Decline Visual Novel Recomendation Thread

[Mary Sue Leigh]

Thanks, I checked both and visually Spirit Hunters definitely wins. It's not quite like my favorite art style such as Junji Ito (yeah I know, what a very basic opinion :D ) but at least it's closer to something like that.

 

[Theldaran]

Especially the first one has been criticised for displaying female bodies in some questionable scenes. This will weird out people here. IMO those games are nothing special anyway. I'd maybe take Sakuranomori Dreamers instead, but that's full-fledged eroge and not all of it is horror.

The second game has none of that and in the first game its like 3 screens(?) at most. Really its just a typical japanese trick of contrasting sexappeal with some horrific imagery sort of like a cook adds a bit of sugar to an otherwise salty dish.

Instead, NG sports a protagonist who's a knucklehead, nothing fazes him, I find his reactions unusual for a horror game. And it possibly detracts from the experience.

The most glaring thing about both games is that they normally cost you a fortune while offering around 10 hours of play each. This is little, and they offer not much replayabilty value. So they're good for a weekend or a week where you don't have much time. Not much else.

 

[Ravielsk]

Instead, NG sports a protagonist who's a knucklehead, nothing fazes him, I find his reactions unusual for a horror game. And it possibly detracts from the experience.

The most glaring thing about both games is that they normally cost you a fortune while offering around 10 hours of play each. This is little, and they offer not much replayabilty value. So they're good for a weekend or a week where you don't have much time. Not much else.

As annoying and ill fitting as it is I fully understand the decision because ultimately its the player that is supposed to be shitting their pants not the protagonist. Considering the extreme shit he gets tangled up with it kind of makes sense to make him somewhat of a hardass. Problem is that he is drawn like a singer for a gay boy band and not some hardcore punk.

As for the price that is a typical problem with japanese games. They are all almost universally overvalued to a point of insanity(like Bladestorm still going for 60€ despite being several years old and buggy on top of that). NG and death mark are no different and I recommend either buying them on key sites where they go for about 5 bucks each(fanatical has them both for 10.99€ atm) or pirating first and then deciding if its worth to you for the asking price. The 41,99€ price tag on steam is just bullshit.

 

[Silentstorm]

Digimon Survive came out, it's shockingly a high budget visual novel most of the time, aside from some SRPG required story battles and sometimes where you can fight(no random battles, just given the option to grind but in easy mode it's not needed) because otherwise it's really a VN, you read text, talk to characters, pick options with different routes and so forth, so far the writing is shockingly decent.

Also, unlike the original anime, they know a lot of people who would play a Digimon VN are teens or adults so...there are actual human deaths and even part of the roster can die if you screw things up, sorry, supporting character whose name i won't say for spoiler reasons, it sucks you got killed by a Digimon!

...Also, they aren't called Digimon in-universe for some reason, mostly because they did away with the digital monsters thing, at least so far, they are treated as regular flesh and blood monsters with no real categorization, they complain about being called monsters...but as the human characters say, they really don't have other ways to describe them, and i love that a kid treats evolution as a dramatic superhero power-up...also acknowledging it's because of the bonds between humans and Digimon which makes humans a target from power hungry, evil or ambitious Digimon who will gladly kidnap and experiment on humans to get a free evolution out of stuff, you pretty quickly have to solve a kidnapping in-game even...though it turns out to be something worse than expected.

 

[Lucumo]

Also, unlike the original anime, they know a lot of people who would play a Digimon VN are teens or adults so...there are actual human deaths and even part of the roster can die if you screw things up, sorry, supporting character whose name i won't say for spoiler reasons, it sucks you got killed by a Digimon!

Were the Digimons that were characterized with human traits dying not enough for you?

 

[Theldaran]

Instead, NG sports a protagonist who's a knucklehead, nothing fazes him, I find his reactions unusual for a horror game. And it possibly detracts from the experience.

The most glaring thing about both games is that they normally cost you a fortune while offering around 10 hours of play each. This is little, and they offer not much replayabilty value. So they're good for a weekend or a week where you don't have much time. Not much else.

