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[Visual Novels] Chaos;Head, Anonymous;Code, and Steins;Gate Re;boot (yay)
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It's difficult to say how the game isn't horrific.
Not that I would know.
Old PA forum lookalike style for the new forums | My ko-fi donation thing.
However, even the people who have stressed how fucked up Saya No Uta still recommend it.
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Can't speak of Fate since I haven't played it.
I guess I'll pickup Saya if it comes out cheap or something then.
The only thing I know about School Days is nice boat.
What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak
I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
I'm playing Steins;Gate at the moment, which is... certainly something.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
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Because we're already discussing VNs here, may as well go the full nine.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
If you liked Corpse Party, 999 is definitely a good choice. Fans of one usually convert well into fans of the other. Just like Corpse Party, it's quite... descriptive in its violence as well. It recently got reprinted so you don't have to pay $TEXAS for a copy too.
Once you're done with that, the sequel to 999 called Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward should be out on the Vita and 3DS in October. Unfortunately it's a bit too late for you to get in on the Amazon exclusive watch preorder bonus.
I'm just glad I was able to get 2.
I'm not sure any OP I can come up with could top that. Yikes.
At very least, I'll throw out some recommendations of visual novels I enjoy.
Umineko no Naku Koro Ni
(When The Seagulls Cry)
October 4th, 1986. The Ushiromiya Family have gathered to discuss the subject of the Ushiromiya Patriarch's, Kinzo, inheritance distribution upon his impending death.
The legendary figure some call 'Goldsmith' isn't about to go out so easily, though.
Rumors abound; of a ritual, sorcery, and 13 victims who must die to bring about the reincarnation of the Golden Witch they call Beatrice.
They say there's only one way to put a stop to Beatrice, and the ritual, before the end of the third night, when none shall be left alive.
Can you discover that method, I wonder?
There's two ways to play Umineko:
-PC fan translation.
http://witch-hunt.com/download.html
Witch-Hunt did an officially sanctioned fan translation, which will run off a PC version of Umineko.
You can get a FREE demo here, of Episode 1, also available translated.
http://07th-expansion.net/umi/soft/umi_taiken_r.htm
Visit Witch-Hunt to patch it.
The other way is through the PS3 version, which isn't yet translated, though I hear there are ways to apply the PS3 high-res graphics to the PC version.
Personally, I like the original art(it grows on you), but the updated art is nice too.
The PC version is also much cheaper and has no voice, but again, there's supposedly patches to apply the PS3 voice to the PC version.
Steins;Gate
I just started this one, but yeah, it hooked me fast.
Available on PC, 360, PSP, and PS3(I think), JP only, fan translation available for the PC version.
Involves very clever player interaction, since you use 'your' phone to make calls and bring up information in game.
Also, the art design is very nice.
A mystical tale of science, time travel, and otaku.
I'll update as they come to mind.
I'm thinking I'm going to finally order 999 tonight. Plus, the new cover is pretty fancy.
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Grappling Hook Showdown - Tumblr
Eh, I'm fine with not getting a watch. I still need to find a copy of 999 though since the game stop near me appears to have none.
I'm really trying to find anything that is fairly cheap, I have less than $50 to my name and I'm looking for a job so something good that I can pick up that wont break me is cool. I still have a lot to do in Corpse Party anyway. I apparently missed a lot of stuff and a bunch of name tags
Is Steins;Gate available on any Sony devices or PC?
What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak
I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
Anyway, thought I'd chip in a few more suggestions to the list.
Phoenix Wright series: Technically, the PW games might fall under Adventure titles instead of Visual Novels, making their inclusion a bit debatable. Still, there's an enormous amount of dialog and story in the games, and most of it is told in first person, so if you like VNs but haven't tried this series, you should definitely look into it.
BlazBlue: Despite being a fighting game, the Story Mode in BB is 100% Visual Novel inspired. Branching story paths, disturbing violent and sexual content, alternate endings....it even has the "hint room" bonus cutscenes that occur from Bad Ends, which I now know is heavily reminiscent from F/SN's Tiger Dojo segments. Even if you hate fighters, the Story Mode puts a ridiculously huge priority on its story content versus actual fights.
