural way that is hard to look past, particularly the Tsundere heroine, who juggles personas in such a speed that she feels like an insane person more than anything else. The voice acting for the shy heroine is also just... Weird. She sounds more like a small child than like a somewhat-cheerful and sharp high schooler. I also just reached the first really tense scene in the game and the music went so over-the-top-dramatic that it genuinely kept distracting me... I even tried re-reading the opening sequences, to make sure that it wasn't just my mood spoiling the experience or something like that... And nope, it felt just the same. Unless something changes soon, it's going to be one sad review...

[GXOALMD]

37 minutes ago, Plk_Lesiak said:

The characters act in an unnatural way that is hard to look past, particularly the Tsundere heroine, who juggles personas in such a speed that she feels like an insane person more than anything else.

Being poorly written is one of the primary traits of the tsundere.  Well written tsunderes are as much of a myth as the Loch Ness monster or a person with good taste.

[Plk_Lesiak]

Just now, GXOALMD said:

Being poorly written is one of the primary traits of the tsundere.  Well written tsunderes are as much of a myth as the Loch Ness monster or a person with good taste.

Well, due to my horrible taste I don't mind tsunderes that switch between the modes in a somewhat predictable and logical pattern. Here we have the case of a girl that switches between very distinctive abusive, boastful and flustered modes literally every other sentence, turning most of her dialogue into a tone-deaf mess. Normal tsundereness seems rather inoffensive in comparison.

[fuyopon]

I've been reading Danganronpa V3 (in English) and Axanael (in Japanese, of course lol)...

Danganronpa: I'm only in chapter 2 so far but, but! D: I'm a sad gal,, I totally didn't see that culprit coming, and I'm honestly surprised by that, since escaping dangan spoilers is almost impossible argh

Axanael: Well, since this is my first visual novel in Japanese and I'm using it to git gud, I would say it's been hell to advance the story... not really. The writing is easy to follow but I feel I chose one option I shouldn't, right in the beginning (even before I actually play)... but since it was all in hard kanji and I couldn't hook it because it was an image, I just chose one random and... well, I don't know if my first point of view/character should be Ena? I'm confused, but I do like her catchphrase 

[Seraphim]

14 hours ago, adamstan said:

This VN surprised me a few times, made me shed some tears

The thing that hit me hardest was probably when

Spoiler

Jonas comes to Liam's apartment and finds out he's been living like that while keeping up a facade that everything's okay.

I'm glad things worked out for Liam in the end, no matter which route you went down.

 

[adamstan]

1 hour ago, Seraphim88 said:

The thing that hit me hardest was probably when

  Reveal hidden contents

Jonas comes to Liam's apartment and finds out he's been living like that while keeping up a facade that everything's okay.

I'm glad things worked out for Liam in the end, no matter which route you went down.

 

Yeah, that was strong. However, for me, the heaviest one was
 

Spoiler

 

The beginning of seventh chapter, right after the fire, the "limbo" part. Realising again and again that Melissa (or Megan) is dead, that feeling of being totally powerless - "I couldn't save her!"... It hit hard.

And yeah, it was really relieving that at least Liam got some kind of happy end.

However, I wonder what happens if you keep being a dick to Liam throughout the whole game - I couldn't make myself do it, but walkthrough suggests, that there is separate ending variation for such cases.

 

I think that now I'm going to try The Language of Love

Edited January 7, 2020 by adamstan

[Seraphim]

4 minutes ago, adamstan said:

Spoiler

However, I wonder what happens if you keep being a dick to Liam throughout the whole game - I couldn't make myself do it, but walkthrough suggests, that there is separate ending variation for such cases.

 

Spoiler

Yeah, I tried several variations where he ended up with either Rena or the nurse (can't recall her name atm), but I don't know what happens if you blow him off right from the start. He and Jonas might end up in a worse relationship, but I'm thinking his health will still improve, since Leah ends up removed from cancer treatment duty no matter which ending you reach.

 

[adamstan]

2 minutes ago, Seraphim88 said:

  Hide contents

Yeah, I tried several variations where he ended up with either Rena or the nurse (can't recall her name atm), but I don't know what happens if you blow him off right from the start. He and Jonas might end up in a worse relationship, but I'm thinking his health will still improve, since Leah ends up removed from cancer treatment duty no matter which ending you reach.

 

Yeah, it seems right -

Spoiler

she's either shot or gone missing in every case.