As annoying and ill fitting as it is I fully understand the decision because ultimately its the player that is supposed to be shitting their pants not the protagonist. Considering the extreme shit he gets tangled up with it kind of makes sense to make him somewhat of a hardass. Problem is that he is drawn like a singer for a gay boy band and not some hardcore punk.

As for the price that is a typical problem with japanese games. They are all almost universally overvalued to a point of insanity(like Bladestorm still going for 60€ despite being several years old and buggy on top of that). NG and death mark are no different and I recommend either buying them on key sites where they go for about 5 bucks each(fanatical has them both for 10.99€ atm) or pirating first and then deciding if its worth to you for the asking price. The 41,99€ price tag on steam is just bullshit.

I got them at Fanatical too for 6-7 euros total earlier in the year.

I don't regret playing them -almost no room to get bored, since they're so "compact" and short- but it wasn't very impactful either. Just plain entertainment, nothing crazy. It won't be the best you play in the year, but it's decent filler.

The price around 10 dollars is strongly suggested.

 

[Theldaran]

https://af.gog.com/en/game/amatsutsumi?as=1649904300

"Amatsutsumi" released some days ago, in some non-Steam, VN-related stores. I linked GOG because of the affinity here.

This visual novel leans to tear-jerking drama, at least so far. It's a complete story about a (in truth, two) descendant of a Shinto god with the superpower of "Kotodama", that is, making their words into commands. Later on, this power is revealed to be some more, and I think the majority of the plot will revolve around it.

It's usual for this kind of game to provide some commentary on life, especially aimed towards its target audience. There is some of that, but the brunt of it hasn't been revealed to me yet.

 

[Arthandas]

GOG is one of the worst places to buy vns, the prices are bloated and you need a separate uncensor patch.
Amatsutsumi on GOG costs 26.99$ for a censored version, while JAST sells uncensored copy for 14.99$...

 

[Tyrr]

Yes. JAST or MG for exclusives like Rance.

And nyaa for censored self-published crap like Hatsumira or Evenicle 2...

 

[Theldaran]

GOG is one of the worst places to buy vns, the prices are bloated and you need a separate uncensor patch.
Amatsutsumi on GOG costs 26.99$ for a censored version, while JAST sells uncensored copy for 14.99$...

Dood, there's a R18 patch (which I am using) right out there in GOG. No need even to go outside of it to get it. All nice and convenient.

Other stores are up to par with GOG (no DRM), but the prices are kinda universal. Maybe in sales there is a difference. But since this is brand new, no such thing.

The separate R18 patch is common practice in a lot of places (including Steam itself...), no real hindrance to a reader.

 

[Arthandas]

Dood, there's a R18 patch (which I am using) right out there in GOG. No need even to go outside of it to get it. All nice and convenient.

Installing a separate patch instead of having a full uncensored version from the get go is somehow "nice and convenient" for you?

Other stores are up to par with GOG (no DRM), but the prices are kinda universal. Maybe in sales there is a difference. But since this is brand new, no such thing.

JAST has it 12$ cheaper, please explain to me how is it "on par" and "kinda universal".

The separate R18 patch is common practice in a lot of places (including Steam itself...), no real hindrance to a reader.

Only if you're a sheeple buying vns from gog/steam. JAST, Denpasoft, Fakku, Mangagamer, Itch.io sell full, proper versions.

 

[Theldaran]

Arthandas I found your claim very curious, as I figured JAST doesn't like to lose money. And tada:

Also you don't know nothing about me, I know every store and have bought games in Denpasoft, JAST, MG, etc.

 

[Arthandas]

Tada what? I don't have a microscope to check your pic mate...

 

[Theldaran]

Cut the trolling, mate, this doesn't work for me. You must be in some Third World Country, and the price is adjusted, I didn't know JAST did that. Lol.

 

[Arthandas]

That's the price I'm getting from Poland.

 

[Theldaran]

We're just not understanding each other, I checked every place and got the same price, hence what I said.

