Recent reviews by Okuu

AMANATSU ~Perfect Edition~… I found this one while casually browsing the store, and thought, “Eh, sure, why not?” I knew what I was getting into and I wasn’t expecting much — a simple romcom to pass my time. But a few hours in, and I’m grinning like a goof. No drama, no heartbreak, just pure, unfiltered sweetness. Was it worth it though? Hell effin yes!

In a nutshell, the reasons I'm particularly fond of AMANATSU ~Perfect Edition~ are:

• An incredibly sweet and heartwarming story that makes your heart go “ugh” in the best way possible
  
• Animated sprites, along with lip-sync, adding immersion during the dialog exchanges
  
• A masterful choice of colors — each CG has a vibrant and warm feel to it
  
• Lovely character design, including the supporting characters

Special thanks to Amanatsu’s publishing team for providing this wonderful review copy!

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AMANATSU Perfect Edition is a visual novel developed by Azarashi Soft, a studio known for its expertise in slice-of-life and romance stories. Thanks to Shiravune's English translation, this lovely experience is now accessible to an even wider audience. The title ‘amanatsu’ is made of two words ama (甘), meaning ‘sweet,’ and natsu (夏), meaning ‘summer’ — which is the whole premise behind the Amanatsu story, a sweet, sweet coming-of-age story during the summer, the kind that will make you wince in the best way possible.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3450305324
As a visual novel, Amanatsu falls under the kinetic visual novel category — and for good reason. Despite giving you choices throughout the game, they have zero impact on the actual story. No kidding! — some of the options are literally things like “spend time with A/B/C” or “check on A/B/C.” That’s part of what makes it so low-stakes: (a) you can pick any heroine you want to get to know better, (b) there are no bad endings, and (c) the drama and plot twists are kept to a minimum. Additionally, the story progression can be broken down into three parts: introduction, common route, and heroine route. While the common route can be very slow-paced it did an exceptional job illustrating our protagonist Haruto yearning for a simple, and peaceful life. Before his transfer to the countryside, Haruto’ life was quite the opposite, riddled with expectations, achievements, and constant competition. A setting that feels all too familiar in today's hustle-and-bustle world. During his stay, however, he begins to discover the joy of slowing down: chatting, ranting, bantering about random things with his newly found — and quite unique, I must say — group of peers. And perhaps experience love for the first time — something he’s never truly tried. A genuinely heartwarming, summer experience.

The visual novel has three main heroines, which I’m going to list down based on my personal preference: (1) Kogane Amahara —the bubbly underclassman, (2) Kazuha — the classic tsundere we secretly love, and (3) Yashiro — the aloof upperclassman. Each route offers a distinctive perspective on intimate relationships and personal growth between you and your heroine of choice. Take Kogane’s route for example, she’s an easygoing, cheerful, and energetic underclassman who brings a lively spark to Haruto's life. But as you delve deeper, you’ll find beneath her vibrant personality lies a layer of insecurities rooted to her past. This adds a surprising depth to her character. You can expect the same treatment with the rest of the routes as well, each delivering its own charms and moments of vulnerability. It’s an immersive heartwarming narrative experience overall. That said, I found Yashiro’s route pacing a bit too slow for my taste, making it my least favorite of the three.

One of the highlights of Amanatsu is its presentation; beautifully designed characters, CGs, light sprite animations, and backgrounds. Everything is crafted with exceptional care and a masterful use of color that brings out the best in each scene.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3445802283
Another piece of good news for every achievement hunter out there. You can get all 7 achievements simply by breezing through the story. With auto or skip mode — especially true after you cleared one of the routes — progression becomes effortless. So turn off that ol’ noggin and just click that mode, kick back, and relax as achievements pop up one by one. That’s another 100% completion for you to flex on your Steam profile!

Amanatsu delivers exactly what it promises — Pure. Love. Story. Period. While some parts could’ve been better, the overall reading experience makes up for it. If you’re out of VNs and looking for some sweet romance to dive into, this one’s definitely a great pick.

