/jp/ - Otaku Culture

- The descriptions really drew me in to the story. I guess this sort of goes hand in hand with bullet point one, because when I read about foreign environments I have trouble forming an image in my minds eye. When "the pungent stench of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls," I don't know what that smells like. However, I am familiar with "the musty smell of old books in the back of the library." That said, I don't mind a fantasy setting; I did enjoy reading the Hobbit, for example. So this isn't as big of a concern. But generally, good descriptions that help build atmosphere are what I'm looking for. In Katawa Shoujo, it was a lot of little stuff, for example describing canes ("Lilly's cane seems to be thinner than the one I saw earlier, probably because it's for sensory input rather than support") and handshakes and stuff like that. One of the things I liked so much about Rin's route (other than her awesome character) is the long descriptions of the mural. Of course, too much attention to environment and not enough to characters events isn't good either.

- The game wasn't depressing. This is a biggie. I don't want to play a game that is going to make me cry, unless they are tears of joy. I realize that this may mean I have to avoid some VNs that are considered "good," but reading depressing stories isn't my idea of fun. That said, I realize that bad stuff happens in nearly every story. But I want it to have a happy end. Hanako is a character that evokes sympathy and I was kind of sad to see how she got treated by Shizune, but when I got to see her smile on the last day during the festival it just made it that much more rewarding. If Hanako's arc ended with her killing herself, I just might do the same.

- There's well-executed comic relief. Kenji and Rin actually made me laugh out loud nearly every time they appeared. I don't necessarily want a comedy-ridden game; Hanako's route obviously doesn't have room for any comedy (which is why it's saved for the end of the day meeting Kenji at the dorm). This isn't necessary, as poorly-executed comedy can be more of a hindrance than a help when executing a story.

- No hentai, or an option to turn it off. I probably wouldn't have downloaded the KS demo if it'd had H-scenes, and when I play the full game I will definitely leave H-scenes off for my first playthrough as I can't see how they could do anything but detract from the story. (Then again, I will probably watch Rin's H-scenes just out of morbid curiosity. Oh, and Emi's, to see her without her prostheses.)

tl;dr /jp/, what VN should I play?

I can't tell if this is a level or not.

Utawarerumono

Out. Now.

Not Depressing
Engrossing Story
No hentai

Pick two

>>2600884
Actually, very few games allow you to pick two. Little Sister Kana is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of "like Katawa Shoujo," but it sounds like the OP would dislike it for the depressing nature and hentai (which, I agree, does definitely detract from the story, a version without hentai would probably be more enjoyable). FSN could arguably be considered "engrossing" but it sounds like what the OP is trying to avoid in terms of subject material (and tbh I think that it's pretty over-rated, I didn't enjoy it very much because when it wasn't confusing it was boring, and visa versa).

Anyway, if you can get over your adversion to hentai, I really would recommend that you try Tsukihime again, I don't think the hentai detracts from the story which it sounds was your main concern.

>Not Depressing
>No hentai

Good luck buddy

>I just finished the Katawa Shoujo demo, and it was really amazing

>I did download and install Tsukihime and really tried to enjoy it, but I just found it to be incredibly boring.

Clannad.

No H, pretty uplifting (depending on route), story would probably appeal to you if you liked KS.

>No hentai

>>2600908
I dunno, I think that if the OP really intended this to be a troll he probably would have bothered with the second two posts. Then again, the post times suggest that he typed this before hand, so it obviously was pre-meditated.

>>2600903
>>2600884
Kazoku Keikaku, motherfuckers.

>>2600911
Yeah, because all the girls are disabled.
ZING!

>>2600918
Mandatory 'will never be released, etc'.

>>2600929
Just as planned.

One part of your post confuses, me OP. When you say you don't like hentai, does that mean that you don't want recomemdnations for games that have hentai, or that you prefer games that has no h-scenes just like you say you prefer games that has a contamporary setting rather than a fantasy setting?

>>2600918
>No hentai
I thought Family Project had H-scenes in it.

Pretty sure it's an eroge.

>>2600929
I was assuming at least a couple people in /jp/ actually know japanese.

>>2600856
>>2600858
>>2600862

>>2600856
>>2600858
>>2600862

So is this an elaborate KS troll that hype up KS as one of the best VN ever?

>not depressing
>comic relief
>no hentai
Fuck, lower your standards. I'd say Umineko, but if you couldn't get through Tsukihime, you probably wouldn't even get to the first twilight of the first episode.

>>2600938
There is a non porn version for consoles.

