Rewrite & Harvest Festa

[hyperknees91]

Originally Posted by Balzac

Once again I'm late to an interesting discussion, but as I feel that it has been discussed adequately, I won't put a sentiment that in some ways have been echoed by others. (regarding Terra)

But I can declare that there are many facets to the game, layers upon layers of interconnecting themes and ideas woven in. It'd require an entire dissertation to cover everything, and it is only my academic hesitation at treating a visual novel as a real piece of literature that stays my hand. Some readers may have already explored them all (it is a 2 year old game), and most of what I refer to has already been explored in the back-and-forth discussion in this very forum. Reading the thread from the date of the game's release to now is an interesting exercise in of itself. So many interpretations, so many fervent opinions...

The entire game might be flawed in some parts, but damned if I can't respect the writers for managing to package it with a lot of novel and noble sentiments and ideas.

Visual novels are rather strange that way. I think it just takes an open mind when considering talking about them really (I'm one to talk hah).

Even now I'm not sure on my actual opinion on Rewrite, it's a very strange read.

[Kyrok]

So I am finally getting back to playing Rewrite, back when I played originally the entire game had not been translated yet and then there was school and other crap that kept me from getting invested, but now I'm back.

So I just completely replayed the common route and then went into Kotori's route, and in no way was I expecting what happened.

Spoiler for Kotori Spoilers:

I had always assumed Kotori was just a normal girl, the childhood friend that got wrapped up in all the crazyness because of you, but man was I wrong and god it was so sad learning about her life, how she had been dealing with so much on her own with no family or anything and having to push away her only friend. The parts where Chibimoth and her parents died were just tear wrenching, and just the gradual break down she was enduring was very emotional, I honestly feared she might commit suicide at a few parts in the route.

By the end I was glad that it was a more or less happy ending though it felt more melancholic, I was satisfied that Kotarou and Kotori got their happy ending.

So now I am moving on to Chihaya and will probably go in the order Kotori > Chihaya > Akane > Shizuru > Lucia, not for any particular reason really, if I went by favorites I would of done Lucia first.

But I have to say it is with a somewhat heavy heart, it's kind of embarassing, but when I get invested in these games like Rewrite and before this Little busters, when I go through a route and see everything the character goes through, it really bothers me when I go to a new route, because I feel like now what happens to them because I'm not there to help them? Will they die? Will they be alone forever? who knows, but I don't see it being a happy ending for them and it's all I can think about heading into Chihaya's route after experiencing Kotori's side of the story.

[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by Kyrok

So now I am moving on to Chihaya and will probably go in the order Kotori > Chihaya > Akane > Shizuru > Lucia, not for any particular reason really, if I went by favorites I would of done Lucia first.

You want to do Akane's route last. Trust me on this one. Everything else is fine, but Akane is almost meant to be finished immediately before the true routes, in much the same way that Kotori is almost meant to be first.
I wish the unlocks actually worked that way, but alas.

[Snuffle]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

You want to do Akane's route last. Trust me on this one. Everything else is fine, but Akane is almost meant to be finished immediately before the true routes, in much the same way that Kotori is almost meant to be first.
I wish the unlocks actually worked that way, but alas.

Oh hell no! I'm so glad that I was able to do Akane's route second. I really don't see it as her story should be last before the final, I see Rewrite as two separate stories, maybe three.

Spoiler for Explaination on what I mean by separate stories, don't read if you haven't completed at least MOON:

I see the story as a Gaia side and a Guardian side, I don't think I need to elaborate on that, it should be pretty obvious. Kotori probably could fit into the Gaia side, but at the same time, her story could be a stand alone.

[Tyabann]

Doing Akane's route second is about the worst thing I can think of. I would probably hate the game if I'd done that.

Spoiler for expectations:

I'm trying to not direct Kyrok's opinion either way here, but in my view Chihaya and Shizuru's routes are awful garbage, while Lucia's has absolutely nothing to do with anything and playing either after Akane's just seems... bad.
There's also an issue with tone, which Akane's route shares more with Moon/Terra than the rest of the game.

Also I simply disagree with you that Rewrite is "multiple stories", it's (ideally supposed to be) one story viewed several different ways.

Spoiler for story:

That being Kotarou's story and its relation to the story of the planet, of course.

[Snuffle]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

Doing Akane's route second is about the worst thing I can think of. I would probably hate the game if I'd done that.

Spoiler for expectations:

I'm trying to not direct Kyrok's opinion either way here, but in my view Chihaya and Shizuru's routes are awful garbage, while Lucia's has absolutely nothing to do with anything and playing either after Akane's just seems... bad.
There's also an issue with tone, which Akane's route shares more with Moon/Terra than the rest of the game.

