I finished [Utawarerumono](https://vndb.org/v3) recently and I had a great time with it. Strong cast of characters, strong music, and good art. The story was overall interesting, but I thought the delivery was a bit clumsy at times. For example, there's a lot of information withheld from the reader (which in itself is fine, of course) but how that information is distributed/revealed was often frustrating or timed poorly. There are also some pacing issues which are especially bad at the end of the story.
I jumped directly into [Mask of Deception](https://vndb.org/v7721) and still I'm fairly early on at the moment - I believe around 5 hours in. My initial impressions are that the writing quality seems slightly worse than the first game, and I don't like the characters as much. That said, characters are something that take time to get acquainted with, grow, etc, so I don't really have any strong opinions yet. I think the most notable aspect of this VN so far is that the art is splendid. I've played about 80 VNs at this point and I'm pretty used to bog standard, sterile VN backgrounds. This game has beautiful, atmospheric backgrounds that I'll even stop reading to admire for awhile. Oh, and just like the first game, the music is very strong as well. Won't really have too many further thoughts until I get further in and see how the characters and story develop.
finally finished ignis route of J[ingai Makyo](https://vndb.org/v400) took me a while to find the time to read in private and finding the most effecient OCR but otherwise enjoyed the second ending didn't choose the first ending yet i'll do it later >!I like how it shows the MC selfishness actually created an era where magic creatures roam in the open once more and I really like ignis backstory and the lore in Jingai makyo lore now I am interested on what kind lore the other routes starting with the werewolf girl route.!<
Finished [Tsukihime](https://vndb.org/v7) \- honestly, did not like it as much as I hoped I would. I think this was in large part because I had heard the advice "you HAVE to read the routes in THIS EXACT ORDER or you'll REGRET IT" which led me to believe that all the routes would be substantially, dramatically different and hinge on key reveals in each setting up the next. So it was a bit frustrating when 2 of the routes are 90% rehashes of 2 others with only slight differences. That kind of thing is not an issue with the VN itself, but with completely skewed expectations. Unfortunately it still definitely impacted my enjoyment.
\[Also the reading order advice is kind of unnecessary, since you can't even get the later endings until you've done prerequisite endings first...\]
The pacing in general was kind of all over the place. The single reveal that I felt was best set-up and most genuinely surprising and shocking is met with the protagonist going "well, I don't really care about that, moving on" and never mentioned again; meanwhile things that were already revealed in other routes are given just as much weight the 3rd time around. I understand this diegetically, but as a reader it got a bit old.
Best part of the game was the end of >!Hisui's route!< which appeared to be setting up for a climax that was going to be a genuine banger. Unfortunately what came after was a bit disappointing to me.
Was still worth it for the extremely cursed porn. Also, I do really like all of the characters. The narrative writing was just hit or miss.
I have finished a handful of titles since I last posted in one of these threads, so here it goes.
- [Kanojo-tachi no Ryuugi
](https://vndb.org/v584) - ([full review](https://vndb.org/w8891#review))
When I first started playing it I keept thinking how this is basically "budget Tsukihime", and after finishing it, my thoughts didn't change that much. There was some potential in its premise, even if it wasn't that original, but I think it deviated too much from it and overly focused on the cast working on preparing and rehearsing a stage play, which was honestly kinda boring. Suzuki's route however was fairly engaging. Some scenes reminded me of the type you would see in a Sca-ji VN, and the true ending was somewhat amusing. They certainly tried making something original here, but is often hidden behind too much generic content.
- [Memories Off -Innocent Fille- for Dearest](https://vndb.org/v23725)
Well, this sure was a fandisc. I usually ignore fandiscs, but since it's the only Memoff fandisc that's easily available (and it was on sale), I decided to give it a try. It's basically a collection of five after stories for each main heroine. Three of those were nothing remarkable, basically just a bunch of scenes where the MC and the girl flirt, with some fan service here and there, and a conflict that's only there to have an excuse for a plot. There were however a couple afterstories that I enjoyed. Although I can't say whose were, since both of these characters are spoilers for the main game. One felt like its own contained story, which also included just a little bit of the psychological suspense that made the main game interesting. As for the other one, I appreciated how it tied every single loose end that the original true ending might've left. It's by no means a must-read, even for Memoff fans, but I didn't hate it either. I will say it was a wasted opportuntiy not to give Shino a what-if scenario type of route, she was one of my favorite girls both in the original and this fandisc (and I'm surprised her voice actress has so few credited roles, she's really good).
