Visual Novel Cafe

[kzel]

Hello folks, are everyone well?

Had to replace my PC due to a rogue power surge last December. Didn't read much VN since then. This and the next few months look pretty exciting though (Doukyuusei, GIKEI, Yubisaki Connection, Kyonyuu Fantasy 4, etc.).

It's nice to see you back! Sorry to hear about your hardware troubles but thankfully (?) the last few months have been sparse in quality VN so I doubt you missed out on much.

Speaking of 同級生、I've played a bit of it (easy mode, Miho/Hiromi/Reiko) but I can't help but feel the game is from another era entirely, the script being almost 30 years old.

  Spoiler: Doukyuusei light spoilers 

Even though the remake's description mentioned editing some of the more questionable content, I still found myself puzzled more that a few times by the mentality and actions of the cast of characters at large. That sudden groping in the cinema was a big no-no, as well as the various impulsive kisses, and the game's stance is clearly that there should be no apologies for this kind of conduct (usually not even an option, but sometimes actually a bad choice). On the other hand there are some actually interesting relationship discussions here and there that make it worth the read, just not the one with the protagonist. As the game's executable and nickname suggests this is very much a nanpa game, in which you approach many different women at once (mandatory to progress in any route) and avoid any commitment as long as possible until the end of summer comes. This is not really my style but thanks to the remake event-jump system it's bearable enough, I can't imagine having to go through the 30 days multiple times with no hints given how intertwined some of the routes are. Unlike the game's title though, most of these women are older, with only a few actual doukyuusei, I wonder where the name originally comes from. In typical elf fashion NTR/cheating themes are very present which is something to be aware of. Lastly, this is really not a nukige, in fact the H-scenes have been a waste of art for the most part as you get a mix of "creepily click randomly on the heroine's body to progress" and extremely quick actual intercourse description. It didn't help that heroines fall in tears of regret after the act and start avoiding the protagonist in all the cases I've seen so far, with no possibility to improve the situation until the final choice which somehow makes all things better.

[amaimono]

Any recommendations of games similar artstyle, with realisitc older women like Studio Pork´s? Or VNs with "stairway to heaven" where theres a couple of lewd CGs before actual sex, to build tension? Thanks!

MILFs? Sounds like something ORCSOFT would have. Can't vouch for the plots, though:

• https://vndb.org/v14556
• https://vndb.org/v12914
• https://vndb.org/v10726

Other than those, I'd say:

• https://vndb.org/v25144 (use walkthrough to save headaches)
• https://vndb.org/v15498 (Misato's route only; great tension building, but artwise, probably not really up your alley and it gets tedious in the end)
• https://vndb.org/v16720 (can't vouch for the plot)
• https://vndb.org/v22066 (can't vouch for the plot)
• https://vndb.org/v19955 (decent tension building; so-so story; art may not be up your alley)
• https://vndb.org/v185 (the remake version; not many scenes per heroine, but it does have many full adult heroines)

It's nice to see you back! Sorry to hear about your hardware troubles but thankfully (?) the last few months have been sparse in quality VN so I doubt you missed out on much.

Speaking of 同級生、I've played a bit of it (easy mode, Miho/Hiromi/Reiko) but I can't help but feel the game is from another era entirely, the script being almost 30 years old.

  Spoiler: Doukyuusei light spoilers 

Even though the remake's description mentioned editing some of the more questionable content, I still found myself puzzled more that a few times by the mentality and actions of the cast of characters at large. That sudden groping in the cinema was a big no-no, as well as the various impulsive kisses, and the game's stance is clearly that there should be no apologies for this kind of conduct (usually not even an option, but sometimes actually a bad choice). On the other hand there are some actually interesting relationship discussions here and there that make it worth the read, just not the one with the protagonist. As the game's executable and nickname suggests this is very much a nanpa game, in which you approach many different women at once (mandatory to progress in any route) and avoid any commitment as long as possible until the end of summer comes. This is not really my style but thanks to the remake event-jump system it's bearable enough, I can't imagine having to go through the 30 days multiple times with no hints given how intertwined some of the routes are. Unlike the game's title though, most of these women are older, with only a few actual doukyuusei, I wonder where the name originally comes from. In typical elf fashion NTR/cheating themes are very present which is something to be aware of. Lastly, this is really not a nukige, in fact the H-scenes have been a waste of art for the most part as you get a mix of "creepily click randomly on the heroine's body to progress" and extremely quick actual intercourse description. It didn't help that heroines fall in tears of regret after the act and start avoiding the protagonist in all the cases I've seen so far, with no possibility to improve the situation until the final choice which somehow makes all things better.

Yeah, it really is a throwback to the 90s especially the awkward, unforgiving controls. Event jump is buggy as hell, it's recommended to use the location jump instead then trigger the event manually.

  Spoiler: As for the title... 

It likely refers to the main heroine, Mai. While looking for a guide, I read somewhere that the game is about the regrets of youth, so I'm not surprised with all that development. It's rather fun reading those silly, 90s jokes though.

Also, apparently it's been picked up by Shiravune for English release. There goes any hope for uncensored CGs...