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Florence… so I saw the game on sale and figured, “Why not? Plus, it’s got the ‘story-rich’ tag, which is my go-to when it comes to picking games. But lo and behold! I stumble upon yet another indie gem. The dialogue-free narrative threw me off balance for a bit since I’m more used to playing visual novels, which are usually dialogue-heavy, but! They did it so exceptionally well that it’s growing on me. And I love it!

In a nutshell, the reasons I'm particularly fond of Florence are these:

• Exceptional art direction
  
• Lovely mini-games that help with the story immersion
  
• It had a flawless execution of the dialogue-free storytelling
  
• Delivered a heartwarming slice-of-life story within a short timeframe
  
• Captivating soundtracks that highlight the charm of adorable scenes while also enhancing the gravity of somber ones

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Florence, Mountains Studio’s debut, is an interactive visual novel that dabbles with the complexities of love and life, aka slice-of-life. But before we dive in too deep, you should know this game is really short, yet it definitely packs a punch. The story follows Florence Yeoh, a 25-year-old feeling trapped in the monotony of daily routine: work, sleep, eat, and endless scrolling on social media. But everything changes for her when she meets Krish. Is it for the better? Well, that’s for you to find out.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3242776549
One aspect of Florence that stands out is its charming art style. You can tell that the game studio pours all its love into the art, as each scene is meticulously designed with adorable visuals that add to the game's appeal. In addition to the lovely art, the studio's clever use of color also deserves special mention, as they did an excellent job elevating each scene. From vibrant hues during moments of joy to muted tones during times of introspection, the color palette enhances the narrative and immerses me further into Florence's world. While I'm more biased toward the anime-esque style when it comes to visual novels, I have to admit that the cartoonish style is growing on me. Plus, considering that most Steam visual novels use the anime-esque style, a little change from time to time is a very nice welcome.

I love Florence's enchanting soundtrack. It truly brings out the emotional journey of Florence Yeoh. From the sweet, heartwarming moments to the melancholic ones, the soundtrack enhances the game's immersion, and it is good!

Mini-games were pretty fun as well, and it serve a dual purpose: not only do they provide enjoyable gameplay elements, but they also contribute to the game's narrative immersion. These mini-games blend right into the story, offering a cool way to experience Florence Yeoh's point of view in different situations. One of my favorite parts was the conversation between Florence and Krish; the text bubble puzzle serves as a really good visual cue of how she’s feeling.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3242776586
On a side note, here’s some good news if you’re an achievement hunter. Florence’s achievements are relatively easy to get. You will get most of them simply by progressing through the chapters, and if you happen to miss any, you can easily revisit specific chapters using the chapter selection feature from the main menu. So go out there and get them all; that's another cleared game for you to show off.

So, was it worth it? I’d say absolutely! Florence is an impressive debut from the Mountains Studio. Its story presentation was done splendidly, along with exceptional soundtracks to back it up. If you’re looking for some ‘story-rich’ game in Steam, give this a shot! It’s worth every penny. I am looking forward to future work from this studio!

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Final Fantasy VII Remake (FFVIIR)... I was never really exposed to the FFVII hype. I was only remotely interested in the series because I main Sephiroth in Dissidia, the 2009 fighting game spin-off. Then I got invested in the lore, but I never got a chance to try the original mainline. Since the remake announcement, I was like, "Dang, now is the perfect time to jump into the lore." Plus, it comes with a vastly improved graphic and combat system! All the more reason to try it out!

In a nutshell, the reasons I'm particularly fond of Final Fantasy VII Remake are these:

• A Dynamic and Intense high-paced action-packed combat; adapt and overcome is the name of the game
  
• Every character boasts a totally unique playstyle, and making the right switch can grant a considerable advantage in combat
  
• Minigames bring a breath of fresh air to the game, and the rewards they offer are pretty nifty too
  
• The hard mode can be pretty challenging
  
• While I prefer sub over dub, I think that the English dub of this game is quite something
  
• The INTERmission DLC introduces Yuffie, a character with one of the most exhilarating playstyles, while also scratching the surface of "Deepground Arc." Spoiler alert! This arc can get confusing for first-time FFVII players

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The story follows Cloud, an elite SOLDIER operative-turned-mercenary, who participates in an Avalanche operation to stop Shinra's exploits of mako, the planet's lifeblood. The journey will take you through Midgar's ups and downs, from the dystopian metropolis to the gritty slum beneath the city. Not to mention the level design was *Chef's Kiss, simply beautiful, but the exploration aspect reminds me of my favorite entry in the Final Fantasy series, FFXIII. It's similar regarding places that can be explored – as in there's not much.

