 |
| Since the switch ver is digital only here's the PS Vita box art instead. |
Developer/publisher: Matatabi.
Platform: PC/Vita/Switch.
Official Site: https://matatabi.tv/kannagi/
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v22311
The reason Nao and Souta stay at the mansion is because they're half-lings and
The route's focus was on finding leads to folks spirited away... kinda interesting.
Bad end: After the conflict with Kurosame in the rain, Mizuki wakes up not being
Much like Nao and Aoi, Souta too is a half-ling and able to perceive the supernatural.
On the way home, some old geezer recognizes Mizuki and gets nostalic of her mother's shop
Souta is grateful to Mizuki for making him realize it. After all that is over with things kinda
Ankou from virche if he acted like he owned the place.😂 
They will take a break from ayakashi hunting till the next rain, Ichi let's loose that
On the way back they end up holding eachothers hand. He got angry back then for her sake.
Bad end: As Ichimaru lies on the ground after the battle he ends up disappearing right before
A dog youkai who has lived with the heroine for a very long timeapparently he was born from peoples feelings. They continue caring for the baby rabbit.
Hinata ends up bring tiger-kun and Kaguna veggies himself this time, Kaguna for some reason
He also tells her that even if she forgets everything including him, she will always be no,1 to him.
Unfortunately Kouya is like a cockroach and keeps coming back, he finally lets out
Bad ending: Mizuki recalls Hinata saying that he is happy as long as others that're around
Release date: 22-2-2024.
I saw they released a switch port of Kannagi no Mori and since I did play the other two
Matatabi games I decided why the hell not? there's not many otome games I am interested
in nowadays and besides for some reason it is only 3300 yen which honestly
is a steal for like two games, but after playing I think the price suits it just fine.
I ended up finishing 4 routes while playing FF7 rebirth because at times I just
wanted to peace out and Kannagi no Mori was perfectly suited for that.
KnM was originally a PC game split into parts... ah so matatabi tried that sort of thing.
Thank god they later made a ps vita and now a switch port so you can enjoy it in one place.
Pro's
- Decent enough plot, compelling characters.
- Has relaxing vibes despite it having a sad tone at times.
- Art is pretty good.
- BGM is relaxing... perhaps a bit to much.
Grey Area
- One route could seem really short but its long if you do all routes.
Con's
- Slow start, has some slight pacing issues.
- Switch port is bugged, if you want to save/load you have to use the touchpad
as the little text prompt thingy was unresponsive when you select yes for various things.
The OP movie was nice, I was instantly drawn to atleast two characters!
but this is not the type of movie i'd watch always every time I booted uup the game.
Sure its nice but after a few route I had just seen it... also it is a bit long.
One thing I really liked was the art style of this game, not every character may have
drawn me in the same way but I really like the colours,style and vibe it gives off.
The cg's had plenty of variation that were good at showing the characters expressions
and the overall count of them was mostly even across all characters.
The voice cast are all A++ veterans so it was nice to hear them again as well.
System was just standard stuff and it wouldn't be worth commenting about
but some menu's were broken like it would ask me to save so i'd press yes
but nothing happens! the only way I could save/load was with using the touchpad.
MATATABI is at it again amirite? why is it always something omg but honestly
it was only slightly annoying and can easily be fixed by touching the screen
whenever you had to make a choice or save/load the game.
Story is Mizuki always could see things other people couldn't and was told to keep
it a secret from the only family she had. Things begin to change when she
sees her dead mom on a rainy night which is when dead people appear.
A man then leads Mizuki to a village to meet her grandfather... who turned ill
and now Mizuki is forced to manage his work which deals with spirits and their problems.
KnM is a slower-paced game and the music was soothing, so soothing that I got sleepy.
The early game was so relaxing I can't decide if this is good or bad, i'll go with good
since the vibes were so nice that Nao and Souta quickly grew on me.
Idk if it was because this was the first part or i'm not really that interested in the two initial
love interest but at times I did get a little bored due to how slow Youko-kitan can be.
I was more interested in Asahi... which may be why I had a hard time!
The heroine wasn't too bad, I found her fairly normal, at first she doesn't really
have the confidence to continue her grandfathers work which is understandable.
I liked how Asahi helped her grasp how she could help people. Didn't seem easy.
Compared to the last otome I sat through this felt much more normal
and I didn't really find much that made me go wtf! sadly that also meant
it was a lot less entertaining and less excitement due to being mostly nonbiri.
Like the scenes weren't always that engaging and it was really situational if it was
which isn't bad perse but I am just glad there were no routes that were a dumpster fire.
NGL Shinonome brought most of the entertainment early on.
Story generally focuses on helping spirits overcome their trauma and save them
so they don't become evil spirits. Due to the setting, I probably would only recommend
Kannagi no Mori if you like school-themed otome games with otherwordly stuff
and like slower-paced games that grab your attention slowly. I say it can be slow but it
also didn't overstay its welcome since I found the routes itself to be fairly short.
Decent story yes but overall while it can seem light-hearted the tone of it all still
had a very sad feeling to it. The very last route of this game gave me nothing but sadnesss.
I did like the character interactions and there were some funny scenes!
wish there were more of that but it wasn't that type of game.
Comedy was mostly used to lighten the mood which was why its great.
The pacing can be a bit slow but overall it was enjoyable, whenever Shinonome
was on screen there was never a dull moment.😂 I didn't really like the first half of this gamebut there were moments it hit home so it wasn't all bad. It generally just was a comfy read!
a little melancholic yes but it fits in with the theme of the game for there to be underlying sadness.
7.7/10
It was just good, not bad but not great. Unlike Matatabi's other games
there weren't any minigames or landmines either which is a plus. I'd recommend
Kannagi no Mori if you don't mind short but slower-paced games, The scenario had impact
in many ways, some subtle & some that hit a lil harder. This otome game is also great
if you're tired of controversial stuff and just want to mostly have a good time while also
getting served a decent enough plot with a well written heroine.
I think I preferred the latter half of the game Ryuuji over the first half Youko
simply for the fact it touched upon the underlying plot more. Its like Youko was extremely
standard in terms of otome games and more like a prologue of sorts.
Ryuuji is like hold my beer! ups the stakes and just delivers the plot better.
As for playorder the game is split into two parts with the last route in each part being locked.
So my play order ended up being like this:
Youko Kitan / part 1: Nao > Souta >Ichimaru.
Ryuuji Kitan / part 2: Hinata > Asahi > Shinonome.
I can't really recommend anything other than Youko first and Ryuuji second.
The game does have a fail-safe that even if you were to do Ryuuji first you'll be okay
but if you get it on vita/switch and want to see all routes, best to start with Youko.
