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English Translated Japanese Visual Novel/ADV Thread

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Knurek

Member
Original assets express things much better and the redrawn ones are passable at best and underwhelming otherwise in comparison. (There are also less expressions in total.)

The only thing they express for me is the fact that R07 should stick to writing.

On that note, they are not as terrible as Higurashi were. Still terrible though.
 
I recently installed If My Heart Had Wings (この大空に、翼をひろげて; Kono Oozora ni, Tsubasa wo Hirogete) and preceded to also apply a fan-done patch because the publisher, MoeNovel, decided to release the English version heavily censored and poorly translated...but the patch is giving me a lot of errors and screwing up early on. I'll have to check if the un-patched version also does this but I'll eventually have to get the patch to work because I'm not gonna play the censored mess.

Oh well, I have the Clannad VN for now, lol.
I've finished IMHHW main routes on release without patch and then replayed them with patch applied.
Can't really say anything about translation (English is not my native language), but I liked pre-patch version better. Censored scenes add nothing to the story, and, in my opinion, sometimes even ruin the atmosphere. Yes, there are some awkward jumps between scenes here and there in original (English) release as a result, but some of those sex scenes felt like they were there just for the sake of it.
I need to complete one more route in that VN, and I'm thinking of reinstalling it to remove the patch.
 

PsionBolt

Member
Have you played Ougon Musou Kyoku? It's hardly earth-shattering in its ramifications, but it has some great fan-service endings.

I have. Cross, too. To be blunt, I think that the fighting is better than the story in those games - and the fighting isn't exctly top-tier - but they're enjoyable enough. "Hardly earth-shattering" is a good way to put it; it's neat, but not in the same way the main novels are.

People are really using the ugly PS2 sprites for Umineko? Ugh.
I would normally be against this, too, but the PSP version is just so convenient. Portables rule.
 

Knurek

Member
Well, maybe it's because I haven't played many of them.
Some of those scenes were just really unexpected.

I have yet to come across a Japanese game where inclusion of sex wasn't detrimental to my overall enjoyment of it. The scenes are written terribly, don't fit overall mood of the game and are generally anything but arousing. All ages FTW.
 
Even if there's an actual story need for 'sexual' stuff, it's nothing that can't be done without fade-out.

There are eroges out there where the sex matter to the story, but off the few that I played, most of them never needed to portray the event itself in vivid details.

But there are, of course, stuff where those stuff are kinda necessary, contextually... like Song of Saya & Gore Screaming Show. (NSFW, if you intend to google these titles... in the grotesque kind of way )
 
I've finished IMHHW main routes on release without patch and then replayed them with patch applied.
Can't really say anything about translation (English is not my native language), but I liked pre-patch version better. Censored scenes add nothing to the story, and, in my opinion, sometimes even ruin the atmosphere. Yes, there are some awkward jumps between scenes here and there in original (English) release as a result, but some of those sex scenes felt like they were there just for the sake of it.
I need to complete one more route in that VN, and I'm thinking of reinstalling it to remove the patch.
I feel the sex scenes are pretty detrimental to the story, but I'm waiting for the patch for the improved translation, and fixing Ageha's route. I'm all for omitting ot skipping the H-scenes, but the other omitted/censored scenes and translation issues are things I'd like fixed before reading through a VN as long as IMHHW.

From what I've read so far, it's a very innocent story that doesn't really need all the sex. Innuendos and jokes, sure, but not full on scenes... -__-;
 

Knurek

Member
But there are, of course, stuff where those stuff are kinda necessary, contextually... like Song of Saya & Gore Screaming Show. (NSFW, if you intend to google these titles... in the grotesque kind of way )

Oh yeah, you're right. Song of Saya's sex was terrible, but fit the actual story.
 

FelixOrion

Poet Centuriate
I've finished IMHHW main routes on release without patch and then replayed them with patch applied.
Can't really say anything about translation (English is not my native language), but I liked pre-patch version better. Censored scenes add nothing to the story, and, in my opinion, sometimes even ruin the atmosphere. Yes, there are some awkward jumps between scenes here and there in original (English) release as a result, but some of those sex scenes felt like they were there just for the sake of it.
I need to complete one more route in that VN, and I'm thinking of reinstalling it to remove the patch.

Idk, I'm just opposed to any censorship in general and MoeNovel's translation job is pretty shitastic. And they censored more than just the sex scenes, apparently. I'm not expecting a stellar TL job from the FuwaNovel folks, but it can't get any worse and if what all they say has been changed is true, I can't sit by an play a game that's been as censored as it has.

Isn't that true for every eroge ever?

