General Eroge Impressions & Discussion

[Hana]

So I'm pretty late to the eroge scene.. My friend just gave me some and I just finished some over the couple of days. G-Senjou no Maou was my favorite! Anyone have any other recommendations? I also played Sharin no Kuni.. Grisaia.. do Little Busters count?

[hyl]

It seems that you have already read most of the better VN's that were translated in English, so it's hard to recommend something new.
However I liked Hoshizora no Memoria and i know that there is an English translation for it.

Rewrite was iirc also translated and while i didn't like it as much as most of the other work of Key, it was still decent enough

[Mahou]

I would warmly recommend Ef - the first and latter tale/a fairytale of the two (which is the former two combined). There has been an official localization out for First and Latter Tale for a while by mangagamer, I think. I don't know how good the translation for it is, though, as mangagamers tl reputation is rather average imho. Then, there's always Clannad's fan translation or Period which I enjoyed quite much for most routes.
Yumina the Etheral was also kinda fun if you know before what to expect/not expect . Though, none of those titles are similar to G-Senjou no Maou or Grisaia.

Then there's stuff like Muv-Luv series which has a high amount of hype and gameplay-based VNs like Kamidori Alchemist (with high amount of h-scenes), Rance.

I have been playing Harukoi Otome, also translated by mangagamers, recently, but not really a title I'd heavily recommend. Most routes are really fun and enjoyable *before* the dreaded drama starts and decides to drag on (which may also be simply my biased imagination).

[Xefi]

^ is Ef -the latter tale- the conclusion to that series? I'm about to pick it up from mangagamer soon.

-----------------------------------

I heard Kara no Shojo is good, but sad story though, and Tick! Tack! seems pretty good too; although, I haven't play either yet but will
soon when mangagamer decide to charge my visa card...they're holding up on my card for some reason since it's a debit card.
once that clear up, I'm going to try out 3 of the games.

[greensoulreaper]

Originally Posted by Hana

So I'm pretty late to the eroge scene.. My friend just gave me some and I just finished some over the couple of days. G-Senjou no Maou was my favorite! Anyone have any other recommendations? I also played Sharin no Kuni.. Grisaia.. do Little Busters count?

Did you try If My Heart Had Wings? I'm only a few hours into it, so I can't make a decent review yet, but it seems interesting so far. I don't know if it'll be a tear-jerker but I get the feeling it'll be emotional.

G-Senjou & Grisaia are some of my favorites. They had interesting protagonists.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by greensoulreaper

Did you try If My Heart Had Wings? I'm only a few hours into it, so I can't make a decent review yet, but it seems interesting so far. I don't know if it'll be a tear-jerker but I get the feeling it'll be emotional.

I played the original Japanese version, but I highly recommend this game as just a really solid, well put-together package. Good story, good characters, good world-setting, unique and well-developed (and well-researched!) theme, nice graphics and effects, nice music... just a solid product all around. That isn't to say it's without its elements that people could pick at... but it's a good all-around recommendation where both new players and veterans should find at least something to appreciate.

That isn't to say I wouldn't also recommend some of the other suggestions too, many of which could probably be considered "classics" as far as this last decade of the medium goes.

[Mahou]

Originally Posted by Xefi

^ is Ef -the latter tale- the conclusion to that series? I'm about to pick it up from mangagamer soon.

Yes, it gives some sort of conclusion to those characters you may have wondered of what's up wit them . The latter Tale consists of three stories, by the way.
------
@my afore-metioned Harukoi Otome: I managed to complete the whole deal >_<. CTRL-button to skip over the annoying long (based on my guts-feeling) drama became yet again a good friend. To make matter worse, Yuika's route which was one of the most important ones when it comes to the MCs background felt simply too long and forcefully awkward. Heck, it made me want the time back I "invested" .

Again, it's a damn shame because the interactions prior to all drama were really great in let's say Riru, Sonya and Ayaka's route. Still, I loved Sonya's ending and epilogue and Kisaya's conclusion was within its own premisse also nice.