GOG has the launcher but I only put it here because I figured Codexers would like it, how wrong I was. Actually, having VNs on GOG (though Itch exists) is nice.

 

[Arthandas]

We're just not understanding each other, I checked every place and got the same price, hence what I said.

I understand now. We get mostly the same prices as Americans so I thought JAST's price was normal too. Apparently (for some reason) it's pretty low for Poland even though I'm still paying in dollars.

 

[Theldaran]

You should check other prices over at JAST and see if they're also reduced (regular price for a game is about 20-30 dollars). If so, it's a very nice place for Polish people at least to buy.

I seem to recall something about JAST implementing regional pricing, so. But I didn't pay attention since I pay in euros (I'm in Europe).

 

[Nomad_Blizz]

Playing through Muramasa nowadays and finished the Ichijo and the Captain's route. It's great- lots of philosophy, dark, and violent. Superb music too that fits the atmosphere and setting. Wholeheartedly recommend this masterpiece.

 

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Installing a separate patch instead of having a full uncensored version from the get go is somehow "nice and convenient" for you?

I think they do it to cover their ass in case the Aussies or New Zealand or some other prudish government go after them, as they have a vendetta against anime tiddies. GOG is a much more high profile target than some obscure VN website no politician has ever heard of.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Dagon any good? What about the add-ons?
Dagon - The Little Glass Bottle DLC
Dagon - The Eldritch Box DLC

​

 

[lightbane]

I don't know where to put this since there's no dedicated thread for the legendary Hatoful Boyfriend game (that I have found at least). Either way, I finished a LP of the first game and the sequel. Fucking amazing and insane both, although the sequel is weaker and has no gameplay at all. I recommend getting both if you want something... Different.


There was supposed to be a third game, but no news since 2018.

 

[arekks]

I'm trying to drag myself through Muv-Luv and while it's technically competent and has good presentation, it's also written fairly witlessly and its setup is so very typical and bland.

I read through Planetarian earlier this year and it's good imo. I like a story that gives you a limited perspective on a much wider world and it does a good job of selling you on that...

Digimon Survive came out, it's shockingly a high budget visual novel most of the time, aside from some SRPG required story battles and sometimes where you can fight(no random battles, just given the option to grind but in easy mode it's not needed) because otherwise it's really a VN, you read text, talk to characters, pick options with different routes and so forth, so far the writing is shockingly decent.

Also, unlike the original shitty Japanese pornographic cartoons, they know a lot of people who would play a Digimon VN are teens or adults so...there are actual human deaths and even part of the roster can die if you screw things up, sorry, supporting character whose name i won't say for spoiler reasons, it sucks you got killed by a Digimon!

...Also, they aren't called Digimon in-universe for some reason, mostly because they did away with the digital monsters thing, at least so far, they are treated as regular flesh and blood monsters with no real categorization, they complain about being called monsters...but as the human characters say, they really don't have other ways to describe them, and i love that a kid treats evolution as a dramatic superhero power-up...also acknowledging it's because of the bonds between humans and Digimon which makes humans a target from power hungry, evil or ambitious Digimon who will gladly kidnap and experiment on humans to get a free evolution out of stuff, you pretty quickly have to solve a kidnapping in-game even...though it turns out to be something worse than expected.

If I really fucking hate typical Japanese tactical RPGs with zero depth but which nontheless take a billion hours to play out, would I be able to find enjoyment in this?

 

[Arthandas]

I'm trying to drag myself through Muv-Luv and while it's technically competent and has good presentation, it's also written fairly witlessly and its setup is so very typical and bland.

Thank you!
I thought I was fucking insane. This shit gets universal praise everywhere and you're forbidden by law to say anything bad about it. Meanwhile this is one of like 3 VNs I wasn't able to force myself to finish.
It's so fucking boring, filled with anime tropes, the characters are super one dimensional and the main girls are basically walking cumdumps existing solely to inevitably land on the MC's dick.
And the idea the MC is a genius pilot because he uses move buffering from fighting games is beyond retarded.

 

[Arthandas]

Haha, who is changing a-nime to "shitty Japanese pornographic cartoons"? xD