Best VN by Key?

[Dreamysyu]

So, your thoughts?

My choice may seem slightly weird, but I'm going to say Planetarian. Compared to the other works, it's reasonably short, but at the same time it manages to have an interesting and thought-provoking story about the future of humanity, and still gets the "feels" moments right.

My second choice would go to Rewrite, even though it's not really a Key VN, in a classical sense.

[Yuuko]

Snow 

Spoiler

 

 

Edited February 6, 2018 by Kiriririri

[Ranzo]

Yeah I guess I might say Planetarian since it is pure distilled Key and showcases what they were really known for which is making you feel really, really, sad.

After that? I'd say Rewrite since it is a real departure from their usual method and was a bold new step forward. Then Clannad because that monolith is about as Key as you can get at least two of the routes are some of the best I've experienced.

[Arcadeotic]

Planetarian by miles.

[Sparteh]

I join Planatarian group. Short, compact, good. 

From long VNs: Rewrite. Funny enough, I also one of those who liked Moon route the most.

[onorub]

I'll be the contrarian here and say Clannad. The sheer amount of routes and secret little things made it feel like more of a legit game and the After Story (normal route specifically) made the story go from ok to great, making it my favorite VN ever. 

[Kaguya]

Little Busters. 

[Asonn]

Rewrite 

[Dergonu]

Just now, Arcadeotic said:

Planetarian by miles.

So much this.

[Mr Poltroon]

Likely Little Busters!, but I have yet to play the famous Planetarian most speak of.
I will probably not any time soon, either. I don't like crying.

[Dreamysyu]

18 minutes ago, Mr Poltroon said:

I will probably not any time soon, either. I don't like crying.

It's exactly the reason why I was postponing reading it for so long.

But you should. It's that good.

[VirginSmasher]

Well, I guess I'm gonna be a wildcard and say Kanon. 

[Silvz]

Nobody thinks Air is the best? I think Air only misses the spot because Clannad had way more chances to make it right, being the game change for Key. If Air was released nowadays, maybe a remake with new content, it would surpass Clannad in people's taste, at least in my opinion.

That said, my less favorite would be... Charlotte? Can we consider it a Key "novel"? This anime got everything right in the beginning, and then, after the plot twist (everybody knows what happens, right?), it became too boring and meaningless to me. I cried in that scene, but then the whole conclusion was rushed in a few episodes, and the ending felt too forced in comparison to Key's other works. And Clannad does have some weird endings (cof the cat one cof).

Angel Beats!, being as short as Charlotte, did a better job in 13 episodes.

Edited February 6, 2018 by Silvz

[Dreamysyu]

1 minute ago, Silvz said:

That said, my less favorite would be... Charlotte? Can we consider it a Key "novel"? This anime got everything right in the beginning, and then, after the plot twist (everybody knows what happens, right?), it became too boring and meaningless to me. I cried in that scene, but then the whole conclusion was rushed in a few episodes, and the ending felt too forced in comparison to Key's other works.

Yeah, totally. It actually lowered my opinion about Maeda quite a bit. He is good at writing slice-of-life, comedy and "feels" moments, but when he tries to add actual plot to his stories, he fails.

[Clephas]

For story and pure impact, Planetarian... for comedy, probably Little Busters. 

[NowItsAngeTime]

Rewrite because it has two of the best girls ever and does something really unique for its last route.

Edited February 7, 2018 by NowItsAngeTime

[Kaykeiokay]

I'm on team Planetarian, but when I read Air I feel like that might change, since I enjoyed the anime the best out of the Key adaptations.

[littleshogun]

Let's see. Maybe I could say that both of Little Busters and Rewrite did have many different ending songs, and I'd always like that when VN did have something like that. But if you mean the best, then yeah Planetarian would be a good choice considering that it's pretty short, so it's straight to the point compared to many other KEY VNs. Oh, and post apocalypse setting definitely help. I did read this in the past, but back then more or less it just fly over my head lol - maybe I better reread Planetarian in the future.

[1P1A]

Little Busters. Short novels, like Planetarian and Harmonia, are cheap. They hit you fast, and hard, in the feels, and then end.

[Hiashi]

Little Busters or Rewrite, they're pretty close in my mind. LB English Edition is still fresh on my mind though, so that might have earned it some more points.

Also, I especially loved Moon from Rewrite. 

[Kabu]

My favorite would be Kanon, mostly due to the anime. The one I feel is the best written however would have to be either Planetarian or Little Busters depending on what you're looking for. Rewrite is very close but Moon and Terra just kill it for me.

[Deep Blue]

1 Clannad
2 Planetarian
3 tomoyo after (+18 ver)

Edited February 7, 2018 by Deep Blue

[Inorin]

I will go for Clannad, but only Tomoyo's route and Kyou's route. Tomoyo After is a close second and Planetarian is third