Year 2008 started with two failed months, continued strong, but by the end lost a lot of appeal for me. There is not a single full 10/10 masterpiece (although technically Dies irae reworked version may be counted), but the overall number of masterpieces is again 20, exactly the same as in 2007, so can't complain here. New portion of Visual Novel Openings 2008 with songs.
My list of masterpieces in 2008:
11eyes -Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo-
12Riven -The Ψcliminal of Int
Foreword: There was very limited selection of games to choose from in December, but I chose Eien no Owari ni because of phrase unfinished masterpiece that I glanced in some review. The fact that Tama-Soft made Lost Child also matters a lot for me.
Synopsis:
There is a high school that will be closed down soon - one day, Keisuke transfers to that very specific school. On his first day, he visits the newspaper club, but Ryo, the club's leader, acts very coldly towards him. He
428 ~Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de~ is VN of the Month. But since it's translated already, will review Eien no Owari ni . micchi focuses mostly on gameplay visual novels, but there are lots of comments to enjoy.
1. 428 ~Fuusa Sareta Shibuya de~ 428 〜封鎖された渋谷で〜 [081204] Chunsoft 1 2 3 4 5 A present-day story about a detective, a young man, a virus researcher, a freelance writer, and a cat mascot character who are brought together by bizarre events with worldwide implications in the
Foreword: FlyingShine was never a good brand, it only flew and shined with invited writer stars like Tanaka Romeo, Setoguchi Ren'ya and Takemiya Yuyuko. But its works always try to seem more mysterious than they are. Kokorono is just like that - a game that I can't see through from the start, so yet another time I try even though nothing good can come from it.
Synopsis:
Just before summer holiday, Ryouta lives an uneventful life. Uneventful days, uneventful life, and uneven
With gameplay pieces taken aside, there's nothing else to call a VN of the Month but Shikkoku no Sharnoth -What a Beautiful Tomorrow- . Still don't consider it a masterpiece, though. I'm taking Kokorono for review because... don't know why, really. At the very least it poses some mystery for me. Does not look like micchi had a favorite this month either.
1. Zero no Tsukaima -Maigo no Period to Ikusen no Symphony- ゼロの使い魔 迷子の終止符と幾千の交響曲 [081106] Marvelous Interactive Louise an
Foreword: Dropped this game a decade ago, but I played all other RococoWorks visual novels, so I have a history with this brand, and I quite like its works.
Synopsis:
A lot of invisible walls suddenly appear all around the world. The same phenomenon happens in Nanahama Town, but another phenomenon takes place as well...
"Landforms and buildings have gone back to the past." People in Nanahama are confused, but they somehow keep on living there.
Two years late
Yay, I finally reached the point where micchi started his blog. It includes many games from August-September with super brief commentaries and no synopsis, but it's a start. Volume 7 is VN of the Month, reviewing it. Concerto Note is another masterpiece.
1. To Love Ru Trouble: Doki Doki! Rinkaigakkou Hen To LOVEる -とらぶる-ドキドキ! 臨海学校編 [081002] Marvelous Interactive Rito and the To Love Ru cast are sent to an academy by the sea. With so many girls in bikinis Rito's luck, for onc
Foreword: Took Supreme Candy for review blindly, just because of the brand, so was not sure what to expect.
Synopsis:
Tonami Yuu is a somewhat awkward adolescent who keeps a certain distance between himself and others because of a traumatic incident that occurred when he was a child. One day he chances upon a jar of candy labelled 'Supreme Candy', a miraculous treat that allows him to change his physical age. Using this opportunity, he transforms himself into a child and en
Sumaga is the only masterpiece, but it's not really a Nitroplus game in spirit, so I'd rather review game from KeroQ sister brand Makura Supreme Candy
1. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Cosplay, Hajimemashita♥ 乃木坂春香の秘密 こすぷれ、はじめました♥ [080925] Vridge Inc. 1 "You know, cosplay is really good!" When Haruka, Yuuto, and Shina are at a cafe, they meet Rio, Shina's old friend and Rio invites them to take part in a cosplay event. "Well, I'll take part in it." "It should be fun!" "How abo
Foreword: The only chunige of the month, so I'll even overlook the fact that the last game of White Cyc I evaluated as 2/10
Synopsis:
Tsukasa lives a peaceful life. However, he has a totally different personality at night. He is called Shade and fights against monsters from Hizumi (strain). But one day, his life turns around. He meets his old friend for the first time in seven years. He also becomes friends with other girls and enjoys his life. However, each girl gets invol
Another August, and another record of over 140 visual novels. Amatsukaze contains serious gameplay elements, so I don't include it in the race. I'll name Koisuru Otome ~Shikigami 2008~ VN of the Month, but will have yet to decide whether it's a masterpiece.
1. Back Stage BackStage -バックステージ- [080808] TJR
Mitsuaki wants to be an actor. One day, he joins a theatrical group called "Back Set". The boss of the group is Kyouka, a stage director, and she is a lit
Foreword: I'm not a big fan of raiL-soft, absolutely hate Albatross Koukairoku. But their first game Kagerou Touryuuki is probably the best game ever done by them.
Synopsis:
The main character regains his consciousness and finds himself being on a small boat. A girl on the boat tells him, "You're going to the place you wished." Where he arrives is an old hotel. While he stays there, he meets various girls. And as time passes, he needs to decide if he stays or leaves there..
