Community The Visual Novel Council | All Choices Lead To Here

[skLaFarebear]

Ugh.... I REALLY wanted to save up for MH Rise, but I did this cuz yeah, I'm afraid it will get nuked too and I super prefer to have my VN's on Steam when possible... I hate when fear drives me into corners, but alas.

========

This is the current selection of JAST titles on GOG, so I have some questions if you guys know more about it than me... Are these DRM free and are they censored versions? Will we have to buy seperate patches like the Steam versions?

They're all DRM free. Muramasa needs an 18+ patch from the JAST store, SoniComi and Kurokami aren't 18+ titles in the first place, Saya no Uta, DEA, and both VenusBlood games are all uncensored.

 

[Knurek]

@「Echo」

This is the current selection of JAST titles on GOG, so I have some questions if you guys know more about it than me... Are these DRM free and are they censored versions? Will we have to buy seperate patches like the Steam versions?

GOG games are always DRM free, it's one of the store's core values.

 

[ZKenir]

the 2 venus blood games also have the free 18+ patch on gog you get them as DLC

 

[AHA-Lambda]

I may be lttp on this but I had no idea that A Summer's End was getting a sequel??

thought to cross post

 

[「Echo」]

They're all DRM free. Muramasa needs an 18+ patch from the JAST store, SoniComi and Kurokami aren't 18+ titles in the first place, Saya no Uta, DEA, and both VenusBlood games are all uncensored.

@「Echo」

GOG games are always DRM free, it's one of the store's core values.

Ahhhh, I see. Never used GOG before in my life, so i was not familiar with their policies.

A small victory to them for hosting Muramasa while Valve won't for... whatever reason.

thought to cross post

Love this aesthetic!!

 

[ZKenir]

 

[skLaFarebear]

We've waited so so long......

 

[Kvik]

I'll probably grab Evenicle 2 from JAST since you can pay with Paypal. I wonder if they'll turn up on GOG as well in a few weeks time.

 

[「Echo」]

Wish Steam would stop randomly denying sequels.

 

[skLaFarebear]

Apparently it was also confirmed that any content was cut for the initial attempt at the Steam release was restored for this version, guess we know what took them a while then.

I'll probably grab Evenicle 2 from JAST since you can pay with Paypal. I wonder if they'll turn up on GOG as well in a few weeks time.

Considering the first is on GOG it wouldn't surprise me.

With the Steam Deck around the corner, I should start pickin up more VNs from GOG for the Cloud Saves between my PC and Steam Deck.

 

[Kvik]

On the flip side, we're still getting some good releases in a couple of days time.

 

[Li Kao]

I‘m still unclear about routes and where I’m at in the first one in Muramasa, relative to the walkthrough I linked several weeks ago.
People told me routes are later, that I’m in the common part, but the walkthrough is listing the choices made as Ichijo‘s route.
Waitwaitwait. No way. Don’t tell me the choices are the unlock conditions and after those there is a whole route ?
But that not 100th hours long, that‘s 1000s For the whole shebang.

I’m nearing the end of chapter 4 at a guess.

 

[Kvik]

Don’t tell me the choices are the unlock conditions and after those there is a whole route ?

You will need to fill out the affection meter in a specific way for any particular route. There will be a title card indicating the route name once you entered any of them.

 

[beep boop]

Ended up binging Muv Luv Unlimited... Pretty, pretty good. Lots of things I disliked around the romance elements, and I think that aspect of it was also weaker than Extra, but it was fun overall and I'm curious where it goes next. If Alternative gets discounted during the Lunar New Year sale, I'll pick it up.

So far, the three games I've finished in '22 have all been read-em-ups, and I've got AI Somnium Files lined up next, god help me.

 

[Li Kao]

You will need to fill out the affection meter in a specific way for any particular route. There will be a title card indicating the route name once you entered any of them.

Jesus, so what they call Ichijo Ending is indeed the pre-route conditions. Are routes long ?

 

[skLaFarebear]

Jesus, so what they call Ichijo Ending is indeed the pre-route conditions. Are routes long ?

Not nearly as long as the common route, but still very fairly long, especially the last one. Muramasa is an extremely beefy game that took me over 90 hours to finish.

Somehow it wasn't even the longest VN I played last year when Dies Irae took me 100 hours lol.

 

[Li Kao]

Not nearly as long as the common route, but still very fairly long, especially the last one. Muramasa is an extremely beefy game that took me over 90 hours to finish.

Somehow it wasn't even the longest VN I played last year when Dies Irae took me 100 hours lol.

Perfect ! That's the one I want to play next

 

[beep boop]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

 

[skLaFarebear]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

Haven't read it myself yet, but I've heard fantastic things about The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass, it's apparently one of the best mystery VNs out there.

 

[beep boop]

Haven't read it myself yet, but I've heard fantastic things about The Sekimeiya: Spun Glass, it's apparently one of the best mystery VNs out there.

Never heard of it before, but it everything I'm reading about it sounds cool. Thanks!