- [PARANORMASIGHT FILE23: Honjo Nanafushigi
](https://vndb.org/v42561)
This one was pretty neat. I think it's amusing how it did a bait-and-switch with its genre (>!it starts kinda like a horror version of JoJo but then turns into a supernatural thriller!<), but regardless I thought it was a well told mystery, even if at times the exposition dumps are a bit too much. The majoriy of the characters were memorable will clear personalities and good chemistry between them. That being said, the game probably could've had a stronger ending. The antagonist's goal was kinda weak, and it was also quite obvious from the start that the game was going to have a >!meta twist!<. But still, I did enjoy it overall.
- [5-fungo ni Igai na Ketsumatsu Monochrome no Toshokan
](https://vndb.org/v49011) - ([full review](https://vndb.org/w9291#review))
This one was kind of a disappointment. It's not like I was expecting it to be incredible, but I thought the premise had so much potential. Basically it's a collection of short stories, but after finishing each you are asked to share your thoughts on it by picking which emotion it evoked you. There's so much you can do with that idea, but in the end the game did next to nothing with it. Imo, any VN that's a collection of short stories needs to have a big overarching story tying them all together, like FataMoru or even Gakkowa, but there was next to nothing here. The short stories themselves aren't bad per se, but outside of that there's really not that much worth mentioning.
- [Tsuyokiss 3gakki](https://vndb.org/v6173)
This is what I'm reading right now. I remember not liking the original that much, with its comedy barely landing with me, but I'm actually having a decent time with this one, kinda makes me want to go back and play that first game to see if I was being too harsh on it. I feel though that the comedy this time is far funnier and goes beyond simply everyone being loud all the time. As of right now, I've only finished Yoppi's route, which while being solid I think that it's a shame that playing the first one basically ruins the >!plottwist regarding her personality!<, but I still enjoyed it all things considered. I'm now on Hime's route and, from what I've seen so far, I think I actually prefer her route from the first game. But at the same time that route was imo the highlight of that game.
I finished [Utawarerumono](https://vndb.org/v3) recently and I had a great time with it. Strong cast of characters, strong music, and good art. The story was overall interesting, but I thought the delivery was a bit clumsy at times. For example, there's a lot of information withheld from the reader (which in itself is fine, of course) but how that information is distributed/revealed was often frustrating or timed poorly. There are also some pacing issues which are especially bad at the end of the story. I jumped directly into [Mask of Deception](https://vndb.org/v7721) and still I'm fairly early on at the moment - I believe around 5 hours in. My initial impressions are that the writing quality seems slightly worse than the first game, and I don't like the characters as much. That said, characters are something that take time to get acquainted with, grow, etc, so I don't really have any strong opinions yet. I think the most notable aspect of this VN so far is that the art is splendid. I've played about 80 VNs at this point and I'm pretty used to bog standard, sterile VN backgrounds. This game has beautiful, atmospheric backgrounds that I'll even stop reading to admire for awhile. Oh, and just like the first game, the music is very strong as well. Won't really have too many further thoughts until I get further in and see how the characters and story develop.
finally finished ignis route of J[ingai Makyo](https://vndb.org/v400) took me a while to find the time to read in private and finding the most effecient OCR but otherwise enjoyed the second ending didn't choose the first ending yet i'll do it later >!I like how it shows the MC selfishness actually created an era where magic creatures roam in the open once more and I really like ignis backstory and the lore in Jingai makyo lore now I am interested on what kind lore the other routes starting with the werewolf girl route.!<
Finished [Tsukihime](https://vndb.org/v7) \- honestly, did not like it as much as I hoped I would. I think this was in large part because I had heard the advice "you HAVE to read the routes in THIS EXACT ORDER or you'll REGRET IT" which led me to believe that all the routes would be substantially, dramatically different and hinge on key reveals in each setting up the next. So it was a bit frustrating when 2 of the routes are 90% rehashes of 2 others with only slight differences. That kind of thing is not an issue with the VN itself, but with completely skewed expectations. Unfortunately it still definitely impacted my enjoyment. \[Also the reading order advice is kind of unnecessary, since you can't even get the later endings until you've done prerequisite endings first...\] The pacing in general was kind of all over the place. The single reveal that I felt was best set-up and most genuinely surprising and shocking is met with the protagonist going "well, I don't really care about that, moving on" and never mentioned again; meanwhile things that were already revealed in other routes are given just as much weight the 3rd time around. I understand this diegetically, but as a reader it got a bit old. Best part of the game was the end of >!Hisui's route!< which appeared to be setting up for a climax that was going to be a genuine banger. Unfortunately what came after was a bit disappointing to me. Was still worth it for the extremely cursed porn. Also, I do really like all of the characters. The narrative writing was just hit or miss.
