Visual Novels

[pierrot]

awwww such a pretty wife.

Yeah, she's fine, I guess, but I chose the one with short black hair, 'cause that's just what I'm into.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Okay, I've completed the two main routes in Muv Luv (or, in "Muv Luv Extra" which is the first arc). I really enjoyed them. Trying for the tertiary routes now and holy mother are they dull. They just go on and on and on and yeah........ It's a sunk cost at this point I suppose; I just feel compelled to complete them.

Where is Lauren? Has anyone else played this? Waiting for Elkin to decide to give it ago; he'll be done in three days vs. my two months.

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On another note, and more importantly, YU-NO arrives on the Switch October 1st.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Well then........ Two weeks and 40+ hours of gameplay and Muv-Luv is done. I suppose I enjoyed it: all routes completed and even all Steam achievements obtained!

The whole game feels like a big tease though; it's a huge amount of character- and world-building leading up to the sequel, Muv-Luv Alternative. Which is, by at least one measure, the best visual novel ever.
https://vndb.org/v/all?s=rating;o=d

I just obtained a copy of Muv-Luv Alternative today (on Vita, not Steam), but I don't think I can handle another massive VN at the moment. This fall, ideally.

[Ack]

Well, that screenshot pretty much sums up why you were playing this visual novel, Bone.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Actually, no.

Real talk: due to a coalescence of multiple factors (growing older, having daughters, ever-shifting sociopolitical opinions) I've grown tired of seeing pr0nz in my games (and elsewhere). I played the censored Steam version of Muv-Luv and was better for it. I don't need to see naked cartoon kids (yeah I know they're "18-year-old" high school seniors, whatever).

Plus, the sex scenes were shoehorned in anyway; the "romances" arguably were too. Probably because that's what moves these visual novels off the shelves in Japan (and America). I think this one would have played out better had it been about a group of friends à la Higurashi. The writing totally shits the bed once the characters start "getting together" in the worst sort of stereotypical "men writing women" fashion. "She had smooth silky hair and delicate skin and massive bosoms she was so hot but didn't even realize how beautiful she was it was in that moment that I realized I was in love with [anime girl]."

Now, I'm no prude, and I still have the sense of humor of a 12-year-old, so some of the random pervy lines did indeed elicit a chuckle. Hence the screenshot taken above.

Seriously though, this is a really intriguing science fiction story disguised as a dating sim (or vice versa for the second half). Anyone who's the least bit interested in VNs should give it a go. I'm really eager to play the sequel. Just have to set aside 70 hours or so.

[chupon]

Just wanted to say - because of your posts and someone else's review of it - I picked up Muv Luv and Alternate both on Vita. Will be starting in a week or two and honestly am very excited. The VN genre for me fits my life perfectly. These two / three games will probably take me into 2020 to beat and I'm totally fine with that.

I've two final endings to get in Steins; Gate 0 before I begin. Been playing that on and off for way too long. Need to finish before I jump into something new. Highly recommend Steins; Gate if you haven't ever tried it. And the anime is tops too - but play the VN first.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Muv-Luv Alternative is kicking my ass. This game is brutal, uncompromising, exhausting. I keep thinking I'm at the "final battle" scene but then another one pops up after it.

This is probably the best visual novel I've come across. But I hope I can find one of similar quality with a slightly more uplifting plot. This is seriously one of most anxiety-inducing things I've ever played/read. I'm kinda angry and baffled that some Japanese VN with a bunch of cutesy anime girls has affected me so much emotionally. But seriously -- fuck...

[BoneSnapDeez]

u love to see it
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1144 ... _All_Ages/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145 ... _All_Ages/

[Jagosaurus]

Not trolling.... how do these games differ from Snatcher (remove gun scenes) & Policenauts type games? I've also never played any of the Tell-Tale (sp?) VN games.

[BoneSnapDeez]

There's overlap between the Japanese adventure, dating sim, and VN genres.

But, generally speaking, what's referred to as a Japanese visual novel is an interactive story with occasional branching paths; so, like a "choose your own adventure" style. As such, most of these games feature multiple endings. Players are encouraged to replay to achieve additional endings, with the option to skip over content that was already read.

There's also a class of Japanese VNs that feature no choices whatsoever. So, you literally just click through a story, or even set it to auto-read. Higurashi is a well-known example of this.