[relentlessflame]

A bit late to reply, but...

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Spoiler for Akari's route:

However, the crisis was a bit overdone for what it was: it would be indeed a disaster if Akari were to be engaged with someone else, but assuming Takumi -and- Isumi can't do a thing. Whilst Takumi was rendered powerless or so, Isumi was far from being dead. Assuming Takumi couldn't do a thing, I really doubt Isumi would be fooled and let Akari accepting the director's arranged marriage, especially that 1) he witnessed how she loves Takumi 2) that he didn't choose that candidate himself.
These 2 reasons are enough to conclude that Isumi would definitely not let things go this way, and it would immediately render that shady director powerless the very moment he wakes up and catch wind of this mess.

Therefore, the whole deal was a bit unbelievable: if that director was indeed trying to pull out a plan to seize the control of everything while hiding the fact he was doing some shady deal with dirty money, how come he made such oversight, as in: having Isumi clearly able to stop this farce?
I'm maybe missing something here, but so long Isumi can make a decision, it is game over for him anyway.

Spoiler for Noble Works Akari's Route:

I think the bad guys are under the assumption that everyone will believe that they are acting in accordance with Isumi's wishes and along with what would be best for the company, since Akari is the family heir. When Takumi (disguised as Shuri) visits, he comments to the bad guy that he understands that this arrangement is necessary; of course he's trying to fool them, but the fact it works indicates that's what they assume everyone will believe. The bad guys may also not know the details of Isumi's condition, and may think that it's more serious than it really is (in fact, they may think he's already dead). Once Chiaki figured out what was going on, it would have been in her best interest to try to make everyone believe that the situation was dire in order to expose the bad actors and their motivation. So they obviously didn't think Isumi either could or would stop them. (Edit: I replayed this section to refresh my memory, and it seems they just think his condition is critical, but don't know what'll happen. They're just taking advantage of the opportunity to push forward with something they had already been pushing for, I guess. They still clearly don't think he'd oppose even if he did come back, which is obviously a bit puzzling. Edit 2: Kept re-playing, and in Akari's bedside conversation with her father, the implication is that the reason for the arranged marriage proposal (and resulting alliance) was actually a legitimate attempt to save the company that the father was in fact supportive of. That said, he was aware of Akari's feelings too, and chose his daughter's happiness over the fate of his company (though he intends to find a different way to solve the issue).)

The main thing they underestimated was Akari's change of heart. The old Akari would have sacrificed herself for the sake of the family name (as an arranged marriage had always been her intention), but she's changed now, and she knows that her father understands that too. They also underestimated the rest of the players, like Chiaki and Shuri, and the fact that they'd choose Takumi ("true love") over what would appear on the surface to be what's best for the future of the Kanamoto group. The fact that this was all a front to hide their shady business was sort of icing on the cake.

Of course, the whole thing is a little bit silly anyway... I sort of take it as a little bit of a fairytale where true love conquers evil. It's a bit campy, but I think they played it rather well.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Spoiler for Akari's route:

My second complain with Akari's route was that complete oversight with the matter involving Makoto & friends: I surely didn't forget that Takumi promised them to talk about a certain "important matter". I was expecting it as another potential "drama", which would bring to light how strong their friendship are, regardless their identity or status (which may also involve with Hinata due to her "commoner" origins, and potentially Maya and her obvious connection with Yakuza). Thus, color me disappointed that they pulled a huge 1 year time skip, with a very brief description that Shuri could regain his role perfectly... oh well...

Spoiler for Noble Works Akari's Route (with minor allusions to other routes):

I sort of agree, but the only "excuse" I'd offer here is that this point is covered at least somewhat in some of the other routes, so if you take the game on the whole the issue is dealt with. You're right though that, in Akari's route alone, they sort of gloss over this point, so it's a bit less complete as a standalone piece.

That said, there probably is a whole side-piece that could be written about how Shuri got re-integrated into the school after they switched back, not to mention a whole ton that could be written about what would happen when "the world" finds out that the heiress to the Kanamoto group is marrying a commoner who is the spitting image of her younger brother! So yeah, if they ever did do some sort of fandisk or sequel, there'd be plenty to work with.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

I read Tenshin Ranman a little bit (Aoi's route and half of Hime's), and I must say the major problem with Tenshin Ranman was its unbalanced pace at times, and also the fact the core premise (Haruki's bad luck curse) became quickly a background trivia instead of being a running backbone plot line (whilst Takumi's role is never omitted and lead to overarching issues and plot directions).
I did enjoy Tenshin Ranman though: I certainly appreciated a lot Aoi and her route, and the comedy antics were hilarious, although there wasn't really a "solid group" together, and I should probably resume it someday (at least finishing Hime and Sana...Ruri? Not so much...).

Yes, I agree. Actually, I would say that Aoi's route from Tenshin Ranman was really the main problem in terms of the pacing. They dragged out the middle of the plot for-freakin'-ever to the point where I almost Ctrl'd my way through parts of it. The other routes were a bit more balanced in that regard. But yeah, whatever pacing issues there were in their previous game were largely fixed in this new one.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

The most notable improvement with NW is probably the cohesion between characters interactions, along with the pace (common route and drama), while keeping their fluffy and comic formula intact.

Yup, agreed. I actually think that this cohesion between the characters and a sense of friendship among the cast is one of the major things that has generally improved in these sorts of stories over the last few years. It helps to create an entire "universe" that you can get enveloped in, and removes a little bit of the artificial nature of the route-based plots. The net effect, at least for me, is that it makes you feel a bit lonely after you finish all the routes in the game, because you enjoy the time spent with the whole group of characters regardless of whatever route you're on.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

You think they will make a port? They only started with Tenshin Ranman, and I have no idea how the sales went for this port nor for NW so...
Whilst I can see a very happy guy with Makoto being added in the cast (which makes much more sense than that joke route for yasetsuna ), Chiaki route could be interesting... in a very very -very- odd way... (fujoshi stuff? S/M? The possible amount of fetish involving her might be too scary )

Yeah... with a game with these sorts of production values, I think a port is inevitable -- if nothing else, it's a way of making a little bit more money off work largely already completed. If I made a short list of games from 2010 that might get anime adaptations, this one would probably be on my list as well, especially now that two other shows have come out recently featuring character designs from these artists.

And yeah, if they do a port, my bet is Makoto and one new previously-unseen character get routes. If they do something for Chiaki, I can only imagine it as a short branch (I could almost imagine them doing a small such branch without even having any romance -- just a "Chiaki's secrets" sort of route).

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

I think KoreZon is solo too...That's why I didn't know he had a partner...never really paid much attention to the credits in the games.

KoreZon is a partnership with both artists, and it's just Hidan no Aria where it was Kobuichi alone. But yeah, this team works so well together that you have to know where to look to catch the differences.