Huge props to Square Enix because they absolutely nailed the pacing, as once I start playing, I tend to get completely immersed in the story. Not to mention, they did Cloud's character development justice! From the cold and uncaring person to a slightly warmer one who cares for his friends. There is, however, a slight issue, if you never touch past FFVII games, the story might seem all over the place as the game loves to drop references from past games. And each time it popped, my reaction was, "What? Who is this?". Luckily, I played the original Crisis Core a few years back, so I'm in the clear with most of them.

What surprises me about the game is how good the English VA are. They did an excellent job conveying the emotion of each character and brought the best out of them. I enjoyed playing the game in English as much as in Japanese. And that's something rare for me.

My main gripe with the gameplay is the occasional screen flare. The glitch turned my whole screen white with no sign of letting up unless I did something about it. The funny thing is, it doesn't crash the game but makes progression impossible! From my experience, there are only two things you can do, either reload your save file cause you or, if and only if it happened during a cutscene, progress the scene. It should turn to normal after the scene changes. Make sure to save a lot, or pray it occurs during a cutscene.

I love the combat system FFVIIR uses; it mixes fast-paced, action-packed button-mashing combat with a touch of tactical mode to set up countermeasures. Additionally, the stagger bar is back! What it does is it stops the enemy movement and lets you deal massive damage, turning the tide in your favor. Despite being in a staggered state, some enemies are still capable of attacking you, so approach cautiously. Some enemies have different stagger requirements, so initiating the fight with Scan Materia helps – Big time! Since it'll reveal enemies' traits and weaknesses.

But I have to say, the game shines the most during boss fights. It can be difficult, fun, exhilarating, and frustrating at times. Especially true against bosses with multiple phases. Your ability to adapt to different conditions as well as your understanding of each character's playstyle, will be put to the test. If you can't, well, that could lead to longer fights or a wipe.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3007988662
Aside from excellent combat, FFVIIR features several amusing minigames and VR trials to keep you entertained. The minigames mainly consist of quick-time events, except in the DLC, where you can challenge NPC for tower defense matches.

The VR trials can be rough, especially the last two, but they give some of the most helpful rewards in addition to the hefty EXP and AP drops. So try to clear them all in one go to prevent backtracking, as some of the last trials will only unlock if you did the previous ones.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3003519949
I wish the party AI was a bit more aggressive because, as it is, they're way too passive to be helpful. And they tend to spam normal attacks all the time, which deal very minimal damage. If they can automatically assist in certain situations, that would be helpful. At best, you can make them cast Auto-Heal, but it'll cost you one Materia slot, which means one less slot for better Materia.

The hard mode is unlocked by clearing the campaign once. The perks that come with it are intense boss fights and several handy features that'll make tracking your progression more manageable. But that's not all! It also prevents item use and rest points from recovering your MP. Therefore, understanding the combat mechanic, enemy weaknesses, and when to strike is crucial. Truly a challenging experience.

With that being said, there's a slight issue with the NG+; aside from fresh combat experience, it doesn't have any additional story, there's a short cutscene if you clear the DLC, but that's it. Things can sometimes feel repetitive, which can be a turn-off for some. To keep the game fresh, I did my first run with the English dub and my second with the Japanese dub, it ain't much, but it works for me. Plus, I wanted to get all the achievements.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3001671613
As someone whose only knowledge of FFVII comes from the OG Crisis Core and FFVII: Advent Children movie, this remake is a great entry point. While the story can sometimes be confusing, it did a fantastic job of immersing me in the lore. Plus! The multiple minigames and perfected combat mechanics were an absolute blast. Overall, an exceptional experience and totally worth the price. Give it a shot!

Here's a lil advice, clear the final Shinra VR Challenge before starting a hard mode run. Good luck!

Down moments are something we all encounter at some point. While some people can muster the strength to lift themselves, others may need a gentle nudge from the back in order to stand. This collection of sketches is based on the developer's life, filled with adorable moments. If you ever feel down, give them a try. Who knows, they might just cheer you up.