Oh well, time to get into the (right) mood for Hapymaher - Fragmentation Dream

[Xefi]

Originally Posted by Mahou

Yes, it gives some sort of conclusion to those characters you may have wondered of what's up wit them . The latter Tale consists of three stories, by the way.

thanks Mahou, Mangagamer finally able to charge my debit card the other days and i'm starting on this game.
Chihiro's path is the first one to go. i've already seem the anime, so this is like
another view to it, but i'm most definitely looking forward to the ending that
goes further than the anime?

i'll pick up on ef the latter tale when i finish up Kara no Shojo first; it's a very interesting
VN and i'm loving most of the characters. i gotten my first bad ending and it was
pretty BRUTAL...yikes.

[Random Wanderer]

I've run across a game called Monobeno by accident: some CGs from it popped up elsewhere when I was doing an image search, and they looked so lovely I had to find out where they came from, and so on.

I should mention before I get further, that this hasn't been translated (at least not that I can find anywhere), and my knowledge of Japanese is not even close to the conversational level, so most of my knowledge of the game comes from other people's reviews. I'm only picking up a little bit out of dialogue as I play.

I'm still only a little ways in, just a couple of scenes into Sumi's route, which was my first choice (made randomly) after the prologue. The one thing that bugs me about this VN, however, is what they're doing to Natsuha. They spent most of the prologue establishing her as an adorable, sweet, inquisitive, loveable little imouto who gets along well with everyone and who wouldn't knowingly do anything wrong, and then suddenly she's stricken with a disease/curse that makes her age rapidly, to the point where this girl who can't possibly be more than 10 years old, and who is probably younger, is likely going to die of old age in a matter of days. That's just... dammit, who comes up with something like that? That's just evil.

[Mazyrian]

By the way, I don't know which version you are playing, but Monobeno - Happy End is not just a fandisc but includes a slightly rewritten version of the original, so it may be better to just start that one

[GirlsScareMeOK]

Ahh...replaying majikoi...really has to be one of my favorite anime related things ever. Argh I wish wairu didn't die or I could at least read enough kanji ;-; all I want to do is benkei and azumi...

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Mazyrian

By the way, I don't know which version you are playing, but Monobeno - Happy End is not just a fandisc but includes a slightly rewritten version of the original, so it may be better to just start that one

I actually switched to that one partway through the prologue, after reading up a bit more on what happens in the original. Natsuha is an adorable little thing, and really one of the major reasons I'm enjoying the game. I wouldn't be able to handle not having good endings for her, no matter whose route I'm playing.

[Mahou]

Just listened to the OP song of the latest Sorahane title Haruka Kanata and it was as their other two openings simply beautiful . I was like "YAY, a new title from them!", read Micchi's summary and the glaring words "heartwrenching love story" and went "DANG IT". But, to be fair all of their titles attempted to hit on your emotions with a fairly standard setup of normal beginning and quite a bit before the route split turn into a more serious atmosphere. It's being made quite obvious in Sakura sakimashita. Fortunately, their true endings or what can be assumed to be one ends in happy terms. You cannot say that for each of their individual endings >_<.

Strangely, I couldn't really find *one* title to fully complete. Wanted to try Alias Carnival, but the memory of Nanawind's first title (not horribly bad, but rather medicore) made me grab the full savegame instead.
I did at least get into a few girls routes in Koi suru Natsu no Last Resort. And had fun with the afterstories of Daitoshoukan no Hitsujikai, although not every story was equally fun/smile-provoking.

[Xefi]

i'm thinking of picking up Da Capo 2 next. heard the story are very good and
romantic especially during Otome & Yume's route. looking forward to it after i
go around and dig up some reviews and see if i'm going to purchase it for good, but i'm definitely interested.

other than that, i've been playing DearDrops still. 35+ hrs. and i'm still on Riho's route.
i just gotten past the part dealing with one of the member of the band's past, Eiji (think that was his name). poor guy,
but i have a lot more respect for him after his story. now, the story is moving on to Riho and Sho.
Sho still struggling to pick up back his violin, so i want to see how things will turn out for him with
Riho's supporting on from behind. i don't know how much story i have left in just Riho's route, but
it surely still a long one.

i've also trying to catch up on Cho Dengeki Stryker. still havent beating any route yet.
i'm doing Haruna's route first since she's the main heroine and his childhood friend.
already in about 15 hrs. and Yamato still acting all militarist and everything to him is "classified". -_-
i like Sayaka more though. going to do her path next after Haruna.