Foreword: LiLiM is an old and curious brand that produces high quality works of different genres. This work is chunige, so I can't pass by it.
Synopsis:
"The bizarre murder which continues happening in a town.
The town close to you. It is another world.
And I meet you."
Waking up in a tranquil town, there is a bizarre murder case.
The atrocity of the reoccurring homicides is revealed as it comes to this town.
But in this town lives a
Kara no Shoujo is VN of the Month. Other masterpieces are Sora o Tobu, 3tsu no Houhou and Kagerou Touryuuki and also Aion Garden. Reviewing last two.
1. L no Kisetsu 2: Invisible Memories Lの季節 2 invisible memories [080702] 5pb. Games 1 One year has passed.
Similar incidents start to happen again in the real world at the same school, so our heroes decide to start an investigation.
This series known since first game was PS exclusive origi
Foreword: Took this game for review because could not understand the gist of the game from synopsis or reviews.
Synopsis:
The magical world, Ninkyonasa.
That existence of this peaceful world relied upon the kind heart of the people in the real world. But in the present time where people only thinks of themselves and losing their thoughtfulness: Otokogi, this magical world was in danger of vanishing… In order to save that world, a magical girl was sent to the real wo
Foreword: Game looks like a chunige, so why not try it.
Synopsis:
Shinobu Shindou was an ordinary highschool student.
Except for the fact that he lost his memory 3 years ago.
He heard that it had to do with an accident that occured back then.
The shrine that he lived in burnt down, his parents passed away, and he was heavily injured.
But even though it was a big incident, no one knew what caused it.
Shinobu didn’t remember what happe
Foreword: Took this game blindly for review just because I consider Coμ a full 10/10 masterpiece and want to see what games preceded it.
Synopsis:
Wakutsu Tomo was brought up by his mother as a girl due to a small mark he has on his body. After his mother's death, he discovers via her will that she emphasizes Tomo continue to live as a female, and following this, Tomo starts to go through more troubles in his life. Tomo soon discovers that he is linked with five girls who
I'll call Rui wa Tomo o Yobu the VN of the Month for now. Reviewing it as well as Nidaime wa ☆ Mahou Shoujo and Samayou Mitama ni Yasuragi no Toki o .
1. Nanashi no Game ナナシ ノ ゲエム [080603] Epics Inc. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rumors have been circulating about a cursed role-playing game; anyone who plays it and does not complete it dies seven days after starting. You are one of the victims playing the game; having started playing it several days after your friend recommended it to you. Y
Foreword: I was impressed with art and dark atmosphere of the game, but chose it because wanted to know the plot.
Synopsis:
There is a small island called Kugaitou. Several decades ago, a man moved there and secretly formed a religious group. He was soon revered by people on the island and the group got bigger. Souichirou, the main character, was born and grew up there.... Time passes.... Souichirou is about to move to Tokyo. Just a few days before he leaves, he and his fr
Foreword: Never faced crossovers in visual novels before, so expectations ranged from weird fandisk to something like Soukou Akki Muramasa since I rated both original games high.
Synopsis:
Depending on which route you choose, you start out as either Alfred Arrowsmith, after his united front with Rick against Gustave, or Kuki Youkou after his final confrontation with Soushichi. Ungaikyou (literary means the mirror beyond the clouds), a youkai made from the failure attempt o
G-senjou no Maou is VN of the Month. Aoishiro , Chrono Belt ~Ayakashibito & Bullet Butlers Crossover Disc~ , Bifronte ~Kugaitou Kitan~ are also masterpieces. I'll review Chrono Belt and Bifronte ~Kugaitou Kitan~
1. Aoishiro アオイシロ [080515] Success 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Seijou Girls’ Academy Kendo Club is traveling to Shoushinji for a Summer training camp. Near there is an island, Urashima, where legend has it a demon extermination took place long ago.
They
Foreword: Could not miss probably the best game in the series. All conceptual things are given in a different review (1), so I'll slack with just an impression.
Synopsis:
There are two different worlds... They are quite similar, but conflicting with each other. One of the world is called the World of White Silver that exists independently. However, the other world coexists with other worlds, closely affecting each other. People of these worlds hate to be invaded by others.
Gouen no Soleil -Chaos Region- is VN of the Month that I take for review. 11eyes -Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shoujo- is another masterpiece. I consider Chaos;Head so bad that it's nowhere near masterpiece material.
1. Boku Dake no Kajitsu 僕だけの果実 [080403] JIN Products The story of a man and three women and the training they partake in... "Come on, I will teach you true love".
Just R15 PSP short romance SIM
2. Hyouka no Genya -
Foreword: Fighting heroines are inspiring, but I also wanted to pursue possible connections with Zwei Worter.
Synopsis:
Luinstellar High School is a prestigious high school located in a magic world. One day, Kazuma, a student of the school, accidentally finds three statues of the Magi. He takes off jewels embedded into a chest of the statues. At this very moment.... The jewels go inside his body and three girls appear from the statues. Also, space-time suddenly strains and
Foreword: Fantasy AXL work. Of course I'm in.
Synopsis:
Ryu is a practice knight. One day, he accidentally stumbles during an important ceremony and his life turns around 180 degrees. He is degraded to a boss of a security group stationed on the edge of nowhere.
A few days later, when he arrives the village, his coworkers welcome him. And he somehow enjoys his country life there through various troubles and accidents. One day, a boy comes to the village. He is arro
