Visual Novels

[Ramiel]

So, any Visual Novel fans here?

Visual Novels are among the popular mediums in Japan - anime, manga, light novels and visual novels. They're considered "games", but they aren't actually games - they're more like books, but they're... well, better than books. Because books don't have backgrounds and sprites, don't have music and definitely don't allow you to do choices or have multiple routes you can choose from!

While a large portion of VNs are eroge, or as we call them, "Hentai games", most people don't even consider them. But there are more than just eroges. And even some eroges are worth playing, actually. Fate/stay night was originally an eroge! Did you know that? D=
And it also featured 3 routes while the anime only follows the main route, has a LOT more things that the anime doesn't show. (Dark Sakura, Dark Saber, True Assassin, Shirou being badass, hentai scenes etc.)

Yeah, TYPE-MOON is a -very- good place to start. Tsukihime and its sequel, Fate/stay night and its sequel Fate/hollow ataraxia, while both having a couple H-scenes here and there, are definitely worth playing!

Eroges aren't the only VNs available.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (referred to as When They Cry or just Higurashi) is a very unique horror VN with several other adaptations - manga, light novels, anime, and even live action movies!

Ever17: The Out of Infinity is a sci-fi (with some bits of romance) VN that is very appreciated. I'm actually downloading it as we speak =D

Clannad, an extremely good (and LONG!) VN, the best Romance VN and anime, produced by a very successful VN company, Key. Some of you have watched the anime, but I don't think anyone here actually finished the whole VN D: Other titles by Key include Kanon and AIR. I think they're both romance...



And since we're still talking about VNs, let me introduce you the manliest, the most badass, the funniest, the shortest, the free 18mb Visual Novel, OMGWTFOTL - also known as Odious Manly Genuflection With Terrible Fury: Only True Lamentation. I've tried making a thread, but nobody noticed it D=
READ THIS THREAD!


Anyway. My job here is done.

 

[DarkClaymore]

Umm... I can't really bring to call myself a "visual novel fan". While I played a few (Castle Fantasia, Bible Black and there were a few more I can't remember their names), I think in total I have played less than 10 and there are tons of them out there. So... Not that much of a fan, am I?

They are usually very plot centered and that's what I like most in games, so I pretty enjoy playing visual novels. I was amazed that an eroge game (Castle Fantasia was my first) actually has a great plot and isn't just "hentai". In Castle Fantasia even the gameplay was pretty nice (it has tactics style battles. Very simple battle system, but as well a very nice addition to the game).

Since it's pretty easy to make a decent looking visual novel game, I even made my own short Visual Novel (using graphics from Fate/Stay Night ).
I than started a larger Visual Novel project, but dropped it because I am too lazy... But at least I made a demo for it

 

[Tmoo]

i've played some in the past, and they are very engaging if done right. of the ones i've completed, i'd have to say Planetarian is my favorite.

the taboo with visual novels is that most people think 'porn' or something along those lines and put an axe to it without a second glance.

 

[brownyadon]

Visual novels are a combination of three things. It is no surprise that something that is very niche in the west is not given much screen time.

-Jrpgs are significantly less popular in the west.
-Anime style games are significantly less popular in the west.
-"old school" rpgs that rely on story and character depth are nearly dead in the west.