 

[ExistentialThought]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

I really liked Highway Blossoms, but it can also be argued to be a so-so romance VN, but I really enjoyed it nevertheless.


Also, I always recommend Aviary Attorney to any one who likes Ace Attorney or court themed games

Of course I should also recommend VA-11 Hall-A, but it does come with a few caveats since it again has themes some folks may not care for.

 

[tetel]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

Some things I liked, all pretty short and (just) pretty good.

 

[Knurek]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

I will never stop simping for Cupid:
Find Love or Die Trying seems to be another good one, didn't have the time to read it yet though
Christmas Tina is also another good one, don't worry, despite what the store page says, the game has an English translation (the DLCs are Chinese only though)
I also thoroughly enjoyed To Be or Not to Be

 

[beep boop]

Thanks so much for the recommendations! I downloaded the free ones, and I think I added pretty much all the rest to my wishlist. Seems like I already have Aviary Attorney and Highway Blossoms, so those went into my up next queue. VN season looks to be continuing for a while longer

 

[Kvik]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels?

As far as the classics go, don't forget DDLC and Katawa Shojo.

Katawa Shoujo

null

jastusa.com

 

[「Echo」]

Oh hell yes, can definitely vouch for DDLC+ and VA-11 HALL-A. Two of my favorite OEL VN's.

Also glad someone posted We know the Devil. That team also did:


They write in a very metaphorical heavy handed way, so it might not be to everyones taste however.

I also submit:

 

[beep boop]

Thanks for the other recs. I played Analogue: AHS years and years ago but didn't gel with it at the time. That was back when I grouped indies separately in my library from "real" games and I wasn't familiar with the VN genre, so I should give it another try. How times have changed! Also, there sure are lots of free VNs out there. I wonder why that is.

 

[Exzyleph]

Anyone have recommendations for non-Japan developed visuals novels? Feel like most of the stuff I hear about is from there, but surely there's more worth checking out. I've got Eliza and Valhalla. There are those two (?) Vampire: The Masquerade novels, but their reception seems a bit mixed.

Most of my personal recommendations have already been mentioned, but I'll add a few of my favorites:


Heart of the Woods is a really good yuri super-natural horror VN.
It has one of my favorite characters across all VNs that I've read (Tara Bryck).


I'm really looking forward to their next VN, Please be Happy.


The Letter is a pretty good horror EVN. Just don't try to 100% it, lol:



Dream Daddy is also a really fun, really heartwarming VN about dating dads
The only caveat is that the Minister route has issues and just isn't as good as the other routes:

 

[ExistentialThought]

Thanks so much for the recommendations! I downloaded the free ones, and I think I added pretty much all the rest to my wishlist. Seems like I already have Aviary Attorney and Highway Blossoms, so those went into my up next queue. VN season looks to be continuing for a while longer

I literally just remembered these in the Steam thread and depending on who you ask they are not VNs by purist standards (they have a VNDB page ), but these are a good time to anyone who lived through the early net days.


Plus the first is free

I still need to play the third one

 

[Exzyleph]

Sucker for Love: First Date just released, for those of us who have a thing for sticking our lips on eldritch horrors beyond mortal ken:



This is an fleshed out version of Sucker for Love, which was originally included in Dread X Collection 2, but which can now be played for free. It's a fun read that can be completed in about half an hour:



ETA: The trailer is amazing:

 

[beep boop]

Heart of the Woods is a really good yuri super-natural horror VN.
The Letter is a pretty good horror EVN. Just don't try to 100% it, lol:

I like the sound of these!

I thought Dream Daddies was like a dating sim game, based on the title and whatnot so I kind of passed on it. It's just a VN then? I looked at some footage and it really does seem like wall to wall text. I was expecting like gauges and stuff.

I literally just remembered these in the Steam thread and depending on who you ask they are not VNs by purist standards (they have a VNDB page ), but these are a good time to anyone who lived through the early net days.

I've seen these come by a few times. I should give it a go already. Free to try and short, so not a lot to lose!

 

[Exzyleph]

I thought Dream Daddies was like a dating sim game, based on the title and whatnot so I kind of passed on it. It's just a VN then? I looked at some footage and it really does seem like wall to wall text. I was expecting like gauges and stuff.

Despite the title Dream Daddy is a pretty standard romantic visual novel, though it does have a few one-off mini-games here and there. The route system is also very simple, IIRC: You ask a dad out on a date (via DadBook, the #1 social media for dads) and after a couple of dates you're locked onto that dad's route.

 

[skLaFarebear]

Happy VN Publisher conspiring to bankrupt me Friday everyone

 

[ExistentialThought]

Happy VN Publisher conspiring to bankrupt me Friday everyone

I just bought NinNinDays2, Needy Streamer Overload, and Sucker for Love. You are telling me there are more VNs out today

 

[Exzyleph]

There's also Trinoline Genesis, but it's probably not relevant unless you've already read / plan to read Trinoline since it's a FD:

 

[「Echo」]

... yeah today be like that.

=======

Edit:


... wow.

 

[Knurek]

... wow.

