PataHikari
Banned
I don't want to be murdered by a witch so no spoilers untagged.
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English Translated Japanese Visual Novel/ADV Thread
- Thread starter InfiniteNine
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Mockingbird
Member
Currently playing Kazoku Keikaku. Goddamn this game is lengthy! Did not expect it to be this long at all. Even getting to the OP movie of this game took a long while.
Goddamn this game is long and pretty touching.
PataHikari
Banned
It's really stupid. When within 10 minutes of starting a contrived sex scene came up, I uninstalled it and never looked back.
Byronic Hero
Member
Well, I had planned on having a pow wow with PataHikari but since they aren't here right now, I guess I'll just ask a few questions. I'll be basing whether I take a break from Umineko or continue.
Now that Battler has figured out everything, is his part over? Will I not see the Game Master/Reader Battler anymore since he basically won? Is the story basically over and Episodes 7 & 8 serve as the epilogue?
Since Bernkastel has taken over as the "Reader", it seems like the next two chapters will focus on giving the "player" (IE me) the answers that Battler has already found. Is this the case, because if so that's bull.
Since Bernkastel has taken over as the "Reader", it seems like the next two chapters will focus on giving the "player" (IE me) the answers that Battler has already found. Is this the case, because if so that's bull.
cj_iwakura
Member
It's far from over.
Byronic Hero
Member
Good to hear. Guess I'll get started on episode 7 tonight.
kiunchbb
www.dictionary.com
I been wanting to ask about this game, do you need to play MGQ 1 and 2 before you start 3?
DiscoShark
Banned
Yeah I'd say that's definitely the recommended thing to do, you really won't know whats going on unless you take the time to do it. Story wise I don't think parts 1 and 2 are all that bad either. Book 1 is a bit by the books but I thoroughly enjoyed watching what the story originally presents as more or less by the books generic protagonists evolve and grow as characters.
Nightengale
Member
You're not forced to, but you should.
Part 1-2-3 is a continuous story, and assumes you've played the prequels.
And it's nigh impossible to appreciate the non-porn elements of the game without playing through the previous games.
New 5PB visual novel on the way! A collaboration with La'cryma. It also happens to be called
Kadenz fermata//Akkord:fortissimo
Yep. Teaser:
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/01/03/heres-another-mind-boggling-visual-novel-5pb/
Kadenz fermata//Akkord:fortissimo
Yep. Teaser:
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/01/03/heres-another-mind-boggling-visual-novel-5pb/
What the hell... I came across a supposed English translation patch for the PSP version of Dunamis 15! If this is legit...then holy crap because this has been my most wanted VN for ages!
However I'm not getting my hopes up since I can't find any reference to this fellow "Luke Storm" in translation circles. He apparently also did Super Danganronpa 2 and some other stuff.
His blog is here and the downloads require some survey bullshit so I'm not going to bite yet...but has anybody heard of this guy? It all seems so under the radar that I can't take it seriously.
http://psppatch4u.blogspot.com/2013/12/dunamis-15.html
However I'm not getting my hopes up since I can't find any reference to this fellow "Luke Storm" in translation circles. He apparently also did Super Danganronpa 2 and some other stuff.
His blog is here and the downloads require some survey bullshit so I'm not going to bite yet...but has anybody heard of this guy? It all seems so under the radar that I can't take it seriously.
http://psppatch4u.blogspot.com/2013/12/dunamis-15.html
Red_taiyaki
Member
Who's publishing?
Both La'Cryma and 5pb are listed as publishers at VNDB.
Mockingbird
Member
One more route in Kazoku Keikaku and the game will be finished. I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms from this game. Thinking about importing the sequel title that takes place after Matsuri's route -- though my Japanese is around average or maybe a bit higher than that at best.
I also found out about Cross Channel, which is done by the same writer. Really interested in playing it based on the premise. Any impressions of that title? It sounds like something that might have a lot of technical terms that might be a bit difficult to understand is my worry.