Also I simply disagree with you that Rewrite is "multiple stories", it's (ideally supposed to be) one story viewed several different ways.

Spoiler for story:

That being Kotarou's story and its relation to the story of the planet, of course.

Ah crud, I first had it typed out then thought it might be too much of a clue so I deleted it, but then I made a spoiler to explain what I meant by separate and forgot to include that bit of info of what I deleted. I didn't realize this until I saw your reply...

Spoiler for reply to story:

What you said is pretty much what I deleted and forgot to put back into my previous post. Yes I agree it's one whole story about Kotarou and Kagari. I meant to say earlier that before MOON starts, the story can be taken as two seperate stories.

For me, doing Akane's route that early actually made me want to know even more about the story since so much crap happens there that reveals to me that there's more going on than what the player is led to believe. I'm not dismissing your opinion, it's a very understandable one. But for me, I chose the character that interest me first in which I think you choose second, and instead, choose plot to be first.

Spoiler for reply to expectations:

Since I already commented on Akane, I'll just give my opinion on Chihaya and Shizuru. It's interesting you chose the exact two stories that were my favorite. Yes it's true for plot, those two don't really fit in too well. Again, the plot comes second for me, I really enjoyed those routes for the characters, just as much as Akane's. And Lucia... I don't care about her.

[Tyabann]

Well, to me Rewrite's biggest strength is its plot, so I tend to recommend reading order based on that.
I just feel like playing Akane's route early will ruin the rest of the game.

[Kyrok]

Well if Akanes route is really like that then Ill save it for last, she is actually my favorite of the 5 main heroines, but I don't mind waiting for it, i suppose maybe ill adjust my order to lucia > shizuru > chihaya > akane is that fine? i know your meant to play chihaya before akane and lucia before shizuru i think.

[Kirayuki]

Doing Lucia's route last is the correct one, a preparation for the final part of the story. What are you guys talking about ?

[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by Kyrok

Well if Akanes route is really like that then Ill save it for last, she is actually my favorite of the 5 main heroines, but I don't mind waiting for it, i suppose maybe ill adjust my order to lucia > shizuru > chihaya > akane is that fine? i know your meant to play chihaya before akane and lucia before shizuru i think.

The order I'd recommend would be Chihaya --> Shizuru --> Lucia --> Akane, since Shizuru's kind of spoils Chihaya's and Lucia's makes up for what Shizuru's route is, uh, lacking in.
Shizuru's route is unlocked by Kotori's (for some reason) which you've already finished.

Originally Posted by Kirayuki

Doing Lucia's route last is the correct one, a preparation for the final part of the story. What are you guys talking about ?

Shush.

[Catasplurge]

Okay, well I finished Rewrite almost exactly two weeks ago and found out about this thread (and basically this whole website) two days ago. I honestly can't think of much to say but I'll go ahead and write something here anyways.

I honestly found the experience to be pretty enjoyable the whole way through, might be my favorite story from Key. There's was really only a few things that I found unsatisfying which was mostly just unanswered questions, which I found out the answer to most of them by going through like 20 pages of the thread. I also kinda didn't like how short some of the final things in Terra were, but again reading this thread I'm a bit more okay with how it was. Although there is still one thing off the top of my head that I don't understand, that I think was only mentioned in Moon.

Spoiler for Moon:

Was it ever actually explained what Akane did as a child to help save Kotarou from his injury in the non-Terra worlds? Actually at this point it's been awhile so I barely remember if it was his injury/coma that she saved him from or not. Also I probably wouldn't care, but the fact that her final kid CG is covered in blood makes me want to know.

Well anyways, I would say what my favorite routes and heroines were but I'm usually bad at picking favorites so I'm not really sure on how I would order them exactly. Although I can say that my favorite route might be Lucia's and favorite heroines were Akane and Kagari. Although Kagari might just be because I love her design, although I did still very much enjoy her character.
Also Kotarou might be one of my favorite protagonist in almost anything.

[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by Catasplurge

Spoiler for Moon:

Was it ever actually explained what Akane did as a child to help save Kotarou from his injury in the non-Terra worlds? Actually at this point it's been awhile so I barely remember if it was his injury/coma that she saved him from or not. Also I probably wouldn't care, but the fact that her final kid CG is covered in blood makes me want to know.

Spoiler for Moon/Terra:

It wasn't really what she did but the fact that she was there, I think. She was there and she was ten years younger than Kotarou, which is what's important.
I suspect she also might have helped carry him back to the city, but there's no real evidence of that.