The game consists of five short kinetic stories, each presenting a different perspective on a humble relationship. While presented differently, they had one thing in common: in each narrative, one partner finds themselves enveloped in dark, spiralling emotions, while the other gently reassures them that everything will be alright. Of the five adorable and concise stories, my favorite was the first. I am not saying the others aren’t great, but the first one hits way too close to home for me. Reading the first few lines brought tears to my eyes, but that didn’t stop me. After reading the whole story, I was left with this wonderful, warm, and fuzzy feeling, and I like it! You guys just made my day!

“Music made with money,” as you guys said. Well, one thing is clear: It’s definitely money well spent! It’s light and beautiful and helps the presentation of each story. I Could listen to it all day.

Aside from the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from reading the story, the game is pretty generous with the Steam achievements. So, if you’re an achievement hunter, then you definitely should get this. And I love the fact that the developers show their whimsical personalities through the achievement titles. Be sure to click the two icons at the bottom; it definitely made me smile. I’m looking forward to your future work. Keep up the great work, you guys!
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3221878853

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero... Oh boy, an official Western release of this game? Christmas must’ve come early. As a passionate fan of the Trails series, I have wanted to jump into the Crossbell arc for years, and it is finally here! And let me tell you, it is excellent! While it is not necessary, clearing the first trails game is highly recommended for the best gameplay experience. Shoutout to the Geofront team for working on the localization; you guys finally did it! The port ran with zero issues, the translation was spot on, and the additional features were a nice touch. Splendid work!

In a nutshell, the reasons I'm particularly fond of The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero are these:

• Enthralling storytelling combined with immersive worldbuilding, all while setting you up for the extensive and ongoing Trails lore
  
• Great combat mechanic – best experienced in higher-difficulty gameplay
  
• Fine-tuning skills is one of the best part of the experience, especially when you have four party members and a plethora of options to mess around with
  
• Turbo-mode and resume option is a small but significant feature
  
• Closes the curtain to an unfinished arc of the Sky trilogy in a very wholesome manner; it brought tears to my eyes

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Trails From Zero kicks off its tale in a familiar manner, similar to the previous game. However, instead of being part of the Bracer Guild, a non-governmental organization acting to keep the peace and protect civilians, you'll be part of the newly founded Special Support Section (S.S.S.), a division of the prestigious Crosbell Police Department (C.P.D.), the law enforcement agency charged with maintaining public order. You play as Lloyd Bannings, a rookie detective fresh from the academy looking to make Crossbell a lil better. Armed with your detective handbook and zealous personality against injustice, you'll be running from one place to another, solving case after case until you finally stumble upon your big break, revealing the state of Crossbell's management.

Props to Falcom's design team; they did an exceptional job visualizing the beauty of Crossbell. From the beautiful flower field of the quaint village of Armorica to the picturesque waterfall of Mainz Mountain Path to the strange ruins of the forgotten past, each was done with utmost care to provide an immersive gameplay experience.

However, Due to the theme this time around being a detective mystery, some parts of the game can be straining to read through; I'm talking about long-winded conversations between characters about cases and story progression. This drag is especially true during the early part of the game, but of course, things get a bit better after passing a certain point of the game. While I have no issue with it, as I'm used to reading through long passages, some people may not. In a nutshell, the game is closer to a visual novel than an RPG in storytelling. So you better get friendly with that X button, as it'll be your best friend throughout the gameplay. And another thing, aside from Lloyd, relating to the members of the S.S.S. might prove to be an issue as you won't get the complete picture during the later part of the game. The game drops subtle hints every now and then, but unless you catch on, some characters might seem shallow or just one dimension.

At the end of every chapter, your performance will be graded based on how you navigated the story: every choice you made, all the cases you cleared, and any above-and-beyond actions you took. Each of them will net you Detective Points (DP), which will unlock some of the best items in the game as you rise in the ranks.

Now comes the tricky part. You’ll need to maximize your DP earnings per chapter to reach the highest rank. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Oh my sweet, sweet child, things are never that easy in the Trails Series. So, have fun exploring!