Also, where I rank Kazoku Keikaku among the localized titles that I've played (not including hand-held titles like the Ace Attorney games or Hotel Dusk):
1. Ever 17 -The End of Infinity-
2. Kana ~ Little Sister
3. Crescendo
4. Hourglass of Summer
5. Family Project ~Kazoku Keikaku~
6. Yume Miru Kusuri :: A Drug that Makes You Dream
7. Song of Saya
8. Narcissu
I might go back and try to finish Snow Sakura next. I dropped it a few hours in a few years back but I want to play more D.O. developed titles. I remember disliking the art for that game.
And yes! Steins Gate next month!
I also found out about Cross Channel, which is done by the same writer. Really interested in playing it based on the premise. Any impressions of that title? It sounds like something that might have a lot of technical terms that might be a bit difficult to understand is my worry.
Also, where I rank Kazoku Keikaku among the localized titles that I've played (not including hand-held titles like the Ace Attorney games or Hotel Dusk):
1. Ever 17 -The End of Infinity-
2. Kana ~ Little Sister
3. Crescendo
4. Hourglass of Summer
5. Family Project ~Kazoku Keikaku~
6. Yume Miru Kusuri :: A Drug that Makes You Dream
7. Song of Saya
8. Narcissu
I might go back and try to finish Snow Sakura next. I dropped it a few hours in a few years back but I want to play more D.O. developed titles. I remember disliking the art for that game.
And yes! Steins Gate next month!
I DIDN'T KNEW ABOUT THIS. WHY?
While I never read a route or another of that VN, hers was one of those that I did read, and I really liked it. Still, did Romeo wrote this one too? Or someone else took writing duties?
Shame most likely we will never get it translated, like the remake of the original... And learning Japanese is still a far away dream ;_;
Mockingbird
Member
The entire scenario is on niconico: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm1545480?ref=search_tag_video
according to wikipedia, it's unknown if he worked on the sequel title. The sequel is only about 2 hours long, and it introduces 2 new characters. I'm unsure if the PS2 all-ages port includes the sequel in it as well, but one of the PS2 versions/ PSP version adds a route for Hisami Kei:
See it here: http://gamedic.jpn.org/museum/tirasi/ps2_gal/img/ps200074_1.jpg
Kei's route: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm1541683
and the remake adds a route for Fung.
and yeah, Matsuri's route is probably the best written. She was the most popular character in the game, apparently.
Red_taiyaki
Member
Lol Snow Sakura. I couldn't power through it for maybe more than four or five hours myself. Good times. That being said, the best D.O. title imo is still Kana
.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
I finally played through Saya no Uta. It was pretty messed up, though not as messed up as I'd expected after hearing impressions from others. Definitely unsettling, though. Game was short and sweet -- took about 2 hours and 15 minutes, judging from the in-game clock.
But yeah, it was really solid, overall. This is the first Nitro+ game I've played, so if this is the kind of quality I can expect, that's pretty great.
Is Demonsbane good, too?
But yeah, it was really solid, overall. This is the first Nitro+ game I've played, so if this is the kind of quality I can expect, that's pretty great.
Is Demonsbane good, too?
Red_taiyaki
Member
Demonsbane is okay, although I much preferred their release of Phantom of the Inferno with Hirameki. The main problem I had with Demonsbane though was that it used the "monster of the week" formula so it got a bit old and tiresome until the climax...
Also, did you play through the entirety of Saya? I could've swore it took me six hours minimum to go through all three endings oO...
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
Oh, that's right. I did play the Hirameki release of Phantom of Inferno... but I didn't like it at all. That was the DVDPG one, right? Hated just having to sit there for all of the dialogue. I speed read through everything now, so there's no way I'd get through that thing these days. Hopefully JAST will bring out the remake someday...
Red_taiyaki
Member
Yep that was the one. I kind of found a partial workaround when it came to the DVD format by playing it on my computer DVD player instead of my PS2/xbox/whatever. Ghetto? Yes, but hey- it worked...
