adamstan

According to TV tropes most erotica writers are horny teenage girls (although perhaps that doesn't apply to VNs)
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Going back to the main topic...
Two days ago I finished DameKoi.
It didn't exactly WOW me, but still I consider it to be very good. I had a rough start with it - it took some time to get used to the format, but then it kind of gained traction, and from the third or fourth chapter onwards everything was ok.
I really liked the characters and dynamics between them - which seems to be one of Maruto's highlights. Heroines are one thing, but also side characters were very well done. I loved the trio of Mitoko's classmates - Matsuru, Rinko and Tsuyoshi. Three guys living at the house were also quite funny, and brought in some "Maison Ikkoku" anime mood
I did routes in the "ladder order", meaning Kaya -> Himeo -> Asami -> Mitoko.
Kaya was nice girl, and I enjoyed her route, even if it's clearly kind of "side" route. It wasn't anything special, but still nice.
However, in the beginning I couldn't possibly imagine how in the hell Himeo could become love interest for Osamu Thumbs up for pulling this off Himeo turned out really lovely, although when it comes to blonde classic tsunderes, I still think her spiritual step-sister Katori Rea was even better Nevertheless her love for both Osamu and Mitoko is something to see. It was also nice to see how she grew up.
Then there was Asami. I said it already, but I really loved how the game subtly shows the lingering feelings between her and Osamu and the intimacy they once shared as a married couple. If Mitoko's route wasn't as well done as it was, this would be perhaps my canon route - I really rooted for Asami and Osamu getting back together, since it was quite obvious they belong together - they just had to grow up to it.
Mitoko's route was a hell of a ride - a true rollercoaster, and well, considering the stormy nature of teenage feelings, and the mess this kind of love is, I consider it well done. It did pretty good job at portraying Osamu's and Mitoko's struggle with their own feelings.
I think it's good to play it last, since the "True" end unlocked after completing all other routes is actually the whole second (or rather third) part of the route, with quite significant portion of the story in it. Without it the route just kind of cuts off right in the middle.
 
As you might know, I played all-ages version, and I have to say that its only drawback was low resolution, since it was available only for PSP. Otherwise I loved it, especially since I found animated H-scenes from the Mangagamer's release and their placement totaly not to my taste. The scenes themselves looked like slightly polished-up scenes from flash-based porn games, and while that's what ultimately brought me to VNs, today I don't like that kind of sex scenes outside the nukige - and I don't consider Damekoi a fap fodder.
On the other hand, additional scenes in console release were great - they expanded the story, often were heartwarming or just funny, and the story had much better flow. I'd take them in a heartbeat over generic porn scenes. And according to the credits and cover, the PSP adaptation was also written by Maruto and Kikakuya group he's member of, so it all fits well.
Apart from the various scenes scattered over the whole story, the most significant additions are added or extended post-credits epilogues for heroines who didn't have them in adult version. There's also completely new epilogue for the whole game (continuing from Mitoko's true end, accessible from main menu after clearing all endings) - so PSP version has 7 endings in total.
That last epilogue is a bit similar to the "The Day I Found My Wings" from Flight Diary, since it's told from Mitoko's perspective.
Below under spoiler tags are CGs unique to PSP version:
Kaya:
Himeo:
Asami:
 
Mitoko:
So all in all, it was very nice VN with some minor drawbacks. I'd love to get high-res PC backport of the PSP version.
8/10

According to TV tropes most erotica writers are horny teenage girls (although perhaps that doesn't apply to VNs)
*********************************************************************************
Going back to the main topic...
Two days ago I finished DameKoi.
It didn't exactly WOW me, but still I consider it to be very good. I had a rough start with it - it took some time to get used to the format, but then it kind of gained traction, and from the third or fourth chapter onwards everything was ok.
I really liked the characters and dynamics between them - which seems to be one of Maruto's highlights. Heroines are one thing, but also side characters were very well done. I loved the trio of Mitoko's classmates - Matsuru, Rinko and Tsuyoshi. Three guys living at the house were also quite funny, and brought in some "Maison Ikkoku" anime mood
I did routes in the "ladder order", meaning Kaya -> Himeo -> Asami -> Mitoko.
Kaya was nice girl, and I enjoyed her route, even if it's clearly kind of "side" route. It wasn't anything special, but still nice.
However, in the beginning I couldn't possibly imagine how in the hell Himeo could become love interest for Osamu Thumbs up for pulling this off Himeo turned out really lovely, although when it comes to blonde classic tsunderes, I still think her spiritual step-sister Katori Rea was even better Nevertheless her love for both Osamu and Mitoko is something to see. It was also nice to see how she grew up.
Then there was Asami. I said it already, but I really loved how the game subtly shows the lingering feelings between her and Osamu and the intimacy they once shared as a married couple. If Mitoko's route wasn't as well done as it was, this would be perhaps my canon route - I really rooted for Asami and Osamu getting back together, since it was quite obvious they belong together - they just had to grow up to it.
Mitoko's route was a hell of a ride - a true rollercoaster, and well, considering the stormy nature of teenage feelings, and the mess this kind of love is, I consider it well done. It did pretty good job at portraying Osamu's and Mitoko's struggle with their own feelings.
I think it's good to play it last, since the "True" end unlocked after completing all other routes is actually the whole second (or rather third) part of the route, with quite significant portion of the story in it. Without it the route just kind of cuts off right in the middle.
 
