Clephas VN of the Year 2015

[Clephas]

Current Candidates

Natsuiro Recipe

Kikan Bakumatsu Ibun Last Cavalier

Runners-up/Honorable Mention

Silverio Vendetta (rejected because, despite my fondness for it, the path imbalance was a bit too extreme)

Koko Kara Natsu no Innocence (just not quite there)

Hatsuru Koto Naku Mirai Yori (not really a possibility, because of the improper utilization of moe elements, weakness of Meltina's and the zombie girl's path)

Sakura no Uta (rejected for various reasons, but the largest one is the weakness of the true ending/path)

Kyuuketsu Hime no Libra (not really a candidate, but it was worth taking note of)

Sakura Nikagetsu (high quality storytelling... but the visual aspects made it fall behind Natsuiro)

Sorcery Jokers (chuuni honorable mention, but it had a number of flaws, including one of its protagonists being the classic 'angsty teenaged hero' type)

Love Rec. (worth noting and it is indeed enjoyable, but it doesn't quite make it there)

Ayakashi Contract (AXL did an excellent job with this one... but it still just feels like 'yet another AXL VN')

Sumire (unique, protagonist is an adult, utilizes an older, somewhat dated storytelling style, but it really does pick its readers)

Koitama (interesting concept, generally fun, but not really a VN of the Year candidate)

Chrono Clock (interesting, good concept, good scenario design... but it just isn't quite there)

Hanasaki Work Spring (similar to above, good concept and nice scenario but it just isn't VN of the Year material)

Valkyrie Runabout (funny, enjoyable, but too 'light' in content for VN of the Year)

Hana no No ni Saku Utakata no (one of this year's few serious candidates, it fell only just behind Natsuiro)

Soreyori no Prologue (classic Minori, with both the negatives and positives associated with that category)

Sanoba Witch (Yuzusoft doing what it does best... but it is still just not quite there)

[Ryechu]

Pulltop vs Hobibox.

Yikes.

Though for a game released on Christmas, Last Cavalier has a really neat-looking premise.  Looking forward to seeing some information about it from you?

[Kawasumi]

Kikan Bakumatsu Ibun Last Cavalier looks amazing and is on my backlog.

 

The other looks....meh, mind telling what the good points is? (or just link a review if you made one)

Edited December 30, 2015 by Kawasumi

[Clephas]

One of the updates killed my - really long - review of Natsuiro, so it isn't on the blog anymore.  It is the only VN to have made it onto my Chicken Soup for the Soul list this year, and it is pretty much the flat out opposite of its opponent...  a VN about healing, family, and personal growth based in the modern Japanese countryside.  As for Kikan Bakumatsu...