Maybe switch Nao/Souta or Hinata/Asahi around to suit preference
before the 3rd route of each part, there's not much else to it.
Spoilers are after the jump, there are some shoddy summaries as well as my favorite cg's.
================================================================
 |
| Youko Kitan. |
Nishina Nao.
CV: Umehara Yuuichiro.
can see supernatural weird stuff like Mizuki the heroine.
Nao can seem standoff-ish and rude, I kept thinking about Alhaitham due to same Seiyuu.
Nao's the don't make me explain it twice type of guy. Its not wrong even
except Nao can actually good and will put effort in food and not just cuz practical.
Nao also has a little brother maybe that is why. I liked the scene where
they played cards and it almost seemed like Mizuki was part of their family.
There wasn't even much romance at that point but I liked the sense of belonging it gave off.
A sad story of a girl who died but had a fight with their mom so she wanted to
one lest chance to have a talk wth her and apologize, Mizuki grants
the request because setting the regrets of spirits is what they do.
Mizuki gets rather depressed because she too had recently lost someone and it really
hit home to the point she misses her own family. Nao notices and supports her.
There was a classic shut up and follow me moment during the school festival just so they
could have a quiet moment during break, away from prying eyes. Nao gave her some takoyaki
and if she doesn't want he'll eat it himself. Which lights a fire within Mizuki, f-f-fine i'll eat it.
Nao really knows how to lift a mood... and to be their for someone. Shinonome ends up
waltzing in on them, he and Nao's little brother were visiting the festival. Nao complains
because Shinonome came in his usual attire, like honey you'll catch a cold close it up!😂
When they walk home one day it started raining, Mizuki almost trips but
strangely the mood was light and fun even if they got wet. Their mom got mad
when they got back at the mansion but it doesn't really seems like she caresher son Aoi
(Nao's little brother. had fun at the festival. Sounds like she was only here so she could
make arrangements so her sons are basically forced to live in Shinzo's mansion.
Nao doesn't like this at all but it seems their mom doesn't care about them at all.
Aoi ends up unwell so they try to treat him but what he needs most of all is rest.
Mizuki really wants to do something so she ran out into the rain, Nao chases and tells her
it is no use. Nao is already happy that she cares more about Aoi than their mom.
Their dad left them when Aoi was but a wee baby, things haven't been too hot
and then Nao gained some sort of special ability, he needs help to restore his little brother's
memories because he keeps losing it cuz there's some ayakashi named
Kurosame which he believes they need to take out. Mizuki asks Shinzo
about Nao's Kurosame but here is no way to get rid of it or knows how to.
Nao kinda breaks down because he is really the only one who no, can protect Aoi.
At school they already get mistaken for being a couple... well I guess they do hangout a lot.
Nao went to grab a towel cuz Mizuki got all wet in the rain... which was cute.
Nao later says something about how he doesn't mind not going to college
which cracked me up because he is such a housewife. Still Nao shouldn't have to do this.
Mizuki continues to investigate and found a few hints... not much happens
till a rainy day when Nao's father suddenly shows up and Nao gets really worked
up demanding answers. His father can only apologize for abandoning them.
Sometime later Kurosame shows up which is a black fox... Hinata suggests
not taking it down in the same place and to fight it elsewhere.
Mizuki tried her best and she barely made it, she later has a dream about Nao when
he was little, he stood there waiting in the rain wondering when his dad would come back.
Mizuki hugs little Nao and tell's him it'll be fine. Nao really has been trying so hard
for all those years, for his little brother and mother. When Mizuki wakes up
she ends up confessing she likes Nao who was waiting, he calls her an idiot
before saying he does like her back. Which was really cute. They end up making out too.
Nao ends up spoonfeeding Mizuki afterwards, since he initially came here with breakfast.
Shinonome ends up waltzing in again because he smelled food ruining the whole mood
but leaves Nao with the advice not to tease his girlfriend too much before being told to get out.
B-b-but food? no that food wasn't for him, Nao also tells him to not enter
other peoples rooms from now on, woof. Shinonome leaves the premises dejected.
Mizuki says he's a bit rude so Nao apologized. Later Nao concludes Kurosame
wasn't the culprit or rather can't be which leaves takes them back to square one.
Mizuki asks Shinzo to tell the truth about the sibling's father for their sake
Turns out he knew all along and their dad is actually in a shrine up in the mountains.
Asagi and the Kurosame are there too, Nao really wants answers now, sorry won't cut it.
When he left he was pathetic, he didn't have the courage to face them and then he
heard his kids had become half-ayakashi because Kurosame has been chasing their dad.
He also says he doesn't have long and wants to use his life for his kid's sake.
Nao call's him a crap dad and has somewhat come to terms with things
but he doesn't forgive him for deciding things on his own yet Nao is still thankful.
Asahi takes care of the rest, I don't remember much but I just assumed that his dad used his
life to sever the ties which made his son suffer. In the epilogue Nao,Aoi and Mizuki
all have a picknick things are more or less back to how they were. Nao still teases her
while also telling her that he may go to college afterall since he received a donation
and was able to have the funds to apply for it. Nao thinks it may be great
if he has his own restaurant one day, its a big dream but a nice goal to work towards to.
able to remember what even happened, kinda sad but it was very short. No CG as well.
Honestly, I liked Nao's route! I didn't really get a read on him in the common part
but this route really managed to lift my mood at times even if it had sad moment.
The romance felt pretty natural, like it wasn't the focus but I could see why
they catched feelings for eachother? Nao's mom was kinda shitty though...
I understand why Nao is so motherly because his mom doesn't do anything.
I think Nao is too much of a caretaker but I think there's nothing wrong with it
through Nao's actions you can really tell he cares, even if he does have an attitude.
The overall plot wasn't that interesting but it wasn't bad, I think the conflict with the fox/dad
just felt rushed. The story had its values but it was a bit too short for my tastes.
What I like the most is that both Mizuki and Nao experienced some kind of loss
yet were able to help each other and even fall in love which's heartwarming. The bad end
wasn't really worth doing, just a fail end, so if you try a little more you can get a better one!
I'm surprised Matatabi didn't do something crazy as their previous games had some big yikes
but tbh that sort of stuff didn't suit this game so I am very glad there's nothing like that.
Nao's omake had a really nice CG though but unfortunately they're not voiced.
~
Sawaka Souta.
CV: Yashiru Taku.
An old classmate of Mizuki, she almost forgot! I didn't dislike Souta but he just
didn't do much to stand out and he is also the old friend and I don't like the trope that much
since it can be kinda unfair to the others. Anyway Souta seems to like to play the piano
and is pretty good at it, Mizuki just stood there gawking but eventually he noticed her, lol.