Byronic Hero
Member
Still in the middle of episode 7 (which is way too long winded for its own good btw) and have come up with the following theory:
That would make sense, but it would also be dumb. To have a story go on this long only to have that as the resolution would be like a kick to the sack. Guess I'll just keep going....
Kinzo+Italian Beatrice=Beatrice II+Kinzo=Lion/Shannon/Kanon.
Kanon and Shannon are the same person. That would explain the trial of love in the last episode. As well as clearing up Battler & Erika's seemingly conflicting red truths about there being both 18 humans and 17 people. Or was it the other way around? Whatever.
Kanon and Shannon are the same person. That would explain the trial of love in the last episode. As well as clearing up Battler & Erika's seemingly conflicting red truths about there being both 18 humans and 17 people. Or was it the other way around? Whatever.
That would make sense, but it would also be dumb. To have a story go on this long only to have that as the resolution would be like a kick to the sack. Guess I'll just keep going....
Byronic Hero
Member
My god
Shannon, cry yourself a river, build a bridge, and get the hell over it. Jeez, the fact that this seems to be deteriorating from a mystery story to a story about a woman scorned(?) is really disappointing.
DiscoShark
Banned
So Dysfunctional Systems : Learning to Manage Chaos is 50% off on Steam until next Monday, is it worth the 2.50 given that the company making it has to stop operations? I'm only asking because I'd rather not jump into a VN that was 'meant to be the first in a series' only to have it end on a cliffhanger that never gets resolved.
Mockingbird
Member
Annnnnnd done!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7z5q2kEsGc
Family Project ~Kazoku Keikaku~. After years of anticipation I've finally played and completed this title. It was actually once ranked as the highest rated title on ErogameScape for a long while. I heard when it came out, it introduced a lot of new elements which many other titles draw from and it had set a new bar, so my anticipation for this was really high.
But the game probably hasn't aged as well -- with a lot of the elements that it introduced having been done and experienced already via other titles, I would guess. I enjoyed this title a lot, but it wasn't as well-written a story as I would've expected. I'm glad there weren't a lot of ecchi scenes in here, and I didn't like how forced some of them were either. As with most other titles, it could've been done without them -- so I bet I would like the all-ages version more.
The one thing about this game is it's freaking lengthy as hell. And the beginning is really slow. There is a long set-up. The game's story could've used some cutting for sure. Once you stomach through the slow opening, and become familiar with the cast, you'll enjoy it a lot! And because of its length and how much you read about the different family members you're bound to become more attached to them, even if you didn't like them at first. But who could possibly dislike Matsuri? Even Hiroshi was a character I didn't dislike as much towards the end.
All in all, I put it 3rd in terms of D.O's titles. The story is definitely not as good as Kana or Crescendo, but it's still worth experiencing. Some of the humor is really great but there are quite a few tear jerking moments too --- though not on the level of Kana or Crescendo (those are more drama/romance titles while this is more romance comedy/drama).
Have you played Crescendo yet?
Next up: Snow Sakura (Yuki Zakura) . See if I can get through it. Gamefaqs seems to like it.
Then I hope to finish the DLC for Ace Attorney 5 and then Steins;Gate!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7z5q2kEsGc
Family Project ~Kazoku Keikaku~. After years of anticipation I've finally played and completed this title. It was actually once ranked as the highest rated title on ErogameScape for a long while. I heard when it came out, it introduced a lot of new elements which many other titles draw from and it had set a new bar, so my anticipation for this was really high.
But the game probably hasn't aged as well -- with a lot of the elements that it introduced having been done and experienced already via other titles, I would guess. I enjoyed this title a lot, but it wasn't as well-written a story as I would've expected. I'm glad there weren't a lot of ecchi scenes in here, and I didn't like how forced some of them were either. As with most other titles, it could've been done without them -- so I bet I would like the all-ages version more.
