What is the most important part in a Visual Novel for you?

[Yuuko]

15 minutes ago, ChaosRaven said:

It isn't so easy. A visual novel isn't just a simple book where the writing is everything and the reader imagines the art and audio himself. The quality of a visual novel depends on more than just the writing, it depends on the combination of writing, art and audio, and all of them can ruin the experience.

Still people saying "I won't play VNs without wide screen or newer than 2010 because older art sucks" is pretty stupid.

I think art from for example 2003 is totally okay (ofc it could be better) but people not playing a story driven game because they don't like the art sounds pretty stupid to me. 

Pic related:

Spoiler

 

[ChaosRaven]

23 minutes ago, Kiriririri said:

Still people saying "I won't play VNs without wide screen or newer than 2010 because older art sucks" is pretty stupid.

I think art from for example 2003 is totally okay (ofc it could be better) but people not playing a story driven game because they don't like the art sounds pretty stupid to me. 

I kinda agree with the first sentence but not the second.

A general statement of art newer or older than 2010 isn't a precise statement, it's just a rough estimate judging from experience. The Japanese probably can afford that opinion because they get hundreds of high level VN's per year, but the English market isn't big enough for such a luxury attitude yet. Though I've a personal limit of at least 800 x 600 because I start to see pixels on my screen with 640 x 480. On the other hand, the PS art for Umineko was 640 x 480 too I think and it was pretty good, so I do make exceptions.

The second sentence is a clear statement that the reader doesn't like the art of an individual VN which will definitely affect his enjoyment in a negative way. You can read it because you think the art is okay, but would you also read it if it wouldn't be okay for you? How much would it affect your enjoyment? It's a very subjective matter, everyone has to make his own decision. Some care more some less about art.

[Eclipsed]

Outside of the typical Story + Characters 

Nowadays when I go VN shopping my checklist basically consists of

• Do I like the Art
• Is it at least 720p
• Is there Voice Acting
• Are there H-scenes

[Yuuko]

7 hours ago, ChaosRaven said:

The second sentence is a clear statement that the reader doesn't like the art of an individual VN which will definitely affect his enjoyment in a negative way. You can read it because you think the art is okay, but would you also read it if it wouldn't be okay for you? How much would it affect your enjoyment? It's a very subjective matter, everyone has to make his own decision. Some care more some less about art.

Hard to say because I haven't seen art yet that I wouldn't like except for Higurashi.

[Turnip Sensei]

I've always felt like it's not that hard to get used to "bad" art or music, even bad voice acting can be turned off. But getting used to bad or uninteresting story is almost impossible for me and mostly not worth it at all. 

VN with good story and bad everything else is still a good story, but pretty VN with abysmal story is still just bad. Aesthetics don't make up for the content. Unless it's a nukige or something, but I don't count them in this case, and because I don't read them. 

So yeah, story is still the king for me, even in a visual media like VNs.

[ChaosRaven]

10 hours ago, Turnip Sensei said:

I've always felt like it's not that hard to get used to "bad" art or music, even bad voice acting can be turned off. But getting used to bad or uninteresting story is almost impossible for me and mostly not worth it at all. 

VN with good story and bad everything else is still a good story, but pretty VN with abysmal story is still just bad. Aesthetics don't make up for the content. Unless it's a nukige or something, but I don't count them in this case, and because I don't read them. 

So yeah, story is still the king for me, even in a visual media like VNs.

Which raises the question for me: if you don't care about the audio-visual content of VN's, then why don't you just read a simple book?! Why bother with a bunch of questionable translations of some even more questionable Japanese porn writers, if you have free access to the best literary works from the most highly rated book authors of the western world. Authors like Ken Follett, George R.R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, Robert Jordan, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the list goes on and on and on. There's definitely something there for everyone and every taste and every genre. And no bad translations lower the whole experience.

[Turnip Sensei]

15 minutes ago, ChaosRaven said:

Which raises the question for me: if you don't care about the audio-visual content of VN's, then why don't you just read a simple book?! Why bother with a bunch of questionable translations of some even more questionable Japanese porn writers, if you have free access to the best literary works from the most highly rated book authors of the western world. Authors like Ken Follett, George R.R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, Robert Jordan, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the list goes on and on and on. There's definitely something there for everyone and every taste and every genre. And no bad translations lower the whole experience.