Souta doesn't seem to think he's that good... then he explains he was playing a song of chopin?
that relates to feelings for a friend. Ah okay gotcha. Confess and Roll the credits please.😂
Jokes aside there's no confessing and they both just call it a night and go back to their rooms.
Souta is mister count on me, always helping others out. He is like a sunshine.
Shinonome shenanigans continued except Hinata doesn't care and just zapped the tv.
Souta teams up with Mizuki for some ghostbusting, some strange incidents have
happened in the shopping district lately, Souta almost slips which only confirms it.
They end up finding the culprit, a tsukumogami. Turns out some kid loved
robot-like toys like from the gundam series. The kid played with it every day
but it broke an arm and it promised to fix it. That didn't happen and it was thrown away
after the kid's mom asked what to do with it. For some reason the toy gained sentience
and started causing trouble and started resenting its former owner for breaking a promise.
The case resolves itself now that the culprit has been found. Souta seemed a little quiet...
but then just said thanks as they pick up the pieces after they send the spirit away.
which had to close after she passed. Later at night Mizuki rushes through the rain
wanting to find something only to run into Souta.. and his mother who starts raving
about his Piano skills. Not that Souta seemed to be good at everything. Souta says he will
take her home and let his old man know while also saying she shouldn't sneak out so late.
Souta asks Mizuki to tell the others... life sorta goes on and one day there's a new
transfer student, Matsunaga Kyohei. Turns out he once was besties with Souta
but now he is shy and reserved. I wonder what happened? anyway Souta
and Mizuki end up stopping by a ramen restaurant on the way home.
Some old geezer who works there gets nostalgic when he sees the two.
Eventually people try to get Souta to participate in a concour cuz he is a great pianist
but he is like nope, I won't! Mizuki noticed something was off and ends up talking
to him later, turns out Souta had a brother but he died, so that day a part of him died too.
Her mom ends up calling him by his brothers name and it was him who was good at everything.
Souta really looked up to his brother and did try to fit in his image but yea he isn't his bro.
He's thankful Mizuki worried about him but asks her to leave him be for now.
There are rumors Souta is the culprit behind uh what was it tablecross?
School festival came so Mizuki figures out Souta liked her but she asked him to wait for a bit
as there are still some things that need to get sorted out. sHE tried to clear up things
but the class barely believed her. Mizuki and Souta still tried to enjoy the festival
and they had a cute moment together in a mini planetarium. When he sees
some kid Souta really likes the childlike innocence kids have but it won't last
because once you grow up a part of that is lost or so he thinks.
On a rainy day, Mizuki ends up finding her mother in the rain when she was looking
for Souta who had gone off on his own. Mizuhiki realizes that the person she saw
wasn't her mom because she isn't here anymore. Eventually she finds him
in his own little world where his family is happy. Another Souta asks why
Mizuki is even here since this is what that Souta wishes for.
Mizuki explains that she doesn't want Souta to disappear and wants to be with him
because they're friends. The dream ends and they both end up getting soaked by the rain.
Souta never thought he'd be number one to someone and be loved, all he wanted was to be accepted.
Souta wanted to live with his mom and be accepted no matter how hard it got.
In reality his mom only sees his dead brother Yuuya in him and no matter how hard
Souta tries he can't replace him. Then his mother runs into him again and Souta finally has
the courage to tell his mom he is not Yuuya but Souta. So he tells him that from now on
he will not try to be Yuuya but live his life as Souta! His mom finds it strange
and refuses to see that Souta is not Yuuya. Souta refuses to come back like things are
and he will meet her again but not as Yuuya, as Souta. He really means it.
Souta realizes he merely was running from his pain by going along with his mom
and from now on he will live with his feelings even if they hurt.
return to normal and I I really liked the scene where Souta sat on Mizuki's lap and both realizing
how embarrasingthey feel doing it. Souta will also tell the whole class the tablescratching wasn't him
he will have something to tell her. At school there is drama llama about who dun it.
If its not Souta then who? it couldn't be the new transfer student right?
Souta deduces it was Kyohei because no one else could have done it. Kyohei then asks
if he knew then why didn't he tell everyone? Souta simply says because he heard
Kyohei had a rough time already. Turns out Kyohei was bullied in his old school(s)
which kinda turned him into a bully himself and took it out on Souta
because his old friend he seems to be having so much fun without him.
Kyohei calls Souta a traitor and just loses it, seems like something has hold over him.
Souta asks Mizuki to take care of it and she does but Kyohei's memories of Souta
were erased but Souta still wanted to be his friend. Souta says you can't stay trapped
in the past and Mizuki has really helped both him and his old friend.
Souta then asks if she remembers what he said the other day and he has something to tell Mizuki.
He knows he is kinda pathetic and caused trouble for her but he's really been saved by her.
Souta likes being with her and doing all sorts of things with her. He gets so flustered
at the attempt of fully confessing it was really cute but eventually he says it.
Souta finds himself uncool but Mizuki just says he is cool for saying it.
Mizuki likes him too so when Souta asks her out for real she accepts.
Souta starts thinking out loud about too many things at once...
and finally says he will really treasure her cuz he loves her to bits.
In the epilogue he thinks about the Piano again, he himself doesn't know
if he likes it yet but thinking of playing it makes him generate happy feelings
like almost as if he is a kid again. They're so busy talking some of the other
guys end up looking for Mizuki but can't find her. Souta ends up kissing her when he heard
their voices. Mizuki is like wait wut but Souta says well you're with me now just let them for a bit.
Souta apologizes for just grabbing her closer and will be more careful next time.
Mizuki didn't even mind and they just continue making out.
Sad end: Souta protests at the prospect of Kyohei losing his memories, there was an accident
Souta starts to blame himself and says he killed him. Souta stops coming to school
when she comes back to the mansion, she finds him lying near the piano.
Mizuki can't bear it... she caused him pain which made him retreat and leave this world.
Idk if I could have worded that better....
NGL this route's story was pretty peak, I think I like it more over Nao's.
I'd say it was still pretty good overall despite being a childhood friend type of route.
Also Souta literally has the cutest and bravest confession I have ever seen.
The epilogue was hilarious too! despite this game being sad at times it also is so light and fluffy.
Unlike Nao route the bad end here did have a CG... if you want them all gotta do it.
Souta's omake CG was kinda nice, get a room you two!
~
Ichimaru.
CV: Okitsu Kazuyuki.
Ichimaru is kinda standoff-ish and I didn't like him at first, also he can seem
indifferent towards things and its hard to know what he is even thinking.
I liked Mizuki's proactiveness in this route because Ichimaru was so one and done
with the sparkles, so they did a do-over. That whole scene made me go why is he like this?!
