The Visual Novels Discussion/Recommendation Thread

[cj iwakura]

Yeah, it seems like they're really hitting it big now. Maybe we'll finally see an official release of Umineko. That'd make my decade.


Imagine a localization of the PS3 game.

[KAI]

5pb is remaking YU-NO with character designs by NAGI (SDOJ)...

Let the hate begin!

[drauch]

Say whattttttttttttttttt.

[soprano1]

What's the story of YU-NO about? Only know it was released for the PC-98 and that the creator is dead.

[Ruldra]

What's the story of YU-NO about? Only know it was released for the PC-98 and that the creator is dead.

Check vndb.org for all your visual novel needs.

https://vndb.org/v1377

[soprano1]

Thanks Ruldra, forgot about that site

[MX7]

Really don't know how to feel about the YU-NO news. On the one hand, why bother? On the other hand the original was abstruse to the point of being virtually unplayable without a guide (and I've played a LOT of old-school point&clicks). If it gets more people to play the game then that's awesome.

[M.Knight]

Is YU-NO that difficult to play? I started it a few weeks ago and unlocked three endings, but it seems that there are much more. I don't like relying on walkthroughs, but if the triggers are very complicated, I may save myself the effort of undergoing the same scenes over and over again. Not being able to skip or fast-forward already read dialogue also pushes me towards using a guide.

I haven't finished the game yet so I don't know what is so great about the plot that could be jeopardized in this remake. However, if it removes the H-scenes due to a console release, that wouldn't in my opinion be a great loss. While they were kinda enjoyable in their own right, the few I encountered felt really tacked-on.

[drauch]

I didn't find it difficult and I'm probably the biggest idiot here.

[Ruldra]

From what I'm reading elsewhere, people are speculating that this will be a Xbox exclusive.

Could someone familiar with japanese translate the message over at their main site?

http://yu-no.jp/

-----

In other news, just noticed that there's a Higurashi page on Steam...and it's listed as Chapter 1. I thought they were going to release all episodes at once. If it's just an episodic release then it'll be years until the full game is on Steam.

There are a few other VNs on Steam I'm curious about (World End Economica, fault milestone, Dysfunctional Systems), but they're all episodic. I see no point releasing them like that. I'm sure you'll be able to buy all episodes in a bundle for a reduced price in the future, so there's no reason to buy them now.

[MX7]

I really don't want to spoil anything, but unlike other VNs just seeing a few endings is just scratching the surface. In fact getting all 9 save crystals is just scratching the surface Absolutely amazing game but it's a titanic investment in terms of patience.

Drauch did you finish the whole game and not find it hard?? Very impressed. I found the save manipulation mind boggling even after I caved and looked at a guide.

[drauch]

Nah, just joking on my part. I got a good deal in and let it slip away, because as I said, I'm an idiot. Honestly, I should probably just restart at this point when I pick it back up. I didn't get stuck at the point I was playing, but I can see where it gets quite confusing.

[M.Knight]

As of now, I only have 3 crystals so it seems I still have a long way to go. I haven't played tons of VNs but I tend to get all the endings. Games such as Ever17 or Virtue's Last Reward require you to get most if not all endings to enjoy the whole plot, so I defintely don't consider myself done with YU-NO.
I was thinking about using a guide only if I am about to give up but it seems you were joking, drauch. That said, I also feel like you can do some neat tricks with that save mechanic, maybe I'll experiment with it a bit before checking a walkthrough as there is a path where I was stuck and thought I needed to abuse this system to clear it.

[drauch]

Ain't I a stinker.

All this talk makes me want to pick it back up again. Not really in a VN mood, but this is tempting me quite a bit. Surely someone here has been through the wealth of endings?

[pokemon123]

good to see people are into vn's here. My favourites are f/sn, g senjou no maou, and swan song

[Ruldra]

Today came the news that Dysfunctional Systems was cancelled. The first episode available on Steam is pretty short and it's essentially a teaser for episodes 2 and 3, so it's a waste of money to buy it now.

And that's why you don't buy episodic VNs until they're complete.

[M.Knight]

Made some progress in YU-NO since my last post here, and after around 40 hours, I managed to collect all the jewels without using a walkthrough!
Most of them are not too difficult to find, though I picked up one by randomly fooling around in a puzzle even if I had no idea what combination I was supposed to input.
Aside from that, the rest does not requires a walkthrough. Just remember that if you are stuck in a route, try other ones, as those might give you the item or clue you need. The jewels' save functions are also useful, so make good use of them (i.e. using one before a critical branching path, or before obtaining an item so you can easily get it again if you used it up somewhere else).