[Newprimus]

I played the trial for Nostalgic Chord's upcoming game, Houkago-something title I can't remember yet. I knew from the art I saw of the game that it wasn't going to be some cheery romantic comedy, but DAMN this shit is depressing.

Basically,

Spoiler:

It appears there's some sort of curse that manifests as a brand that appears on the afflicted's forehead. By the end of the day, that curse takes over the victim's body while the person him or herself is still conscious and aware of what his or her body is doing as it forces them to attack and kill people with magic powers. The protagonist has special powers and he's the only one who can combat and defeat those who have been cursed, and has to do so by basically beating their bodies to a pulp.

This curse has been infecting his classmates one by one and he has had to kill them all with his own hands, ten of them so far, and in the trial it finally affects Yuugao, one of his osanajimi and one of the main heroine's younger twin. Through the course of the trial she says her goodbyes to her classmates, and an extremely tearful farewell with her older sister.

At the end of the trial the protagonist and Yuugao go to some secluded area in the woods where the curse finally takes hold. What follows is an immensely emotional scene where the the protagonist, with the help of Yuugao who's still mentally herself and tells him what her body's going to do next, defeats and kills Yuugao, beating her to a bloody pulp with extremely visceral sound effects and blood splatters.

I seriously applaud the protagonist's VA. He gave one of the most emotionally-charged VA performances I've heard from a male VA, and that whole scene was just heartbreaking as hell.

This game's premise is just freakin sad as hell, and there's a ton of potential for more heart-wrenching depression. I so hope the game doesn't drop the ball in the full version.

[The Green One]

Try Yumina the Etheral. A fun comedic game with RPG elements in it. The characterization in my humble opinion was good and the three routes were diverse. There's another story that goes alongside it that you unlock more and more of as you replay the game over higher difficulties. It's a very long game to so be prepared to devote some time to it. When you complete all three routes and complete the game on all difficulties at least once you can unlock the final conclusion route to end the story.

[Newprimus]

You guys should check out the trial for GIGA's Harvest Overlay, if for nothing else than its vivid portrayal of a VR, smart micro-device-filled, hologram-infused portrayal of a near future. It's like Kokoro Connect, but on crack. And a ton of production value.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Newprimus

You guys should check out the trial for GIGA's Harvest Overlay, if for nothing else than its vivid portrayal of a VR, smart micro-device-filled, hologram-infused portrayal of a near future. It's like Kokoro Connect, but on crack. And a ton of production value.

Team BALDRHEAD?

[Newprimus]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

Team BALDRHEAD?

I don't know which team did this game. All it says is it's from GIGA.


Also this game is very fun. I approve. Funny as hell.

[Mahou]

I have been playing Ikusa Megami Memoria and Verita lately. I like the battle system and music of it. And in contrast to the original Ikusa Megami where - I think - at least two raep scenes are "canon" (which for my dislike of that type in general is simply disgusting), I find it favorable that you can choose to avoid any raep scene there is, but making said scenes a requirement to get to the vanilla scenes is a major /facepalm for me. Good that there are savegames for that. I ackownledge that "forced" scenes give it a darker element, though, but for me darker =!= always better. Anyway, the characters are very likable except of Celica. It's not that I hate the main lead, but I think he's more annyoing than the special circumstances around him "allow" him to be. Character relation-wise he's still the usual dense and sometimes insensitive (pragmatic?) boy despite sleeping with how many women? Well, not that the latter accounts for anything and sorry if that may have sounded discriminating/offensive. I give him bonus points for the relation development between him in Roka, though .

I saw a heavy-spoiler video of a certain boss battle for Megami Zero and his personality wasn't any better in that, for my bias!.

For that, I love Levia and Roka

Spoiler for Ikusa Megami Verita + Roka:

BUT, it's a damn shame that Luna Clear of whom she's speculated to be the reincarnation of, had to canonically die in Verita's true history route. She's easily as likeable for obvious reason (and same VA) than Roka herself

I don't know if I can be bothered to play through the VN for each ending and may just settle for Roka's IF ending. Same for Verita where light route will be my first route to choose.