I like the way they were handed in Katawa Shoujo, even if that was an OELVN.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
I have. Cross, too. To be blunt, I think that the fighting is better than the story in those games - and the fighting isn't exctly top-tier - but they're enjoyable enough. "Hardly earth-shattering" is a good way to put it; it's neat, but not in the same way the main novels are.

Agreed, though I love the ending where (series spoilers)
Ange/Battler are reunited.

Have you tried the fan translation yet? Always welcome a bonafide fan's feedback.
 

Kieli

Member
Sadly, I think they really do need to include them... Otherwise, the visual novels aren't gonna sell enough to sustain development.

Obviously, this doesn't include series whose plot/production values/whatever are transcendent enough that such pandering isn't necessary for it to sell.
 

kasane

Member
As long as you don't drop it after Extra. Many people get a really negative impression of the whole series based on that, but it changes dramatically after to say the least.

I heard it changes dramatically yeah. I think im gonna start it now
 

upandaway

Member
Playing G-Senjou no Maou right now, I already got Tsubaki good and bad ends.

"Has something happened?"
"It isn't not that nothing has not unhappened."
:lol apt description of the whole story so far. I'm loving this. It's been a long time since I've read a "battle of wits" type story, and I wasn't expecting it going into it blind, so it's hitting a good itch for me right now.
 
Playing G-Senjou no Maou right now, I already got Tsubaki good and bad ends.

"Has something happened?"
"It isn't not that nothing has not unhappened."
:lol apt description of the whole story so far. I'm loving this. It's been a long time since I've read a "battle of wits" type story, and I wasn't expecting it going into it blind, so it's hitting a good itch for me right now.

Enjoy it , the final arc of this game are "out of there" in a good way.

---------------

I just finished replaying VLR over again ... I cannot help but be amazed that i didn't pick the hints the first time.. DOn't get me wrong i'm amazed that i wasn't be able to see the truth until the game told me the first time. And replaying i see that it was freaking obvious. Sure some things are a little strechable... but seeing some poker faces really made me appreciate the writing the second time.

Replaying the game a second time only made me more hyped than possible for the third game.
 

Jawmuncher

Member
I'm playing Katawa Shoujo right now.
Haven't gotten to any endings yet but I am on Hanako's path.
Regardless I'm liking it a lot. The characters and the setting for the story have really impressed me so far.
 

PsionBolt

Member
Agreed, though I love the ending where (series spoilers)
Ange/Battler are reunited.

Have you tried the fan translation yet? Always welcome a bonafide fan's feedback.

Only a bit, but it seemed fine. The credits roll is untranslated, if I recall, and the text or cursor sometimes escapes the box a bit. Just minor things like that. For the most part, I didn't notice it, which is the best you can really hope for.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
Only a bit, but it seemed fine. The credits roll is untranslated, if I recall, and the text or cursor sometimes escapes the box a bit. Just minor things like that. For the most part, I didn't notice it, which is the best you can really hope for.

Yep, I can settle for that. I did get some griping about not using honorifics, but by and large no one had much bad to say.

And yeah, staff roll is tough. It's around 80 separate images which are lined up by the game and scrolled automatically. We can do it, but it's gonna take a lot of time.
 
Just finished up Monster Girl Quest Part 3. I really liked it.

Despite the 'rather extreme fetish', I thought that it had a really solid storyline with enjoyable characters that for most parts, has been quite well-developed over the course of the 3 games.

It does lack depth to its storytelling, what's with the contained town stories mostly having its setting, conflict, and resolution within the span of 15 minutes, but the ones that are given ample focus showcase what I felt to be an actual attempt to portray the conflicts and differences that can happen in MGQ's crazy setting. Many times the craziness of the whole thing is played straight for laughs and porn, but beneath them, there were clear attempts for the story and setting to have a real coherence of the good, bad, hilarious and dark sides of the universe.

And the storylines and characters that was actually given its time and due, imo, was quite good.

I would not consider toro to be a good writer, but Mac Walters could learn a thing or two from him.
 
I used to LOVE VNs, to the point that when I was 20 I played almost every one of them that came out in English. To put this in perspective, back at the day I played and liked things like Come See Me Tonight and Do You Like Horny Bunnies, so imagine.

But I've grown a bit disillusioned with the genre. VNs that are mostly about sex are generally dumb, and I find good, story-driven VNs too long and somewhat pointless. For example, for some reason I enjoyed Edelweiss thoroughly, but I couldn't bring myself to finish Deardrops or Kira Kira. I try to play one from time to time, but a couple hours in I feel like I'm wasting my time.