Because I like visual novels as a story telling medium, it's simple as that. And it's not like I don't appreciate the audio-visual content, I very much do, but it's just not the the most important part for me. And that's what this thread is about; "the most important part in a visual novel for you".

And the hyperbole that I should just read books if I don't care about the audio-visual part that much is really silly. Especially if you happen to recommend me western authors. How's that going to be any replacement for my weeb stories? 
I happen find the stories presented in visual novels more fascinating than what I found in books. There are these unique themes, concepts and general feel that only Japanese media like anime, JRPGs and VNs have that I happen to really like, and VNs just feature them the best, being the most story-focused of the three. I haven't still read a book that would have made me feel the same way as, for example, Steins;Gate, Narcissu or Gahkthun, even when trying to observe them just purely in terms of story.  

[ChaosRaven]

25 minutes ago, Turnip Sensei said:

Because I like visual novels as a story telling medium, it's simple as that. And it's not like I don't appreciate the audio-visual content, I very much do, but it's just not the the most important part for me. And that's what this thread is about; "the most important part in a visual novel for you".

And the hyperbole that I should just read books if I don't care about the audio-visual part that much is really silly. Especially if you happen to recommend me western authors. How's that going to be any replacement for my weeb stories? 
I happen find the stories presented in visual novels more fascinating than what I found in books. There are these unique themes, concepts and general feel that only Japanese media like anime, JRPGs and VNs have that I happen to really like, and VNs just feature them the best, being the most story-focused of the three. I haven't still read a book that would have made me feel the same way as, for example, Steins;Gate, Narcissu or Gahkthun, even when trying to observe them just purely in terms of story.  

I like that answer. It's certainly true that Japanese visual novels have a bit of a different style than most western works. I'm not sure if would pick the story part though. The parts that I consider more unique are the very high character focus, the first person perspective and the romance parts. That's not to say I wouldn't like to see some western story and scenario parts in a VN too.

But the art is still a very important part for me in VN's. I actually prefer no art at all over bad art. And there are some western book series I really liked, especially The Wheel of Time even if the quality dropped significtantly after parts 15 - 20. So at least in my case I would probably prefer a western book over a VN with bad art. I'm actually thinking about reading Richelle Meads Vampire Academy for some time now since I'm a sucker for vampire stories.

[Valmore]

6 hours ago, ChaosRaven said:

Which raises the question for me: if you don't care about the audio-visual content of VN's, then why don't you just read a simple book?! Why bother with a bunch of questionable translations of some even more questionable Japanese porn writers, if you have free access to the best literary works from the most highly rated book authors of the western world. Authors like Ken Follett, George R.R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, Robert Jordan, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the list goes on and on and on. There's definitely something there for everyone and every taste and every genre. And no bad translations lower the whole experience.

They don't write what the person wants to read? Or maybe the person DOES read normal novels as well.

And if you're waiting around for a book from George R.R. Martin you may as well read 1000 questionable translations during the wait. You'll have that kind of time.

[br4zil]

Most important and fundamental to me is that the VN has routes/dialogue choices in them. Kinectic Novels arent my thing.

After that, its probably the MC's personality (when applicable), if the MC is a irreprehensible douchebag or has quirks which i really dislike, i will probably be turned off.

This is rather very important to the point where i couldnt enjoy Fruit of Grisaia or even non-VN games such as The Witcher series

Then its characters construction (heroines) and overall plot of the VN, as other said, it can go either way (good characters/bad plot,bad characters/good plot), preferbly with both being good

Art comes afterwards, i can basically forgive any kind of artstyle, still VNs like Da Capo did get pushed back in my "to read" list because of... unusual artstyle (Those Eyes!).

[Clephas]

Story (duh)>Characterization>Art=>BGM

Did you really expect it to be any other way with me?

 

[Kawasumi]

Setting and atmosphere is definetly the most important for me, I dont really mind art, I love every artstyle that anime has gone through over the years, so I dont really care in terms of art, I will admit that the quality sometimes puts me off and it makes it so that the story really needs to be top notch.

[Hayashi]

Story, music and finally art. 

Whats the point of reading something without an actual story/plot? Sakura series lel

[CeruleanGamer]

On February 15, 2016 at 3:02 PM, ChaosRaven said:

I like that answer. It's certainly true that Japanese visual novels have a bit of a different style than most western works. I'm not sure if would pick the story part though. The parts that I consider more unique are the very high character focus, the first person perspective and the romance parts. That's not to say I wouldn't like to see some western story and scenario parts in a VN too.