The one thing about this game is it's freaking lengthy as hell. And the beginning is really slow. There is a long set-up. The game's story could've used some cutting for sure. Once you stomach through the slow opening, and become familiar with the cast, you'll enjoy it a lot! And because of its length and how much you read about the different family members you're bound to become more attached to them, even if you didn't like them at first. But who could possibly dislike Matsuri? Even Hiroshi was a character I didn't dislike as much towards the end.
All in all, I put it 3rd in terms of D.O's titles. The story is definitely not as good as Kana or Crescendo, but it's still worth experiencing. Some of the humor is really great but there are quite a few tear jerking moments too --- though not on the level of Kana or Crescendo (those are more drama/romance titles while this is more romance comedy/drama).
Lol Snow Sakura. I couldn't power through it for maybe more than four or five hours myself. Good times. That being said, the best D.O. title imo is still Kana
Have you played Crescendo yet?
Next up: Snow Sakura (Yuki Zakura) . See if I can get through it. Gamefaqs seems to like it.
Then I hope to finish the DLC for Ace Attorney 5 and then Steins;Gate!
Basileus777
Member
If you are going to post a block of spoilers, put what VN you are talking about in there. This thread is getting pretty bad with black bars with no context.
Red_taiyaki
Member
Have you played Crescendo yet?
Yah, I played Crescendo ages ago. I own most of D.O.'s localized JAST library including Youjuu Senki A.D. 2048 lol. That was easily one of the worst games I've ever purchased xD.
In other news, I'm finally going through the fan translation of AIR. I'm personally hoping to get a better explanation of Misuzu's background than what was presented by KyoAni and Toei's movie.
Oh? Did Winter Confetti release their patch yet?
Red_taiyaki
Member
I'm using Gao Gao's translation. Not the greatest thing ever, tons of grammatical errors and typos, but it gets the job done....
Byronic Hero
Member
Umineko Episode 7: DONE
Characters:
Story:
New Section* Called It!:
Now to go back and review some of my predictions that I called
I think I've finally reached my limit. With this episode being overly long and feeling like a fitting end, I don't think I want to continue and sully what started out as a great set of stories wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a puzzle.
Q & A:
Don't care.
Don't care.
Don't care.
Don't care.
Screw that.
Unless someone can give me some red truth, I 'm done. Unless there is some reason that makes it imperative that I finish the story, I don't think I can find a reason to continue for these last 10-15 hours again. Especially if it's anything like episode 7.
Repeat it! "There is a reason to play through episode 8"!
Characters:
Other then the drastic fall from grace that Rudolf & Kyrie had (in my eyes at least) Nobody who was an established character had much time to shine until the Tea Party. Though my opinion of Shannon/Kanon has changed significantly because rather than being the timid calm girl I thought she was, turns out that she is a weak minded little girl who couldn't let it go already.
They replaced Battler with Will, and while he's a decent stand in, it makes me think that all of Battler's previous on screen wins seem diminished in scale. Sure he figured stuff out, but the fact that he didn't share any of it with the player drives home the fact that he was just there as the Player's piece from the jump. Which I don't like.
They replaced Battler with Will, and while he's a decent stand in, it makes me think that all of Battler's previous on screen wins seem diminished in scale. Sure he figured stuff out, but the fact that he didn't share any of it with the player drives home the fact that he was just there as the Player's piece from the jump. Which I don't like.
Story:
The entirety of the episode was unnecessarily long. At a certain point, the episode could be compared to having to write a 10 page essay on something, but only having enough information for 3 pages. All that needed to be said could have been said in the time it took to finish the Tea Party, which was the most entertaining part of the episode.
I wanted answers, and for the most par, I got them.The only problem is that they sort of held your hand all the way through it so by the time you were given a "reveal" you felt like you had known about it for hours (or in my case, days or even weeks)
The Tea Party gave me pretty much everything I wanted while giving me plenty I didn't. A bomb. REALLY!? I called this weeks ago and thought it to be worst case scenario and that it wouldn't happen because of how stupid it was. But low and behold as soon as the military was thrown in, I knew there was nowhere to go but downhill.
