Reviewer's Notes:

For the sake of full disclosure I did back this on Kickstarter. I have completed the Muv-Luv Trilogy, via the unofficial fan translation, twice.

The Steam version of this game is the All Ages version. That means the explicit adult content that is in the normal game is removed or censored. There will be a Director's Cut patch at some point in the future that will address that. Unlike with Muv-Luv Extra and Unlimited, however, I do not think that the censoring of the explicit content is a detriment to Alternative and the experience as a whole.

This review will be as spoiler free as I can make it. The thing that makes the Muv-Luv experience so memorable is not knowing where it is going to go or what will happen next. I would hate to ruin that for someone else. Do not play Alternative until you have completed Muv-Luv Extra and Unlimited. My review for Muv-Luv Extra and Unlimited can be found here.

Overview:

As mentioned in my previous review the Muv-Luv Trilogy is considered by many, myself included, to be one of the best Visual Novel experiences of all time. Where Muv-Luv's Extra and Unlimited primarily introduced the player to the characters and to the universe Muv-Luv Alternative is the heart and soul of the Trilogy. It will take you to the highest of highs and drag you to the lowest of lows. It isn't going to pull any punches.

Story:

Our protagonist, Shirogane Takeru, wakes up once more in his room convinced that everything that had happened before was a dream. The thought doesn't stay for long. Just like before, upon leaving his house, reality quickly sets in. It has been roughly three years since the end of Unlimited, though his memory is foggy in places and completely blank after a certain point, and Takeru finds himself back in the hellish war torn world he had already suffered through at least once before. It is October 22nd and he remembers the deadline and what will happen. With the events of Alternative V still fresh in his mind he sets out to find Yuuko, to do everything over but this time differently. This time he knows what will happen, he already spent years training and honing his abilities so he won't hold anyone back, and with his knowledge of those events he begins his work to change it. To prevent Alternative V from coming to fruition. To see Alternative IV completed and humanity saved.

Unlike Extra, and to a lesser extent Unlimited, Alternative is a Kinetic Visual Novel. There are technically some different routes and definitely a few places that you will get to make decisions but ultimately the experience is mostly set in stone and the choices matter little. It starts out as a typical power fantasy before snowballing out of control and taking the player on a trip they'll probably never forget. Extra and Unlimited had moments of emotional impact but Alternative takes all of that and cranks it to 11. It was deliberately written and designed in a way that ensures the twists and turns it takes will always hit for maximum effectiveness, high or low. The characters see actual growth throughout by taking what we've already learned and giving them proper conclusions.

Now that isn't to say that the story is perfect, that there are no plot holes or contradictions, that the pacing is always spot on, or that the things people have criticized the series for over the years (like very heavy use of info dumping) aren't there anymore. Depending on who you ask some or all of that stuff is still present, though I personally believe the updated translation has made a huge difference.

So when the smoke finally settles, the tissue box is empty, and the credits start to roll feel free to utilize Extra as a palate cleanser while we wait for Altered Fable. It'll be a good excuse to go back and hunt for all the various bits of foreshadowing and what not that was slipped in years in advance and you'll need something to feel good again anyway.

Visuals:

Despite being over a decade old Muv-Luv Alternative looks great. The sprite work, the backgrounds, the CGs, movies, and action sequences are top notch. It is pretty easy to notice some of the newer assets designed specifically for the All Ages version of the game (which is based off the Japanese console version) but they aren't harmful to the experience.

If you like what you saw in Extra and Unlimited you're going to get more of that, just on steroids.

Sound Design:

Alternative utilizes much of the same soundtrack that Extra and Unlimited used which helps create a very cohesive experience. There are a few new tracks that will pop up here and there but mostly it will be stuff you're already familiar with. They do an excellent job of picking the right tracks for the right moments.

Sound effects are about the same with some small improvements here and there. The mixing on the other hand is significantly improved from the original release.

Voice acting is still top notch, with the new additions to the cast doing a great job. For the first time, thanks to the official localization, we now get proper English during a couple of sequences and they're solid. Hopefully the option to toggle between the new English and the old beloved "Engrish" is added in the future.

System:

Much of what I said previously for Extra and Unlimited still holds true here. If you didn't like the mobile game influenced UI, the no save slot notes, the non adjustable text colors, and so on you're probably still not going to like it. But if you did like the fact that you can play the game on about any computer without it freezing, crashing, or just being difficult, good news! Alternative performed perfectly and I had no issues.

As for special features we get an Extras section that is mostly what you would expect. The CG Gallery is scrollable from the get go and the Chapter Select is very nice. But why no Jukebox? I feel like that was a mistake.

Now on to the most important part: the updated translation. Look, I am glad that Ixrec translated the trilogy back in the day. I really am because that was how I was first exposed to the series and it was amazing. But the difference between that fan translation and this version is quite frankly astounding. It is just better in every way. Everything actually makes sense, character motivations were "fixed," the political intrigue isn't full of contradictions, the hard science info dumps aren't full of nonsensical babble, and tone remains far more consistent. At times it felt like I was playing a different game and it was great. This is the best way to experience Muv-Luv Alternative.

Conclusion:

"One day, when you get to the point where you can laugh at your mistakes...I'm sure you'll rediscover whatever you've lost..."

In a game full of memorable lines this one always got to me. I'm sure it did for others. It marks a turning point of sorts, where you realize that things will get worse, much worse, before they're going to get better. That is the Alternative experience condensed into a single line and it is an experience that I think everyone should try. I can't promise you will like it, let alone love it, but I know I do. Hopefully you will too.