Yea, and 75% of it are rape scenes.

 

[「Echo」]

I've never played a Rance game myself, but i thought it was like a RPG/VN hybrid akin to say Eiyu*Senki?

 

[skLaFarebear]

... wow.

Quite literally the biggest script in video game history. Iirc it's script is bigger than both arcs of umineko combined, not to mention that in addition to all the gameplay makes it arguably the biggest single player game of all time (mmos like 14 have probably eclipsed it by now). Can't wait to play X in 2030.

I've never played a Rance game myself, but i thought it was like a RPG/VN hybrid akin to say Eiyu*Senki?

Eiyu*Senki is actually based off of the combat system from Sengoku Rance. It is a RPG/VN hybrid but each game plays very differently from one another. As an example, Rance VI is a DRPG, Sengoku Rance is a Conquest RPG (like Eiyu Senki), Rance IX is an SRPG, etc. I've only played 01, 02 Kai, 5D, VI, Sengoku, and Rance Quest Magnum, but it's already jumped the Trails franchise for me and could even become my favorite RPG franchise of all time over Xeno once I've played through it all. It's an incredible (if also very problematic) franchise.

 

[ZKenir]

I’m going to ask for Sukebe Elf once again

 

[Exzyleph]

I’m going to ask for Sukebe Elf once again

I never have any idea what to ask for, lol


EDIT:
Wait, there's a interesting looking Lovecraftian VN that has zero chance of getting picked up, but I might as well enter that:

Dear My Abyss

One day Subaru receives a weird book from an anonymous sender. The book has a putrid smell and is sealed. Within it is a message stating that she should never read it and that it’s impossible to dispose of, even by burning or cutting it to bits. Rather than being disgusted or afraid, Subaru...

vndb.org

 

[skLaFarebear]

I never have any idea what to ask for, lol


EDIT:
Wait, there's a interesting looking Lovecraftian VN that has zero chance of getting picked up, but I might as well enter that:

Dear My Abyss

One day Subaru receives a weird book from an anonymous sender. The book has a putrid smell and is sealed. Within it is a message stating that she should never read it and that it’s impossible to dispose of, even by burning or cutting it to bits. Rather than being disgusted or afraid, Subaru...

vndb.org

Last year I asked for Oppai Academy, Kara no Shoujo 3 and Rance 03. Still waiting on the last two, but glad to see we got the first, so I'll need something new to round out the list. Sol Press getting clowned for tax evasion means their titles are up in the air for saving, so maybe this is where I start pushing for Nukitashi 1&2 and Hentai Prison. Of course there's still a bunch of Favorite titles I'd like to see, especially Sakura Moyu. White Album 2 now having a (solid) fan TL means I don't really care as much about that anymore. Shin Koihime Musou would be really nice to have in the west, especially since MG did the first Koihime Musou game. And now that Light is actually operating and releasing a new game again, this would be the perfect chance to start snatching up more of their titles for a western release to help stabilize themselves imo. You also have some other well regarded Alicesoft titles like Daibanchou and Tsumamigui 3 that could be viable for this list, as well as some older Ryukishi stuff that people never stop asking for like RGD and Higanbana. Then there's the elephant in the room with Sakura no Uta, Sakura no Toki, and the Tsui no Sora remake where we don't really know if anyone else is doing them or not.

Who am I kidding though, Tsukihime Remake is gonna top the list easily. I still don't know what I'm gonna vote for tbh....

I’m going to ask for Sukebe Elf once again

Yeah you know what fuck it, I am too.

 

[Exzyleph]

GNOSIA just stealth launched on Steam.
No prior announcement that I am aware of and no launch discount either

 

[Knurek]

I really hope this gets picked up by the gaming press and Valve is (rightfully) roasted over that.

 

[GhostTrick]

I really hope this gets picked up by the gaming press and Valve is (rightfully) roasted over that.

I still wonder why, to this day, those publishers didn't team up together to set change or something.

It's like they take the loss and call it a day.

 

[Knurek]

I still wonder why, to this day, those publishers didn't team up together to set change or something.

It's like they take the loss and call it a day.

Remember the last time there was a VN related controversy in the US?
Google how the press handled Rapelay and you will see why the pubs prefer to keep a low profile.

 

[skLaFarebear]

Figured I'd share it here since we got some people playing/enjoying Muramasa, but my skeb of Hikaru from Muramasa just finished today



It cost a whole Christmas bonus but was certainly worth to comm one of my favorite artists.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

GNOSIA just stealth launched on Steam.
No prior announcement that I am aware of and no launch discount either

I want to check on this as it sounds like it’s kind of a VN but not really?

 

[Exzyleph]

I want to check on this as it sounds like it’s kind of a VN but not really?

To my understanding it is Werewolf in VN form; kinda like Raging Loop, but with less story and more gameplay, to the point where you have stats that you improve across playthroughs.

 

[ExistentialThought]

It would have been nice if they gave a release date in advance for Gnosia, especially since it was originally set to release in 2021. So much has released in the past few weeks.