I wanted answers, and for the most par, I got them.The only problem is that they sort of held your hand all the way through it so by the time you were given a "reveal" you felt like you had known about it for hours (or in my case, days or even weeks)
The Tea Party gave me pretty much everything I wanted while giving me plenty I didn't. A bomb. REALLY!? I called this weeks ago and thought it to be worst case scenario and that it wouldn't happen because of how stupid it was. But low and behold as soon as the military was thrown in, I knew there was nowhere to go but downhill.
New Section* Called It!:
Now to go back and review some of my predictions that I called
Somewhere in one of my posts that I can't for the life of me find, I said that it would e stupid if the island were to blow up and that be the reason Ange dies in the future. Although I didn't have the timing right (I think) I did predict that the island could blow up. That prediction mostly came from one of the openings where it looked like the dome "separating" the island from the rest of the world, exploded.
Ange's attackers getting sniped, called that one as soon as it happened.
I also called Kyrie being an antagonist in the VERY beginning. I can't find that post either (I swear Gaap is hiding them from me) But I did say that I shouldn't trust her because of how much she reminded me of the antagonist from Higurashi. Rudolf being in kahoots didn't really surprise me too much becaue of two facts 1. he's partners with Kyrie and 2. guys that are "too cool" are never to be trusted. That's why I had my eye on Hidiyoshi or so long.
Ange's attackers getting sniped, called that one as soon as it happened.
I also called Kyrie being an antagonist in the VERY beginning. I can't find that post either (I swear Gaap is hiding them from me) But I did say that I shouldn't trust her because of how much she reminded me of the antagonist from Higurashi. Rudolf being in kahoots didn't really surprise me too much becaue of two facts 1. he's partners with Kyrie and 2. guys that are "too cool" are never to be trusted. That's why I had my eye on Hidiyoshi or so long.
I think I've finally reached my limit. With this episode being overly long and feeling like a fitting end, I don't think I want to continue and sully what started out as a great set of stories wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a puzzle.
Q & A:
How were the locked room murders committed?
What happens to Ange and her family, does she get what she wants?
Was what was shown in episode 7's Tea Party the truth?
Did Battler set all this up as the previous Game Master only to get the "real" truth from Bernkastel & Claire/Yasu/Shannon/Kanon?
After reading (and thus spoiling a few things for myself) I found out that the Shannon/Kanon theory is all it is, a theory. It's intentionally left unanswered.
Unless someone can give me some red truth, I 'm done. Unless there is some reason that makes it imperative that I finish the story, I don't think I can find a reason to continue for these last 10-15 hours again. Especially if it's anything like episode 7.
Repeat it! "There is a reason to play through episode 8"!
So, I played through Saya no Uta over the weekend. I've had it since the JAST release all those many months ago but was afraid to touch it. And within seconds of starting my playthrough I had to turn on the madness filters to keep my sanity in check. My imagination was more than enough for
I liked it, and didn't. I wish I had played it through in one sitting. All of the warmth built up in the first half of the game was quickly lost for me in the second half, and I don't know if it was because I spent a day away from it or if I just didn't like the way it ended.
What I do like is that the game doesn't try to make you scream. It'll build up your anticipation, but won't then throw something in your face to make you shout. Instead it just let's the terror and ramifications slowly burn themselves out.
I liked it, and didn't. I wish I had played it through in one sitting. All of the warmth built up in the first half of the game was quickly lost for me in the second half, and I don't know if it was because I spent a day away from it or if I just didn't like the way it ended.
It probably didn't help that I didn't figure out until I was already invested that the story could only possibly end like Death Note. But unlike Death Note I was rooting for the anti-hero. All of the endings led to his loss in some way.