[kzel]

Yeah, it really is a throwback to the 90s especially the awkward, unforgiving controls. Event jump is buggy as hell, it's recommended to use the location jump instead then trigger the event manually.

I haven't had too many issues with the even jump system, if only that you sometimes need to exit/reenter a location for the proper event to trigger. This is especially true as random events with minor characters can sometime stack up and prevent a character's icon from showing up on the map, despite the event being available. My biggest issue with location jump is that it doesn't actually advance time, which can take a while manually even if just sleeping all day at home. I actually got stuck in the school on the first day and didn't want to pay the old man on the rooftop, that was a fun night... Anyway I can safely say that it's mostly thanks to the event jump system that I actually got all the way to some of the endings, which are short but pretty nice. Browsing through the CG and event gallery it does look like only following event flags makes you miss out on some of the content (not only random encounters but actual story development), but there's a handy unlock function after clearing a character's route to fill up any blanks.

Somehow apart from the rare interesting relationship counseling session from an otherwise supreme jerk protagonist, I think I enjoyed hunting the mini-events that unlock through the quizzes the most throughout my time with the game so far. Mai may be main heroine but ... with even bigger jerk Kenji most likely playing a central role and all ... yeah no.

[amaimono]

I haven't had too many issues with the even jump system, if only that you sometimes need to exit/reenter a location for the proper event to trigger. This is especially true as random events with minor characters can sometime stack up and prevent a character's icon from showing up on the map, despite the event being available. My biggest issue with location jump is that it doesn't actually advance time, which can take a while manually even if just sleeping all day at home. I actually got stuck in the school on the first day and didn't want to pay the old man on the rooftop, that was a fun night... Anyway I can safely say that it's mostly thanks to the event jump system that I actually got all the way to some of the endings, which are short but pretty nice. Browsing through the CG and event gallery it does look like only following event flags makes you miss out on some of the content (not only random encounters but actual story development), but there's a handy unlock function after clearing a character's route to fill up any blanks.

Somehow apart from the rare interesting relationship counseling session from an otherwise supreme jerk protagonist, I think I enjoyed hunting the mini-events that unlock through the quizzes the most throughout my time with the game so far. Mai may be main heroine but ... with even bigger jerk Kenji most likely playing a central role and all ... yeah no.

Regarding the event jump... the Cat's Eye and the missed last train debacle is pretty traumatic in my case. Location jump only advances about 10-15 mins each time, which is helpful especially when there are so many events to trigger. After some trial and errors, I feel that the game mechanic actually encourages you to go and trigger as many event as you can in one day instead of focusing on one heroine. At the very least, it massively improves the playing experience doing it that way.

Most of the male characters in the game are jerks, including the roughly drawn ones in the background. The protagonist is more a rascal than a jerk, IMO.

[jczs97]

Thanks dude! I appreciate it

[amaimono]

Thanks dude! I appreciate it

On second thought, you can scratch out Doukyuusei Remake. While it has mainly enjoyable story, top notch artwork, and spot on voice acting, the sex scenes aren't really up to today's standard.
=================================================
Doukyuusei Remake review:

There were so many things to love about it. The gorgeous graphic, the excellent voice acting, the playful but mostly rock-solid writing, the thoughtfully done retro-style BGMs, etc.. The way all these stuff was put together in the novel part of the game was an exemplary director work.

Things sadly weren't as polished in the gameplay department. Classic mode should have been renamed as Masochist mode. It would have bamboozled even veterans since some of the choices they'd been making in the older versions would have been the wrong ones in the remake. The pathfinding could have also been better given the heavy emphasis on character movement and timekeeping. Even a simple point to point navigation (imagine Pacman where you can navigate by clicking the dots) would do. Money... was ultimately a red herring. The 50k you start with was more than enough to complete all the routes provided you stick to the event calendar.

The sex scenes... I kind of expected it, but oh dear. I've long crossed over to the darkside I no longer believe that sex scenes could make or break a vanilla-ish eroge, but... In a game where libido was the protagonist's main driving force, a game where most of the dialogues revolved around sex, a game with an actual, interactive sex scenes...

Have we become spoiled by the amount and quality of sex scenes in today's eroges? Had the focus been on something such as the protagonist's coming of age, I would have given it a 8.5/10. As it happened, though...

6/10

[kzel]

Doukyuusei Remake review:

Thanks for the review, while I haven't played any of 同級生 since my last writing about it, it pretty much confirms what I thought of it. Since we can't really speak of routes as the game is about doing as many of the heroines at once as possible, did any of the heroine's circumstances and development particular stand out from the rest? The few I played remained relatively shallow as far as romantic development (I'm just lonely, I always loved you, I fell in love at first sight, you were a dick to my friend but helped me out, I just want to have fun、I was just dumped) which fits the theme of casual sex and one night stand but isn't my cup of tea. I suppose any more involvement would trigger some degree of guilt (or satisfaction I guess, depending on one's fetish) for dumping the girls after a quick fuck.

Have we become spoiled by the amount and quality of sex scenes in today's eroges?