The early route had the usual ayakashi ghostbusting where they help some old lady
and the culprit seems to have taken a liking to the mountains. It was hard to get into
the romance in this route because of his personality tbh, Mizuki was great
and I liked how she challenged him to Go (Japanese board game). At the very least
they seemed to be having fun with this. Ichi didn't seem to mind to challenge her again someday.
he owes Shinzo his life, he had no memories and he let him live here in the mansion.
Thus Ichimaru is immensely grateful to Shinzo for giving him a place in the world
which is also why he wants to fulfill his request no matter if it may be dangerous.
Turns out the culprit was a tanuki, he was always been made a fool of but some
were nice, it gets sad how shortlived humans were since even if he befriends
those they will just die and leave him alone so he gathered up all those stuffed animals
since he'd be less alone. The grandma is fine with leaving the plushies behind with it
because she knows the tanuki treasures it. For some reason Kouya was a massive
arse in this route, anyway Mizuki really wants to help the grandma
but in the end they couldn't do anything at all since folks forcibly intervened.
It really frustrated her... Ichimaru seems to have been touched by the string of events
and says it wasn't all a wasted effort. Still Mizuki was noticably upset.
Life goes on for a bit and not muc happened, well honestly this was good
since you need to take it easy every now and then. Shinonome and Aoi
visited during the school festival... which was amusing to say the least.
Looks like Ichimaru came as well but he only came for the cupcakes.
How did he know about that? well he overheard. Mizuki starts to think its all wrong and
that he is mad or something. The cupcake incident merely lit a fire.
Mizuki just gets embarrassed for getting the wrong idea. Ichimaru said its all good
then mentions if she was going to that ayakashi's place later but before that
he visits the cafe that her class is running today. Ichimaru wanted tea but they didn't have.
So its coffee which ended up being iced-coffee with a cupcake. Ichi did not look pleased
which turns into a scene. Ichimaru's many expressions during this scene were amusing.
Later they go to visit the ayakashi Tanuki to say farewell while also apologizing
for before since his plushies were taken by force. The Tanuki has learned to bear
with it all and has found happiness. It said Mizuki kind of looked like Ayano
who used to be some kind of priestess he knew. It was someone he liked
and cared for him when he almost died. That happened many years ago.
They all go to the grandma's house and turns out it was the family who
tried to take it back by force, they didn't really believe in ayakashi.
Ichimaru gets angry and makes it clear never to pull such stunts again.
Things go back to normal but on a rainy day Kurosame appears, he also has a human form...
and says long time no see Ayano. Wait wut? Ichimaru says Mizuki isn't Ayano.
For some reason Kurosame wants Ichimaru to hand over Ayano to him
while also saying they're two sides of the same coin but he's like nope no chance.
Mizuki has a chat with Shinzou who tells her she does look like his father
and also not to let ayakashi use her. Mizuki rushes after Ichimaru who promptly left
she wonders where he is going surely not to Kurosame? to which he answers yes.
Mizuki ends up asking the Tanuki about Ayano and who reveals
Ayano had a shiki, a big boss of Ayakashi but he doesn't remember the name.
Someone who like the tanuki can't die but is rather strong.
When Ayano died the ties were severed... the Tanuki doesn't remember anything else.
On the way back Ichimaru mumbles its best for monsters to quickly disappear.
Also saying if they take him out then the laws of the world may change
and things won't continue as they are now. Things get a little sad because
Ichimaru mentions the fact that he hasn't aged one bit and is basically an ayakashi
which also means that he will outlive Mizuki. Then he asks if she will forgive him...
and then kisses her, she also realizes she loves him and time feels like it stopped for a moment.
Ichimaru goes to Kurosame, not to talk but to kill him. He'll do whatever it takes.
Afterwards Mizuki sees a flashback of Ayano and Kurosame, turns out they weren't
so different from how Mizuki and Ichimaru interacted in present times.
Turns out Ayano had to sacrifice herself and at that point Kurosame split in half.
Ichimaru ended up being hurt, Mizuki isn't sure if she can do something but
she wants to try... it was a gamble but Kurosame intervened and gave himself up
which is why Ichimaru was able to live. Mizuki doesn't fully understand it either.
After chilling for a moment they head back to the mansion as the sun is about to set.
her eyes. Mizuki despairs as everyone she loves seem to be taken from her.
Honestly I thought the route wasn't too bad, I liked Ichimaru more than before I did his route!
however I think the end was a little lacking... it ended up on a sad note.
This route also revealed a lot about Mizuki and why she inherited her powers etc
while also setting up for part two. I just wish they did a little better on the epilogue.
Ichi's omake cg was really good, but it is so sad the dialogue wasn't voiced.
~
================================================================
 |
| Ryuuji Kitan. |
In Ryuuji kitan, Mizuki ends up losing her memory so Asahi
has to give a brief reintroduction, I get why this happened because
the games were separate at one point and it is just easier to writeif someone were to happen to stumble into the second game first.
There's actually a story reason for this so while I was confused at first it made perfect sense.
Sadly the only bad part about this, it'll act like the common route
with Nao,Souta and everyone else is kinda void and you have to sit
through a bit of reintroduction, due to this I think it is best to take a break
between the two parts but that's just my personal opinion.
Hinata.
CV: Kakihara Tetsuya.
due to that he is very protective like a real dog would be.
For the most part of the Ryuuji common route he seems kinda standoffish
and like oh its nothing while it is probably not. I don't blame him
since Mizuki literally just forgot everything. Some ayakashi keeps pestering
some folks in the village so they investigate. On a rainy day Mizuki ends up
finding a rabbit in the garden and Hinata wonders what she is up to.
Hinata is kind of like whatever at Mizuki trying to care for it... but he helps out anyway.
Some random deity named Kaguna shows up, he lives in a shrine in the mountains... Then there was a naughty little baby tiger who took a herb he shouldn't have
refuses to elaborate why he did it and leaves. Kaguna is forced to apologize
for not having the strength to keep them in check, Hinata decides to man up for him.
Mizuki seems happy caring for the baby rabbit... Hinata apologizes for his behavior
and will do better from now on, since all he did was running away but he was
hurting Mizuki in the process and wants to be there for her.
Shinonome shenanigans contuinue as he bullies Ichimaru into something
but he is soon to face the wrath of the demon... Nao. Ichimaru sigh's at the scene.
Some ayakashi keep pestering some villager, having veggies taken
they start to figure out what is going on. They get the tiger to tell them the truth
and its more or less about how if there's no one to believe in Kaguna he may disappear
since deities rely on peoples faith in them. So Tiger-kun got desperate in trying
to get people to believe in Kaguna. He doesn't know why they wished for something
but he thinks its their fault Kaguna's showing signs of weakness.