But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)
 
I used to LOVE VNs, to the point that when I was 20 I played almost every one of them that came out in English. To put this in perspective, back at the day I played and liked things like Come See Me Tonight and Do You Like Horny Bunnies, so imagine.

But I've grown a bit disillusioned with the genre. VNs that are mostly about sex are generally dumb, and I find good, story-driven VNs too long and somewhat pointless. For example, for some reason I enjoyed Edelweiss thoroughly, but I couldn't bring myself to finish Deardrops or Kira Kira. I try to play one from time to time, but a couple hours in I feel like I'm wasting my time.

But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)

Try playing ones that have game elements mixed in with the story, ala 999 or Virtues Last Reward.
 

cj_iwakura

Member
I used to LOVE VNs, to the point that when I was 20 I played almost every one of them that came out in English. To put this in perspective, back at the day I played and liked things like Come See Me Tonight and Do You Like Horny Bunnies, so imagine.

But I've grown a bit disillusioned with the genre. VNs that are mostly about sex are generally dumb, and I find good, story-driven VNs too long and somewhat pointless. For example, for some reason I enjoyed Edelweiss thoroughly, but I couldn't bring myself to finish Deardrops or Kira Kira. I try to play one from time to time, but a couple hours in I feel like I'm wasting my time.

But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)

Katawa Shoujo is free, and moves along pretty briskly. As much as I love stuff like Steins;Gate and Umineko, boy do they draaaag.
(Also, I had a copy of Totally Rad, so I recognize that fricking face in your avatar. :p )
 
But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)

Sounds like for you atm, you find it hard to digest VNs that require dozens of hours of commitment due to how the story requires a significant amount of build-up and sometimes, multiple routes to get to the best parts.

It's probably best you start from bite-sized ( as bite-sized as it could be anyway ) VNs first, before finding yourself more comfortable with longer stories.

You'd probably played a few of these, since some are quite old, but some smaller VNs.

- Planetarian
- Narcissu
- Swan Song
- Symphonic Rain
- Quartett
- Forest

These are smaller titles that are either single story, have only a few routes, or aren't very lengthy despite those.

From there, if you find those comfortable, you could jump into stories that are longer, but engross relatively quickly, at least from my experience from those stories.

- Phantom of Inferno ( an English version only exist in DVD-play format, unfortunately. )
- G-Senjou no Maou
- Stein's Gate
- Kara no Shoujo
- Utawarerumono ( Strategy RPG )
- Sharin no Kuni
- Cross+Channel
 

upandaway

Member
G-Senjou no Maou (Shiratori)

That was surprisingly short, but good stuff. I'm more concerned by the fact that I'm at this point and there still hasn't been much progress in the main plot since before the first branch out. There's still over a third of CGs hidden, too. And you guys keep hyping this. I probably have no clue what I'm in for.

Also I have to say, I love how bits of classical music show up randomly in the soundtrack. Sometimes I don't even notice until much later, haha. The OST is great in general.
 

FelixOrion

Poet Centuriate
I used to LOVE VNs, to the point that when I was 20 I played almost every one of them that came out in English. To put this in perspective, back at the day I played and liked things like Come See Me Tonight and Do You Like Horny Bunnies, so imagine.

But I've grown a bit disillusioned with the genre. VNs that are mostly about sex are generally dumb, and I find good, story-driven VNs too long and somewhat pointless. For example, for some reason I enjoyed Edelweiss thoroughly, but I couldn't bring myself to finish Deardrops or Kira Kira. I try to play one from time to time, but a couple hours in I feel like I'm wasting my time.

But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)

Katawa Shoujo, without reservation.
 

Taruranto

Member
I used to LOVE VNs, to the point that when I was 20 I played almost every one of them that came out in English. To put this in perspective, back at the day I played and liked things like Come See Me Tonight and Do You Like Horny Bunnies, so imagine.

But I've grown a bit disillusioned with the genre. VNs that are mostly about sex are generally dumb, and I find good, story-driven VNs too long and somewhat pointless. For example, for some reason I enjoyed Edelweiss thoroughly, but I couldn't bring myself to finish Deardrops or Kira Kira. I try to play one from time to time, but a couple hours in I feel like I'm wasting my time.

But I would love to be able to enjoy VNs again. Do you have any suggestion apart from the usual suspects (I likely played everything that was released in English 5 years ago or earlier)

Sharnoth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2bH8X_ImQ&fmt=18
 

OnFire331

Member
G-Senjou no Maou (Shiratori)

That was surprisingly short, but good stuff. I'm more concerned by the fact that I'm at this point and there still hasn't been much progress in the main plot since before the first branch out. There's still over a third of CGs hidden, too. And you guys keep hyping this. I probably have no clue what I'm in for.