Here's the deal with collectibles and achievements in this game, particularly those treasure chests, recipes, and books, ESPECIALLY those darned books, man. While there's a workaround for the chests, the latter ones can prove to be a challenge. You'll need to talk to the right person at the right time. Miss your window? Well, I hope you get it on your next run. Advice? Create plenty of saved files! Pay close attention to your detective handbook, as most of the achievements revolve around filling the pages in that book. The point is, if you're serious about total completion, be sure to check it every now and then.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3221806044
Trails From Zero combat uses the Action Time Battle system to determine turn order, with each action having a base delay affecting your next turn. This system is too easy on lower difficulty. On higher difficulties, it can be unforgiving, even bordering unfair at times – I’m not even kidding, you could lose even before the battle starts, imagine that! However, this is what truly allows the combat system to shine! If you’re up for some challenge and willing to experience and tweak around the seemingly simple yet complex combat to its fullest, I say play the game in hard or nightmare mode where a single misstep could spell doom for your team. But if you’re like me and aiming for a 100% run, then nightmare mode is the way to go, as there are two difficulty-related achievements. That way, you can get both in one fell swoop.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3221805958
You will want every advantage you can get to survive playing on higher difficulty. One of them happens to be my favorite part of the game: tweaking the classic Orbment system and character abilities. Here’s the thing: every enemy has a weakness that you can exploit, and Arts or magic are a lot more valuable than melee combat on higher difficulty, so start tweaking and exploiting their weaknesses like your life depends on it
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3223142145
Trails From Zero is the first to introduce the bonding system in the whole series. While I think it's nifty, it has very little breathing room if you plan on getting all bonding-related achievements in one run. It is doable, but you’ll need to follow specific and strict instructions to do it. Do yourself a favor, find a guide and follow it unless you’re willing to do multiple runs. Knock yourself out.

Overall, Trails From Zero offers a compelling detective RPG experience and definitely a solid A from me – as expected, Trails game does not disappoint. The heavy-dialogue part might be taxing for some, but bear with me here! Behind all that lies one of the most amazing storylines, well-crafted characters, and the most immersive gameplay experience. A must-try for any JRPG fans!

Making Lovers After Stories… Much like the previous game, you play as Kazuma, a hardcore hopeless romantic who believes there's a proper step to falling in love; however, after the events in the prequel, our boy finally softens up and finds the love of his life. And like many others, and obviously, yours truly, are wondering what happens next? What's the next chapter for the awkward but lovable couple we picked from the previous VN? Well, look no further! For it is here! The developer, Smee, was nice enough to write four short-after stories for us to enjoy! - Bless their lovely heart!

Unlike most VNs, Making Lovers After Stories doesn't start with a prologue. Instead, it offers five routes. So, pick your favorite couple and enjoy the ride! Mine is Saki; you can never go wrong with the Onee-san archetype! Her story starts off with a full-on strange yet hilarious comedy vibe about the couple's daily life as a coworker. Then, it delves into a more serious note revolving around family and her future with our not-so-dense-anymore protagonist. This route made me chuckle, giggle, and laugh through and through, and the oh-so-sweet interaction between the two was just perfect! As for the other routes? They're also quite the read; that's enough spoilers from me, though; give them a shot.

Making Lovers After Stories has linear storytelling; aside from the early route pick and heroine hairstyles, it's all just auto-pilot, as in you can kick back and just enjoy the show; yes, I'm not kidding. There are hair options in this VN. Since the setting is one year after the original story, there are bound to be changes with your heroines. In this case, their hair. You can go with the OG or try out some fresh visuals for your heroine; either way, there won't be any changes but the CG.

The original Making Lovers lasts around 30 hours of gameplay on average. The after-stories, on the other hand, have only 4 hours of content. Calling it short is an understatement.

Visually, Smee does not disappoint. The character design and cheerful color palette are spot-on, making the immersive experience even better. Unfortunately, many assets were reused from the previous game. So, aside from the story, the only notable addition is probably the CG during certain scenes.

If you enjoyed the original Making Lovers, you'll love this one. While the light-hearted comedy is still the main highlight of this VN, it still has some adorable romantic scenes that are just too cute to ignore. It's like the cherry on top of a perfectly good cake!