No hentai - I'd say Ever17, but you'd probably find that "incredibly boring" too. And parts of it are pretty depressing. You seem to be asking for something that doesn't exist.

>>2600856

I know you didn't want anything depressing, but I still have to seriously recommend Yume Miru Kusuri.

It's got a really terrific story, and you'll be crying both tears of joy and sadness. It would be a shame to miss if your getting into VNs.

>>2600941
No, I'm just saying that it's the only VN that I've liked enough to keep playing. Obviously, when I say I don't want something horribly depressing, I'm undoubtedly eliminating a lot of good stuff. I'm not asking for the best, I'm just asking for what I enjoy, and I figure that the best way to find more of the same is to tell people what I like about KS.

>>2600941
No, I'm just saying that it's the only VN that I've liked enough to keep playing. I don't really know what qualifies as a good VN as I have played very few, other than those I've mentioned (KS, Tsukihime) the only other I can recall playing enough to get a good idea of the story was Narcissu.

Obviously, when I say I don't want something horribly depressing, I'm undoubtedly eliminating a lot of good stuff. I'm not asking for the best, I'm just asking for what I enjoy, and I figure that the best way to find more of the same is to tell people what I like about KS.

I don't see what's so weird about OP's demands. Wanting non-H can be entirely reasonable, it's not like H-scenes in VNs made for story are that engaging.

Anyway, I'd recommed Clannad and Planetarium. Latter doesn't have choices, but it is very good story.
Also, if you can stand H, Yume Miru Kusuri. There's not much of it, and characters are really great.

>>2600856
>Although the plot is event-driven, the pacing is slow and I feel like I actually have the chance to explore the school. Obviously, this is only in act 1 of KS, and I don't expect it to continue. But if the entire VN is set in a static environment, I want to know what it's like before stuff starts going down. Also, the plot feels really character driven, rather than event driven, which I like a lot.
>the plot is event-driven
>Also, the plot feels really character driven, rather than event driven
WHAT

I don't see what's so weird about OP's demands. Wanting non-H can be entirely reasonable, it's not like H-scenes in VNs made for story are that engaging.

Anyway, I'd recommed Clannad and Planetarium. Latter doesn't have choices, but it is very good story.
Also, if you stand some H, Yume Miru Kusuri. There's not much of it, and characters are really great.

>>2600942
>lower your standards.

Considering that he thinks Umineko is the quintessence of VNs, despite the fact that it's a poorly written and illustrated derivation of virtually every generic Japanese character archetype mixed with grotesque disabilities, lowering his standards any further is probably not an option.

Also, this is almost certainly either a troll or viral marketing from one of the developers.

Not Depressing
No hentai

Cool paradox, bro.

>>2600962
Meant to say KS, not Umineko. Umineko is great.

>>2600943
True, but I'm under the assumption that OP can't read Japanese.

Red Shift. It's very short and entertaining.

>>2600950
Aeka Shiraki

;_;

Beautiful good end. Cried manly tears.

I wanna reach out and hug her.

GET IT, FUCK YOUR NO HENTAI RULE, GET IT

>>2600950

Seconded.

Aeka's route alone is worth downloading this game.

>>2600961

If he doesn't want H-scenes then its best he read console VNs.

There aren't really any visual novels that meet your standards, at least not translated ones. VNs are meant to be depressing and/or for fapping.

>>2600957
Clannad and Planetarian are depressing as fuck and YMK has a ton of h-scenes for a plot-based visual novel (not to mention that it is also depressing).

>>2600962
Honestly, my praise of KS is mostly due to the fact that it's the only VN that I really played. (I did at one point have FSN and Narcissu installed but I never bothered to actually play them and since then I have moved to a new computer and didn't bother to copy them over before getting rid of the old computer.) It's like the kid who has never played an FPS before Halo and thinks it's the most amazing thing ever. I'm not saying it's good, in fact when I say that I want something that's "not depressing" I probably miss out on a lot of really good stuff. I'm just trying to find something that I enjoy and I figure that the best way to find more of what I liked in KS is to tell people what I liked about it.

Persona 4. It's pretty close to being like a VN (sometimes), it has good characters, it's not terribly depressing and there's obviously no hentai in it.

What do you mean by depressing?
Can it be occasionally sad if the ending is happy?