It admits it was him who stole the veggies. Hinata asks if he even knows the names of
the ayakashi related to their troublesome past and Hinata says itsher mother????
The tiger doesn't really like humans but that is another story i'm not going into
he basically forgets everything that happens every day. Tiger-kun also says Kaguna
wouldn't resent them or anything so idk why this drama llama is still on going
but I am no longer following. Mizuki figures it has something to do with her parents.
Tiger-kun is like Kaguna's shiki and believes he should always be at his side
even if he wants to leave him behind he can't. Kaguna is very dear to him.
Hinata starts to realize the tigers feelings align with his own...
Time passes and the two end up searching for the rabbit who ended up running away.
but they couldn't make much progress till it happened to rain. Hinata wanted her to go back home
since she's weak, he'll go on without her for now but Mizuki says she will stick it out for a little bit. They find the rabbit who seems panicked. They immediately take care of it and return it home.
Sadly it isn't able to go on and was basically hanging on by a thread. Hinata says its been doing
great despite that. While Mizuki grieves, Kouya ends up mocking her and calling her
a murderer like her parents. Hinata stands by her as they give the rabbit a send off by burying it.
Hinata reassures that while they couldn't save it they still helped. He understands it very well.
He says the rabbit understood how much she cared about it, which is more than enough.
Shinonome ends up breaking the ice about Hinata and Mizuki's relationship the next morning
which lead to an amusing scene about how Hinata deconfirms any of it they're just behaving
like normal not like friends, definitely not lovey-dovey. Ichimaru sighs and Hinata's embarrassed.
can't remember they met which confirms he is the one with the memory issues.
On the way back things get awkward and it seems Hinata wants to ask Mizuki about something...
and he'd like to spend the obon festival with her. Hinata finally opens up about how
as long as a certain someone acknowledged him he'd be fine with anything but since they're
of different worlds it is also kind of lonely. Hinata tells her to forget what he just said.
Later they look at the skies together and says Mizuki's life is her own to decide no matter
what anyone else tries to make of it. When asks what makes him happy it is to be
with other people. He's happy as long as the person he treasures is happy themselves.
Things got kinda sappy it was really embarrassing to see, lmao.
When they get back Kouya was being an ass again, at night something happens
and they both end up running away and they slept in some shack somewhere.
They make out and uguu around too, next day Hinata has to leave to go check something...
Suzu ends up walking in, she wat that girl from the common route who I had forgotten about
I believe she was an ayakashi and she really treasures the name given to her.
Kouya ends up finding the uguu shack of love... they basically want Mizuki
to become the ryuujin, he thinks her memory came back but she doesn't know anything
so Kouya ends up telling her the cold hard truth about her having to sacrifice her life
because that's what a Ryuujin does. Hinata over heard so he decided to make a run for it.
Kouya ends up enjoying the faces Mizuki makes as he toys and mocks her.
He doesn't mind it if she dies... even going so far as saying Shinzo doesn't care one bit.
Hinata comes back and tells him to STFU and proceeds to kick his ass.
Mizuki realizes that Hinata protected her sake... loyal like a true wanko-chan.
Mizuki starts to remember things slowly of how she came to live at Shinzou's place.
Turns out the reason she lost her memories was because she spotted Kouya & Asahi
and overheard them talk about her mother. She pretended to be tired of the shock...
but Kouya wasn't fooled so he erased her memories by force!!! OMG wtf.
Then she remembers the day she picked up a small dog, it was raining too.
This dog was a youkai and none other than Hinata. She was just a kid back then.
When she wakes up she has remembered everything... Hinata can't help but hug her now.
Hinata says he was really lonely during the time she couldn't remember...
After that they sorta just take a hike and camp up somewhere.
Eventually Kouya finds them because he doesn't know when to give up
but Hinata got hurt in the struggle, Mizuki managed to topple Kouya though! YEA.
They run away again and camp up to tend to Hinata's wounds but this actually
isn't solving anything. Why should they have to hide and live out in the woods?! ugh.
Hinata is able to heal thanks to a magatama given to him by Miyako, Mizuki's mom
he also reveals her mother was an ayakashi and then goes into the story the villagers knew.
Miyako basically hid her ayakashi side to be able to interact with her father.
He also goes into something a spell that can only be used once and there is no going back
so he asked Mizuki to be mindful of it. Anyway Hinata makes it so clear to Mizuki
she is like everything to him and they make out in the rain, I d'awwwed pretty hard at this.
this is all because of Mizuki's mom and her dad like he just can't forgive the shit
that happened a bunch of years ago. Its actually very complicated so I will leave it at this.
Kouya and Hinata end up duking it out but suddenly Asahi shows up and steals the show
like I was wondering if he was going to do anything and he did! my dude just literally
gave Kouya a one way ticked to the afterlife. Absolute mad lad.
Asahi sheathes his blade, nods and is about to leave before Mizuki asks him
if they were really gonna kill her like her mom to which he simply says he is sorry.
Mizuki feels sad and abandoned but Hinata reassures her he isn't going anywhere
no matter what happens. Even if she isn't able to see him he will be there.
Even if Mizuki were to forget about him over the years, Hinata won't. Mizuki says she
won't forget... or doesn't want to. She wants to stay with Hinata for as long as possible.
Hinata says he loves her and then... starts disappearing.
Mizuki is reminded of something, of a way to be able to see him again and then
rushes back to Kaguna's old shrine and let's him hear her wish. To which he tries to fulfill.
In the epilogue Mizuki is able to reunite with Hinata and they both gaze at the stars
but things get a bit embarrassing, as Hinata tries to grab her attention to look at him too.
Some fireworks went off in the distance, the summer festival must be nearing its end
but Hinata is so tsun about it, eh some things never change eh?
Mizuki ends up kissing him to snap him out of his bad mood, lmao.
Hinata asks if she has any regrets about becoming an ayakashi, its all thanks to Kaguna
so she says she has no regrets at all or that it doesn't make a difference to her
since what is important, is to be with the person she cares about.
him are as well. So she says her happiness is when she is with Hinata as she screams out his name.
Hinata was difficult to like. He was a tsundere but he was too cranky most of the time.
So I wasn't really sold on Hinata till the end of the route, it all came together pretty well
but half of it was just kinda eh since it only got good at the end, everything did come
full-circle which I really liked. The cg's were placed really poorly though, all at the end
suddenly I was reminded of tsumikui because that game pulled the exact same stunt.
Overall it wasn't bad, but it made one thing obvious and that is Hinata is best doggo!
Unfortunately Hinata didn't have the best of omake cg's I feel embarrassed looking at it tbh.
Asahi.