 

[GXOALMD]

8 hours ago, Leonor said:

Danganronpa: I'm only in chapter 2 so far but, but! D: I'm a sad gal,, I totally didn't see that culprit coming, and I'm honestly surprised by that, since escaping dangan spoilers is almost impossible argh

Spoiling that particular bit is kinda taboo.  Even as someone who doesn't like the novels, I think it would be pretty shitty to spoil it.

[Mr Poltroon]

55 minutes ago, GXOALMD said:

Spoiling that particular bit is kinda taboo.  Even as someone who doesn't like the novels, I think it would be pretty shitty to spoil it.

Which particular bit do you have in mind? Can you elaborate in spoilers?

(I've already played the game but am failing to picture what you're referring to.)

[GXOALMD]

Just now, Mr Poltroon said:

Which particular bit do you have in mind? Can you elaborate in spoilers?

(I've already played the game but am failing to picture what you're referring to.)

It's that one thing that the first chapter of V3 does that the first two novels don't.  That should probably be enough information, it's not as if there's much difference between the novels.

[Mr Poltroon]

8 minutes ago, GXOALMD said:

It's that one thing that the first chapter of V3 does that the first two novels don't.  That should probably be enough information, it's not as if there's much difference between the novels.

Ah, I was trying to place a moment in chapter 2, but it was chapter 1 they were referring to. Got it.

[bogdankl]

so i actually started playing evenicle, 

 

If fate is like that goth kid who always wore makeup during high school and talked about how people are actually the worst and stayed away from everyone, Evenicle is like that always happy kid who always wears long sleeves and gets along with everyone that dropped out of highschool half way through and you find out years later that he killed himself because he couldn't take the abuse at home anymore, which is incidentally what I might do before I finish reading this.

 

Both horrible, horrifing stories, it's just that one tries really hard to hide it.

 

I swear I just finished act 3 and It's... so... FUCKED, and I know it's gonna get worse but for the first time in... years I'm actually excited about something, I'm actually thinking, I can't wait for this day to be over so I can go home and play some more, I can't even remember when the last time I felt something like this was 

 

there's also  that post Ruberick wrote in my forum post that is tempting me so hard but I'm way to invested to actually read it. I know I only asked about Raimus and Riche so now I have this really horrible feeling about Tio... but I can't stop know, I'l just have to do what a lot of girls do in this VN... just bite down and take it 

 

 

[adamstan]

I just finished The Language of Love. It was short, but beautiful - very heartwarming. I wholeheartedly agree with @Plk_Lesiak's review. I liked almost everything about it - Tama's antics, the slow-paced, slightly awkward romance between Mitsuki and Kyouko, very tastefully done H-scene, with nice pillow talk afterwards... And some inspiring thoughts about relationships and life in general thrown here and there (maybe nothing new and unique, but it's nice to be reminded from time to time).

Also, I feel like I could relate to a protagonist for a bit - at least when it comes to loneliness, and being awkward at relationships. (Although I am already way older than him...)

8/10 from me.

On a side note - the Japanese setting of this VN seems pretty believable, which isn't that often the case when it comes to EVNs from what I gather The only other EVN I read that managed to pull that off was Katawa Shoujo. And then on the other side of the spectrum we have disasters like "No One But You... "

Edited January 8, 2020 by adamstan

[Seraphim]

Been interested in that one for a while now, so I might give it a go when I'm done with SakuSaku and Zero Time Dilemma, which I'm alternating between right now!
Was Language of Love the VN where one of the characters is complaining about their age although they're only like 22? I seem to recall someone here mentioning that, but I might have it confused with some other VN. In any case, stuff like that makes me feel like some kind of ancient relic.

[adamstan]

31 minutes ago, Seraphim88 said:

Was Language of Love the VN where one of the characters is complaining about their age although they're only like 22? I seem to recall someone here mentioning that, but I might have it confused with some other VN. In any case, stuff like that makes me feel like some kind of ancient relic.

Our protag-kun here's 23, but yeah, it starts with him complaining about feeling old But he kind of has some reasons for that.

 

[Seraphim]

I really wish more VNs had background art with character faces.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm currently reading SakuSaku, and it's another case where background characters are just faceless blobs, completely devoid of any personality and emotion. Here's an example:



To me, they basically just seem like cardboard cutouts in some cheap play, rather than give off the impression that they're actual people.
I mean, compare it to some backgrounds in Aokana:

The difference is like night and day. It does wonders for the ambience of the scene, and it seems like such an easy thing to do, I don't understand why it isn't more common.

