Shinobi, Koi Utsutsu Kanmitsu hana emaki - Review

 

忍び、恋うつつ ― 甘蜜花絵巻 ―
Game: [Ninkoi FD]

Genre: Otome Game Visual Novel.

Developer/Publisher: Otomate.

Platform: PS Vita.

Official Site: http://www.otomate.jp/nin_koi/kanmitsu/

VNDB: https://vndb.org/v19847

Release date: 2017-9-28

Yep... its time for another fandisk but in all honestly I don't consider myself being that
much of a ninkoi fan anymore and sincerly questioned why I even bothered.😅
 Like I expected more fanservice but got an actual story about them maturing...

I tried not to be too negative and my final score reflects this, this FD is just fine for what it is.

I had mostly a great time with the original but I am sort of eh at coming back to it after so long...
because after like a month or two I wrote off its vita port as a one off game.
The original was far from perfect as well like it having copypasta problems with Takaie all being like you got no chance make your time! and their being meromero shenanigans with Kaede
slowly falling for her partner of her choice said partners all following a trope too.
I still liked it because of it was brainless fun stuff...
Honestly speaking this FD feels more like a sequel there's fanservice but honestly I found the
graduation story for everyone lacklustre some nice moments here and there but it wasn't worth it
overall. Well I shouldn't complain atleast it got a FD right? i'll just do a general review like the original.

Pro's
- Everyones getting married... yeehaw.
- More shinobi action if thats your thang, (honestly in a FD I do not want this).
- Music, its nothing memorable but it fits the scene most of the time.

Con's
 Art, its still gorgeous but there's a noticeable difference... did the original artist really work on this?
- This is subjective but the overall writing, fluff, comedy all could've been better, overall its meh.
- Too many characters... basically only do your favorite(s).

Most of my rage/discomfort comes from the facts that originally Ninkoi is a very fanservicey game
with the plot sort of just being there, with the FD I expected more fanservice but got
more plot instead to the point this doesn't classify as a FD but a sequel instead.
They did it backwards usually its story centric game > fluffy FD afterwards...
At this point I just feel Ninkoi was one of those one time experiences there was little need
for more but we got it anyway albeit a bit too late for some.

Regarding the OP theme... its okay but I don't like it that much and they should've
 gotten the old singer back. I got nothing against Hisano but her voice just does not fit
with the background music, I liked her work for shirotokuro but here? not really.

The theme of this installment is graduation... honestly speaking I barely remember

much about the original cept some small details and I did not replay it either
because other games have been taking up my time and honestly I didn't find a reason.

Not that plot was ninkoi's strong point yes it has one, the original story(psp) all seemed
 like a light-hearted fluffy otome game to me never taking itself too seriously.

Length? about the same as the original we got fanservice and ''plot'' both of which are
fine but compared to say KBO FD the times I really laughed out loud could be count on a single
hand. The plot varies depending on character but I didn't find the writing to be exciting
because redundancy re: exams/graduating and marriage, its good to see them mature
but I expected more fanservice and was let down.
Disclaimer: no not everything is the same, every guy has their own story
of maturing/problems etc its just some stuff gets predictable to me.
System wise its just select after story... standard VN stuff if you do well in that
mero-mero practice thingy you unlock bonus stories for one of them I am annoyed
because one of them is a flashback scenario which would be better before their after stories.
The shenanigans is why I liked ninkoi to begin with but ever since setsugekka koi emaki
it feels like otomate is trying to make this series take itself more seriously like expand
on the setting in detail but stuff I came here for like fanservice felt dry and/or watered down
compared to the original which is just such a shame.
I expected a fandisc but got a sequel with more plot/lore instead of fanservice.
That aside everyone gets marriage ends! wow thanks no not really, suddenly I appreciate
it when only one or two/three characters gets one, I guess I first realized
this with Geten no Hana but happy endings come in all sorts of variations like marriage
would be icing on the cake sure but when there's 10 characters some difference in the end would be nice.
Sometimes I was just like they're just gonna get married in the end... maybe its better to skip lol. 
It is sad if your fav doesn't get one but isn't it nicer to fantasize a little...?