My personal favorite was:
Saki>Karen>Reina>Mashiro>Ako
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3216107563

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Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation The Endless Seven-Day Journey… That's quite the mouthful title; for ease's sake, I will stick with Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey. Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey is one of those game that you can play at your own pace. It's light, it's fun, and it brings back that nostalgia factor as you run around and explore your rural surroundings from the point of view of a child with pure curiosity. So, if you're looking for a game with a good vibe and perhaps something to chill around with, then you, my friend, just found one of them. But it is not without issues, which I'll break down later in the review.

The story begins with Hiroshi's business trip to Kyushu, which leads the Nohara family to stay with Misae's childhood friend in Assou, Kumamoto. Upon arrival, they met this eccentric old man offering a peculiar camera, which Shin-chan uses to take pictures of bugs, fish, and plenty of other things to fill his scrapbook. Aside from pictures, the scrapbook also records all the fun experiences and summer memories as you progress through the story. As Shin-chan explores the beautiful Assou countryside, stumbling upon unique creatures and making new friends. Strange occurrences begin after Shin-chan encounters the old man he met before, who introduces himself as Professor Akuno (fun fact! Aku means evil in Japanese, so you can probably guess that he plays the antagonist role), leading to a series of mysterious events in Assou.

The game has a day and night cycle, and what I love about it is that it gives the player total freedom on what to do during that time. You only need to watch out for your stamina, which you can refill by eating snacks. Transitioning between each zone also consumes stamina, so make sure to watch that bar if you don't want to collapse and lose a whole day. You can collect a plethora of bugs as you explore the beautiful landscape of Asso, or perhaps you prefer walking through the riverscape and going fishing along the way or possibly doing chores to get an extra allowance to spend on snacks. I can list a few other things you can do, but those I mentioned are some of my favorite activities in the game. Additionally, there are things that you can only encounter during a specific time of day, so try to explore during the night as well if you feel like it.

Let's discuss some issues I have with Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey. From a technical standpoint, it has a bizarre feature. Running the game on borderless 1080p with a 60hz refresh rate monitor, you'll find yourself playing with a "stuttering experience" despite being able to run most games in a stable 60FPS. Cause for some unknown reason, the FPS is halved, and not in a good way. I mean, I have no issue with playing in 30FPS but this right here is just too weird to look at. However, there is a workaround, running the game with windowed mode seems to make the game run properly, or you have a monitor with a refresh rate above 60hz (mine can run at 165hz); it kinda sucks, but it works.....

Exploration can sometimes be disorienting, and the camera angle adds even more to the confusion. Another odd feature from Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey is the different fixed camera angles as you transition between each section. While some are okay, some are just outright outrageous... There are moments when I feel lost when I'm out exploring; not sure whether this is feature is intentional, but it felt tiresome over time. Another thing the weird camera angle affects is the gatherings, which is one of the main features of this game. And how on earth am I supposed to gather when the things I'm looking for are the size of a dot and blend with the background thanks to the weird camera angle. Squinting my eyes to gather most of the bugs and fish was definitely a dreary and straining experience for me. Yeah, I'm not even going to deal with the rest.

The last one is a feature that lit the most infuriating, teeth-seething, and loathing feelings I have for the game. It's a bloody RNG! And it's not just any RNG; it's the kind that locks you out from exploring a section of the map and clearing all the achievements unless you manage to clear it. The kind I hate the most! There's this section of the map that you can only access after winning the Dinosaur Showdown Tournament, a rock paper scissor minigame that you unlock as you progress through the story. The regular battle is manageable, but during the tournament part, it's pure pain as the other contender can two-shot your Dino. I was stuck for a while on this part, mainly cause I was going for 100%. But hell naw! I'm finishing the game and moving on to my other backlogs; thank you very much.