Oh you bet your ass I wanted to do his route by now... if I wasn't interested in him yet
Asahi wanted to tell Mizuki everything if her memories came back but things went differently
They end up going out in the rain and they run into Souta's mother... who points her to
Afterwards Kouya shows up like the cockroach he is... mocking all the while
Why is it that whenever this guy is in a scene it changes everything?! dude honestly
At the mansion Kouya is lost in thought after hearing the truth, what did Sanae die for???
Mizuki keeps having flashbacks of Ayano's life as a priestess a long time ago.
When she returns home she runs into Kouya who is sadly up to no good and now
Sometime later they all go on a treasure hunt... because they found a mysterious note.
What can I say but that I liked it? this may be my favorite matatabi game.
 |
| Mizuki be like oh no not like this! |
~
Asahi.
CV: Eguchi Takuya.
Hinata's route surely got me to want to figure out what else is up with this guy!
I really liked the scene in the beginning of the route where he showed Mizuki
ayakashi butterflies, she wondered about them but they aren't so fragile as real butterflies.
Asahi also said something along the lines of with or without her memories she is still
who she is and that it doesn't bother him if she doesn't remember everything.
The subplot this time dealt with a guy named Sagaki and a bunch of ayakashi brats
as well as Tsumugi's relationship with her family. Which isn''t the best
but she did tell Mizuki its no big deal. Sagaki is worried but Tsumugi shut him up.
Turns out Tsugumi and Sagaki were quite a thing... they actually were kinda cute together
turns out they once made a promise to go to a festival together.
One of the ayakashi brats Norisuke? causes trouble and thought it was a great idea
to cause Mizuki harm, of course Asahi didn't take it well, some of the others came
to try and stop Norisuke since Mizuki was trying to help them. Norisuke says
he won't forgive them and the wound Asahi got just now was his reward.
Mizuki helped Asahi by tending to the wound, since she was worried, it was a cute scene.
Anyway Sagaki wants Mizuki to erase Tsugumi's memories of him... because
there relationship is causing trouble for her. Sadly Tsugumi ended up overhearing
and hates how Sagaki tried to decide what was good for her and she had no say in it.
Sagaki says he has not much to offer her and she doesn't want him to decide what life she should lead.
She calls him a liar a since they promised to go to the summer festival together
but they sorta make up since he promises not to do it again.
Some time passes and Mizuki and Asahi enjoy that summer festival together which was cute
since he helped her pick out a kimono and made sure it fit too.
Mizuki was also reminded of the situation with Sagaki and Tsugumi and wonders about them...
Asahi snapped her out of her daze since it really bothered her about someone else deciding what's best.
Shinzou ends up revealing some truths about Ayano about how she sacrificed herself for the sake
of the villagers and the life they have now is thanks to her. Kouya was mocking again
but Shinzou told him to stfu and continues to explain Mizuki is Ayano's descendant
and everything was fate, Mizuki shares to meet the same end as Ayano.
Later that night, Asahi suggests to leave the mansion together because she will be killed if she stays.
Kouya ends up finding them and he butts heads with Asahi... Kouya called him a murderer.
Mizuki's safety is Asahi's priority so they make their way to a hiding place to rest for the night
before continueing their escape. Mizuki starts to remember why she lost her memories
just like in Hinata's route... yes it was that bastard Kouya. Mizuki also confronts Asahi
about him having killed her mother and it was no lie, he killed her with his own hands.
Mizuki can't hold it in and grabs a knife and points it at Asahi's throat, he did not resist...
and apologizes for keeping it a secret. He says there's no reason to forgive or pity him.
Mizuki loved her mom and this man killed her, she is reasonably upset.
Asahi understands she may not want to see him anymore but he still wants her to be safe
and once he makes sure of that, he will never appear before her again if she so wishes.
Asahi will really try his best to make sure that she doesn't have to die... and leaves some food
for her since if she doesn't eat then she will have no strength. Asahi briefly lets her go home
before coming back since he found a safer place for her to be. Mizuki doesn't want him
to push himself so hard cuz to her it seems like its a bother. To him its not at all like that.
Asahi was actually hurt so she tended to his wound, this is the second time right?
Turns out Asahi knew Mizuki ever since they were kids, he also says whatever
sin her mother was guilty of in Shinzou's eyes shouldn't be an issue at all.
Shinzou was the one who ordered Koyou and Asahi to find them and if
shown signs of resistance they were to kill them. Asahi had to keep quiet all this time
but seeing Mizuki live at the mansion blissfully unaware touched his heartstrings thus he is
willing to pay for any punishment coming forward. Asahi is a shiki so he is really conflicted.
Asahi wants to be at her side just like in the past when her mom and Mizuki still lived
at the mansion since during that time, her presence saved Asahi. Mizuki doesn't remember
but 10 years ago she lived at the mansion and met Asahi. He is well aware that he stole
part of Mizuki's happiness yet still wants her to be happier than anyone else.
After hearing all this Mizuki wants to do something to help Asahi...
she even starts to remember things she almost forgot. Turns out Mizuki frequently
met Asahi and she liked him but eventually he wasn't able to see her
anymore yet he wished her nothing but happiness.
in another direction. Asahi says that it is likely an ayakashi... Souta's mom is still out here for Yuuya.
Souta's mom then mentions something about a murderer and when asks what
she is going on about she mentions Kouya. Turns out that arse gave her the ability to pull up
the image of the dead at will? anyway Souta's mom is content living with her delusions.
Asahi starts to regret having killed Mizuki's mom and starts crying while saying
he has been self-loathing all this time even saying he should have been the one who died.
Mizuki comforts him and says she's glad he isn't dead and still is with her.
he wants Asahi to suffer a lot, Kouya then takes Mizuki with him.
Turns out the Ryuujin already affects the immediate area since it has left...
turns out Kouya is really angry now since someone he knew Sanae died for nothing
and really will see to it that Mizuki dies since that is what she was born for. Asahi shows up
just in time... and 1 hit Ko's Kouya making him disappear right infront of Shinzou.
Shinzou asks Mizuki if she resents him... but she can't fully hate him since
he also saved her in a way. Turns out Shinzou was actually against the sacrifices but in the end
Sanae still fulfilled a promise with the Ryuujin. Which is why he believed in it too.
Shinzou says it is all okay now and revokes the contract he had with Asahi so he is free
to live as he pleases now. Shinzou won't ask for forgiveness but he will
be praying for Mizuki still finds happiness. When Asahi became Shinzou's shiki
it was shortly after that Sanaepassed away and Kouya became a Shiki too.
Asahi does tell Mizuki to not dwell too much on everything since they all had
a reason for doing what they did. Asahi stopped himself mid sentence since he is being
overwhelmed by feelings still, like he is having a hard time coming to terms with what he did
yet he wanted to save Mizuki from sharing the same fate. Mizuki tells him she remembered
of how she met him in the past. Asahi is relieved and tells her how much he loved her all this time.