Edited January 8, 2020 by Seraphim88

[adamstan]

Well, Aokana backgrounds are truly something, but, sadly, it's rare to see such detailed backgrounds, filled with lots of characters with faces.

Edited January 8, 2020 by adamstan

[Stormwolf]

Can't have that you know, when artists are too busy drawing as quickly as they can for their paycheck, or just copying everyone elses work, like most vn's tbh. Just look at less popular vn's, nukiges etc and you'll find a much larger variety of CG's, which goes to show how much effort they put in bigger titles.

Edited January 8, 2020 by Stormwolf

[GXOALMD]

3 hours ago, Seraphim88 said:

I really wish more VNs had background art with character faces.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm currently reading SakuSaku, and it's another case where background characters are just faceless blobs, completely devoid of any personality and emotion. Here's an example:

To me, they basically just seem like cardboard cutouts in some cheap play, rather than give off the impression that they're actual people.
I mean, compare it to some backgrounds in Aokana:

The difference is like night and day. It does wonders for the ambience of the scene, and it seems like such an easy thing to do, I don't understand why it isn't more common.

But you see, in Aokana the background characters aren't going to grow up to be harem protagonists, that's why they have faces.

[Inorin]

What a great way to start the new year! Just completed YUNO a while ago and I'm left speechless. Now I know why YUNO has been lauded as the grandfather of many modern VNs - it's just simply that good. YUNO has been known to be as an inspiration to many Japanese media; with the likes of Fate Stay Night, Ace Attorney, Island, Steins Gate, Muv Luv, Clannad, Never7, Ever 17, Zero Escape, AI Sonmium Files and The World God Only Knows taking ideas from it. Well, to me, it seemed a lot like a Steins Gate/Clannad mashup with a bit of

Spoiler

SAO. 

At first glance, YUNO may seem like a typical sci-fi VN. However, towards the end, there would be a complete plot twist which many would probably not see coming (unless they got spoiled beforehand).  I had no prior knowledge of YUNO, so imagine my surprise when I reached the True Route.

Spoiler

Well, that isekai arc completely threw me off. Now I know where Muv Luv Alternative got its huge genre shift inspiration from.

 

Without a doubt, the route which I liked the most is the True Route (epilogue). This is the part when it started becoming a hell lot like Clannad and

Spoiler

SAO,

and when the story gets interesting. 

Spoiler

Takuya and Celes (Sayless)  was such a nice couple. That peaceful period that they had with YUNO and Kun-Kun for 4 years was so fun to read, but I knew it wasn't gonna last long. What came after Celes' death would spark a chain of character deaths, and I could feel the pain and loss for every one of them (except for Ryuzoji of course). What really shocked me was Kanna actually being Takuya's daughter. Amanda looked a bit like Eriko, so when I initially saw the photo, I was somewhat perplexed. Well not anymore. After the explanation at the end that Dela Grante was about to hit Earth and that some Dela Grante citizens were bound for Earth, it just sort of clicked.

 

Another thing which I also find intriguing is the possibility of Takuya not finding Illia's letter to the Imperial Capital. If he hadn't found the letter, he wouldn't have sent it to the Capital. If he hadn't sent it to the capital, the soldiers wouldn't have come to get Celes. If the soldiers hadn't come, Celes wouldn't have died (or maybe she still would but we don't know that). If Celes hadn't died, Takuya might never have travelled to the Capital. If he hadn't travelled to the Capital, he would never have gone back to his original world.

 

There are still some things which I don't quite get though:

Spoiler

1. Who killed Mitsuki/Yuuki in Mio's route?

2. What was that giant tower machine thing found under Sword Cape in Mio's route? Was it one of the tower things found in Dela Grante? If so, what purpose did they serve? I'm sure it's not just to strike lightning at those who attempt to mine ores there.

I've not enjoyed reading a VN this much since playing Rewrite and Dies Irae in 2018, so I'm really glad I finally decided to give YUNO a try . Overall, a 9/10. Up next, Baldr Sky. Very much looking forward to it.

 

Edited January 15, 2020 by wei123

[adamstan]

As for your second question -

Spoiler

Yes, it's one of those. And they were basically guardtowers. In Dela Grante they were shooting workers trying to escape and probably if somebody unauthorized tried to steal the ore they would shoot them too. In the "current" world obviously only the second function remained

 

I see that you played the remake. How would you rate the new voices and translation? Also, did they tone down those mood-ruining pantyshots in CGs?

Edited January 9, 2020 by adamstan