What I do like is that the game doesn't try to make you scream. It'll build up your anticipation, but won't then throw something in your face to make you shout. Instead it just let's the terror and ramifications slowly burn themselves out.
R_thanatos
Member
Byronic Hero , you're so very mistaken ....
What bernkastel showed to ange wasn't the truth , it was one possible truth of the catbox that isn't open yet... it's CERTAINLY NOT what you were showed ... it was just a part to show a possibility because bernkastel was freaking bored out of her mind and wanted to tease, torture ange.
it's really nothing else.
Episode 8 is a real ending , it goes crazy and it's so awesome. i recommand you to play it .
Episode 7 is nothing but a side story , that is quite unnecessary.
Umineko ends on a arc that is big bang blockbuster , michael bay , but umineko style ..you should try it
What bernkastel showed to ange wasn't the truth , it was one possible truth of the catbox that isn't open yet... it's CERTAINLY NOT what you were showed ... it was just a part to show a possibility because bernkastel was freaking bored out of her mind and wanted to tease, torture ange.
it's really nothing else.
Episode 8 is a real ending , it goes crazy and it's so awesome. i recommand you to play it .
Episode 7 is nothing but a side story , that is quite unnecessary.
Umineko ends on a arc that is big bang blockbuster , michael bay , but umineko style ..you should try it
Napalm_Frank
Member
Spoiler dat you silly goose or Knurek will find you!
Byronic Hero
Member
I demand you use your red sword! Otherwise how do I know what you speak is the truth. xD
Napalm_Frank
Member
ep 8 actually has gameplay (...sort of) so that's something!
ep 8 isn't one of my favs but it certainly has some over the top silly moments that are fun if you don't take the narrative too seriously.
Lambda is totally pop.
And that's where I stopped reading.
R_thanatos, I will hunt you down and murder you gruesomely.
Hey guys, I just finished Mahoyo recently and I wanted to write a mini-review.
Mahoyo, a.k.a Mahoutsukai no Yoru: Witch on the Holy Night, is the most recent Type-Moon visual novel, released in 2012. Although it hasn't received a lot of attention, I feel that it's an amazing work that sets itself apart from other visual novels in very many ways.
Scenario
There once was a manor on the hill where two witches lived.
Mahoyo is set in the late 1980's, in Japan. It follows the story of two modern-day witches: Aozaki Aoko, a witch-in-training and the 17-year-old protagonist of the story, and Alice Kuonji, her housemate in the Kuonji mansion; and their strange living arrangement with Shizuki Soujuro, a boy who moved from the mountains to the city.
Unlike Nasu and Type Moon's other visual novels Tsukihime and FSN, Mahoyo is rated for all ages, and has a more episodic format with the story clearly divided into chapters. I felt that the decision to make it a non-H work gave Mahoyo a maturity and warmth that Type Moon's other works don't necessarily have.
The story is relatively short -- about a third of the length of FS/N, but I feel that it was well-written and entertaining.
Graphics and Presentation
One of the ways that Mahoyo sets itself apart from other VNs is simply how good it looks. Like, really really good. The backgrounds and character portraits are detailed and composited very well.
Here's a good time to talk about one of the things that makes Mahoyo stand out: it's written in third-person perspective, unlike most visual novels that take place in first person. Consequently, it does away with the standard VN interface that has a text bar on the bottom, and character portraits pasted over the background facing the player. Dialog, like the narration, is placed in the centre of the screen.
Characters
The characters stand out in how detailed they are, especially their expressions. Koyama Hirokazu's detailed character portraits are not just entertaining, but I feel that they add a lot to the characterization.
Aoko is best described as vivacious, and it's reflected in the huge variety of different expressions that Koyama draws for her. She's sometimes shy, sometimes determined, and sometimes in a bad temper for not much reason. Her scenes are usually a lot of fun to read.
Alice doesn't often give much away with her expressions, but sometimes you catch a glimpse of her inner thoughts. Her scenes are also fun to read.