In the end, Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey have some interesting parts that stand out, and I love that this game screams laid-back and chill vibes as I play through it. However, in this case, the cons far outweigh the pros, So I can't recommend this game. If you're still interested, get the game when the price drops or if you happen to see it on sale. Because honestly, as much as I like Shin-chan and The Endless Seven-Day Journey, the price is exaggerated for what the game offers.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3208687369

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Muv-Luv... ah yes, that's another cult classic visual novel (VN) scratched off the list. Now, here's the thing: when it comes to VN, It's a no-brainer for me to go for romance or slice of life. However, thousands of VN use that genre, so what makes this one stand out from the rest of the pack? The mechas! That's right, it's them mechas! They made some of the sickest plastic models from this VN. But for real, my love for Mechas aside, what makes this one stand out from the pack is how the developer decided to approach the storytelling; it's different from the usual troupe, which somehow works, and it is brilliant! *chef's kiss.

From the gameplay standpoint, Muv-luv is hardly any different from most VN. It follows a linear plot line with differing scenarios based on your interaction with the heroines. It's a relatively straightforward approach, but hey! It's a working formula, and you know what they say: "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it." Plus, the VN has a reasonably lengthy story if you combine Extra and Unlimited, totalling around 45 hours of average completion time. Took me around 48 hours to clear all the routes and gather all the achievements, but that's because I love taking my time when reading through a story, especially when one is this good. But here's the thing: while I have no qualms with the gameplay and story, the visual, on the other hand, is another thing. Do note that Muv-Luv was initially released for PC back in 2003 with no Western localization, so unless you have some understanding of basic Japanese, you probably won't be able to read through the story, let alone enjoy it. So yeah, you guessed it right. Muv-Luv is a considerably old VN with a pretty old visual to boot. Those who just started their VN journey might have an issue with it. Heck! Even my first impression was, "Dang, it's old." It took some time to get used to, but in the end, it didn't stop me from reading through it. And I'm glad it didn't.

Muv-Luv is made of two parts: Muv-Luv Extra and Muv-Luv Unlimited. While interconnected, each has an entirely different setting and genre – it's unique; that's a fact! But can be confusing at the same time. The first one, Extra, took the slice-of-life, lighthearted romantic comedy approach. The MC's story begins when he wakes up and finds himself in bed with the heiress of one of the world's largest conglomerates. Despite never having met him before, for some reason, she is convinced that they are meant to be together. But of course, there's also the childhood friend element, who lives next door and always has feelings for him. In the end, he will have to choose between the girls. As interesting as the story is, I find Extra to be a bit stale. Since it's a romcom with a high school setting, things can get boring quickly, and the slow-paced cliche troupe definitely isn't helping it. So yeah, it's best to play through Extra with low expectations, as it's a pure romcom through and through.

On the other hand, Unlimited took the coming-of-age story in an alternate timeline in a world ravaged by aliens invading the Earth. The story's beginning is pretty similar to the Extra setting; however, instead of waking up by the rich conglomerate and childhood friend, he wakes up alone. As he leaves his house, he is shocked when he sees that his neighborhood is in total ruin and his childhood friend's house is crushed beneath a gigantic mecha. Later on, he discovers that he is on a parallel planet where aliens called BETA (Beings of Extra Terrestrials origin which are Adversary of the human race) have invaded the remaining humans are desperately fighting back with the mechas he saw before. Quite the leap between the two settings, no? And the only thing connecting the two stories is the main character, Takeru Shirogane.

Muv-Luv is somewhat different in storytelling, and of course, you'll find some plot holes as you progress through the stories. But the overall experience of reading through it was a blast; Extra and Unlimited did a great job setting up the groundwork for the final part of the Muv-Luv trilogy, Muv-Luv: Alternative. Looking forward to trying that one and having all my questions answered. I recommend going through Extra before jumping into Unlimited; things make more sense that way.
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Find Love or Die Trying… When it comes to visual novels, nothing beats a romance-themed one. Not only does this one has a romance tag, but it also happens to include a free-to-play tag as well – Don't mind if I do! Those two tags together are pretty rare to come by, and by that, I meant the good ones. And this one apparently has an overwhelmingly positive reception on Steam, so it's kind of a no-brainer for me to try it out.