I think each after story is about 3-5 hours, most of which is spend with them graduating
and working together on a mission, marrying and sexy times(maybe).
Every character basically still has their charm and the comedy's decent
but I feel that's lacking overall it may still be nice to wrap things up though.😅
Its funny there's indeed a story to ninkoi but here I am... drawn to the humor, shameless stuff
and the colorful cast of characters, I don't think the core story is bad I just never expected
otomate to get serious about setting and stuff with setsugekka koi emaki's additional ninjas.
 I mostly did one after story a day for some such as Ukita or Tadehito it took me two days
because simple put I lost motivation and they were a drag in general.
Had there never been a FD err I mean sequel I probably wouldn't have cared... I feel like the past
one and a half week have mostly been an exquisite waste of time except for a few characters.
Going to add this right here and I feel its going to be my trademark line for everything 
otome now its impossible to like every character especially in a character game like this.
Sooo I came here for a fandisk with fluff not a sequel with more plot, its like otomate doesn't know
the difference and whatever plot there was felt stretched out to me, completely uninteresting like
I couldn't even keep focused and just let it auto play and I still understood it if I zoned out.
Of course there's a few nice moments but yeah that's it almost not worth to write about.
 Atleast Garaiya's as adorable and chuuni as ever even outside of his own after story. =w=
 Sadly the seal on Kaede's jutsu breaking was just an excuse to give us this poor excuse of a FD... haha round two? why not! except this time with actual character development.
This is why I can still rate it a 6 out of 10 because even if not what I come here for THEY TRIED.

Depending on how much of a ninkoi fan you are... you may enjoy this or you may not
if you're like me and its been too long its better to pass on it, its hard to write
my thoughts on this, the content in this FD(sequel) is just okay I enjoyed what I could, the end.
6/10
Its fine... might have been better if it came out sooner rather than later.

 More ramblings after the jump.

Moujuutachi to Ohime-sama ~in blossom~ - review

Game: [Beast and Princess FD]

Genre: Otome Game Visual Novel.

Developer/Publisher: Otomate.

Platform: PS Vita.

Official Site: http://www.otomate.jp/beast_princess/fd/

VNDB: https://vndb.org/v21112

Release date: 2017-9-07

Ah yes... who would've thought otomate would release a FD for a work that was
a rather poor attempt to cater to a fanbase of Moujuutsukai,  I bought this FD because
 I still liked some of the characters and the setting.
Was it worth it? well not really... this FD was either planned or otomate
had money to burn to deliver this mediocre addition to a mediocre game.

After stories:
Set after the happiest endings and deals with problem that couldn't be told back then
and goes deeper into the character because lololol witch problems.
Each was about 2 and a half hours  so thats an okay length any longer and i'd say get out
sadly some followed the same pattern and by the last one I was pretty meh about it.

IF story:
Continues from the previous game's what if there was no fighting?
and goes further into stuff related to Julia's powers and some new guy named Czarny.

System? typical stuff, there are choice during after stories
but they might as well have not been there.
Mofumofu is also there as a bonus and you'll unlock cg from it.

In short this FD is only for those that really REALLY liked moujuutachi to ohime-sama
but honestly don't expect much... because there isn't much in terms of content.
Some after stories were nice but others were boring... the fanservice was subtle
but there wasn't much and the writing quality more of the same as the original.
Just gonna add that there's so many otomege that don't get a FD so enjoy it if you can/want.
Moujuutachi might not be as good as Moujuutsukai but really a lot of sequels
tend to leave to be desired when you think about it and/or critisize/compare.
 Moujuutachi is only really good for beginners of the otome genre
and those whom do not have high standards in terms of plot/romance developments
then again if you only get moujuutachi a lot of references to moujuutsukai will just fly over
your head and I am more inclined to recommend Moujuutsukai than this game and its FD.
SO I can't recommend this fandisc unless you liked the original and have time and money to spare
speaking of time... the length was okay each after story was two hours at most with IF being 5-6 hours.
Honestly enjoy the CG's... I couldn't be bothered to write much if at all.

I've said enough for now and typical character rambles and/or spoilers after the jump.

Otomate party 2017 roundup

Otomate party 2018 has come and gone so these are the important announcements.

Variable Barricade revived, coming to ps vita and ps4 near you in 2018.

Yay, its not dead! really looking forward to this!

Kurenai no Homura Sanada Ninpou chou, also coming to psv and ps4 in 2018.

IDK kinda getting burned out on old timey games...

 Shiro to Kuro no Alice Shinsaku(new work), PS Vita.

 Ah it must have done well enough for a FD... or maybe it was planned
since some part felt scattered and endings a little convenient.

Collar x malice unlimited... no platforms. 

I do not have high hope, probably means permanent out of jail card

for a certain character, ugh I get sick thinking about this.

Piofiore no Banshou for ps vita.

Post ww1 set in italy there be mafia idk but not excited yet.

Shiritsu Verbara Gakuen ~Versailles no Bara Re*imagination~.

Not familiar with that anime so can't say I am interested in this work
platform wasn't announced but I bet its vita.

Tengai ni mau iki na hana, PS Vita.

