Recent reviews by Magicflier

The illustrations, original soundtrack and music, sprite animation, and the chemistry of the heroines with the protagonist are spectacular.

I abhorred Shiina though, and this is from someone that adored mascot characters from other Key games, like Ayu from Kanon and Kud from Little Busters. They don't even dive in as to why she is unable to speak coherent sentences, so I can't figure out what kind of creature Shiina is supposed to be.

The routes has fallen short of my expectations. There is good drama that starts off each route, but the mystery is never fully dived into. The story just lightly touches the surface of the mystery despite constantly hinting at something dark happening behind the scenes. This just leaves me with more questions rather than feeling satisfied with the endings.

It hurts to say this since this is a pre-Key game and I am a Key fan, but I personally can't recommend this game as a predecessor that could offer a valuable experience. The bar for Misaki's route was raised pretty high though amongst the other routes, so I don't regret completing her route.

Personal visual novel score: 6.1/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Little Busters is a visual novel that focuses it's existence on maturity from childhood. To strengthen bonds with others, or to strengthen your own mentality, this is a tale about that. There are six routes when you start, and since Little Busters follows the same rules as Clannad, there is an enforced ending-completion order before you can reach the beginning of the true story.

This is the complete version, so it also includes the three additional routes from Little Busters EX that can be unlocked when you complete all the routes. So yes, it has Saya available to be unlocked!

Personal visual novel score: 9.6/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: Over 50 hours

{ note: I finished reading this visual novel outside steam release }

Koropokkur In Love is a short story about a bittersweet romance of a fairy who wishes to become human and fall in love, and a protagonist that dreams of opening his own maid cafe. Simple short story. I was initially interested because Itaru Hinoue was the character artist for this visual novel, but sadly, there is no voice acting.

Koropokkur In Love is a Kinetic Visual Novel.

The opening movie was nice and all but sadly, I do not recommend this visual novel as it wasn't that great of story in comparison with it's $15 price tag. It might be worth considering if it was under $5, otherwise... I suggest you purchase something else (unless you are a big fan of the artist).

Personal visual novel score: 4.7/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 2 ~ 10 hours

AoKana is about a boy who was traumatized by something called talent, and is trying to move on from petty jealously of players that have what he tends to claim as 'talent'. He has to work with a few girls that have their own issues while dragging his trauma along with him. The story itself as a whole is heartwarming, and albeit the drama bits it focuses a whole lot on the positive outlook of sportsmanship; and with such wonderful BGM to supplement, it manages to create scenes that can shake you and leave you in awe. When I say this, I am particularly talking about scenes that give you chills as you watch different matches between characters. The idea behind this sport 'Flying Circus' is genius if you ask me, I wasn't let down at all. I felt like I was sucked into the world for every other segment with a match.

I personally believe Asuka's route is the best of the other routes combined.

Personal visual novel score: 8.5/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 30 ~ 50 hours

This visual novel, also known as Sanoba Witch, is about a boy who grew up with an ability to taste a person's emotions. Jealously, irritation, happiness, sadness, he grew up with such emotions surrounding him as he grew older dulling his own emotions. Because he can read the emotions, he tends to be overly conscious about how the other party is acting towards him, and tries to get on their good side at all times so he doesn't have to taste the bitterness of negative emotions.

The story is basically about such a boy meeting a girl in a similar state, a girl that is the polar opposite of him, a girl that he is unable to understand even with his ability, and a girl that he ends up wanting to read more into because it stirs his curiosity. It's a really fun visual novel that sets itself as a pure-love story, with a lot of comedy and slice-of-life drama here and there. It's less something you'd cry over, but more you'd feel the sugar and fluffy from the interactions between the protagonist and the main cast.

Personal visual novel score: 7.7/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 30 ~ 50 hours

You will need to read the first Muv-Luv to deal with this one. Alternative is a direct continuation of Muv-Luv Unlimited, and is basically a non-stop train of angst and despair. You'll fall deeper and deeper into despair the more you read, yet you can't stop. No significant choices, it's a one-way ticket to hell.

Personal visual novel score: 9/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: Over 50 hours

{ note: previously finished reading this visual novel on first steam release }

This visual novel is split into two separate stories: "Extra" and "Unlimited".

Muv-Luv Extra is basically a bundle of nonsensical school life-related fun; while Muv-Luv Unlimited leans to an alternate line with a more severe setting, which still retains it's upbeat atmosphere. Both are personally very fun to read through. Takeru is such a daydreaming idiot, and the cast have such a colorful range of personalities that clashes are unavoidable. Lots of moments to have a great laugh, and cliches to cringe to. Wonderful varied multiple routes and its endings for many of the heroines to take in Extra like a normal high school romance, albeit for Unlimited, it's a one-way track to the end.
Sumika remains the best girl.

Personal visual novel score: 7.1/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 30 ~ 50 hours

{ note: previously finished reading this visual novel on first steam release }

The last portion of the Grisaia trilogy, revolving around Yuuji. The past that haunts Yuuji will have to be overcome, and everyone with their own plans will converge into a single point. It’s a non-stop train, so I never find any good spots to stop reading and save. If you read the previous two, this is a must-read for the conclusion to it. There are no choices at all really.

Personal visual novel score: 8/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 10 ~ 30 hours

This visual novel, known as SubaHibi (short for Subarashiki Hibi) is about the stressful life at school and the relationships that come out of it. It's setting is basically based on that but it will go further off-track as you read through it. You should be warned this visual novel contains bullying, suicide, madness, supernatural beings, and can go as far as to jump between reality and maladaptive daydreaming. Everyone perceives things completely differently depending on their outlook. This visual novel's whole being is basically just that. Its like reading a broken toy that you can still have fun playing with.

Contains six routes, and every one of these routes retells the original route through the perspective of a different character. Slowly, very slowly, unveiling what is truly the truth. It's not your usual visual novel as you can read from more than a few perspectives for a quite an amount of time, so give it a try.

Personal visual novel score: 7.6/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: 30 ~ 50 hours

Root Double was originally written and directed by Takumi Nakazawa, a famous writer who also directed famous VNs such as Never7, Ever17, and Remember11; also known as the Infinity Series. If you are familiar of such works, then Root Double is an instant-recommendation for you. If not, then continue reading below.

Root Double is a visual novel about two protagonists struggling to escape a closed facility and trying to solve the mystery that created such a situation. You get to choose to follow between two of the protagonist's perspective by two routes, and witness what the protagonist unveils in the course of the route. It is meant to be a suspenseful and mysterious VN, with a touch of slice-of-life that takes a large chunk of the prologue. Accept these facts and you'll enjoy the VN! It has A LOT of bad ends, and the choices to branch out routes are endless. I wouldn't be surprised if you hit a bad end in the first day that passed in the game.

Personal visual novel score: 7.4/10
https://vndb.org/u40815

Known length of Visual Novel: Over 50 hours