Alright, buckle up my fellow VN connoisseurs, because "Robotic;Notes Elite" is like strapping yourself into a rollercoaster built by a drunk engineer.
This is the third act from the Science Adventure series, and it's about as coherent as a fever dream.
Plot: More Twists than a Pretzel
The plot in this one meanders like a drunkard at 2 AM. The pacing is a schizophrenic mess, swinging wildly from mind-numbingly slow to breakneck fast with no warning.
95% of story is an excruciatingly boring slice of life. You spend countless hours slogging through mundane school activities, trivial banter, and lifeless dialogue that does little to advance the plot or develop the characters. It’s a snooze fest of epic proportions, making you question why you’re subjecting yourself to this tedium when you could be doing literally anything else.
Characters and plot points pop up out of nowhere like those annoying whack-a-moles, and just as you're about to get invested, they're yanked away. The story attempts to throw curveballs, but they end up being more like soggy noodles flung at a wall—predictable and ultimately limp. Every now and then, it brushes against greatness, only to plunge back into the depths of mediocrity.
One of the most jarring aspects of "Robotic;Notes Elite" is its apparent target audience. Unlike the more mature and darker themes of "Chaos;Head" and "Steins;Gate," this entry feels like it's aimed at a younger crowd. The tone is lighter, the stakes feel lower, and the characters' antics are more juvenile. It’s as if the developers decided to trade in the series’ trademark intensity for a Saturday morning cartoon vibe.
Characters: A Parade of Anime Tropes
The character roster is a veritable bingo card of anime stereotypes. Kaito Yashio, our protagonist, is the epitome of apathy. His lack of enthusiasm is so infectious, it’ll make you wonder why you’re even playing. Then there's Akiho Senomiya, the peppy, robot-obsessed foil. Her relentless cheerfulness is endearing for all of five minutes before it becomes as grating as nails on a chalkboard.
The rest of the cast? Oh, you’ve got the whole circus here: the shy girl, the tsundere, the mysterious brooding guy. Their development is as deep as a kiddie pool, and their interactions have all the chemistry of oil and water. You can practically hear the writers checking off boxes on their trope list.
Visuals and Audio: THE HORROR
The use of PS2-style graphics instead of 2D sprites is utterly retarded. The characters move with all the grace of marionettes controlled by a blind puppeteer, landing squarely in the uncanny valley. I don't know why they chose this route when 2D sprites could have given the game a much-needed sense of charm and personality.
The music? Well, it exists. It does the job without standing out, like a background extra in a bad movie. The voice acting is a mixed bag, ranging from passable to cringeworthy. Some lines sound like they were delivered at gunpoint, adding an unintended layer of comedy to the proceedings.
Choices: Press X to Question Life Choices
Let’s talk choices, if you can call it that. Occasionally, you make a choice that slightly nudges the story in a different direction, but these moments are rarer than a coherent plot twist.
The much-touted “Twipo” and “IRUO” systems are supposed to add interactivity, but they’re about as engaging as watching paint dry. They’re gimmicks, plain and simple, offering the illusion of choice without any real impact.
The route system is another colossal waste of time. There is no branching paths, the story is stubbornly linear. Worse yet, the routes are supposed to be read in a predetermined order, so if you go in blind without a guide, you can spoil yourself and ruin any semblance of narrative coherence.
Final Verdict: A Lesson in Disappointment
"Robotic;Notes Elite" is a cautionary tale in wasted potential. For every moment of genuine intrigue, there are hours of dull dialogue and uninspired storytelling. It’s like being promised a gourmet meal and being served stale bread instead.
The game is a test of endurance more than anything. If you’re a die-hard fan of the series or have an unhealthy obsession with giant robots, you might find some redeeming qualities here. For everyone else, steer clear.
Rating: 4/10 – Like watching a clown car crash in slow motion. Fascinatingly awful.
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