Returning to my reviews after a two-year absence and with the recent review of ‘The Way We ALL GO’, the theme of this bundle is ‘looking back at the work of developers I reviewed previously’. We have ‘The Lockdown of Shinsou Elementary’ (scary school happenings), ‘Of Valkyries and Life’ (girls with wings, in different places and different eras), Yanderella (love triangles and killer cuddly rabbits) and Crimson Rafflesia (Hanachirasu with superpower children).
???: I wonder… what kind of performance this school has for me…
Title: The Lockdown of Shinsou Elementary
Developer: TwinTurtle Games
Length: 1 min
Price: Free
Adult Content: None
Original Language: English
Version Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Thriller
Relative Rating: 1/5
Overall Rating: 2/10
Key Positive Points: Idea could potentially produce a good story
Key Negative Points: Idea was not built upon, far too short
Still, the girl herself had no idea of her origin or for what purpose her wings existed.
Title: Of Valkyries and Life
Developer: Desulishor
Length: 20 min
Price: Free
Adult Content: None
Original Language: English
Version Language: English
Genres: Drama, Supernatural
Relative Rating: 2/5
Overall Rating: 4/10
Key Positive Points: Good artwork
Key Negative Points: Should focus on one story, text too wide to read easily
Now, no matter how it turns out in the end, I’m sure… I’m sure the three of us won’t be able to stay together anymore.
Title: Yanderella
Developer: CHARON
Length: 1 hour 20 min
Price: Free
Adult Content: None
Original Language: Japanese
Version Language: English
Genres: Horror, Romance, Slice of Life
Relative Rating: 2/5
Overall Rating: 6/10
Key Positive Points: H-scenes averted, pixel artwork fits
Key Negative Points: Some generic plot points, text pace of engine far too slow
Even after putrefying two men to death and leaving their bodies in the most disgusting-looking state of decomposition ever, Sho Reilen feels neither regret nor guilt.
Title: Crimson Rafflesia (Full Demo 1.0)
Developer: Soyasushi Productions
Length: 1 hour 20 min
Price: Free
Adult Content: None
Original Language: English
Version Language: English
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller
Relative Rating: 3/5
Overall Rating: 5/10
Key Positive Points: Some good character work, some promising plot, secret content
Key Negative Points: Too many plot points copied from Hanachirasu
By chance, I happen to have picked two visual novels which are somewhat similar to Nitroplus works. Playing Crimson Rafflesia, almost every event that happens before the opening is copied from Hanachirasu; some effort is made to develop the following plot differently but there are still too many connections. Yanderella has some links to Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi. but these are more subtle; the story is developed differently and it may merely be due to similar themes. Basing work on other visual novels is fine but at least some changes are needed, lest it seem as though ideas are being directly replicated. With a few tweaks, Crimson Rafflesia could become independent enough for the final release.
Comment