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edwd2

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    Gleam Garden no Shoujo - Review and Discussion

    in Visual Novel Talk

    Posted

    I remember playing this last year but haven't had the chance to finish it. I can't bring myself to forget the crappy sd cg's though, I don't know if that was intended or not but well the characters are really likeable. I might just reread this some other time. Thanks for the review!

    Yea I agree with this, the deformed CGs were extraneous, or they should have put in more effort.

    rofl... you rated this higher than Hello, Lady? *Clephas rolls around laughing hysterically*

    Edit: I should clarify. I like this game, as I would have mentioned in my VN of the Month thread when it came out (like I'd miss a game of this type). I simply think it is ridiculous to put it above Hello, Lady... or even rank Hello, Lady that low. Also, Saihate no Ima isn't really in the same sub-genre... for one thing, Saihate's plot structure is so weird that it can't be effectively included in any sub-genre very well. Also, even more roflz at rating Grisaia lower than this... unless you played it in English, maybe.

    Edit2: Saihate's plot structure is one of the prime reasons I only played through two of the endings... it was too much of a pain in the rear to get anywhere in that game. I don't like interrupting my flow of consciousness to search for keywords...

    Edit3: Forgot... that month saw a set of two excellent games of higher quality come out that had VN of the month... and it was three months before I started the thread (I named the VNs of the Month for the pre-September months but didn't comment on the others I played during those months). I didn't review it, though I recall my overall thoughts on it. (second-rate chuuni, poor action descriptions, good heroines/paths other than that, etc.).

    You remind me of how some folks used to act on MAL: "Your scores are laughable", "how can you rate Code Geass lower than 9!?", "this should be better than that, etc. etc." C'mon, can't expect everyone to have the same tastes now, and if all you care is that rather trivial number I gave at the end, there are thousands of them on EGS or VNDB for you to laugh at.

    Gleam Garden no Shoujo - Review and Discussion

    in Visual Novel Talk

    Posted

    Gleam Garden Review

    It*s been a while since I last read a VN without skipping a good portion of it. These days, the more I play, the more repetitive things get. Much of the visual novel industry is still obssesed with the cliches and plot patterns that we've seen for years, and this is unlikely to change if market demand is strong, sadly, it still is.

    Gleam Garden is Cosmic Cute's second novel, following Lovesick Puppies which released only a few months prior. Don't let its predecessor and fluffy cover art fool you though, this game isn't quite your typical moege. The story follows our protagonist Touji, a mentor who supervises the so called "witches", girls bestowed with mysterious and often deadly powers, isolated in a special training facility to aid their re-transition to society. Most of the plot takes place in this high school so don't let your hopes too high, it's still the typical slice of life you'd expect, but at least the protagonist is a teacher this time. The underlying conflict revolves around growing tension between humans as we know and humans of greater power, in this case "witches". This is, once again, an ageless theme that has recurred countless times in works of fiction and nonfiction of many media; we fear what is alien to us. Actual "witch" hunting dates back to the bubonic plague and beyond, the term itself brings negative sentiments. That said, his job isn't easy, but it pays off over time. I have to say that they saved the best for the last, the game becomes quite dramatic and action-packed near the end of each route (and for most of the true route); there are some intense and heartwarming moments here and there, expect a good ride.

    You have the choice of five heroines, one hidden, unfortunately, this game has locked routes. I found three of the heroines attractive and thus only completed three routes. Some of the characters have memorable traits while others are almost entirely defined by a type, not too surprising either, it all comes down to your preferences (I hate large breasts...). The protagonist is pretty much an older version of Kaito or Yuuji, proactive, strong, decisive, and badass, not anywhere near Minato though, he lacks personality. Character development is better than average, our setting naturally helps, but the plot doesn't take us far enough to trigger any major changes, the time frame is rather limited (except the true route). I would like to see a fan disc with after stories set years later. On a side note, the protagonist*s best friend, usually the comic sidekick, plays a rather unique role here, he doesn't appear much but you'll see.

    Art deserves an A. Luna's CGs, in particular, are very well done, the first one left me glued to the screen for a good minute. Soundtracks are fine, they do get repetitive at times, you can always turn the BGM lower. Character voices, my only complaint is one of the heroine's timid voice and choppy sentences, but the CV isn't to blame for what the script reads. Other than that, mostly on the spot.

    Gleam Garden is worth a try if you're looking for a decent medium length novel mildly packed with action and emotion. As always, you need the proper state of mind. Want an epic scale masterpiece? Look elsewhere. Otherwise, sit back and relax.

    Overall Score: 72/100

    Comparison with similar works:

     

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    Screenshots:

     

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    VNs and the nature of a good path

    in Visual Novel Talk

    Posted

    These two come to mind.

     

    Majikoi - Kazuko Route: Her determination to excel in martial arts is both an appeal and a conflict. Her character is extensively developed in the route, leading to a devastating but realistic climax that allows romance to naturally blossom from its ashes. I consider this route a rather well written coming of age drama, by visual novel standards.

     

    Eden*: The inevitable death of Sion parallels the inevitable destruction of the planet. Time plays a large role in reinforcing the characters' relationship: as Sion embraces freedom and learns more about the world, as they become lovers, the withering environment repeatedly reminds us that her last days are near. The various symbolism used in this route plays in more subtly, for example, Sion's strand of hair, Erika's music box, etc.

     

    A few others that may apply to a lesser degree: Muramasa (Ichijou), YU-NO (Multiple).

    Books!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Favorites:

     

    Dubliners (James Joyce)

    Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)

    The New World of Mr. Tompkins (George Gamow)

    The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Yukio Mishima)

    Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Luo Guanzhong)

    The True Story of Ah Q (Lu Xun)

    Civilization and Its Discontents (Sigmund Freud)

    Cosmicomics (Italo Calvino)

    Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)

    Recommendation for Tablet to play VNs

    in Visual Novel Talk

    Posted

    I'm wondering how comfortable it is to play a PC VN using touch screen?

     

    And I couldn't stop tingling with mixed feelings the moment I saw a screenshot of White Album 2. I just finished introductory chapter on PS3, it's a must read for all romance VN fans.

    一看到White Album 2的截图我就百感交集。刚刚在PS3上通了introductory chapter，简直是纯爱神作。

     

    To be honest it's pretty annoying having to touch the screen to after each dialogue so I typically use the AUTO mode when using my convertible as a tablet. This is not a big problem if you're lying on a bed or sofa, since your arms are rested, tapping feels more like turning a page. Some other users prefer using a mouse instead.

     

    That aside, I think WA2 CC is quite overrated, but that's the subject of another thread. Still recommended though.

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