Mizuki reciprocates his feelings since she likes him as well, even after everything that happened.
There's a lot but first and foremost he wants to spend more time with her, together.
In the epilogue they end up growing mini tomato's together, he's not sure on the taste
but maybe after one more he can be more sure. Lot's of things happened
but it turned out okay, Mizuki's able to leave a happy life together with Asahi.
Asahi's saying growing these veggies is like good therapy since it makes
him appreciate life and all it can give you. Being so happy does make him nervous
but she is the source of his happiness so not much else matters.
Bad end: Kouya ends up injuring Mitsuki and disappears in the process
saying it felt good, Asahi arrived too late and there was nothing he could do...
without Mizuki he doesn't know how to continue living.
I liked Asahi's and his route, however compared to Hinata's it can be a little repetitive
as they share some plot threads and it could seem like it doesn't really matter which you choose.
Asahi was one of the few that grabbed my attention from the start andm uch like Hinata
I was completely sold on his character by the end of it which is great.
Another plus, Asahi's CG's were spread more evenly throughout the route than Hinata's.
I did like Eguchi's voice work but I don't think Asahi was one of his best... still I did think
the type of voice suited the character, there were just times I thought Eguchi was off.
Side note! Asahi's omake CG was really good unfortunately yet again it wasn't voiced.
~
Shinonome.
CV: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu.
is the joke of the game most of the time. Added a lot of comedic factor.
Shinonome is for the most part a hetare, mostly lazing around being a freeloader.
Shinonome said when dozing off that he really loves the village... and one night she finds
him gazing up at the night sky, stargazing. He is relieved she has someone regained her spirit
but she is still worried about some things, Shinonome said that's only normal
but she should definitely try to talk to someone about it. Even if its him the laziest guy around.
Later a scene unfolds which shows he doesn't know how to properly use a microwave...?
aaaaaaaah the shenanigans never ends and did it in the opposite way.😂
Shinonome takes responsibility and doesn't want to waste food so he eats it as is.😨
Most of the route was pretty chill and the vibes were mostly good...
there wasn't really much going on other than things we already knew but it did focus
on some problem the other routes didn't and directly touch upon the ryuujin
which is a dragon of legend within the village which they worshipped.
There was a woman named Mikoto who got tricked by something claiming to be a god
trappped in a small shrine who was actuually an ayakashi named Yakou.
This Yakou has a lot of resentment, all Mikoto wanted was to see her son again
and he'll show it alright by sending her to the land of the dead, Yomi. Mizuki was worried
about this so she ends up following Mikoto into the mountains with Hinata.
They end up saving her but the woman is despairing and doesn't even know why she is alive.
Thankfully her father arrives just in time... but she says he is unable to understand her sadness.
Hinata tells Kouya to come out from the bushes cuz he was apparently hiding there like a cockroach.
What just happened has nothing to do with him even saying like do you think i'm good guy
or anything? he's just someone that delivers punishment for his master and promptly leaves.
When Mizuki talks to Shinonome about what happened, he says there's no specific reason
Mikoto's son died. She simply couldn't accept the reason. All he knows death comes for us all.
All he knows is that Mizuki tried to do the right thing when that god tried to take advantage of Mikoto.
Mizuki starts researching but the guys tell her to take a chill pill, later they end up going
back to the shrine only to find Kouya and Asahi there which leads to the plot thread
of Mizuki being used as a sacrifice for the seal. Asahi doesn't to let that happen
so he tells Mizuki to stay back. Shinonome steps in and gets hurt which leads
him to return to his original form the dragon of legend while also regaining his memories.
Shinonome asks Asahi to prepare a temporary seal because of the whole rampant god and all.
Kouya asks Shinonome if it was him that killed Sanae before running off. Kouya is forced
to explain half the legend of Yakou was twisted over the years of how some priestess
has to be sacrificed. There existed a god which blessed them with water and to continue to
be blessed they had to make sacrifices to that god because once an incident happened.
Ayano tried to do something to save everyone but just her life wasn't enough in the end
so she wished very strongly for a way to save everyone which lead to a cycle where
she continued to get reincarnated just to die. Due to that everyone was able to continue living.
Mizuki is merely next in line to continue that same cycle since she is Ayano's descendant.
Ayano was a powerful priestess so they haven't been able to break her spell she set on herself
that causes every incarnation of her to have to die for the same thing she did.
Kouya is strangely cooperative as is Shinzou and they all try to find a better way out of the situation.
Shinzou is sorry for keeping such a secret but he simply didn't know a better way to tell her
but as soon as he finds out anything he'll let Mizuki know. Mizuki ends up having a talk
with Shinonome and it gets real quick, humans always believe that gods can do anything
but that is far from the truth. Infact they need faith and if there is no faith nothing can happen.
Ayano made a sort of promise with him which has long since been fulfilled yet...
she keeps coming back to meet the same end, again and again.
Shinonome believes this is his punishment... for not being able to do anything back then.
Gods have three rules they can never break and one of them is to use their powers
at humans beck and call. Secondly is trying to change the past and Three...
calling someone back from the dead. Shinonome is a god of water and has been
looking for an answer to that which he found only one. He broke rule number three.
He has however found a way to relief the curse and it does not involve Mizuki to be a sacrifice.
Shinonome says it is still a secret... he also says she should head back since its getting late
and people like Asahi might get worried. He says he can't go back with her but that it
has been fun and he'll miss the days of being a freeloader at the mansion.
Shinonome says that after the festival he might go on a journey.
Mizuki's existance vexes him and he couldn't help but hate her since he knew that
since she is next in line that Sanae would never come back. He even goes on
how Mizuki has no right to live and that no one should be glad she is alive.
However Mizuki knows that is not entirely true and there are people that like her for who she is.
Mizuki continues to look into the legend and the past of the village... and visits Shinonome.
She brought food but turns out he didn't actually need any to live but he did like it
that she though of him. Shinonome says Mizuki has been overthinking things and breaks the ice
with how he really does want to see the sea as he only saw it on TV.
Because Shinonome still wants to see it in person they end up traveling to it.
The classic Uuuuumiiiiiiiii-da~~ unfolds and he encourages Mizuki to do it as well Waaai~~
when asked why she just said it seemed fun to yell like he just did.😂😂😂
Back home Mizuki wants to do something for Shinonome so she tries reaching out to Kaguna
and in turn Shinonome who had all but accepted his faith and didn't mind it if he'd dissapear.
Mizuki and Shinonome enjoy some time together at the obon festival
while there was lingering sadness they seemed to be having fun.