As you might know, I played all-ages version, and I have to say that its only drawback was low resolution, since it was available only for PSP. Otherwise I loved it, especially since I found animated H-scenes from the Mangagamer's release and their placement totaly not to my taste. The scenes themselves looked like slightly polished-up scenes from flash-based porn games, and while that's what ultimately brought me to VNs, today I don't like that kind of sex scenes outside the nukige - and I don't consider Damekoi a fap fodder.
On the other hand, additional scenes in console release were great - they expanded the story, often were heartwarming or just funny, and the story had much better flow. I'd take them in a heartbeat over generic porn scenes. And according to the credits and cover, the PSP adaptation was also written by Maruto and Kikakuya group he's member of, so it all fits well.
Apart from the various scenes scattered over the whole story, the most significant additions are added or extended post-credits epilogues for heroines who didn't have them in adult version. There's also completely new epilogue for the whole game (continuing from Mitoko's true end, accessible from main menu after clearing all endings) - so PSP version has 7 endings in total.
That last epilogue is a bit similar to the "The Day I Found My Wings" from Flight Diary, since it's told from Mitoko's perspective.
Below under spoiler tags are CGs unique to PSP version:
Kaya:
Himeo:
Asami:
 
Mitoko:
So all in all, it was very nice VN with some minor drawbacks. I'd love to get high-res PC backport of the PSP version.
8/10

0:13 Koikano
0:48 Aikoi
1:25 Bokusen
1:53 Kiss Bell
2:23 Hataota
3:08 Artemis Blue
3:38 Cocoro@Function!
4:13 Akeiro Kaikitan
4:50 enking
5:23 Tsujidou Virgin Road

I think the main issue is that it's usually just straight up porn in most cases. If it's done right, sex scenes can add depth to characters and their relationships, but titles that manage to pull that off are pretty rare.

I got burned on previous Maruto's titles - especially by final h-scene in Folklore Jam, but I found scenes in Parfait or Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku o also to be rather detracting from the game's overall quality - all-ages versions were better and more consistent for me.
So while his character and relationship writing is great, I don't trust him on ero stuff In each case it felt like something added because "PC VN has to be eroge".

Yeah, I get what you mean. Back when I started reading VNs, I read h-scenes in their entirety because I wouldn't want to risk missing out on anything story related, but there's usually nothing even remotely noteworthy in them so I just skip past most of them nowadays. I can imagine there being a few scenes that are worthwhile in White Album 2 though, so I might pay more attention there.

I also have WA2 on my backlog, but since I'm going for all-ages version (PS3), no translation for me
Actually, when I think about it, recently I switched almost completely to playing VNs in Japanese. I never thought that would actually happen 😮 The last VN I read in English was World End Syndrome (because text-hooking from the Switch emulator was impossible back then) in February, and before that, Making Lovers in June 2020.
I have two weeks off starting next week (basically to the end of the year), but I don't think I will go with White Album 2 for my next read. First I have to finish Damekoi. And then, on the 24th of December Yuzusoft releases PC port of their all-ages version of Tenshin Ranman (previously available only for PSP) - and I think I will read either that or '&' - Sora no Mukou de Sakimasu you ni - (PS3 version).
I'm becoming more and more of an "All-ages junkie" I'll read an eroge every now and then (when there's no good all-ages version available), but more often than not I find the H-scenes in eroges I read a turn off - either because they are just generic porn scenes featuring porn stunt doubles of the characters from the VN, or because of their jarring placement (or both )

Damn, it hit you hard, huh? Glad to hear you're back on track!

I haven't started any new VNs since my last post here. I'm basically just waiting for the White Album 2 translation to finish, which should be any day now according to the project updates. I really hope there won't be any delays, since I have time off from work until the second week of January, making this the perfect time to take on a longer read.

Since I caught covid at 7th November, I had almost six weeks long break in reading. Recently I finally almost fully recovered, and so I resumed reading Damekoi PSP.
Currently I'm at 13th chapter and going for (or actually already almost entered) Asami's route. While I had some complaints at the beginning of the game, it gets better and better as it goes, and as I got used to it.
I'm loving how the relationship between Osamu and Asami is portrayed, and I'm really rooting for them. Let's see how it unfolds.

In 3DOELVNs those are usually signs of early incest version that has been poorly covered up for patreon purposes

Time for some more 80s J-pop
Lovely rich electronic sound and some not-so-obvious chord changes - I like it
 

Project is still alive, plodding along.

Edit: That's like you're eating fish and being like, "Yeah I haven’t tasted chicken before, but this totally tastes like it!"

Well, I played it, and it was playable, but had some quirks, mistranslations, and an untranslated parts (like Estel's presentation/lecture, where AFAIR text was in the form of the images). Overally, it shows that it's unfinished. From my "review-ish" post:
Despite the translation problems, I loved the VN. I think one day I'm going to replay it in Japanese

Reflection Blue is a subtitle of an extended edition of Summer Pockets.

