Visual Novel Cafe

[jczs97]

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).

You´re 100% right, i should´ve made the distinction, sorry. Nukige mostly sucks now IMO, but there are good eroge coming out.

Any western eroge recommendation?

Of course! They vary from plot centric to sex centric, to somewhere in the middle.

When it comes to plot centric i would recommend:

- Acting Lessos by DrPinkCake - (https://vndb.org/v24865) This ones got a lot of choices and routes. Its also finished. A concurrent topic with western eroge, its that they more often that not unfinished and a work in progress.
- City of Broken Dreamers by Philly Games - (https://vndb.org/v25342) This one is a work in progress but the plot is legit and you´ve got a lot of choices and good h content. This is Philly´s second game, hes got a finished one called Depraved Awakening which is good too much the art is not as good.

Games that have balance between plot and h content:

- Summertime Saga by DarkCookie - This one isnt a full VN since its got some gameplay elements, also its very famous so you probably know of it. Its got a lot of content and a must play IMO. You can find it on his website https://summertimesaga.com/.
- Waifu Academy by Irphaeus - (https://vndb.org/v22589) - This games plot is quite interesting and the h content is hot AF. It takes pretty long to update but they are worth it. Its a WIP and you can find it on his patreon or f95zone.com.
- Taffy Tales by Uberpie - (https://vndb.org/v23645) - This one is like a darkes Summertime Saga with more fetishes, its pretty good and an update should be droppig soon. Its a WIP. You can find it on his patreon or f95zone.com.

Sex centric games:

- Max Life´s by Kuggazer. This one´s got a shit ton of H content and its pretty fun and hot. Require very little grind and has cheats. Not much too say about this one, just pure sex and fun. You cand find it on his patreon or or f95zone.com.
- Milfy City by ICstor. This is an awesome game but the dev is quite scummy to his patreons since he keeps charging money but hasn´t updated the game in a lot time. Its still got a lot of content and its reallly good. You can find it on f95zone.com.
- Flirty F by Oppai Comics. Its pretty hot and its got good animations, but calling it a game is kinda misleading. Its more of a free roaming slideshow. The H content its really good.

Hope you can try them out! If you´ve got any doubts, i can help.

[amaimono]

-snip-

Thanks a lot for the recommendations. That was truly a broadening one's horizons' stuff. I haven't really read any of it as I was busy looking at the CGs (old habit dies hard). Lol'd at how the 3D sculpted girls look like either celebrities or porn stars. Very impressive, in any case, especially the Cyberpunk look alike.

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I guess the most crucial step in reading a RenPy novel is to map your mouse wheel down to left click. Thank you, the maker(s) of AutoHotKey!

[Veshurik]

Ooh! Windmill Oasis doing a remaster of "Shukufuku no Campanella", calling it "Plus Stories".
I wonder what the differences between original game except x2 resolution graphics. New opening movie?

Also, new Campanella game also coming soon.

[kzel]

Ooh! Windmill Oasis doing a remaster of "Shukufuku no Campanella", calling it "Plus Stories".
I wonder what the differences between original game except x2 resolution graphics. New opening movie?

Also, new Campanella game also coming soon.

According to https://windmill.suki.jp/product/cam...ps/pstory.html, it'll add at least three new scenarios to the main game. It feels kinda strange to resurrect a "series" left forgotten for more than 10 years, both with a remake of the old game and a new game in the same setting (kinda, since the new game takes place apparently 100 years after the first, so probably few returning characters). I haven't played the old one, was it any good? Looks like a typical fantasy setting VN to me, albeit without any RPG/tactics gameplay that make Eushully or similar games bearable. I don't think I'd want to play such a game just for the story, but maybe I'm missing something. If anything 悠久のカンパネラ would be the occasion to hear Kitami Rikka in a main heroine role for once.

Speaking of Kitami Rikka, toneworks is remaking 星織ユメミライ with a perfect edition that will include, on top of the usual HD upscaling, the extra scenarios included in the console versions. While I'm glad to see one of my favorite games making a comeback, I'm also somewhat disappointed that even toneworks is starting to rely on remakes, and that they haven't announced a new project since Tsukikana (SSR being a fandisk doesn't count).

