Visual Novels

So, anyone play any? For those that don't know what a visual novel is, it's basically what it says. A book with pictures, and is generally interactive. So think of those old choose your own adventure books, it's like that, but prettier.

List of the ones I've played:

• Analogue: A Hate Story
• Magical Diary
• Katawa Shoujo
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsuisou
• Phoenix Wright (series)
• Lux-Pain
• Morning Star
• RPG Shooter: Starwish

So yeah. I'm probably the only one.

I've actually been interested in these, but never had the inclination or money to buy any, would you recommend them, or give a brief explanation as to how you 'play' one?

Well it really depends on which one/s you want to play. Basically, you're following a story, and making choices which may affect the final outcome (depends, again, on which ones you play). Generally they fall under one or more additional genres, such as adventure, RPG etc.

One of my current favourites is Magical Diary. It's more geared towards girls, but as long as you don't mind playing as a girl it should be no problem for a guy to play too. It's basically a fantasy school life simulation. You go to a school for witches and wizards, and have to choose what classes to attend, and how you handle dealing with your classmates/teachers and such. You're also given examinations every so often, in which you need to use the spells you've learned in order to pass.

Most VNs are quite different from one another, so it's hard to explain how to play them beyond saying follow the storyline, and make your own choices. I'd definitely recommend them if you like any kind of anime or reading at all. A good website is http://renai.us/ which provides a rather comprehensive list of freeware VNs (Legitimate downloads, too, no illegal here).

There are quite a few VNs made for consoles, but few actually get translated. Two of the best for the "full" consoles are Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsuisou, and Clannad. Both based on popular anime series' and brilliantly-made games, but you will need to know Japanese to play them properly. Consoles don' have language patches, after all. If you have a DS (or an emulator, though I'm not endorsing piracy >.> <.<) try the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series. They're played from the point of view of a defense attorney, and you have to find evidence to prove your clients are not guilty, in addition to arguing your case by means of multiple-choice situations. Another "good" one is Lux-Pain, though the translation is terrible. It was handled by a shitty company, so the resulting English-language version is hard to follow. Alternatively, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is widely touted as one of the best handheld visual novels in the market, though I haven't yet had a chance to try it out.

If you do decide to play any, don't hesitate to ask for help or recommendations.

That sounds pretty neat, I've never heard of them before. I might have to look into them.

I wonder if I could find some sort of classic high fantasy or dystopian VN, I'll certainly have to have a look. Anime is not so much my thing, and there's a somewhat specific demographic towards my tastes when it comes to RPG's, but I think if there's some sort of market dealing in fantasy and dystopia, I could really get behind those.

I wanna play Phoenix Wright >.>

because the fan translations suck hard

That sounds pretty neat, I've never heard of them before. I might have to look into them.

You totally should. The site I mentioned is free, so there's no reason not to

I wonder if I could find some sort of classic high fantasy or dystopian VN, I'll certainly have to have a look. Anime is not so much my thing, and there's a somewhat specific demographic towards my tastes when it comes to RPG's, but I think if there's some sort of market dealing in fantasy and dystopia, I could really get behind those.

They're not all based on anime, but the majority of big ones are either based on anime, or subsequently had animes created based upon them. Another big name would be Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni.

I wanna play Phoenix Wright >.>

because the fan translations suck hard

*coughromscough*

Oh, trust me, i know about it

laptop is a little too crappy to run a DS emulator [even with sound off and other speed tricks]

at least, that was way back when... idk if the emulators have gotten better since

Well, no harm in trying again, is there? :3

Also this. Cutest pose ever.

Oooo, sessy

You has a lot of runnin programs o.o

Very. She's my favourite RI so far. Even if she does take a lot of work to actually date.

Yep. And what you don't see is the other 5-6 windows I also had running at the time. I have a high-power computer, so I like to make sure I make use of that power.

Currently downloading a couple more VNs to expand my collection.

• Digital: A Love Story (prequel to Analogue: A Hate Story)
• Heart of Fire (appears to be a shoujo-ai VN/old-school RPG hybrid)

I was reading Umineko No Naku Koro Ni (When The Seagulls Cry) in 2014. I don't know why I stopped reading it; it was so good. 

I should start reading it again, but I need to first finish a few books that I am reading.

I deeply enjoyed the boys doing Sakura Spirit.

 

I was wondering if there was a Visual Novel topic here. 

 

I've read:

 

• Katawa Shoujo
• Saya no Uta (Ever want to see terror in VN form. Go there)
• Dra+Koi (Which involves sex with a dragon if that takes your fancy. It did not for me but whatever)
• DanganRonpa 1 & 2 (If they count. I'm counting them.)
• Persona 3 Portable & 4 Golden (Again, if they count. P3P is more VN imo)
• Rewrite (Never finished, since it was balls long)
• Planetarian: the Reverie of a Little Planet
• Amnesia: Memories (Came free with my PS+ last month.)