But the art is still a very important part for me in VN's. I actually prefer no art at all over bad art. And there are some western book series I really liked, especially The Wheel of Time even if the quality dropped significtantly after parts 15 - 20. So at least in my case I would probably prefer a western book over a VN with bad art. I'm actually thinking about reading Richelle Meads Vampire Academy for some time now since I'm a sucker for vampire stories.

Youre not one of those call of duty newfags that dont care about anything thats not 60FPS/1080p right?

[ChaosRaven]

5 minutes ago, CeruleanGamer said:

Youre not one of those call of duty newfags that dont care about anything thats not 60FPS/1080p right?

I care more about the artistic merits and less about the technical ones. A high resolution won't change the art style itself, it just makes the image more crisp.

[Forgetful Frank]

My most important thing when reading a VN currently, is a slice of life setting with several different heroines you can romance who are all unique in personality with a well-written storyline. The second most important thing is for there to be actual progression between their romance with the occasional fan service. I'm a sucker for accidental nude scenes when the main characters walks in on someone bathing or getting changed etc, I just personally find it pleasant and quite hilarious, ahaha!

[Katatsumuri]

1 hour ago, Forgetful Frank said:

My most important thing when reading a VN currently, is a slice of life setting with several different heroines (the MC) can romance who are all unique in personality with a well-written storyline.

Pick one. You cannot have both.

 

In my case, It's A: The art is tolerable. B: It has the proper atmosphere. C: I enjoy reading it. D: It's linear, or it makes very little difference whichever route you choose (or a good justification of why they are profoundly different) E: THE. MC. EXIST.

 

[XReaper]

reg. what is the most important part in a visual novel for you?

- to me its a conclusive & truly satisfying ending. simple as that.

[Forgetful Frank]

10 hours ago, Katatsumuri said:

Pick one. You cannot have both.

 

In my case, It's A: The art is tolerable. B: It has the proper atmosphere. C: I enjoy reading it. D: It's linear, or it makes very little difference whichever route you choose (or a good justification of why they are profoundly different) E: THE. MC. EXIST.

 

Well in that case, it has to be a well-written story.

[sanahtlig]

This topic came up in the JAST forums recently, so I took a stab at it.

Here's three factors I consider important in a VN:

1. Interactivity: Mechanics that engage you in the world, whether it be gameplay systems or choices. Most VNs rate poorly in this area, and that's one reason they're not very popular in the West. VNs with highly branching stories tend to be more engaging than those that simply have you choose a heroine.
2. Immersiveness: The ability of the VN to draw you into its world. Interactivity factors into this, but so do characters and setting. Games with intricate and highly-developed settings, like Eushully's Ikusa Megami series and Fate's Nasuverse, tend to be highly immersive. Reliance on tropes reduces immersion. Special effects and animation can also increase immersion by helping to bring the world to life.
3. Sexiness: Sex appeal is at the core of the genre, which is dominated by adult games. The appeal of its heroines can make or break a game. A sexy VN is not necessarily a nukige, and in fact a cottage industry has arisen based solely on non-explicit fanservice (e.g., the Sakura series). Many VNs lack sexual build-up, and either bombard the user with sex (weakening its impact) or tack on H-scenes without first building up the sexual tension that would make these scenes cathartic.

It's a rare VN indeed that excels at all 3 of these, which is disappointing.

[DarkZedge]

For me it's something like : Characters, setting, atmosphere, plot , voice acting , "plot" . There are more but these are the most important for me.

[Darklord Rooke]

1 hour ago, sanahtlig said:

Here's three factors I consider important in a VN:

1. Interactivity: Mechanics that engage you in the world, whether it be gameplay systems or choices. Most VNs rate poorly in this area, and that's one reason they're not very popular in the West. VNs with highly branching stories tend to be more engaging than those that simply have you choose a heroine.

Agree with this. I'm not a fan of Japanese VNs route structure, or that the consequences to your actions often feel like they're random.

[john 'mr. customer' smith]

A good, immersive atmosphere is like cocaine to me

[Kenshin_sama]

Atmosphere and characters. If the VN has an atmosphere that's rich in humor, energy, serenity, and/or boldness, it'll keep me reading till the end. If the characters are good, it'll make for a memorable experience.

[andzalot55]

Mainly art, music, and the story; the romance between the male and female protagonist.