Soujuro usually looks calm and gentle, but there are times where he shows frustration, determination. Apparently, his character was partially rewritten based on how Koyama interpreted the character, and the end result is... full of surprises in a good way.
The most charming part of Mahoyo, in my opinion, is how the three main characters' relationships with each other develop individually through the story, and it is absolutely reflected through the art.
Music
The soundtrack (main composer Fukasawa Hideyuki) is excellent and a perfect fit for the game. Mahoyo is a game with different scenes with different moods, which the soundtrack supplies. There are memorable songs for the many memorable scenes in the game. There are amazing character portraits.
Links: *Spoiler warning for Youtube comments*
Character themes:
Kuonji Alice, imbalance/alice
Aoko Aozaki, imbalance/blue
Shizuki Sojuro
Opening theme:
Linked below.
My absolute favourite songs from the soundtrack are Five and First Star, but I really believe you should listen to them in the context of the game because they accompany equally amazing scenes.
Oh, and there's a special game mix of Supercell's Hoshi ga Matataku Konna Yoru ni for the ending credits.
Scene Direction/Scripting
The scripting/direction is the last ingredient that brings the game together. Tsukuri Monoji fills the work with clever pans, scrolls, and various layer effects. It's hard to describe unless you've seen it in motion.
The Opening Credits give a taste of what I'm talking about. There are so many magical moments in the game where the art and music are put together perfectly to create something unforgettable.
Gameplay
Mahoyo is minimally interactive: there are no routes, branches, or player choices. You "play" the game mainly by clicking to advance through the different scenes.
It would be hard to classify it as a "game"; it's a visual novel in the sense that it is a novel accompanied by pictures and sound.
This is just a mini-review, so I'll keep it short. Mahoyo is currently being translated, and you can check on the progress here . For people interested in further reading, here's a translated article about the production of Mahoyo and the main people involved.
Mahoyo, a.k.a Mahoutsukai no Yoru: Witch on the Holy Night, is the most recent Type-Moon visual novel, released in 2012. Although it hasn't received a lot of attention, I feel that it's an amazing work that sets itself apart from other visual novels in very many ways.
Scenario
There once was a manor on the hill where two witches lived.
Mahoyo is set in the late 1980's, in Japan. It follows the story of two modern-day witches: Aozaki Aoko, a witch-in-training and the 17-year-old protagonist of the story, and Alice Kuonji, her housemate in the Kuonji mansion; and their strange living arrangement with Shizuki Soujuro, a boy who moved from the mountains to the city.
Unlike Nasu and Type Moon's other visual novels Tsukihime and FSN, Mahoyo is rated for all ages, and has a more episodic format with the story clearly divided into chapters. I felt that the decision to make it a non-H work gave Mahoyo a maturity and warmth that Type Moon's other works don't necessarily have.
The story is relatively short -- about a third of the length of FS/N, but I feel that it was well-written and entertaining.
Graphics and Presentation
One of the ways that Mahoyo sets itself apart from other VNs is simply how good it looks. Like, really really good. The backgrounds and character portraits are detailed and composited very well.
Here's a good time to talk about one of the things that makes Mahoyo stand out: it's written in third-person perspective, unlike most visual novels that take place in first person. Consequently, it does away with the standard VN interface that has a text bar on the bottom, and character portraits pasted over the background facing the player. Dialog, like the narration, is placed in the centre of the screen.
A typical dialog scene, I guess.
Characters
The characters stand out in how detailed they are, especially their expressions. Koyama Hirokazu's detailed character portraits are not just entertaining, but I feel that they add a lot to the characterization.
One of Aoko's many expressions.
Aoko is best described as vivacious, and it's reflected in the huge variety of different expressions that Koyama draws for her. She's sometimes shy, sometimes determined, and sometimes in a bad temper for not much reason. Her scenes are usually a lot of fun to read.
