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DJLowrider · 2009-11-04, 14:52

So here's my full review for the game, the great, the good and the bad. Spoilers will be hidden where necessary of course. I'll start with the bad just to get it out of the way.

The Bad

The so-called "extended routes" for the original five girls were...lacking. At best. Honestly there was hardly anything of value added to any of their routes with the sole exception of...

Spoiler for The only interesting extended route:

Nadeshiko's route was an utter disappointment.

Spoiler for Why did it suck?:

No route for Ruri was a real let down. Student council presidents need love too, damn it. Just ask Tomoyo. Come to think of it, Ruri sure does look a lot like Tomoyo...

Having the identity of the "Mysterious kimono girl" spoiled the first time I saw an end credit sequence in the game was a big buzzkill.

You could tell in the audio where they simply re-used clips from the original game and where the new audio was. It's a nitpicky point, but audio is so important to this game it's worth mentioning.

The Good

With the exception of Nadeshiko's route, all the new stuff (or at least new-to-me since I didn't play On The Stage) was solid. I didn't think I'd like Mayumi or Tsubomi's routes but they were still quite enjoyable.

We got a fair bit more character exploration on many of the long-standing characters, especially Sia/Kikyou.

I really like that they pulled together the full story continuity from all the previous games. The story as a whole feels more complete as a result.

Spoiler for One of my favorite scenes:

The Great

Daisy's route was both fun and very engaging.

Spoiler for What made it great?:

But it couldn't touch the wonderfulness that was my favorite route in the game. That being Sakura's route.

Spoiler for Why it rocked:

Overall it was a very entertaining VN and I look forward to going back and starting some translation work on it. I'm not sure it lived up to its hype entirely, but the truly new content was good for the most part. It just could have been better in a number of ways.

Last but not least, my new personal heroine hierarchy. I have a new #1 girl for this series:

1) Sakura
2) Asa
3) Daisy
4) Kareha
5) Nerine
6) Mayumi
7) Tsubomi
8) Primula
9) Kaede
10) Kikyou/Sia
11) Nadeshiko

2009-11-04, 14:52	Link #157
DJLowrider Ahou ga Join Date: Feb 2009 Age: 47	So here's my full review for the game, the great, the good and the bad. Spoilers will be hidden where necessary of course. I'll start with the bad just to get it out of the way. The Bad The so-called "extended routes" for the original five girls were...lacking. At best. Honestly there was hardly anything of value added to any of their routes with the sole exception of... Spoiler for The only interesting extended route: ...Nerine's two-part ending where we learn that Licoris isn't dead, she's just taking residence inside Nerine just like Kikyou in Sia. Nadeshiko's route was an utter disappointment. Spoiler for Why did it suck?: Incredibly short, terrible story, and her ending used a recycled still from Really? Really! All this isn't to mention that Nadeshiko's VA is horrible for ero scenes. No route for Ruri was a real let down. Student council presidents need love too, damn it. Just ask Tomoyo. Come to think of it, Ruri sure does look a lot like Tomoyo... Having the identity of the "Mysterious kimono girl" spoiled the first time I saw an end credit sequence in the game was a big buzzkill. You could tell in the audio where they simply re-used clips from the original game and where the new audio was. It's a nitpicky point, but audio is so important to this game it's worth mentioning. The Good With the exception of Nadeshiko's route, all the new stuff (or at least new-to-me since I didn't play On The Stage) was solid. I didn't think I'd like Mayumi or Tsubomi's routes but they were still quite enjoyable. We got a fair bit more character exploration on many of the long-standing characters, especially Sia/Kikyou. I really like that they pulled together the full story continuity from all the previous games. The story as a whole feels more complete as a result. Spoiler for One of my favorite scenes: Yay for the Sage/Cineraria scene! That was major wish fulfillment on my part. Now if only they could throw Ama into that mix too...MILF brigade ftw! The Great Daisy's route was both fun and very engaging. Spoiler for What made it great?: Plots involving Eustoma's brother's family, Erika being the mystery girl and being over 1k years old, Ruri training Rin in magical combat and probably the most epic ending the series will ever see, on more than one level. It begs for Ruri to get her own route though. Daisy herself is a lovely little tsundere, and a gamer girl on top of that. I guess even the Realm of Gods can produce hikkikomori. But it couldn't touch the wonderfulness that was my favorite route in the game. That being Sakura's route. Spoiler for Why it rocked: They really made an emotional connection there and told a fantastically romantic story between her and Rin. Not to mention hers is the only route that ends with a marriage and a child! Overall it was a very entertaining VN and I look forward to going back and starting some translation work on it. I'm not sure it lived up to its hype entirely, but the truly new content was good for the most part. It just could have been better in a number of ways. Last but not least, my new personal heroine hierarchy. I have a new #1 girl for this series: 1) Sakura 2) Asa 3) Daisy 4) Kareha 5) Nerine 6) Mayumi 7) Tsubomi 8) Primula 9) Kaede 10) Kikyou/Sia 11) Nadeshiko __________________ Click to visit my Fanfiction.net profile with all my stories. Last edited by DJLowrider; 2009-11-04 at 19:51. Reason: Gah! Forgot Mayumi. That's what I get for posting at the end of the workday.