Muv Luv: Haven't played this (yet), but I've heard great things, following two disclaimers:
1. It is a ridiculously slow burn to the "good part" of the story
2. You'll have to deal with some harem-level designs (skintight bodysuits and massive ta-tas) and the usual 18+ sequences.
Regardless, people have claimed once the actual plot gets going, you'll be hooked....and possibly teary eyed.
Analogue: A Hate Story: Available on Steam, and dirt cheap! Has a unique "hacker" mechanic where you're reading log files with the help of an AI assistant, but it has some intriguing bits and a few good twists. It's also harem-free, even though you do get the option of dressing up your AI ladies.
Also, you should include the alternate means of getting the stories, ie manga and anime adaptions. I've heard the Steins; Gate anime is quite faithful, for example, so if you'd rather watch the story than read it, you have that option.
But stay the holy hell away from the Corpse Party manga. Seriously. Jesus Christ, it's more horrifying than the games (and for the entirely wrong reasons).
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The utterly fucked up thing is that this has absolutely nothing to do with the episode. Or any episode until like 12 episodes later when they're doing a bunch of recap "Another story" type of storytelling. Then it makes sense. Until then, it's just... hi completely random act of horrific violence.
I suppose the whole point of this genre is a bit muted when you mostly know what's going on though.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
It's basically Spike's answer to Phoenix Wright, with a healthy serving of Battle Royale and a dash of Persona 4. It's currently Japan-only, but thankfully a kind despair-loving soul known as "orenronen" took it upon himself to translate and LP the whole. Damn. Thing, and in the process literally conjure up a Western fanbase out of nowhere. Of course, if you can't wait to get your despair on, it's on iOS and Android as well as PSP; the mobile versions are set up like Ghost Trick where the first chapter is free, and if you like it you can buy the rest of the game. There's also a sequel and a prequel novel, which oren plans on doing once he's finished with DR1 (which may also involve a TL patch for the PSP version).
Oh, and a heads-up: don't fucking Google this shit in any capacity, unless you take some sick pleasure in having a crazy-ass plot ruined for you. Just stick to the LP thread for images and you'll be fine.
EDIT: oops, it seems SA Forums are down. So if you're still not sold, have a video instead.
Be imaginative.
Well, if we're talking about games that don't have English versions, there's a ton of stuff that I can recommend.
Machi (PSP/PS) -- Largely regarded to be the best of the genre
Kamaitachi no Yoru (PS/PSP/SNES/GBA/PS2) -- Mystery, this one is a real classic
428 (Wii, PSP, PS3) -- Same system as Machi, very highly regarded
Silver Jiken (PS) -- The game that put Suda 51 on the map
Cross Tantei Monogatari (PS) -- A cult classic, one of the best detective games out there.
Another Mind (PS) -- Has a unique interface, where you actually live inside the protagonists brain.
HayariGami (PS2) -- Nipponichi's urban-horror series.
Missing Parts (PS2) -- A great detective series on PS2.
Anata wo Yurusanai (PSP) -- music by Nobuo Uematsu
Juusei to Diamond (PSP) -- Assume the role of a police negotiator
Yume no Owari ni (PS) -- The quintessential Jinguuji Saburo game (Jake Hunter)
I'm sure that I'm missing plenty.
Muv-Luv Extra: Very generic dating sim-type visual novel. Exceedingly boring but absolutely required since it leads into the rest of the series. Also is kind of strange in that it becomes very interesting to read once you do end up beating the series.
Unlimited: The warm-up of the series.
Alternative: The part where everything gets realer than real. Overall very good with almost no eroge elements (they appear near the end and are absolutely terrible though), but the writing can drag on a bit. I was also not a fan of the ending, so your mileage may vary.
Oh, you mean Rurouni Twilight?
http://www.thegamingvault.com/2012/04/review-hakuoki-demon-of-the-fleeting-blossom-psp/
Yeah, no thanks. Story was a serious snoozer.
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I didn't mention it because I figured no one not of the female or romantically inclined persuasion would care. :P
Here's a quick breakdown of the three routes in order.
Fate: Shiou is an annoying as hell plot-immune 'The Scrappy' and 'Idiotic Martyr Without a Cause'.
Unlimted Blade Works: Shirou hits reality, grows us, and becomes a awesome 'The Fettered'/'Knight in Sour Armor' Superhero of Justice with 'Deconstructed Chronic Hero Syndrome'.