Also I have to say, I love how bits of classical music show up randomly in the soundtrack. Sometimes I don't even notice until much later, haha. The OST is great in general.

I'd say that G-Senjou no Maou is the opposite of Sharin no Kuni. G-Senjou no Maou has lackluster routes but has an spectacular ending as opposed to Sharin no Kuni's lackluster ending but incredible everything else. If you haven't already, give Sharin no Kuni a read after finishing G-Senjou no Maou, it's loose boy's best work.
 
Sharin no Kuni's routes aren't spectacular at anything other than putting you to sleep with horrendously paced and padded out writing. Sharin no Kuni's appeal comes from the main route and
the twists
. G-Senjou no Maou actually has better character routes.
 

OnFire331

Member
Sharin no Kuni's routes aren't spectacular at anything other than putting you to sleep with horrendously paced and padded out writing. Sharin no Kuni's appeal comes from the main route and
the twists
. G-Senjou no Maou actually has better character routes.

I didn't feel that Sharin no Kuni's pacing dragged out too much, and the character routes at least where mixed with hints of the overarching plot and had better characters whereas G-Senjou no Maou's character routes just wrote off everything that was happening at the moment to focus on the girls (a worse approach than SnK IMO). I felt both were quite good with a slight edge given to Sharin no Kuni because of the former and
the twists in the final route as you said.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys, the wife is going to visit the in-laws in a week (It's hard to play those games with her around, she's quite convinced that most people play these games for the pron) and I'll have time to play then. I'll let you know!
 

aravuus

Member
What Sharin no Kuni twists are you guys talking about, in particular? I can't remember how far I got, but I don't think there was a single surprise. Spoil away, I'm not going back to that vn.

HOL- HOLY

HOLY

THAT- WH- WF0-SFSAH

I should give G senjoy no Maou another try, it would seem. Lol.
 
What Sharin no Kuni twists are you guys talking about, in particular? I can't remember how far I got, but I don't think there was a single surprise. Spoil away, I'm not going back to that vn.
The sister having been there all along is kind of a huge twist. And there was also that business where Houzuki wasn't actually lame and the MC wasn't addicted the drug he was smoking.
It's been years since I read it, I can't remember specific twists beyond that.

I didn't feel that Sharin no Kuni's pacing dragged out too much, and the character routes at least where mixed with hints of the overarching plot and had better characters whereas G-Senjou no Maou's character routes just wrote off everything that was happening at the moment to focus on the girls (a worse approach than SnK IMO). I felt both were quite good with a slight edge given to Sharin no Kuni because of the former and
the twists in the final route as you said.
I agree that G Senjou's side-routes fit horribly into the structure of the game, especially the part where the game outright lies to you to prevent spoiling the main route. Most of those routes don't even make any sense if
the MC isn't Maou.
 

upandaway

Member
Reached credits

That was CRAZY

INSANE

phew. whew! phew...

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME

IT'S NOT OVER

edit: ..
it's over... maaaann....
that was so good

i'm calm now, okay.

I'd say that G-Senjou no Maou is the opposite of Sharin no Kuni. G-Senjou no Maou has lackluster routes but has an spectacular ending as opposed to Sharin no Kuni's lackluster ending but incredible everything else. If you haven't already, give Sharin no Kuni a read after finishing G-Senjou no Maou, it's loose boy's best work.
Alright, sounds great. I'll have to check that out sometime then.

I should give G senjoy no Maou another try, it would seem. Lol.
How far did you get?
 

aravuus

Member
How far did you get?

I wonder, it's been quite a long time since I read it. Guess I was maybe 5, 6 hours in? Pretty sure I was doing the true route stuff. How long was this "true" route approx in hours again? I'm not interested in the other routes.

Decided to re-install it again in the end, but I don't think I can take anything longer than 20 hours. Umineko has been so fucking overwhelming with its sheer length that I keep losing interest.
 

upandaway

Member
I wonder, it's been quite a long time since I read it. Guess I was maybe 5, 6 hours in? Pretty sure I was doing the true route stuff. How long was this "true" route approx in hours again? I'm not interested in the other routes.

Decided to re-install it again in the end, but I don't think I can take anything longer than 20 hours. Umineko has been so fucking overwhelming with its sheer length that I keep losing interest.
It's similar to Steins;Gate, it's basically the true route, with endings branching out from every arc in the story. So whether you go for true or not, you'll be going through most of the story, just skipping the character-focused plots that pop out in the different endings.