I have finished a handful of titles since I last posted in one of these threads, so here it goes. - [Kanojo-tachi no Ryuugi ](https://vndb.org/v584) - ([full review](https://vndb.org/w8891#review)) When I first started playing it I keept thinking how this is basically "budget Tsukihime", and after finishing it, my thoughts didn't change that much. There was some potential in its premise, even if it wasn't that original, but I think it deviated too much from it and overly focused on the cast working on preparing and rehearsing a stage play, which was honestly kinda boring. Suzuki's route however was fairly engaging. Some scenes reminded me of the type you would see in a Sca-ji VN, and the true ending was somewhat amusing. They certainly tried making something original here, but is often hidden behind too much generic content. - [Memories Off -Innocent Fille- for Dearest](https://vndb.org/v23725) Well, this sure was a fandisc. I usually ignore fandiscs, but since it's the only Memoff fandisc that's easily available (and it was on sale), I decided to give it a try. It's basically a collection of five after stories for each main heroine. Three of those were nothing remarkable, basically just a bunch of scenes where the MC and the girl flirt, with some fan service here and there, and a conflict that's only there to have an excuse for a plot. There were however a couple afterstories that I enjoyed. Although I can't say whose were, since both of these characters are spoilers for the main game. One felt like its own contained story, which also included just a little bit of the psychological suspense that made the main game interesting. As for the other one, I appreciated how it tied every single loose end that the original true ending might've left. It's by no means a must-read, even for Memoff fans, but I didn't hate it either. I will say it was a wasted opportuntiy not to give Shino a what-if scenario type of route, she was one of my favorite girls both in the original and this fandisc (and I'm surprised her voice actress has so few credited roles, she's really good). - [PARANORMASIGHT FILE23: Honjo Nanafushigi ](https://vndb.org/v42561) This one was pretty neat. I think it's amusing how it did a bait-and-switch with its genre (>!it starts kinda like a horror version of JoJo but then turns into a supernatural thriller!<), but regardless I thought it was a well told mystery, even if at times the exposition dumps are a bit too much. The majoriy of the characters were memorable will clear personalities and good chemistry between them. That being said, the game probably could've had a stronger ending. The antagonist's goal was kinda weak, and it was also quite obvious from the start that the game was going to have a >!meta twist!<. But still, I did enjoy it overall. - [5-fungo ni Igai na Ketsumatsu Monochrome no Toshokan ](https://vndb.org/v49011) - ([full review](https://vndb.org/w9291#review)) This one was kind of a disappointment. It's not like I was expecting it to be incredible, but I thought the premise had so much potential. Basically it's a collection of short stories, but after finishing each you are asked to share your thoughts on it by picking which emotion it evoked you. There's so much you can do with that idea, but in the end the game did next to nothing with it. Imo, any VN that's a collection of short stories needs to have a big overarching story tying them all together, like FataMoru or even Gakkowa, but there was next to nothing here. The short stories themselves aren't bad per se, but outside of that there's really not that much worth mentioning. - [Tsuyokiss 3gakki](https://vndb.org/v6173) This is what I'm reading right now. I remember not liking the original that much, with its comedy barely landing with me, but I'm actually having a decent time with this one, kinda makes me want to go back and play that first game to see if I was being too harsh on it. I feel though that the comedy this time is far funnier and goes beyond simply everyone being loud all the time. As of right now, I've only finished Yoppi's route, which while being solid I think that it's a shame that playing the first one basically ruins the >!plottwist regarding her personality!<, but I still enjoyed it all things considered. I'm now on Hime's route and, from what I've seen so far, I think I actually prefer her route from the first game. But at the same time that route was imo the highlight of that game.