Once More… We Try Again: Review of [161028]Re:LieF

Foreword: And finished! I really think I was burnt out with the crappy games that I’m not giving the “good” ones a fair shot, which is the absolute saddest thing you can do as a eroge veteran/review writer. I’ll be focusing on VNs and eroge a bit more than my MMO hobbies because in my opinion, the former is more important to me.

Immediately hooked on due to the opening movie, this title was first on my priority list (along with Giniro Haruka which is now getting pretty damn painful to play), though as with any game where one has more impact overall, Re:Lief was finished first.

Overall what I could call a “decent” game, I’d conclude that this game is graphically and poetically stunningly beautiful. I love it when games include “morals” within them, which this game had, but as a critical review writer, I’m here to also point out the not-so-beautiful stuff which was really a turn-off and rant worthy in my opinion. For that reason, this review may sound generally negative, but I’d like to remind readers that I tend to exaggerate some of the negative features due to personal bias.

I DO want to mention with GREAT EMPHASIS that due to the nature of this game, as well as what my review needs to cover to properly convey my points, this review will contain spoilers. I hate to include spoilers in my reviews, but I really can’t control what NEEDS to be written in a good review, so I’m really at a loss. I mean I can write a shitty ass, vague review that you’d see on Getchu, but I’m sure no one (including myself) would want to read it.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN HEAVY SPOILERS! PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE READING FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED!

Title: Re:LieF ～親愛なるあなたへ～ (To you, my most dearest)
Producers: RASK
Release Date: October 28, 2016
VNDB Link: https://vndb.org/v19587
Getchu Link: http://www.getchu.com/soft.phtml?id=911416
Game Type: Slice of Life Novel with themes of sociology and life philosophy and sci-fi bullshit

Summary: Society can be such a harsh place. No matter how hard you try, an unfortunate accident, an abuse of authority, or just simply a series of unlucky encounters can crush a person’s efforts to no end. It’s even more unfair since those who are less worthy to succeed are often the ones who do, and the people who are working so diligently are kicked to the curb having to lick their own wounds.

Tryment Project is a plan for these individuals who were oppressed by the unfairness of society, and need a place to relearn and rejuvenate themselves with new knowledge. It is a place of new hope or new paths, or perhaps even new relationships. In the truest sense, the people who are accepted into this program receive a second chance. However, to the protagonist, Nitta Tsukasa, this wouldn’t be just a second chance…

Is the Future Pre-Determined, or Do We Create It? Review of [110128] AQUA

Foreword: As mentioned previously with this game, the one thing that disappoints me more than a shitty game is a game that COULD have become good, but the writers just fucked up something and made it bad instead. As a game that I procrastinated for about 7 months after taking out of my backlog (holy shit). AQUA was that game that fit perfectly into this description.

I can actually do a tl;dr version of this review right now: AQUA is a very deep, meaningful, and philosophical game. The HUGE CRITICAL OMGWTFBBQ problem was that character development (which includes the romance; I’ll get to it soon) was absolute shit and some of said philosophical components had a bad design (again, will be explained later). Simply put, the game does have a good content overall, but failed in the transition, delivery, and introduction of that content to the point the value and significance of said content plummeted.

I was extremely disappointed with this one for that reason, and now cautiously getting back to Irotoridori Sekai that I’ve been procrastinating for a while as well. I need to finish both games before September, even if I have to CTRL-skip the scenes (God please forbid this to happen).

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS FOR THIS GAME! PLEASE DO NOT READ IT IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THE TITLE SPOILED

P.S. Also, please let me know if I should pursue other Sorahane titles. This title was quite decent, but the elements I found to be critically terribad is really preventing me from wanting to experience the other games from this company. I would sincerely appreciate all the input!

Title: AQUA
Producers: Sorahane
Release Date: January 28, 2011
VNDB Link: https://vndb.org/v5502
Getchu Link: www.getchu.com/soft.phtml?id=683999
Game Type: Futuristic Sci-Fi Fantasy Novel

Summary: AQUA is a computerized device that people use in lieu of various things, such as furniture. In a way, it’s like the smartphones we have today except a lot more versatile. At least for Souta, it has been his lifestyle for as long as he can remember.

His dear childhood friend, Chisa, was killed in an accident 7 years ago. This event was devastating for the young boy who didn’t even know the concept of death, and after having moved away from this town for a while, he returns today with his mother, Tomoe, to this beautiful area where the mesmerizing Luka overlooks its population.

As he is transferred to the school after a little mishap with a crazy young woman (…), he is extremely startled to find out that Chisa, who he was sure was killed, arrives late to school. It’s the same old Chisa who greeted him with a shy smile and the nickname “Sou-chan”, the clumsy girl who has now all grown up and become beautiful.

…What happened?

For the People! Review of [111222] Appare! Tenka Gomen

Foreword: When it comes to BaseSon games, I’ve found myself enjoying them quite a bit. Examples include the ENTIRE Koihime Musou series (from the first titles up to Heroes), and Sengoku Koihime X which I personally enjoyed greatly for many reasons.

…Then we have this game. While I had heavy expectations, it seems that I was too late to realize that K.Bajo, the director for the two previously mentioned titles, was not even a part of this team. And it turns out the game falls greatly from my expectations.

I’m extremely hesitant to go through the fandisc for this game at this point because of the disappointment I received from this main game. I’d like to take this time to warn players that even if you enjoyed both the Koihime Musou series or the Sengoku Koihime title, you may not be a fan of this game. Keep reading to find out why.

For the most part, I will be comparing this game with the Koihime Musou and Sengoku Koihime titles. My apologies in advance if you can’t understand some parts of the review purely because you didn’t play them

Title: あっぱれ！天下御免 (The term “Appare” is a phrase often used to convey amazement or excitement)
Producers: BaseSon
Release Date: December 22, 2011
VNDB Link: https://vndb.org/v7881
Getchu Link: http://www.getchu.com/soft.phtml?id=716187
Game Type: Fantasy Charage with themes of what’s estimated to be the Edo Era

Summary: Yakumo was sent to this man-made island by his grandparents, and he quickly realizes that this isn’t the Japan he’s used to seeing; most of the city landscapes cannot be seen here as the streets are instead filled with busy shops and old-fashioned decor, and even some of the students are wearing clothes that seem unfitting for this day and age.

However, this island is actually run by the 100,000 students who study and reside; each of them are given a role in this society, and are given the responsibility of replicating the environment once existent in past Japan.

Regardless, Yakumo himself is quickly victimized by a pick-pocket who steals his bag, but it’s not until long a girl riding a white horse comes to the rescue and recovers his belongings. This girl named Arata soon become friends with Yakumo and later on offer herself to be his bodyguard as he is assigned to run a cafe.

The first customers to his cafe, Mitsuki and Yukari. They play very important roles in the main scenario