[amaimono]

tonework's always seem desperate for cash when they're not announcing a new title (concerts, limited-time themed cafes, merchandises, etc.) This is just a new way to get cash (presumably for their new, big budget title) since covid put a stop to most of these efforts. I'd kill for a Hatsukoi 1/1 remake though.

Aside from that, I really don't get tonework's preoccupation with the length of their scripts. To refer to a famous quote: "perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away".

[Veshurik]

About "Shukufuku no Campanella"... (also, I didn't know it has anime series!!!).
I think it's remaster. not remake, because the art is old back to 2009, just upscaled x2 (1600x1200 resolution).
Also, I don't know if additional stories will include new CG art in same style, would be interesting to see.

But seeing Ko-cha's art now and then... I think 2009 art also have some nice charm, I find it really attractive.
Also, some guy even translated the original game until the opening movie, wow. I think I need at least to try it...

[amaimono]

But seeing Ko-cha's art now and then... I think 2009 art also have some nice charm, I find it really attractive.
Also, some guy even translated the original game until the opening movie, wow. I think I need at least to try it...

Agreed, Windmill has that one artist which artstyle look really nice and solid (by solid, it means that the artist could draw a character from any angle and it would look right). I remember wanting to try Witches's Garden & Campanella for the longest time, but somehow there's always something which prevented that (more appealing titles, lack of free space, just busy with real life, etc.). Maybe it's the art after all, which, as nice looking as it is, stands right on the borderline between loli and not loli to me.

[kzel]

Time for some more comments on newly or not so newly released VNs! This will be a short one because I didn't have time to play much in the past month.

日向千尋は仕事が続かない : This had all the ingredients to make a game I would enjoy : a writer whose work I appreciated a lot, adult romance, single heroine format so no distracting common route and harem atmosphere, a story focused almost exclusively on the heroine and with a mostly serious protagonist, old-SMEE's brand of humor that doesn't go too over the top with shimoneta, good art, and developed by Smile who made a few games I liked. And yet, all I can say after finishing it is that is was okay. Maybe I've grown old, maybe Hayase Yuu has lost his touch (probably the former), but this game never came close to generating the kind of feelings I had when playing say Fureraba. The game kinda continues in drama format but I don't think I'll listen to them, I've never been a fan of audio-only works anyway.

  Spoiler: 日向千尋は仕事が続かない spoilers 

One of the big reasons behind my mixed feelings about the game is that the relationship never really felt on equal terms. While the game does begin with the heroine suddenly inviting the protagonist over, what follows is lead almost exclusively by the protagonist, and pretty quickly the theme shifts from "almost lovers" to "fixing the heroine". It doesn't help that while Chihiro grows a lot thanks to the protagonist's careful observation and useful advice, the protagonist... doesn't really grow up at all. Of course you have the typical faint-from-overwork event that is almost inevitable in adult style romance VNs (Japan does love overwork), but it is treated so lightly and without a hint of self-reflection that I can't say it counts. For the most part, rather that building a life together, it felt like the protagonist was simply taking over Chihiro's life, telling her how to handle human relationships, going as far as suggesting her a job conveniently close to him so he can keep a eye on her and "support" and "guide" her whenever she needs help. I suppose this is kinda like that thing amaimono mentioned about Amakano 2 with the subtle manipulation, that prevented me from genuinely enjoying the game even as the heroine's situation improves. As far as the romance is concerned, it's pretty obvious and indeed, it turns out that both where in love with each other from the start (actually before that, from their high school days) but never garnered enough courage to confess. It's fine, but as an adult romance it's somewhat of a missed opportunity to rely on such a classic trope. Ecchi scenes weren't that good, at least I didn't really enjoy any of them, mostly because they reflect the domination aspect even further due to Chihiro's sexual preference (M), because situations lack variety, and because for most of these scenes, rather that love-making and communication, they're more about consoling each other and forgetting one's trouble for a time. Which is fine, I just don't find that very exciting.

恋する彼女の不器用な舞台 (Mayuu) : Maybe I shouldn't have gone for the main heroine first, because going for any other in retrospect feels really bad for her given the length she will go for the protagonist. Once past the initial harem situations it was actually pretty good, and the drama more focused on the couple's relationship than theater and plays. I can't say I'm too happy about the final solution the game chooses (basically Mayuu, exclusively for the protagonist's sake, agrees to do something she otherwise hates), but this came as a result of her wanting more involvement in the protagonist's life and dream, and was probably the most immediate way to achieve that. As far as making a life out of this situation, I don't know...

[amaimono]

Things get really busy these past few weeks. I tried some of jczs97's recommendations (and some other ones), but Western eroges are really choice intensive compared to their Eastern counterpart. I skipped those which look like a time sink.

City of Broken Dreamers: The gorgeous renders in this managed to put me off hand drawn art for a while. Unfortunately, it's not that good once I get around to read it. The writing is rather crude, like something out of a teen fiction. When put right next to the top notch visual, the difference is startling. The animation choice is strange on ocassions, but it's really the writing which bring it down.

Melody: There are a few heroines, but only the titular character gets a proper route. The plot twists are frequently too good to be true and the protagonist tends to be too passive (despite the bucketful of choice he has to make all the time). Faithfulness is scarce in the land of milk and honey, but the sex scenes, short as they are, often manage to get things right. Worth reading even if it's just for the scenes.

Milfy City: Nice looking with a lot of humor. The gameplay is rough, as you're practically thrown out in the wilderness with no objectives. The writing is nothing special, but the lighthearted vibe mitigates a lot of its shortcoming.

Summertime Saga: Not really a fan of the art. I bailed out when the anthropomorphic cow girl appeared.

[kzel]

More comments on recently read stuff :

ユキイロサイン (Miku, Kako) : Coming into this with zero experience from previous Wonder Fool games, only because I remember liking Aonatsu Line from the same writer. This one is actually quite similar in a lots of ways to Aonatsu Line, especially in Miku's route that follows a very similar structure to the one route I read of it. As I said I liked Aonatsu Line (Kotorii Yuuka voicing the main heroine helped a lot) so that's not a bad thing to take from it, but I can't say I enjoyed Yuki Iro Sign nearly as much. There are problems with the writing, such as the very frequent and abrupt perspective changes, which are not necessarily bad but are used almost exclusively for the one thing I disliked the most about the game : overly explaining the situation and everyone's feelings. Imagine you have a situation in a couple, and before its resolution the scene shifts to the sub-cast explaining to each other what each feels and why at length, and debating what they should or should not do. This completely disconnected me emotionally from the current predicaments, which is a shame as said problems are rather interesting otherwise. Story-wise, I think this is the first time I actually disliked the countryside environment, as it emphasizes all the things I hate about it : excessive meddling, instant rumors, no privacy, close-knit community that shares everything. That last one is really apparent as whenever anything happens to one of the members of the group of friends, the rest are instantly in the know as random classmates and adults alike will contact them immediately. Anyway, the one thing the game has got for it is actually, quite like Aonatsu Line, the rare but very intense arguments and quarrels it presents. While not quite on the level of that one fight scene in Aonatsu Line, at least in Miku, and to a lesser degree in Kako's route there were some memorable lines. Again it's a shame that most of the tension these fights generate is deflated in long-winded explanation sessions. I'm not sure it's worth recommending the game just for that, but it's something to keep in mind.

Air (PSP version, all routes but Kanna) : Lately I've been having troubles feeling much while playing VNs, and starting to wonder if I had really become a bitter old man. What better way to test the theory than go through one of Key's early works. The result was beyond my expectations, I don't remember actually shedding tears so much in a long long time. The now well-known Key nakige formulae (get the reader attached with light hearted comedy before hitting them with the drama hammer) is in full effect, but despite seeing the setup play out from a mile away I still couldn't help myself but fall for it all over again. Of course, the game is not perfect, and some routes are definitely better than others. Everything surrounding Misuzu was extremely emotional, especially the ending of it, which managed to make me shed tears of both sadness and happiness at the same time, quite the unique experience! Kano's route was pretty good, probably the most "normal" route and arguably the one with the happiest ending of all. Minagi's route was enjoyable too but I think the ending segment dragged on a little too much and the game missed a few good stopping points along the way. I skipped Kanna's route because I had an initial rejection reaction to its protagonist, and let's be honest I was just incredibly eager to return to Misuzu, ever since I finished her Dream segment from the beginning. I may, or may not, come back to Kanna, as it seems it may explain some stuff. Definitely recommended, especially in its console version as the voice acting otherwise absent in the PC version is really good.