Alice doesn't often give much away with her expressions, but sometimes you catch a glimpse of her inner thoughts. Her scenes are also fun to read.
Soujuro usually looks calm and gentle, but there are times where he shows frustration, determination. Apparently, his character was partially rewritten based on how Koyama interpreted the character, and the end result is... full of surprises in a good way.
The most charming part of Mahoyo, in my opinion, is how the three main characters' relationships with each other develop individually through the story, and it is absolutely reflected through the art.
Music
The soundtrack (main composer Fukasawa Hideyuki) is excellent and a perfect fit for the game. Mahoyo is a game with different scenes with different moods, which the soundtrack supplies. There are memorable songs for the many memorable scenes in the game. There are amazing character portraits.
Links: *Spoiler warning for Youtube comments*
Character themes:
Kuonji Alice, imbalance/alice
Aoko Aozaki, imbalance/blue
Shizuki Sojuro
Opening theme:
Linked below.
My absolute favourite songs from the soundtrack are Five and First Star, but I really believe you should listen to them in the context of the game because they accompany equally amazing scenes.
Oh, and there's a special game mix of Supercell's Hoshi ga Matataku Konna Yoru ni for the ending credits.
Scene Direction/Scripting
The scripting/direction is the last ingredient that brings the game together. Tsukuri Monoji fills the work with clever pans, scrolls, and various layer effects. It's hard to describe unless you've seen it in motion.
Scenes are not static in Mahoyo: this one has a parallax scroll to show the arm raising, spinning magic circles, and a bit of lightning from Aoko's hand.
The Opening Credits give a taste of what I'm talking about. There are so many magical moments in the game where the art and music are put together perfectly to create something unforgettable.
Gameplay
Mahoyo is minimally interactive: there are no routes, branches, or player choices. You "play" the game mainly by clicking to advance through the different scenes.
It would be hard to classify it as a "game"; it's a visual novel in the sense that it is a novel accompanied by pictures and sound.
This is just a mini-review, so I'll keep it short. Mahoyo is currently being translated, and you can check on the progress here . For people interested in further reading, here's a translated article about the production of Mahoyo and the main people involved.
Basileus777
Member
Cool, I'm glad it's getting close to done.
I should probably also do this
Though at my current pace, by the time I'll reach ep 7 it'll be the year 2019. So I have probably forgotten everything by then.
grim-tales
Member
I've managed to get a working version of Ever 17 (I think!) Going to start soon, but I have a feeling most of it will be familliar being a 999/VLR fan, oh well.
Some of the opening text at the start during the song was in German for some reason.. eh...
Can't wait! But need to finish VLR again!
Some of the opening text at the start during the song was in German for some reason.. eh...
Can't wait! But need to finish VLR again!
No worries my man, it should still surprise you aplenty!
It's a German company that owns LeMU, so the signs are in German and many other terms as well.
grim-tales
Member
Ah I see xD
WhirlwindMonk
Banned
Fantastic to hear! I've been replaying Tsukihime for my Type-Moon fix, and at the rate I play, I'll probably finish it around the time Mahoyo is ready.
R_thanatos
Member
I spoiled nothing ... otherwise i would have used spoiled bars...
The catbox stuff is something that is said and explained since episode 3.. if you understand the concept , you know that stuff isn't over untill you reach the final episode.
grim-tales
Member
I have a problem I dont know if I did something wrong, but now text is appearing in the boxes when people are speaking (I've only just started). Is it meant to be like this?
I dont know if I did something wrong, but now text is appearing in the boxes when people are speaking (I've only just started). Is it meant to be like this?
grim-tales
Member
Right... I'm having another go. I finished downloading it and says "Seeding" - what is that? Am I supposed to leave it for a while?
I have a problem
Like regular old text boxes or what? I mean yeah, of course it's meant to be like that. Unless I misunderstood you.
e: http://s.vndb.org/sf/75/275.jpg like this?
Uh oh
e: where are you downloading it again?
- Status