VN like ABYSS -殺人クラブ- and Devils Devel Concept

[Bredan]

Hello,

I just finished ABYSS -殺人クラブ- and, a few weeks ago Devils Devel Concept. I must admit that, despite I can find things I didn't like about them, both were really enjoyable.

Of course I love interesting MC (especially strong in at least one field). But surprisingly enough, their age might have been an advantage... maybe, just maybe, I like VN of the pre-totally-MOE age.

Would someone be kind enough (and knowledgeable enough) to recommend something to me ? Just not something so old that I might not be able to get it or run it on Win10. I especially love : strong protag and good music VN.

I can't give you everything I read and loved (cause I can't remember everything) but some of them :

 - Akatsuki no goei (loved the trilogy... despite the endings)

 - Devils Devel Concept (even tough I sometimes wanted the strong protag to be more 積極的 with his power)

 - ABYSS -殺人クラブ- (despite the enforced playing order, some heroines fate, and the lack of voices)

 - Hello Lady (despite me being jealous of the too-uber-powerful heroine in contrast to MC)

 - Fate Stay Night

 - Tsukihime

 - MuvLuv Alt

 - Hyper Highspeed Genius

 - Clannad

 - Kanon

 - School Days (despite anyone else despising it)

 - Brass Restoration

 - Majikoi (despite me not really loving a world with only females being strong, while males are mostly decorative)

 - Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai (despite to much ichaicha and useless scenes to my taste)

 - Grisaia (despite the soporific at times common route)

 - Izuna Zanshinken (despite the ending and the lack of 2nd game, the male MC voiced by... a female ?)

 - Yami to Hikari no Sanctuary

I read a lot more, but those ones distinguished themselves.

Tx.

[Clephas]

ooh... good taste.  I've been trying to get people to play Abyss and DDC for the better part of a decade... but the art bigots always turn their noses, lol.

Strong/exceptional Protagonists

Draculius (protagonist who grows into his power but has a good baseline from the beginning)

Karenai Sekai to Owaru Hana (self-sacrificing protagonist)

Evolimit (classic flawed hero protagonist with a pervy side)

Kikan Bakumatsu Ibun Last Cavalier (protagonist is Okita Souji of the Shinsengumi in a version of history where stones turn women into superpowered, highly intelligent beings in exchange for the loss of their fertility)

Silverio Vendetta (probably the only dameningen protagonist in anime or VN that I don't hate, lol)

Silverio Trinity

Tokyo Necro (say what you like about the two protagonists, but they are interesting... though the setting may be a bit wretch-worthy at times)

Aoi Tori (protagonist is seriously twisted while seeming normal, even good-hearted at first glance)

Bradyon Veda (though the game can be seriously obscure at times)

Floral Flowlove (strong protagonist, though he doesn't completely escape the plague of non-chuunige protags)

Hatsuru Koto Naki Mirai Yori (... extremely funny protagonist, though he is essentially a brutal drill sergeant turned into a VN protag)

Inochi no Spare (if you don't mind spending the entire VN crying)

Kitto, Sumiwataru Asairo yori mo (well-known kamige.  Protag has serious depths)

Konata yori Kanata made (tbh, this guy's story is hard on the tear ducts)

Ou no Mimi ni wa Todokanai (good former assassin/spy protag living in a tiny border village.  Game is heavy on SOL, but protag is excellent)

Ryuukishi Bloody Saga (excellent VN... if you have a weak stomach, I recommend only asking someone for an outline of the prequel - Ryakudatsusha no In'en - though.  It is closer to Clock up material than anything else)

Sakura Moyu (protagonist is extremely self-sacrificing... but this is yet another tear-jerker)

Sorcery Jokers (one protag is a fail, but the other one is godly)

Sengoku Koihime (think a much more proactive, intelligent, and generally capable version of the Shin Koihime series protagonist)

Tenshi no Hane o Fumanaide (strong-willed, skilled fighter protagonist... who happens to be cross-dressing)

Tiny Dungeon (Protagonist grows immensely during the course of the VN, but he is also a classic case of standing up to intense prejudice and not letting it get him down)

Tokyo Babel (Self-hating protagonist who is nonetheless extremely powerful)

Vermilion Bind of Blood (samurai vampire... what else needs to be said?)