Yeah, I loved it too despite some flaws (that map movement system...) Now, Toybox, where's the damn sequel? You think you can get away with teasing us like that?

Today I finished World End Syndrome. It was fantastic, I loved it and it got me hooked through the whole story. I just wish the routes were longer - it felt that when the routes were finally starting to get interesting, they ended.
 
Now I'm still reading Angel Beats and plan to finally restart SeaBed. This is one that I've read for some time and didn't enjoy because it was too slow-paced. But now I got it on the Switch and am actually pretty excited to try it again.

They put a VN full of rape and guro on Steam and act surprised that it gets banned?!? The level of naivety shown here is baffling. 

I just found nice easter egg / reference in DameKoi.
Do you remember a game they played in chapter 7 during the
Buntarou says that he remembers this game being a VN, while Yoshinori says that he grabbed the assets of said VN and remade it.
Actually, all the locations they mention and the music that is playing is from first Hermit's VN - Folklore Jam (also written by Maruto).

I just found nice easter egg / reference in DameKoi.
Do you remember a game they played in chapter 7 during the
Buntarou says that he remembers this game being a VN, while Yoshinori says that he grabbed the assets of said VN and remade it.
Actually, all the locations they mention and the music that is playing is from first Hermit's VN - Folklore Jam (also written by Maruto).

That's a tough question. Sora is for me definitely the best character, as she shines throughout the whole series, and brings light into every episode But when coming to the "choose your best waifu" problem, that's another dimension To put it simply, I loved them all. And each episode was better than the previous one. In first episode I thought that Miyako was very sweet girl, and I wouldn't mind a girlfriend like her. But then came Sora's route, and I found it to be very good too. Haruka was also lovely, and I really liked how she developed as a character. And then there was Noa. I didn't care too much about her throughout the first three episodes - especially since she was always staying on the side. But her episode turned this all upside down and made me fall for her head over heels.
So, however contradictory it might seem - Sora is my best character, Episode 4 is my best episode, and I'm unable to choose my favorite heroine.

Yeah it seemed to work because it was rather self-aware in what it's trying to be. Sora and Kakeru's banter felt real and also extremely funny to me lol, Tanezaki Atsumi's voice elevates their banter to another level or maybe it's just because I'm biased as hell because Tanezaki Atsumi is my favorite voice actor.
Who's your favorite heroine and episode? Although I feel like your favorite heroine is already Sora though lol

While most of the characters were rather tropey - which seemed to work perhaps thanks to fantasy elements in the setting? - there's one exception, and that's banter between Kakeru and Sora, which, at least to me, felt surprisingly natural. And maybe that's what makes Sora the best character  
As for your complaints towards Sora's route - that's where all-ages version shows its superiority
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Steam editions without adult patches, since there are parts where they are overly censored (especially the Haruka's chapter). The only "proper" all-ages version is Complete Edition, (available in two physical versions and on DLSite) which unfortunately is untranslated. But if one wants to read -Nine- in Japanese, it's great (and it's in 1080p ) Besides, the epilogue is all-ages only anyway
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As for Damekoi,
Few days ago I finished Kaya's route. I liked it, although it shows that she's just a "side heroine" I have stopped for a moment, because last few days I've been too tired to read, but maybe I'll return to it today.
BTW I again did a quick comparison between the All-ages edition that I'm playing and +18 MangaGamer's version (so far only for Kaya's route). And once again I lean heavily towards all-ages version, even if sometimes it felt a bit too tame (but then, it has +15 rating). I found the replacement scenes added in the PSP version to be much nicer than too-many badly-animated H-scenes from MG's edition. Really, some of those animations looked so bad it's not even funny   I was very disappointed to find out that scenes like
were just the replacement scenes, and were completely absent from adult version - they fit the route so well. Also, all-ages edition added very nice post-credits epilogue for Kaya (and I assume for other "side" heroines as well, but will know for sure after finishing them)
It's a pity that all-ages version is available only on low-res PSP though I wish there was PC or PS3 port...

Wow lol, I tried to read 9-nine in one go, I actually played the original one with Miyako but got bored of it right after the plot twist, I then just skipped to Sora's and well I read the whole saga in a week and its really good.
9-Nine as a series is good in the sense that it doesn't have some insane character depth or central plot element, it's just that it does every standard trope really well and sometimes does it spectacularly. Most of the characters are the usual character stereotypes, without much depth to them, but I liked reading their dialogues and stories anyway since they're well executed. To be more specific, the characters felt very unreal, they didn't have any sense of realness to them in the sense that their traits don't feel real, it rather feels instead that they had specific traits in mind to appeal to each otaku fetish, and made a character around them. While this may be a harsh thing to say, it was still enjoyable in its own way.
9-nine's last game around Noa was probably one of the best last games in episodic stories like this, where every information in the past games are used and everything led to that moment but its hard to say much about it without being spoiler-ish.
I'm not gonna make a review about this since there has been a ton of reviews about 9-nine already, I only make reviews on games without reviews. 
Spoilerish thoughts: