Harlequin

Haha, yes, let's spoiler tag these shall we? Well I hardly watch a lot of anime, but here are three of mine.

EP8

[spoiler=MLA]Hohohoho, yes, quite an impressive scene, wouldn't you say? No one would expect it. There's no way to simply guess on your own that it's going to happen. And even if you had heard about this scene from someone else beforehand, there's a very good chance it'll be shocking either way. It just happens all of a sudden. Perfect placement and execution of it, I must say. WELL DONE, âge. But hey, there are many more perfect moments in that VN, of course.

Yes, got those two walkthroughs. At first I was gonna use the map only, but it doesn't seem to show a decent order of getting the endings, I think? But yes, using the text walkthrough with the map as support on the other hand should be nice. And yes, I've started reading, just a bit though. The map does makes sense already. Good point about the full screen. Yes, it looks quite a bit worse in full screen since the original window is really small. Normally I'd like to run it in full screen for the sake of immersion, since nothing else is on the screen as a distraction when you do. However, in this case, there's also the walkthrough thing to consider... I'd have to alt-tab a lot in order to check the walkthough if I played in full screen - that'll just get annoying over time. I'll be following the text walkthough to the letter after all, so better to have the game window right next to that. Thank you.

YU-NO - The Girl that Chants Love at the Edge of the World So, let's find out how good this VN is then! Who knows, maybe it'll turn out to be one of my favourites in the end... I'm hoping for that, obviously. But it's got some tough competition to say the least.

Heh, perhaps I exaggerate some points a bit too much... well, yes, that happens. It just ends up that way with these greater VNs. In any case, changes can and will be made. I've already changed the other reviews plenty of times already. Gonna tweak this one a little bit now, since there's probably some typos in there as well anyway. Thank you.

ef - a fairy tale of the two. (VNDB) Opening movie: (Spoilers are all inside the spoiler box down at the bottom.) "In order to grant your dream, you must first have one." First of all, let's set up a counter, shall we? A counter for how many times I utilize the word "beautiful" in this little review. Because I'm sure anyone who has read this VN will agree with me when I say that there are plenty of things in it that can be considered beautiful. Well I'll just put the total amount of "beautiful" down at the bottom, for fun. That's three already by the way. But nevermind that. What exactly is ef - a fairy tale of the two? A very cozy and utterly beautiful romance visual novel. It often makes you feel good reading it, in several different ways though and for several different reasons. Sometimes it is heartwarming, sometimes it is very meaningful, while at other times it is just simply emotional. To be honest, I'm usually more interested in the "weird and mysterious" rather than just romance. But this VN was good for me, especially so during the last chapters. It does have its own share of mysteries, but most importantly, it really did tug at my heartstrings a lot at times - and I can really appreciate that. There's nothing quite like that moment when you feel like you have to cry, and actually end up doing so. Is it not nice that we here can experience something so emotional and special? Something that can move us like that? Well, I think so. So thank you for that, ef, as well as every other VN capable of achieving this. Well, let's go to the specifics for this pretty VN known as ef - a fairy tale of the two. Visuals/Art - Let's open up strong then, shall we? Oh yes, the visuals and art found in this VN are superb. When it comes to the overall art style, it is indeed very beautiful and of high quality. There's really nothing to complain about with it. That said, there are some more particular things that needs to be mentioned here... The CG art. Yes, there is a very large amount of CG in this VN. In fact, most of the time you'll be looking at CG rather than sprite art (for characters). But this is a good thing, because all of the CG art is just absolutely great. This is actually one of the reasons why this whole VN feels so good to read. The art alone manages to heighten the reading experience, making it feel more cozy and atmospheric. It's a feast for the eyes, to say the least. Now, let's not forget about the visual effects. Yes, visual effects. Mouths that move when characters talk, as well as blinking eyes. Simple, right? But the thing is, most VNs do not have these effects, yet they do make a bit of a difference. Oh and, you can see these effects in both the CG art as well as on the normal sprite art. It's a cool thing. Does it perhaps make it feel more "real"? I'm not entirely sure, I just know I like it a lot. Have you ever read Muv-Luv Alternative? If you have, then you're familiar with these effects. It's pretty nice, isn't it? More VNs should have these kinds of things. Also, I suppose the OP movies should be mentioned... Yes, they are very nice indeed. They are played quite late in the VN though, so it's hard to expect them to show up at all unless someone tells you about them beforehand. But yes, they're great. Sound/VA/Music - From one strong point to another it seems! The music in this VN is extraordinarily beautiful. Several songs are just so incredibly soothing and wonderful to listen to. There are actually a lot of songs in total. And yes, they do fit very well with the theme of the story in this VN. Violins, oh sweet violins, how I love thee... Could the music get better? Yes, although not by that much to be honest. I mean, listen to it yourself. Read this VN and listen to its songs, and you'll no doubt think that it's phenomenal as well. The music in ef really knows how to strengthen the impact and the emotions of each individual scene. Is there a happy and peaceful walking scene? There's a great song for that. Is there a beautiful moment of tranquility? There's a good song for that too... or more likely several good songs. A moment of sadness that is supposed to move you? Mm, there's something for that as well. As for voice acting, ef has got that covered nicely. You have the voice actress of Sumika (Muv-Luv Alternative) doing Miyako, then Kei who also has a cool voice for a tsundere, and personally I also thought Chihiro had a really sweet voice. Yuuko's was nice too. Well... I suppose that's a lot of characters mentioned, so let's just say that the voice acting was good across the board then. Characters - There are quite a lot of characters that matter actually. Or well, it felt like it. They are quite different from each other too. I'd say that there is a good chance that you can find one in there that you end up liking a lot. Should I mention them all? It feels kinda pointless to do that for some reason. Suffice it to say, the characters and their relationship towards each other are essential in a romance VN like this. Their dynamic and the different situations they find themselves in are ultimately what makes it fun to read. Of course, some are more interesting than others. I'll just give special mentioning to four of the characters you can find in ef. For a tsundere, Kei is very good I must say, but the storyline given to her is hardly that amazing. Same with Miyako, in that she's a good friendly heroine with a perfect voice to match that personality, but storyline-wise? Not so great. It's a shame to be honest. Both of these characters are nice, but the situations they're put in just aren't that special. Chihiro is a super moe character, and thankfully the story revolving around her is actually quite intriguing. Now, I'm not going to just say what it's about. It's better to see these things for yourself, if you haven't already. Anyway, she's possibly my favourite character of the bunch, or at the very least one of my favourites. And then there's Yuuko, of course. The character herself is overall pretty sweet and funny, with nice clothes (!). But I'd say it is her story that is the most impressive and beautiful. Plot/Story - A beautiful overall romance story, with both sad and happy moments in it. That was obvious right? I sure hope so. It's a story that will make you feel good in many different ways, and a story that can expertly evoke emotions in you. It's pretty linear though. Sure there are some bad endings to get, but it's still linear. You go from Chapter 1, to Chapter 2, to Chapter 3, and so on. From one couple, to the next couple. It's predictable that way, although mostly early on. Either way, that's just the nature of the main story of ef, so I can't really complain about it. It's just the way it works. And it obviously does work because the end result is something very sweet. Something I can complain about though is that the early chapters (1 & 2) are indeed very "normal" and really not that interesting. But that's pretty much it though. Because once you get to Chapter 3, the romance starts getting a lot more intriguing and more special. But most importantly, the last chapters in ef are fantastic. In the end, it was these chapters that ultimately made me think very highly of this VN. Because they grabbed me. They really are beautiful and well-written. To be honest, all of the above is subjective. You might like the first two chapters a lot. I didn't though. Still, anyone who has read ef would say that the last chapters of it are magnificent. Because they just are. You will think so too after you've read this VN, most likely. Screenshots (click the thumbnails) - Final words - So, ef - a fairy tale of the two... Is it the best VN I've ever read? No. But it is certainly one of the better ones, above plenty of others, thanks to the last chapters in it. That said, it is most likely the best romance VN I have personally read so far. Note that when I say romance VN, I mean a VN that has romance as the main focus. Other greater titles have romance too, but not necessarily as their main thing. This is an extremely beautiful VN, on all points. Art, music, story. It is something very impressive to see, hear, and experience. It's a VN that can easily move you. It made me cry. That actually has to mean something, you know? And don't just think that I cried for one reason alone. No, tears were shed for many reasons, sadness and happiness being two of them. Hopefully, your experience can be something similar! Who should read ef? Well, I'd say that anyone who likes to read VNs should try it, actually. But most importantly, anyone who is interested in romance stories in general should read it all the way to the end. It is no doubt one of the better ones out there when it comes to meaningful romance as well as emotional moments that can really get to you. But either way, it also has that beautiful art and music that shouldn't be missed by anyone at all. A beautiful, moving and emotional romance story - ef - a fairy tale of the two. - Read it, unless you hate crying and/or good romance. Pros: Cozy, exceptional art style, nice visual effects, large amount of good-looking CG art, beautiful music, sweet voice acting, good variety of characters, meaningful overall story, interesting romance, superb ending. Cons: Quite bland storyline-wise in the beginning (first two chapters). Harlequin gives ef - a fairy tale of the two. a rating of... 9.2/10 (Follows the rating scale on VNDB) Remember, this is only my opinion and experience with this visual novel. "Beautiful" counter: 15 (damn...) Here's the spoiler box with some spoilerish thoughts and impressions I got from reading this VN. Do not touch it if you have not fully read this VN already:

Oh yes, that's exactly what I was thinking as well, the first two chapters... Those storylines were just too "bland", you know? That's the impression I got anyway. The situations and events presented in them just weren't all that interesting. But hey, at least the first chapter had Sumika's VA (on Miyako), and the second chapter had Kei (tsundere). And agreed, the music is spectacular the whole way through. Also, the visuals of course... Mmm, yes... Huge amount of CG art as well as moving mouths and blinking eyes (!)

Hehe no, it got real good towards the last chapters, definitely. And well the Chapter 3 storyline was nice too (for me). Indeed... They don't really compare to the last ones, and that's probably the biggest negative for me with this VN.

ef - a fairy tale of the two. The last chapters of this VN were just... incredible. Many tears were shed, to say the least. Beautiful, beautiful ending. Meaningful and powerful moments. I think I'll have to see some of those moments again to be honest, because tears... are good. Well, gonna write something more about this experience now.

Oh right, reminds me of...

I give it something like 8.0/10 (close to phantasm). It's a very good VN that shouldn't be missed if you're into romance stories.

Yeeees, [spoiler=EP7]Very good episode indeed. This is what I wanted to see more of... Some nice and serious emotional moments. And there'll be more of it next episode of course. DES.

Yes, Ari approves of playing the fandisc straightaway for Houzuki's route! (it's very, very good and should not be missed) Just beware of the girl routes on the fandisc. Don't do what I did and try playing those first. No, go through Houzuki's route entirely. After that you can decide whether you want to bother with the other routes or not. They are not very exciting...

^ Emotions! Tears! Well I like it, 8.0/10 - Could be bigger.

Haha, right. I'll get to those someday too, especially that Higurashi + Umineko combo... and Steins;Gate... and Inganock + Sharnoth (Liar-soft!)... and... Yes, most of those titles.

Don't really care about it. I'm never reading any VN for the sake of that stuff anyway. VNs with their storytelling and their excellent ability to make you FEEL and think, is what made me interested in them. It's very different from playing normal games, which is what I did most of the time before. Again, thanks Katawa Shoujo... and Ever17... and Muv-Luv Alternative... and... Hrm, well, you get the point. That said, censoring can make the art look worse of course, which is still bad. So if I had to pick one, then Uncensored.

Well it is certainly true here with Ever17, Stàr. Why yes, the VN which iLT just finished is one of the finest translated VNs you can find today! A triumph in writing! A marvellous mystery VN filled to the brim with different sized twists and revelations! For someone who loves mysteries, it goes far and above just being good or great - it becomes something absolutely extraordinary. My favourite twist in any VN I've ever read can be found in there... But that's not so strange since it's my second most favourite VN aswell. It is in fact that good and should not be missed by anyone at all! Reading the true route equals having plenty of mindgasms. It is a real joy - AND YOU MUST READ IT STÀR!... ... Sorry. You know I wrote the above just to mess with you, but it's all actually true, so there you go!

Here you go: [spoiler=Muv-Luv Unlimited]I had a dream. A dream of people living innocently, without knowing the meaning of peace. I had a dream. A dream of people risking their lives and living for the sake of protecting something. I think...only God knows which it was. But I still ask myself...was there something I could've done? I wonder, was that why I came to this world in the first place? If this was my unavoidable destiny, then what exactly was I to this world? Sad partings...the fate of humanity...and my own... I still wonder if I could've changed them. If I'd had a strong will to protect what I was meant to protect...from the start... Then maybe there was something only I could've done. I think there was. So...so... At the very least...I'll live on...and try to protect everything. I want to survive and protect this planet everyone gave up on. I think I can do that. The people left behind...the feelings left behind...the people I love... I'll protect them all with my life. I should be able to do something. There must be something. Humanity won't lose. I'll never lose. Because...I'm here... Because...I'm...still here... It's found in the Readme.txt made by the translation group, inside the game folder.

Everytime ef (current VN for me) decides to play this song, I simply must hum along with it for a while... It's so pretty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHP3gqHdSR0

As you should have, yes. Look forward to it. You'll love it.

Harle no BAKAAAAA! Dear Harlequin, I've always admired your strong wit. Please! My body is ready! ♥ -Love, Senpai (not bad!) Harlequin is a shota who gets tied up by a futa and ends up mind-broken. (...) Gender: F, Age: 13, Hair: Long Purple, Weapon: Poison, Accs: Tattoo (cool character)

9/10, because George Takei. http://i.imgur.com/38UTz.jpg The one I got isn't much fun, still, it's from a favourite character of mine. Will find something better at some point.

No, haven't read it yet either. It'll be happy days when I start on that one, because it seems like a really, really intriguing read. Some sort of deep sci-fi story, oh yes, that's very good indeed. It's one of those VNs that has the potential to become a favourite, so there's many reasons to be excited about it. There are plenty of other unread quality VNs out there (for me)... but this one... this one will propably shine far more than them, in the end. I'm glad to hear that you liked it a lot. Because that lines up with what almost everyone seems to think about it, which is a good thing to me.