Yurikago yori Tenshi made (protagonist reminds me of a somewhat psychotic version of Yuusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho)

Houkago no Futekikakusha (protagonist is gloomy... but once you see the reason why, you'll understand, lol)

Zero Infinity (warrior philosopher protagonist)

Venus Blood Hypno (if you don't mind tentacles, this protagonist - and his relationship with his somewhat psychopathically yandere sister Anora - is awesome)

World Election (if you want an SOL romance with a good protagonist, this is a good choice.  Protag is casually selfless while having low self-esteem... despite being one of the most personally - as in non-politically or financially - powerful human beings in existence)

Tasogare no Folklore (no matter how people bash this game, I loved the way it portrayed the protagonist and heroine... and their seriously screwy relationship)

Electro Arms (think super-intelligent battle-loving punk protagonist)

Blade x Bullet (requires some previous knowledge of the series as a whole to understand the details, but the protagonist is nicely villainous without being disgusting)

Bullet Butlers (half-elf wielding a cursed soul-eating revolver made from the flesh of the deposed god of death)

Re:Birth Colony (social spy and hacker protagonist who is utterly ruthless in dealing with those who harm the few people he values, while being pragmatic otherwise)

Izuna Zanshinken (vigilante assassin in service to a yakuza family... who is seemingly harmless by day)

Ojou-sama wa Gokigen Naname (ruthlessly intelligent butler protagonist who will do anything necessary to protect his ojousama and adoptive sister)

Tamayura Mirai (difficult to describe, but the protagonist in this one is fairly unique.  Recommend you play the succubus's route even if you decide against the rest)

Toko o Tsumugu Yakusoku (independently-minded and responsible protagonist who centers his life around protecting his adoptive daughter)

 

 

[Bredan]

Wow wow wow. Thanks Clephas, that's amazing.

About the art : maybe I'm put at an advantage by being a reader before being a VN reader.

Your nickname reminded me of something, and then I remembered this :

 You were the one who recommended those two VNs (among others), thanks a second time.

So well, I'll take the time to comment on those other VNs (read them all) :

Hello, Lady (Akatsuki Works) : already commented on it. Liked it but I kept being jealous of this particular heroine ^^. Loved several BGM tracks too.

Devils Devel Concept (Akatsuki works) : well, amazing VN. Point to be noted (for me) : I think I've never read what is called nukige so I'm no expert... but one of the routes was by far the most sexually exiting route of any VN I've ever read, despite being frustrating at the same time (maybe that's the reason ? lol). I guess i understand why they gave two routes to this heroine.

Hyper→Highspeed→Genius : loved it. Loved the sequel/FD. Great VN.

Floral Flowlove : liked it but a bit too heavy on religious background. Not that I'm offended or anything, just that it's not my taste. I didn't really like the servile tendency of the protag (freedom is what I value the most in real life I guess).

Ou no Mimi ni wa Todokanai : liked it but music was mostly not to my taste and that took away some enjoyment.

Yami to Hikari no Sanctuary : loved it, but... well, this VN suffers (for me) the "one heroine is too likeable in contrast to others" syndrome.

Izuna Zanshinken : liked it but the endings... no sequel ? You kidding ? Also, even more servility, was harsh on me.

World Election : was OK... but the walkthrough I followed made me play the true route first and I couldn't read the other routes afterwards. Might come back at a later time.

Abyss Homicide Club (though the protag sucks at hiding his abilities) : loved it so much that I tried to find other works from this group. Was sad to discover that they worked on only another short title before splitting.

 

Well, seeing how your recommendations went well with me, I've searched on your previous post a bit and found those :

Wow. Thanks a third time ! Also I just began reading your blog, thanks a fourth time !