My initial impression of the story was, "Ah, it's gonna be one of those VNs," cause you start out as an insomniac and you're stuck in a situation where you must comply with the person who greeted you. You are part of a reality show called Find Love or Die Trying, which has you approach multiple women over the course of seven days in the hopes that one of them will return your feelings. But there's a kicker, if, by any chance, none of the heroines reciprocate your feeling, the producer will snuff out your life, and of course, you're not allowed to tell any of them about your situation as well – but why do you ask? Just because that's why. However, As I read through what I thought to be a "meh" VN, things started to get interesting as the plot began to unveil one after another; the island, the heroines, your handler, and the purpose of the reality show. It turns out things aren't what they seem to be. And the plot reveal was wonderfully done in a way it kept the reader wondering what happens next, which is a big plus in my book!

The gameplay lasts about 2-3 hours at most, depending on how fast you read. And since this VN is one of those linear types, there's no need to worry about the options that pop out during your playthrough, well, most of the gameplay anyway – trust me, you'll know which scene really matters; the VN made it pretty dang obvious.

Given the short gameplay this VN has, there are bound to be some parts that could've been better. In this case, it's the romance part of several heroines. I find them not developed enough to leave a good impression, except for one route; to be blunt, some of them feel like filler stories. Do I dislike them though? Nope, but do I wish it was better? A definite yes.

Despite being a free-to-play VN, Find Love or Die Trying overall experience was better than most indie titles on Steam. While romance parts involving some of the heroines might be a tad cheesy and forced at times, the story pacing and twist reveal were on point. Heck! They also didn’t cut corners with the visual aspect; It's gorgeously designed, charming and on par with high-priced VNs in terms of visual quality – mad props to Auden Cho-Wong! Given all the charms it offers, there's absolutely no reason not to give this VN a go. Highly recommended!

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KukkoroDays… Hmmm, let's see what we've got here; an intro explaining how mundane the MC's daily life is? Check. A main character that said: "This kind of stuff only happens in light novels," followed by some magical-esque thing happening right after? Check. Female knight? Check! Welp, it seems like we've got ourselves a bingo in one of the most common VN troupes, Isekai! Commonly known as "transported to another world setting." However, instead of the MC being transported to a fantasy-ish world, the heroine was the one that got transported to the modern world. A nice little twist from Qureate, the developer, I'd say.

First of all, there's one thing you need to keep in mind before jumping into this VN – the gameplay duration. From the intro to clearing all the available routes, it only took around 3-4 hours at best. Yes, the VN is on the short side. So if you're looking for deep and intricate story writing, you're in the wrong place. But don't get me wrong, while the duration is short, I find myself occasionally giggling when reading through the story. While the setting is the very definition of cliche, I enjoy reading through this kind of story. But of course, there are some parts of the stories that could've been improved on. For example, the pacing, then the pacing, and after that, the pacing! Yes, the most severe issue this VN had for me was the story pacing.

Just like most isekai stories, it began with the MC narrating how boring and uneventful his life was, which somehow led to a random summoning circle appearing, then followed up with the appearance of a heroine, which in this case Cattleya, a female knight who was fighting the demon lord but somehow ended up in modern Japan. Now here's the thing, during her quest to find a way home, she conveniently stumbled upon a grimoire that hinted her way home in a bookstore – for real?! Then the MC turned out to be a descendant of some ancient wizard who had crossed between worlds. Next thing you know, the final boss appeared to wrap up some unfinished business. It's all over the place! While the slice-of-life part was enjoyable, I'm not fond of how the devs handled the story pacing.

I'm just going to be blunt about it; the visual is something you can see in most anime and VN, but I can't say I hate them. It's easy on the eyes and gets the job done. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm likin the animated sprite this VN has. It was a lovely and much-welcomed addition to the storytelling.

As this is an adult VN in the first place, it feels wrong if some of the mature scenes are cut out. Luckily, the developer is kind enough to provide an official patch on their website, so get that lovely patch and dump it in your local folder before breezing through the VN. Aside from unlocking some of the mature contents, which scenes are pretty okay at best, the patch also adds a "memory" tab in the extra section. It saves you from the hassle of reading through everything to see one specific scene. And that's a plus one in my book.

Despite using one of the most common troupes, I find KukkoroDays to be an okay and light read that is enjoyable, even with the cliche story. But here's some advice! If you want to try this VN, wait for a Steam sale. Because as much as I enjoy reading it, buying the game at full price? Meh, a hard pass! For real though, it's as cliche as it can get.
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