Poll: Have you played a visual novel?

[Hakazaba]

I'm bringing this up because of the so called "outrage" over MW2. I'm a bit concerned as i thought we were trying for more mature games and this seems more like something for the very opposite of mature, this is was twelve year old fools spend there time doing in Garry's mod.

Seriously if that gave you even the slightest pause then one of these games will give you a seizure.

Ever 17 (brilliant)
Kana (Heatbreaking)
Fate-stay night (Fun)
crescendo (meh)
Tsukahime (Fun)
Saya no uta (fucked up)

Post your list if you've played any, go play one if you haven't.

 

[geon106]

I have once, it was really naf. It was a weird anime one.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I can't find any place that sells them
Some of the ones NuetralDrow has reviewed look good, and I'm interested in getting the Higurashi ones, but can't find anywhere that sells

 

[j0z]

Hmm.. well I don't know if this counts, but "Dear Ester", an experimental mod for HL2. Clostest thing I have played to one.

 

[Poke_Freak]

Pretty much only Kana. But, as the motivator says:

Kana Little Sister
I dont' care how tough you think you are, you WILL cry.

(Seriously. I don't cry often, barely at all. But when I played Kana I bawled like a little baby who just lost his favorite toy. ;_


Well that's the only game worth MENTIONING, at least. I've played a few others that are just so horribly bad that I wonder why they were ever made..

 

[Weaver]

No, but I've read a choose your own adventure book as a kid.

 

[NeutralDrow]

*and lo, did a chorus of angels appear and descend upon NeutralDrow*

Post your list if you've played any, go play one if you haven't..

Funny you should bring them up...I've kinda made them my thing on the Escapist. Not that I'll evaluate every game I come across (I draw the line at things like "Pick Me, Honey!" or "Do You Like Horny Bunnies?" and the like), but I've made some progress on the matter. I know now, for example, that Xchange is horrible, Little My Maid is of mixed quality, and Heart de Roommate is all right. I have a list that I'm going through.

In fact, I'll just take this time to plug my reviews!

Spoiler: NeutralDrow's Reviews (completed, planned, and speculative)

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TYPE-MOON reviews:
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<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.128851>Tsukihime
--- <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.142352>Shingetsutan Tsukihime (anime)
--- <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.145022>Lunar Legend Tsukihime (manga)
- <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.139628>Kagetsu Tohya
- Melty Blood

Fate/Stay Night
--- Fate/Stay Night (anime)
--- Fate/Stay Night (manga)
- Fate/Unlimited Codes

Speculative: Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, Fate/Zero, Kara no Kyokai.

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Neutral Drow reviews:
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<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.130703>Xchange
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.135672>A Drug That Makes You Dream
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.146260>Heart de Roommate
Hourglass of Summer
Princess Waltz
<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.148564>Little My Maid
Kana: Little Sister
Tokimeki Check-in
Crescendo
Casual Romance Club
Kanon

Speculative: Clannad, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, True Love
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Other reviews:
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<url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.151706>Lightning Warrior Raidy (collab. w/Lordlee)

Speculative: Devil May Cry 1 vs. 3 retrospective (game), Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (game), Ai Yori Aoshi (manga), Hayate the Combat Butler (manga)

I'll say one thing, though. Of my top five favorite games of all time, three happen to be on that list (Tsukihime, Fate/Stay Night, and A Drug That Makes You Dream).

Oh, and we have <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Visual-Novels>a usergroup on them. You're welcome to join!

 

[Abedeus]

Fate-Stay Night, only because I was curious about things that weren't shown in the anime.

 

[Weaver]

So are these games on PC, what platform? Are they free or do they cost? Are they all ... adult oriented? Where do you even GET them?

 

[NeutralDrow]

So are these games on PC, what platform? Are they free or do they cost? Are they all ... adult oriented? Where do you even GET them?

Pretty much all of them are PC; many of the bigger ones get console releases (Fate/Stay Night: Realta Nua and Kanon come to mind), too, but rarely or never do those leave Japan. There's a few that are actually console-specific, but again, they never leave Japan. <url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/428:_F%C5%ABsasareta_Shibuya_de>Sad, really...