Edited December 6, 2019 by Bredan

[Clephas]

3 minutes ago, Bredan said:

Wow wow wow. Thanks Clephas, that's amazing.

About the art : maybe I'm put at an advantage by being a reader before being a VN reader.

Your nickname reminded me of something, and then I remembered this :

 You were the one who recommended those two VNs (among others), thanks a second time.

So well, I'll take the time to comment on those other VNs (read them all) :

Hello, Lady (Akatsuki Works) : already commented on it. Liked it but I kept being jealous of this particular heroine ^^. Loved several BGM tracks too.

Devils Devel Concept (Akatsuki works) : well, amazing VN. Point to be noted (for me) : I think I've never read what is called nukige so I'm no expert... but one of the routes was by far the most sexually exiting route of any VN I've ever read, despite being frustrating at the same time (maybe that's the reason ? lol). I guess i understand why they gave two routes to this heroine.

Hyper→Highspeed→Genius : loved it. Loved the sequel/FD. Great VN.

Floral Flowlove : liked it but a bit two heavy on religious background. Not that I'm offended or anything, just that it's not my taste. I didn't really liked the servile tendency of the protag (freedom is what I value the most in real life I guess).

Ou no Mimi ni wa Todokanai : liked it but music was mostly not to my taste and that took away some enjoyment.

Yami to Hikari no Sanctuary : loved it, but... well, this VN suffers (for me) the "one heroine is too likeable in contrast to others" syndrome.

Izuna Zanshinken : liked it but the endings... no sequel ? You kidding ? Also, even more servility, was harsh on me.

World Election : was OK... but the walkthrough I followed made me play the true route first and I couldn't read the other routed afterwards. Might come back at a later time.

Abyss Homicide Club (though the protag sucks at hiding his abilities) : loved it so much that I tried to find other works from this group. Was sad to discover that they worked on only another short title before splitting.

 

Well, seeing how your recommendations went well with me, I've searched on your previous post a bit and found those :

Wow. Thanks a third time ! Also I just began reading your blog, thanks a fourth time !

Our tastes seem to run in similar directions, so it is no big deal.

One thing about Devils Devel Concept.  Despite having high sexual content, I've never seen it as a nukige... especially considering how relation-defining the H-scenes in that game generally are.  Hell, if you don't read the h-scenes, you won't understand half of the story, since the heroines throw out hints at what is going on behind the scenes on a regular basis (which he, quite naturally, ignores).  Pretty much the only heroine who doesn't fall into this particular trap of revealing her intentions/nature during sex is Kanata... and Kanata is almost as messed up as Sora, if in a way that makes her seem more normal on a surface level to those who aren't directly involved with her. 

Tbh, Mutsuki's route is the only one I'm sometimes tempted to call a nukige route, despite how deep it can be... I mean, Mutsuki is just... eroero.

[Bredan]

As I said, I think I've not read any nukige and, while I could be wrong, I don't think it is a nukige either. I'm using the same criterion that I would use for movie : the difference between a porn and a high sexual content well scenarized movie. The later is by far more exciting to me than the former, especially thanks to the fleshing of the characters. I felt the same with this VN.

Anyways, I'm fully loaded with recommendations and up to more with your blog and your future posts. Banzai !

[Chronopolis]

DDC is a cool VN. I simultaneously relate to their "looking at humanity from an outsider's perspective", and am shocked by how extreme their perspectives are. It's pretty weird and out there, but other than that, it's everything you could ask for in a plot-VN: great heroines, interesting and consistent MC, and routes that go in different directions.

[Clephas]

1 hour ago, Chronopolis said:

DDC is a cool VN. I simultaneously relate to their "looking at humanity from an outsider's perspective", and am shocked by how extreme their perspectives are. It's pretty weird and out there, but other than that, it's everything you could ask for in a plot-VN: great heroines, interesting and consistent MC, and routes that go in different directions.

I particularly like the drastic differences in endings and progression depending on which path you go for on each of the heroines, lol.