Originally Posted by Catasplurge

favorite heroines were Akane and Kagari.
Also Kotarou might be one of my favorite protagonist in almost anything.

My brother.

[Kyrok]

Originally Posted by Catasplurge

Also Kotarou might be one of my favorite protagonist in almost anything.

I have to agree, I relate a lot to Kotarou, hes a really good protagonist.

[hyperknees91]

But I have to say it is with a somewhat heavy heart, it's kind of embarassing, but when I get invested in these games like Rewrite and before this Little busters, when I go through a route and see everything the character goes through, it really bothers me when I go to a new route, because I feel like now what happens to them because I'm not there to help them? Will they die? Will they be alone forever? who knows, but I don't see it being a happy ending for them and it's all I can think about heading into Chihaya's route after experiencing Kotori's side of the story.

I agree I feel very similar at times. Heck I even feel bad if I choose one girl in a visual novel and then I'm suddenly doing another's path (sometimes I'll just stop at the one girl if it becomes too extreme hah).

Well, to me Rewrite's biggest strength is its plot, so I tend to recommend reading order based on that.
I just feel like playing Akane's route early will ruin the rest of the game.

They really should have forced the player to play it last. I know they wanted the player to have the option, but it just seems...inappropriate to not play hers last.

For me the biggest strength was the characters...because I loved them all hah. Though the writers seemed to have hated Kagari and Shizuru because barely any love was given to them.

[Mcfart]

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

I agree I feel very similar at times. Heck I even feel bad if I choose one girl in a visual novel and then I'm suddenly doing another's path (sometimes I'll just stop at the one girl if it becomes too extreme hah).



They really should have forced the player to play it last. I know they wanted the player to have the option, but it just seems...inappropriate to not play hers last.

For me the biggest strength was the characters...because I loved them all hah. Though the writers seemed to have hated Kagari and Shizuru because barely any love was given to them.

Well, you can't do Akane's route first, and I don't see why someone would do Chihaya's first, so most probably did it later.

[Tyabann]

Originally Posted by hyperknees91

For me the biggest strength was the characters...because I loved them all hah. Though the writers seemed to have hated Kagari and Shizuru because barely any love was given to them.

At least Shizuru gets a lot of good scenes in the common route and in Lucia's... Kagari gets barely anything.
I'm still hoping for that magical girl spinoff!

[Kirayuki]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

I'm still hoping for that magical girl spinoff!

BD Special episode, coming in 2023.

[Tyabann]

So, I bought Harvest Festa recently! Aaand of course it's gaijin-proofed.
Did anyone ever make a workaround for Harvest Festa? I can't seem to find one.
Edit: Nevermind! I found something.

[Kyrok]

Welp, I've been steadily progressing and now I have completed Kotori, Chihaya, and Shizuru's route. While Kotori was really feelsy and made me sad, chihayas route had a lot of charm with her and sakuya, sakuya may even be my favorite character now overall and the more actiony story was nice especially in the sense that I actually got to see Kotarou be a badass. Shizuru was really nice but then that ending was just out of left field, surprise feels all over, the last scene made me tear up, but unlike kotori I can see shizuru being able to live fine without kotarou since she isnt really alone and she also isnt helpless.

So now I am about an hour into Lucia's route and I am surprised that so far it seems completely unrelated to the whole standard backstory with gaia and whatnot, and the whole ghost story thing is actually fairly creepy, a few moments so far have given me goosebumps and im excited to keep playing, the change of pace with the story is nice.

I've been saving Akane for last even though she is my favorite, it bothers me how shes kind of been painted as a bad guy in most of the routes but I'm excited to see her side of the story, its evident she does what she does because she doesnt have a choice, maybe kotarou will change that?

[Kyrok]

Just beat the game, sad to see it be over. Gotta say though, I feel like while the ending was good, it left a lot unanswered, but I need time to really collect my thoughts on everything.

I plan on working toward the 100% Oppai ending, idk how much it adds to the story or its just some gag reel or something but I wanna see it.

I also really wanna play Harvest Festa now, but without a english translation I won't be able to. For anyone who has played it, I am just wondering, does it continue the story off of the end of Terra? or is it based off the girls individual routes, etc. Based on the endings I am not really sure how it would work either way other than for characters like Kotori, Chihaya, and maybe Lucia.

One immediate question does come to mind after the ending to Terra though.

Spoiler for Terra:

Why does Kotori and Akane not recognize Kotarou, also, I am pretty sure Sakuya retained atleast some of his memories from his pre-familiar self. So why didn't Kotarou?

On a different note, who else here would of totally loved a Nishikujou route? I know I would of.