(EDIT: I forgot, there is a Nintendo DS visual novel series released outside Japan: the Phoenix Wright games.)

Well...some are free in the sense that you have no choice but to pirate. Some things like Tsukihime or Clannad were never released in game format outside Japan, and the fan-translation patches require the disc (or the disc ISO). However, there are quite a few that have been officially released in English, and I've seen them cost anywhere between $15-$30 (usually the higher end is for the really popular titles).

Most of them are adult-oriented, but the extent depends on the game. Quite a few of the more notorious ones are essentially pornography that you work at (which can still be done well), but most of the more popular ones place far more emphasis on story and presentation. Some games get re-released with all ages versions (like Kanon or AIR), and some like Tsukihime have fan-made ero-removing patches. And, of course, there are a few like Clannad and Hourglass of Summer, which are all ages to begin with.

The non-localized games (stuff never released outside Japan, like the TYPE-MOON and Key games series) are available pretty much only by torrent or download. The officially released ones are done by companies like Peach Princess or G-Collections (which have sorta NSFW sites, but not too bad). ...if you're really brave, you can visit J-List's site, but their site creeps me out (they sell far more than eroge). Or you can look up individual titles on Amazon.

 

[Trucken]

I've played a few, mostly 'H' orientated. Those games can tell a brilliant story or be downright fucking scary. Crescendo told some great stories that could really get to you and make you feel sorry for the hardships some of the characters have suffered through. Then there's games like Bible Black, X-Change and Doushin - Same Heart. Dear God, those games raped my soul, just like they raped every female character in those games.

And sometimes, you come across something special. Like Ever 17. I honestly thought this was an 'H' game at first. I was wrong, but didn't care. It was, simply put, fucking awesome. I got a guide for this one so I could find all the endings and the "true" ending. And that final playthrough had me captivated. I got home from work, sat down at my computer and finished the "true" story in 10 hours without taking a break. I had to find out what was going on, it was that great.

 

[Emphraim]

I've played quite a few visual novels. Some of them have deep, meaningful stories, while some of the others were just porn that you had to click through.

Saya no Uta
A Drug that Makes you Dream
Fate/Stay Night
Sengoku Rance
Do you like Horny Bunnies(...I was bored that day, ok?)
Bible Black
Tsukihime
Princess Waltz(currently in progress)
Cross Channel(Currently in progress)
Do You Like Horny Bunnies and Bible Black are basically porn games, but the rest are quite meaningful or at the very least have a good story.

If anyone is interested in visual novels, there is a visual novel group right here on the Escapist. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Visual-Novels]

Saya no uta

I'm a sinner who hasn't played Saya no Uta.

It is brilliant. Hopefully you aren't disgusted too easily, as it is something that isn't leave the weak of heart, but it will keep you thinking for a while. But yeah, it's mostly a mindfuck.

 

[Hakazaba]

i must say im pleasantly surprised by the response, i will be joining that group.

 

[Hyper-space]

PLAYED?!....

PLAYED?! HAVE YOU GONE MAD?


nah kidding, what is a "playable" visual novel?

 

[Thaius]

I played/read Narcissu, and loved it. Ending was kind of strange, but the story was just heartbreaking.

I really really want to play Clannad and Kanon, after watching the anime based off them. Just... wow. Freaking wow. If the visual novels are anywhere near as good as the anime, I may have two new favorite games.

Also, Phoenix Wright kind of counts. And I adore those games.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I really really want to play Clannad and Kanon, after watching the anime based off them. Just... wow. Freaking wow. If the visual novels are anywhere near as good as the anime, I may have two new favorite games.

I'm playing Kanon currently, believe it or not (look for a review in the next month).

That said...it's awesome. I recommend it. I've never seen the anime (deliberately, 'cause I wanted to play this), but so far, the Ayu and Shiori routes are incredibly emotional. Still have Makoto, Mai/Sayuri, and Nayuki to go...