Its set in taishou/showa era? not really interested right now...
shares same artist as hanayaki nari / verite.

Cendrillion PhalikA, PS Vita.
 The art looks nice and the heroine's cute but idk cinderella theme and all it feels like a trap
could be surprisingly dark so uh more info please?

Charade Maniacs, PS Vita.

Personally this doesn't attract me at all so definite pass unless rave reviews.

 Triangle Project, PC seperate volume release.

Oh otomate dabbling in PC territory and try to rip us off in the process

releasing the whole series separately. lol no thanks.

Other news...

Diabolik lovers haunted dark bridal and more:blood bundled together and port to PS4.
Library cross mobage gets anime... much like sengoku nightblood. (me is meh about this)
Another Dance trips PV... well who is actually interested in this? looks so cheap lmao.
 Nil admirari anime PV was shown... well atleast they take their time in making it
hopefully at the very least its a 12 ep 24 minute series and not a mini series.

Well it seems otomate is determined to move to PS4 but still has plenty

of PS Vita otome games in the pipe line so its not over yet.

Looking forward to Variable barricade and I will keep an eye out for

Cendrillion PhalikA and Piofiore no Banshou. I will probably get shirotokuro FD

as well but untill new info is revealed most of these titles are in the back of my mind.

Sangoku Rensenki Sakigake - Trial version Review

 三国恋戦記 魁

Game: [Sangoku Rensenki Sakigake]

Genre: Otome Game Visual Novel.

Developer/Publisher: Daisy2.

Platform: PC.

Official Site: http://www.daisy-daisy.in/products/sangoku2/special.html

VNDB: https://vndb.org/v18293

Release date: 2017-08-25

Long awaited new sangoku rensenki game with new heroine and cast

with some old ones making an appearance.

Since it is very likely to get a vita port I just decided to check out the trial now
also I know its bad to judge the full game on a demo but from what I saw I liked.
Also I will write the name as spoken and english equivalent.
You should know that if you aren't into chinese history you'd probably have to give this a pass

buut you might learn a thing or two it would depend on your love for bishonen?!

Tomoe is a highschool girl coming from old fashioned family and talented with the bow

 but has no experience with romance.

The way the story starts gives us a good look at Tomoe's normal life 

but she's really dense and her best friend Nana has to play shipper on the deck

because she can't stand how Tomoe and Kouta are right now.

As in they're friends but its awkward, so Nana figures Tomoe is in love with him

and says they'd should just go out already but Tomoe is like what should I do?

So when she goes to the library Tomoe isn't there and she finds a book

related to the sangoku period and well you guessed it she gets swept away to a world

resembling ancient china in the early three kingdoms period, sadly this time
the protagonist does not choose those who saw victories she chose those who lost. 
Due to choices in the prologue it may differ where you end up
I like this because you get to the route you want right away.
Those who played the original may not sit well with some stuff...
and there's a little false advertisement of fighting heroine often she is forced
to do nothing this I felt in Yuan Shao route that is why I recommend the route of Lu Bu first
because you will see that despite being capable she's a girl and killing is not what she wants.
Its best not to compare too much with previous work but see with open mind.

System: typical VN stuff and daisy2's easy mode is there

so you can see which choice relates to what character and get on a route faster.
I think the demo itself is about 2 maybe 3 hours considering to try all route.

I found a recommended play order in a JP review so I will relay it for you its:
Lu Bu / Dong Zhuo > Yuan Shao > Sun Ce > Hua Tuo.
I think Lu Bu is a good start but according to them Dong Zhuo's not bad either.

Everything written down is what happen early on in the route
if you do not want spoiler just skip character section,  I only saw Yuan shao and Sun Ce
 to the end of demo but everything else is only a little, it probably ended shortly where I stopped.

Re:vice[D] - review

リヴァイスディー
Game: [Re:viceD]

Genre: Otome Game Visual Novel.

Developer/Publisher: Otomate.

Platform: PS Vita.

Official Site: http://www.otomate.jp/revice_d/

VNDB: https://vndb.org/v14813

Release date: 2014-07-24

 Since the story setup ain't the typical otome I got interested since there's not much else
out these days so why not go back to some games I skipped out on?
This was like otomates first PS Vita otome game and impressions were good
but the values aren't so eventually I just grabbed a copy for 30$ on playasia
yep it goes for that cheap... they prolly just have too much stock and it needs to go to it etc.
Heck it even came with the preorder drama CD...
After the last game I played this was pleasant and much more enjoyable as a whole.


 I admit the art syle isn't why I bought it nor found it attractive at first but it grew on me.
 The music was great, definitely stood out and the OP was catchy.
I never skipped it and sometimes I'd leave it on the title screen so it loops.