When they head out into the mountains another day someone just had to mention
who murdered Mizuki's mother which was none other than Asahi.
Shinzou then tells Asahi to restory Mizuki's memories. Asahi can only apologize...
which only reveals it was Kouya who wiped it in the first place.
Mizuki seeks comfort in Shinonome's arms who simply tells her its okay to cry if she needs to.
that her memories have returned in full says she should just die. Mizuki shows her resolve
she really doesn't take his shit this time and then returns to the mansion.
Mizuki has more flashback of Ayano, in which she really pleaded Shinonome for his aid
when disaster struck her village and how she made a pact with him.
Mizuki ends up going to Kaguna who helps her, he basically has to remove the taika
or how to explain? some sort of connection between Ayano and the Ryuujin.
If it is gone then there should be no need for it to continue the way it has been.
Its not without risks since without it she may become blind and loose her sight
then Shinzou steps in to take her place which his way of taking responsibility for everything.
Then we get to know what happened, thanks to Ayano and the pact with Shinonome
the villagers were saved but Shinonome still got the blame because Ayano died
so he really despaired back then and even wanted to disappear.
There may not be a way out of the situation which upset Mizuki...
Seeing Mizuki almost go through with something made Shinonome really upset.
Shinonome lied because he was happy Mizuki stood by him back then. He simply wanted to
believe such a future existed. Mizuki forgives him now that he is so honest with her.
Shinonome says he lived a long time, maybe it was all so he could meet Mizuki.
Mizuki doesn't want him to go anywhere because this man makes her happy
however he still wants to accept punishment, he wants nothing but happiness
for the villagers despite knowing the sacrificing they did it was a touch pill to swallow.
Still having Mizuki wish for his happiness makes him feel glad. Shinonome
is a god born from the peoples feelings/faith. Then he realizes something and asks her to listen
to his wish which is to simply believe that after he disappears they could still meet.
Because as long as Mizuki believes and places his faith in him he could come back.
In the end Shinonome flies off into the sky, Mizuki doesn't want him to go
but still respects his wish and waits patiently while believing in him.
Mizuki wanted to go by herself but they all wanted to go along.
As they search Mizuki remembers a specific place... the place he gazed up at the stars.
They end up at a place that overlooks the village... and watch the sunrise.
At some other place ripples started to form across the water...
in the omake he one day appears infront of her like some fever dream.
Bad end: Mizuki thinks long and hard about everything, death is surely something that has
a hold over everyone, Shinonome found her in the pond almost trying to sacrifice herself.
He can't seem to get through to her but she does tell him she loves him
which leaves Shinonome all alone with her memory.
I liked Shinonome, but the story was quite sad. Matsuoka did a nice job voicing him too.
The tone from being a clown and this sad depressed man was perfect.
This route felt a little bit longer but it also connected all dots while wrapping
up the story so I can't really complain about it too much. Sadly this route
made it clear just how complicated the story and characters are.
I think it is good... but also may need an acquired taste. The route also didn't really
have a happy ending like the others did... but it wasn't a bad ending perse.
Overall just an OK route to wrap up the game with, most will probably have found
a favorite character by now... it might be more sad if Shinonome was your favorite.
NGL when I finished this route I was left with nothing but sadness...
~
There were also a bunch of omakes as well but I wasn't really interested in most of them
especially the ones that didn't focus on Mizuki but on another incarnation of her instead.
Like a bunch of episodes with Kouya and Sanae or more Ayano with Kurosame.
They didn't even voice all of them... that's a hard pass but nice if you want more content.
================================================================
Route ranking:
Hinata/Asahi > Souta > Ichimaru > Nao > Shinonome.
Sorry Nao but while I did like your route it doesn't hold up to some of the others.
Reason Ichi is ranked below Souta is more of a romance factor, both Souta and Nao have much
better epilogues than Ichi does which is kinda sad. However Ichi's omake was really good.
Hinata and Asahi rank together because their routes share some threads
and I can't really pick between the two, they were both good to me.
Shinonome just makes me sad when I think about him so he's last on my list.
Fav character:
Asahi > Hinata > Souta > Shinonome >Nao > Ichimaru > Mizuki > Aoi > Tsumugi >Brickwall;> Kouya.
Shinonome is my favorite character but not necessarily my favorite love interest
I also tended to like him more outside of his own route than within.
Asahi, Hinata and Souta were my fav's everyone else just sorta follows.
Putting side characters in as well just to show my dislike for Kouya
I also never really rank the heroine among them but damn she is out there.
Final Thoughts!
It was relaxing, soothing yet really hit home at times. A beautiful story about loss.
It can at times be a little melancholic but also light-hearted and fluffy!
it can hit home but it wasn't that heavy or going of the deep end.
I liked most love interests but unlike the last VN I read the heroine was really part of the story
which was great and reminds me I do prefer more proactive ones over merely being a key figure.
It had great character interactions but the pacing could be a little slow at times.
Ryuuji kitan felt twice as long due to an additional common route but I think it was needed.
I guess it can't all be great but for the most part? it was good and had sentimental value.
The characters were pretty complex at times but I really enjoyed getting to the bottom of it
this is really Kannagi no Mori's strong part, the complexity of it all.
there wasn't really any info dumping or long flashbacks either. For the most part it
can seem very character driven, so for 3300 yen I think the length of routes is alright
and everything was mostly straight to the point. I did think there were moments that were rushed
especially Youko but overall it was alright considering the price. Its just a nice otome game
nothing more and nothing less. Nice art, soothing bgm and great cast of characters.
This otome was generally just a comfy read despite the deeper you get the sadder it gets
which is really the case for Shinonome because I feel nothing but sadness after I finished his route.
7.7/10
I'd rate it higher but it was rather short and some early routes don't really go into
the real story but that is okay cause some characters just got nothing to do with it!
Most guys already had enough stuff going on so best to focus on that! which it did.
I do think that if you have played a lot of otome games this game can not seem as special
which is kinda true, however I do think that there is a real beautiful story in here
and definitely will think of Kannagi no Mori as Matatabi's best game.
The only real downer is the only way to save on switch was via the touchpad since the text box
button input for the yes command was unresponsive unless I touched it.
The backlog also had this issue so I guess it was a coding problem...
This didn't really deter from my experience but yea... Matatabi after 3 games I expected better.
Apparently its a challenge impossible for their games not to have any bugs
thankfully as long as you know to use the touchpad its not a big deal, just annoying.
What's next? hmm I kinda wanna try the akuyaku reijou game but I heard it doesn't
have any routes and is pretty much a straight-forward visual novel... however
since I know nothing of the lightnovel it might be worth it since choro said
it may be more enjoyable if you don't know the twists...
No comments:
Post a Comment