I don't know about spoiled, but things are certainly different now. Remember that in 1992 there was basically no internet, and many young children (including myself) would satisfy our curiosity with late night softcore porn movies hiding away from parents and magazines passed around in secret between friends. Much more was left to the imagination which explains why this game focuses a lot on the softcore aspects (peeking at panties, kissing/touching) while leaving the actual intercourse mostly to the reader's appreciation.

[amaimono]

Thanks for the review, while I haven't played any of 同級生 since my last writing about it, it pretty much confirms what I thought of it. Since we can't really speak of routes as the game is about doing as many of the heroines at once as possible, did any of the heroine's circumstances and development particular stand out from the rest? The few I played remained relatively shallow as far as romantic development (I'm just lonely, I always loved you, I fell in love at first sight, you were a dick to my friend but helped me out, I just want to have fun、I was just dumped) which fits the theme of casual sex and one night stand but isn't my cup of tea. I suppose any more involvement would trigger some degree of guilt (or satisfaction I guess, depending on one's fetish) for dumping the girls after a quick fuck.

Hmm, the most memorable part of a heroine's route is mainly something in the epilogue, since as you mentioned, the reasons to become a couple are mostly superficial.

  Spoiler: The standout things: 

• The silly fluctuation of the protagonist's strength (he beat up rapists, handily won a fight against a group of thugs, but ran out of breath carrying a thin girl on his back)
  
  
• All the male characters with sprites are sexual offenders, psychos, or both.
  
  
• Mai's epilogue. Too beautiful to put into words. If you haven't read it but still have the game installed, I suggest you download the 100% save then replay the scene. It was a gem.
  
  
• Misa's epilogue. She decided to attend a sport academy and leave the protagonist for a year. It was hard for both but their commitment to each other was apparent. Sending his lover off with hug and kiss on the platform, the protagonist stared at the departing train, uttering: "Sayonara, Misa.". What the hell!?
  
  
• Reiko's epilogue. Reiko divorced her husband and married the protagonist. They went on to open a small eatery. Joking with a customer, the protagonist said that when his time comes, he'd hold his wife's hands and tell her that he was happy. Many years later, in bed with an illness, the protagonist grabbed his wife's hand and muttered something. Feeling ominous, Reiko told him that she didn't catch that, over and over again. Oh, hang on, I forgot that you had read Reiko's route.

I don't know about spoiled, but things are certainly different now. Remember that in 1992 there was basically no internet, and many young children (including myself) would satisfy our curiosity with late night softcore porn movies hiding away from parents and magazines passed around in secret between friends. Much more was left to the imagination which explains why this game focuses a lot on the softcore aspects (peeking at panties, kissing/touching) while leaving the actual intercourse mostly to the reader's appreciation.

You put it better than I could. I was going to write about how adult materials are more accessible than ever today, but couldn't word it without sounding too harsh. I was going to write how people who played this game back in 90's would by now have kids and probably wouldn't have time to play it; are they even still interested in eroges; to whom does this cater really; etc., etc.... Yeah, way too harsh.

[jczs97]

I don't know about spoiled, but things are certainly different now. Remember that in 1992 there was basically no internet, and many young children (including myself) would satisfy our curiosity with late night softcore porn movies hiding away from parents and magazines passed around in secret between friends. Much more was left to the imagination which explains why this game focuses a lot on the softcore aspects (peeking at panties, kissing/touching) while leaving the actual intercourse mostly to the reader's appreciation.

I havent been playing VNs for that long but ive played both older and newer titles, and ive noticed a complete overcorrection from what you say to straight up inmediate sex, which sucks IMO. Now, you boot a game and within 5 minutes the MC´s inside of someone. I think the balance for good H-Content lies within the middle, with enough softcore to create tension and anticipation and enough explicit sex to bring climax and closure. VNs now seem to focus on the latter. Western porn game seem to apply that balance more now, so thats why ive been playing more western renpy VNs than japanese. The downside with western games is that 99% are made with 3D Daz models, and sometimes its pretty generic. Although japanese VN art also seems to be going thru a homogenization since now they all look the same too. Its hard to find VNs with distinct interesting artstyles.

[amaimono]

I havent been playing VNs for that long but ive played both older and newer titles, and ive noticed a complete overcorrection from what you say to straight up inmediate sex, which sucks IMO. Now, you boot a game and within 5 minutes the MC´s inside of someone. I think the balance for good H-Content lies within the middle, with enough softcore to create tension and anticipation and enough explicit sex to bring climax and closure. VNs now seem to focus on the latter.

You're talking about nukige (literally: a game to rub one off). They typically focus on sexually suggestive topics and contain a high amount of sex scenes. More than half of eroge title released by Japanese eroge companies each month are nukiges. Popular self-published titles (such as those by Studio Pork) are nearly always nukiges. Well, there's always light novels (though every LN (Chinese, Korean, Japanese) I've read so far sucks).

Western porn game seem to apply that balance more now, so thats why ive been playing more western renpy VNs than japanese. The downside with western games is that 99% are made with 3D Daz models, and sometimes its pretty generic.

Any western eroge recommendation?