-

Pro's
- Interesting set up for an otome game.
- Each character's interesting and has a reason to be a candidate.
- Comedy.
- Slick Art style.
- Music, great its not something to tire of.

Con's
- No touch features, I know this is otomate's first vita game but it may've as well been on PSP then!
- Typical truth route problems are of no concern elsewhere, guess Anvan is under tight-leash.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Not every route may be to your liking, well duh but whatever other con will there be?
 -

Aika's not amused at how laid back the other heavenly kings can be.

Our heroine Aika is  one of the four heavenly kings. She is tasked with finding
a successor in the human world, 3 of the other heavenly kings have already
assigned recommendations, Aika however adds the mysterious Yukine to that list.
Aika isn't a typical heroine she ain't one to take shit and this can lead to shenanigans,
It was funny to see her reactions and the guys to be blending in as a human highschool girl
but she's prett cool and won't sit still when her friends are in danger.
If anything she's anything but a typical otome game heroine
but remember no matter how cool she is, she's still a girl
some routes handle it better than others.

Aika isn't one of those otome game heroine's that would take the crap most do, she's more than capable.

Just by going through the prologue I was like? wow this is pretty fun/interesting
and it never beat around the bush while still having fun moments.
The system was standard so there's not much to add to that but I liked the way you select event.
 They're not long but sometimes it feels like a side story along general story but its nice
way to keep stuff character specific but uh by the last route everything flew by!
Gotta add that I found that it was a pain in the ass to read font in the selection screen, I literally
needed atleast a minute or two at times to decipher some of the scribbles, also
 no touch feature even though we're on PS VITA so use joystick or miss stuff....😅
 As unique the system was... without a guide I think you can get lost... because there's 
so many scenes and endings and without knowing you may derail into what you didn't want.
There are a lot of choices this combined with selection system made first play arguably 
the longest but each route was 4-6 hours at most which was decent in length.
Well I loved the interactions everyone had with each others, it feels some otome games miss out
on this comedic factor and only a few get it right to balance with serious & romance.
The common part of the game consists of Aika and her familiar Mike giving the candidates
situations to test themselves like will they face the problems and help each other or run away?

The side character Shinku, Suiu and Akatsuki were interesting as well and honestly
they do not need full routes, because story wise that would be jarring besides Suiu's an ass.
They do get endings though so there's something for them atleast!
All will become clear when you'll go through the routes, each character had his reasons
 for being chosen as a candidate, the weakest link may have been Hinatsu
because honestly he makes for a poor demon king, atleast his case was unique lol.
 My favorite character was definitely Iroha everyone else just followed.

The short version...
A somewhat decent otome game forever overlooked and it sold like crap
due to being the first new(that's not a port) otome on PS Vita
but didn't have much new features so it may as well have been on PSP.
While I only really liked two routes atleast every route was unique...
sadly certain character like Yukine just gets screwed over whom I only can pity.
It all depends on personal taste as I cannot like everything.
I suppose the only thing this game has going for it is unusual themes for an otome game
and crisp art due to vita but once again it may've been better if it was PSP.
 This is a relatively short game and the endings end when they should to the point
it can be good for those that do not play much otome and only pick one out
once in a blue moon after considering what the value is which sadly isn't that much
 since this is only one game, I still love the character interactions over most else which made everything come together but I wish Kuroda had more common events because his route flew by.😭
This may be a one hit wonder, you'll probably won't find anything else quite like it
nor does it specifically need more so even if one ends up liking it be prepared
that you'll won't find any goods related to it because its just not popular enough.

I guess some games like this and others are just outshadowed but that doesn't mean they're
not worth it, honestly Re:vice[D] is better as a whole than three otome games
 I played last year so that gotta say something.
hint: Period Cube, Moujuutachi and Suuran Digit.

Maybe its due to the way it was told and the comedy plus it not really losing sight of theme
while trying to keep it unique every route. I loved the characters, the story was there
and everything else was great, romance may need some work but what more do you want?
Otomate makes so much games and gems like this or that easily get overlooked
I am actually glad they didn't have much this year, means I can pick up stuff I passed on.
Re:vice[D] may cater to people who like otome game heroines
 who're more confident than average and don't mind its unique setting.

Playorder:
Hinatsu > Iroha > Ryoga > Yukine > Kuroda
This was recommended by others so may as well... use it
I do not know if Kuroda really needs all routes but honestly his makes the most sense
after Yukine and everyone else is self-contained compared to the last two.

Uh so you know character ramblings after the jump major or minor spoilers be there so be warned.