Heaven's Feel: Shirou hits a harsher reality and discards his dream of becoming a Hero of Justice, takes memetic levels in badassery, and becomes a full on Anti-Hero and 'Determinator'/'Determined Defeatist' against the most impossible odds and horror with levels of willpower in the Batman/Guts tier.
And yet the first route is the one that get's animated while the second route only gets a fanservice movie with 5% of the plot and 70% of the fight scenes while the third route gets nothing. It's a damn crime with how much ludicrously better both routes are over Fate.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
They're hysterically badly written enough for popcorn munching, somewhere around 1% of the PC version of the game, and given actual plot justifications.
The PC version is the only one that's been fan translated. Make sure you grab both patches: one translates the game into English and adds the voice acting from the PS2 release into the game while the other patch adds the extra CGs, better music, and Fate-route Epilogue from the PS2 version into the game.
Oh, and for the record, I don't hate the Fate route. I just don't think it compares to the other two. It's the cheesy B-movie next to two film-festival blockbusters so to speak. But it serves its place to set up the setting and world.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
I'm planning on reading it after I finish my Tuskihime read. I figure after 999, if Aksys liked it, it has to be good.
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Maybe it picks up later on, but I spent a good 4-5 hours on it with the plot going nowhere.
And I didn't have a problem with the story being geared toward women, but rather the schizophrenic way the characters would treat the female protagonist ("Boy, we sure do you like having you around to cook and clean for us! By the way, if you ever try to escape, we'll slit your throat and rape your corpse (wide smile)" ).
Sounds about right. I still like UBW overall, but HF does have the overall better story and character advancement of Shirou.
My main beef with HF is the one I listed earlier, and still remains that way.
And then they go and pull a convenient "two years later: everything is sunshine and roses" ending. Bullshit. A decade of physical, sexual and psychological abuse as well as mass casualties from the result of her shadow does not magically go away in two years.
Heaven's Feel has been constantly rumored for an anime followup to Fate/Zero, and I think such an adaption could potentially fix the issues I had with the story, especailly if Urobuchi was at the helm (good luck convincing him to keep the ending, though).
On the other hand, the very first sex scene in the Fate route could be seen as a bad-ass moment for one character.
Intentional fap material aside, having Rin sexually dominate the King of Knights just made me want to high-five her. It's her second coolest moment after making Saber her Servant in UBW.
I'm bummed we didn't see more of the Rin/Saber combo (the uh, Master/Servant combo, not the other one......well maybe.....)
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For the record, Fate/Extra is indeed a better game if you get the Type-Moon references. It pulls from not only Fate/stay night, but also Tsukihime/Melty Blood and Kara no Kyoukai - the Garden of Sinners (the movies are fantastic with super impressive animation, fight scenes, and Yuki Kajiura soundtracks). Enjoyable game on it's own, but better with the knowledge of all the characters' alter egos.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak
I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
Steam - Wildschwein | The Backlog
Grappling Hook Showdown - Tumblr
Yep. Those hours fly by once the narrative hooks you, and it will.
It does get pretty addictive. The start was fairly slow and felt more tedious than anything but once it got going I really couldn't stop myself from becoming entirely absorbed. I'm curious though, if this was all of episode one, what is in the other episodes? Is it a continuing story or is each episode something different?
Spoilers here
A few things that did bother me though were how things were constantly repeated whether it was an important plot device or background story, though especially the god damn "chess theory" stuff drove me insane. Also the logic they used when concerning stuff kind of got on my nerves and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping for.
There were a few other things that seemed out of place, unexplained, or ignored but it was stuff that was fairly easy to overlook. I also may be speaking out of my ass since this is the first legit VN I've ever experienced.
I was hoping for something more interactive like Corpse Party but for the most part I enjoyed this a lot and once I stop being poor I'll check out the other episodes.
What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak
I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.
To answer your question: Yes and Yes. It is both a contuining story and something different. Not saying any more. Read it yourself.
// Switch: SW-5306-0651-6424 //
I'll give you a mild idea of how each episode works.
Also, did you watch the Tea Party and ??? ? It gets even crazier.
And Umineko is largely un-interactive, but it does give you all the clues you need to try and piece together the mysteries if you like.
The later eipsodes do offer some interactivity, too.
What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? ~ Mario Novak
I never fear death or dyin', I only fear never trying.