Here are my thoughts on what happens after you collect them : (spoilers, obviously)

Spoiler

-After a puzzle beneath Sword Cape, Takuya is teleported to a strange place with hints of medieval fantasy, a type of setting I don't really like. Modern-day Japan was way cooler in my book.
-The user interface changed a bit in this part of the game as you can't click on everything as in Sakaimachi. Instead you have a menu, which is surprising but kinda refreshing at the same time because it alleviates the pixel hunt tendancies of the first part of the game.
-I came across two H-scenes and they are just as unplausible as the previous ones, if not worse. It's crazy how they really came out of nowhere.
-The plot in itself seems to have little to do with the first half, it looks like some sort of escapist fantasy.
-While the dynamic between the protagonist and the eponymous Yu-no is entertaining, I was baffled at her introduction, though it was funny that Takuya knew it would be surprising to us.

Right now, I am exploring some sort of desert and am approaching the "capital", and very few of the mysteries of the game have been explained so I imagine I still have a long way to go. I am not disappointed or anything but I admit I was expecting something better. Maybe it will become more interesting in the following hours despite the sudden change of setting.

[Ruldra]

This thread was bumped just in time.

JAST USA announced Kana Okaeri (remake of Kana Imouto) with english subtitles. To be released on Feb 14.
http://www.jastusa.com/catalog/product/view/id/359

Over the years I've always heard how great this VN is but I can't bring myself to read it. If you thought Katawa Shoujo was taboo...

[Ruldra]

Higurashi is out on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/310360/
Or if you hate DRM you can buy it at Mangagamer: http://www.mangagamer.com/detail.php?go ... t_code=132

Apparently there will be a total of 14 chapters. That's a shit-ton of content

[pokemon123]

oh huh the art's been changed again it seems. I'm on episode 4 of higurashi right now. Dropped umineko at episode 3 and enjoying higurashi quite a bit more.

[Skykid]

5pb is remaking YU-NO with character designs by NAGI (SDOJ)...

I don't feel much about the remaking, but why change the art? The original designs are amazing.

[Ruldra]

Sekai Project is localizing G-senjou no Maou



Mangagamer localizing Umineko



Holy shit son!

[KAI]

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! They are tempting me to play Umineko again!!!

[HenAi]

Higurashi Ch.2 is coming out in a few days

Kara no Shoujo 2 has been out for a bit

euphoria will be released at the end of the month

It's been a pretty good year for visual novels, all in all.

[Gespenst]

Maybe I'm way too late for a week for this
http://gematsu.com/2015/10/little-buste ... -announced

[Ruldra]

G-senjou no Maou came out a few days ago on Steam too. Heard it's pretty good.

[soprano1]

G-senjou no Maou came out a few days ago on Steam too. Heard it's pretty good.

Played it back when the translation patch was complete. Main heroine's full path is amazing, the other girls not so much. Music is one of the best in the genre, but that's just me.

[mastermx]

Here's my list of recommended VNs:

Phoenix Wright Games
Snatcher (this is why I like Kojima)
Policenauts
Ghost Trick
999
Danganronpa 1+2
Virtue's Last Reward
Hotel Dusk
Another Code

I am aware that some of these may not really be classified as full blown VNs per se. But I haven't really gotten those high ranking VNs that are noted on VNDB. I've heard about Steins;Gate and Katawa Shoujo. How would the members of this forum rank these VNs? Right now I am playing through DanganRonpa and it has reignited my interest in VNs. It is such an amazing sleeping aid, and just generally good for chill.

[Ruldra]

I've heard about Steins;Gate and Katawa Shoujo. How would the members of this forum rank these VNs?

I had zero expectations for Katawa Shoujo but ended up enjoying it a lot. It's not at all the cripple fetish hentai people expect it to be. The story can be pretty heart-warming (or heart-breaking, depending on your choices). Very much worth reading.

But opinions vary. Skykid gave it a try and ripped it a new one.

As for Steins;Gate, never read it myself but only heard good things about it.

[BryanM]

There's a very nice lady translating I Thought It'd Be Harem Paradise But It Turned Out Yandere Hell on the youtube.

I must have the most serendipitous timing ever, because she's been doing it over a period of years and only just NOW is the game getting to the Yandere.