The game doesn't keep track of time, so I have no clue how long it took. And while it's slow in the uptake, once it gets going it's amazing and has lots of action and twists, so I don't think you'll get bored even if it takes a bit longer than 20 hours (that's a good guess though).
Knowing you I think it's okay to skip the endings in favor of the true ending, but I'll still recommend you read the Tsubaki ending as soon as it pops up - it has an amazing moment. If you allow me to push for one ending, that one.


By the way I'm listening to the OST in sound mode, and I have to repeat myself, it's amazing. The music in this is amazing.
 

aravuus

Member
It's similar to Steins;Gate, it's basically the true route, with endings branching out from every arc in the story. So whether you go for true or not, you'll be going through most of the story, just skipping the character-focused plots that pop out in the different endings.

The game doesn't keep track of time, so I have no clue how long it took. And while it's slow in the uptake, once it gets going it's amazing and has lots of action and twists, so I don't think you'll get bored even if it takes a bit longer than 20 hours (that's a good guess though).
Knowing you I think it's okay to skip the endings in favor of the true ending, but I'll still recommend you read the Tsubaki ending as soon as it pops up - it has an amazing moment. If you allow me to push for one ending, that one.

Oh yeah, it was one of those. Somehow I remembered it having a very early branching plot. Well then, that should make checking out the Tsubaki ending much more painless, maybe I'll even see some of the other ones through to.

I'm still depressed about Game of Thrones season 3's that scene, that I hadn't seen before yesterday (damn you GRRM, you nasty, evil motherfucker!), and I'm annoyed of all the dumb movies I've seen in the last few days, so I think a properly intelligent story with awesome battle of wits stuff going on between magnificent bastards would be perfect right now.
 

upandaway

Member
You wouldn't believe how happy I was when I found out it was a battle of wits VN. I love those things, and it's been a long time since I've had one. I think I was expecting fantasy or something because of the name, haha. Now that I think about it, besides KS it's the only VN I've read without fantasy or scifi elements.
 

t26

Member
Just got the following games for $40. What am I in for? Any order I should play them in?

Remember11
12 Riven
Ayakashibito
Symphonic Rain
 

aravuus

Member
You wouldn't believe how happy I was when I found out it was a battle of wits VN. I love those things, and it's been a long time since I've had one. I think I was expecting fantasy or something because of the name, haha. Now that I think about it, besides KS it's the only VN I've read without fantasy or scifi elements.

For real? You had no idea what it was going to be about? Haha, that's almost admirable. I'm ready to spoil some story stuff for myself so as to know if I'll like the story or not, I really really don't want to spend 20-40 hours reading something that's going to end up a disappointment and a waste of time. Done that once, never again... I learned my lesson.
 

Linkark07

Banned
Sharin no Kuni's routes aren't spectacular at anything other than putting you to sleep with horrendously paced and padded out writing. Sharin no Kuni's appeal comes from the main route and
the twists
. G-Senjou no Maou actually has better character routes.

Well, I haven't finished Sharin no Kuni completely but I can say that G-Senjou no Maou's character routes are quite weak. It is kind of annoying that Maou gets forgotten when you enter one of the three girl's routes.

But I liked Tsubaki route though. Kanon was a borefest and Mizuha was only interesting in the first half.
 

upandaway

Member
For real? You had no idea what it was going to be about? Haha, that's almost admirable. I'm ready to spoil some story stuff for myself so as to know if I'll like the story or not, I really really don't want to spend 20-40 hours reading something that's going to end up a disappointment and a waste of time. Done that once, never again... I learned my lesson.
I usually go into things 100% blind. I might have luck with picking through recommendations since I haven't been burned yet. But I'm generally less picky than you, I think, I can forget the bad parts pretty easily if the good parts are good. I had no problem with G-Senjou's character routes, but I'm pretty certain you'll be better off skipping Kanon's (no clue how you'll react to Shiratori's).
 

aravuus

Member
I usually go into things 100% blind. I might have luck with picking through recommendations since I haven't been burned yet. But I'm generally less picky than you, I think, I can forget the bad parts pretty easily if the good parts are good. I had no problem with G-Senjou's character routes, but I'm pretty certain you'll be better off skipping Kanon's (no clue how you'll react to Shiratori's).

Picky is putting it mildly lol. When it comes to Japanese media, if there's something I find annoying, it's most of the time very, very annoying.

I think I'll play through the actual story in G-senjou first, and check the different character endings later if I feel like it. Right now I'm not very interested in any romances, and even less so in the dumb sex scenes.
 
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