>>2600985
I don't have a Playstation 2 and I don't plan on getting one (mainly because I have no TV-device to hook it up to and my monitor doesn't support hook-ups like that as far as I know), but I have considered Playstation 2 emulation because there are a lot of dating sims (not really VNs, but I guess close enough) that had non-hentai versions made for console. Only problem with emulation is that how well it works depends on the game, reportedly FFX chugs along at 5 FPS but I saw a guy streaming himself playing Disgaea and it didn't look choppy at all. I dunno, is P4 a hard game to emulate?

>>2600983

Get Tsukihime and Fate/Stay Night again.

FUCKING PLAY THEM FGT

Then come back to /jp/.

>It's like the kid who has never played an FPS before Halo and thinks it's the most amazing thing ever

That is your problem.
Go vndb.org
Search for VN
download
Play

>>2600983

OP, get YMK.

You will be depressed, yes, but you will also be happy because you experienced a truly great story (and a truly happy ending).

Please OP, find a torrent and at least try it.

Do it for us.

>>2600998

No idea. P4 is fairly new, just released six months ago, so that might be a problem. I suspect emulating it would be difficult, but you may as well try.

>>2600992
It's okay (and perfectly natural) for a story to have it's ups and downs. The problem I have is when a story leaves you at an emotional low the _entire_ time, tacking on a happy end after you've spent the entire story being depressed doesn't really cut it.

I really liked the first episode of Michiko to Hatchin even though it's basically about Hatchin being abused by her step-family because you get to see her rescued at the end. However, that's only about 10 minutes of torture given that it's only a 25 minute episode that covers both their stories.

I did enjoy Schindler's List because although it is largely depressing, there are many intermittent triumphs (you see a man beaten to his knees only to discover that the gun a Nazi intended to shoot him with was jammed). So I guess depressing is okay to some extent.

A lot of the "depressing" stories are actually about overcoming the obstacles and learning from them.
Ever17 has a couple of bad ends, but the true ending is ridiculously happy.
A lot of lyrics in Clannad-related songs deal with the theme of the importance of good things and bad things in life.

So, reading your requisites for recommendations, I'd say VNs aren't up your alley. Neither is real literature.


So watch Lucky Star.
-"Plot" is character driven
-Deals with the unfamiliar subject matter of friends while also dealing with the familiar subject of nerd culture
-No long descriptions of the environment
-Nothing depressing
-Completely made of comic relief
-No hentai

>>2601001
Come to think of it, the Halo Xbox kid analogy also popped to mind for me. While I'm kind of creeped out by the fact that I think similarly enough to the OP to think of similar analogies to him, I shouldn't feel too weird because the same thing happened to me; when I first played Fate/Stay Night I thought it was the greatest thing ever even though, looking back, it is probably one of the least enjoyable VNs I have bothered to play through (at least on all routes).

>>2600980
Planetarian is not depressing if you include the short stories.
Then it becomes more of the manly tears you shed while saluting a fallen soldier at his burial.

>>2601012
Funny you should mention it, because the same people who coerced me into playing Tsukihime also forced me to watch Lucky Star. The first episode is probably the worst thing I have ever seen, no joke. It's really unimaginably dull. I'm not sure if it's just me because a lot of people seem to like it, and I actually did enjoy watching Azumanga Daioh (which was similar in concept and also well-liked).

Something tells me the full version of KS will have its full share of depressing angst.

>>2601039
It better. If it's just "LOL CRIPPLES" for several hours, fuck that shit.

>>2601036
I think creating this thread in /a/ would be better for you.

Most of the people like you are on /a/. Over here we play raping game and ;_;

>>2601036
Your sarcasm detector must be broken.
Or you're a solid troll and mine is.
The Lucky Star suggestion was supposed to show how horribly crippling your requirements were.
Also, on the note of Azumanga Daioh, does anyone have scans of the three new chapters?

>>2601031
Then you realize that all the people in the short stories are all long dead.

There's nothing remotely happy about Planetarian, outside of Yumemi's happy little quirks. I mean, it's set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where it rains acid 24/7. There's no fucking way that can be uplifting.

>>2600999
Why does it seem like FSN is pre-requisite for /jp/? I got to reading it a few months ago and don't feel any richer for it, which is odd since nearly every other recurring suggestion (Ever17, Plantarium) are actually very well done.

On that subject, OP, you may want to try both of those out if you don't mind some angst, there were enough times that both of them had me smiling inside that you should be able to enjoy them, especially after what you said about Schindler's list.

>>2601048
>crippling
haha... unintentional pun.

>>2600950
>>2600961
>>2600975
>>2600976
>>2601005

Thats five different people telling you to play YMK, OP. You should really just give it a shot.

Here, I'll even post a link to the torrent:

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3878468/Yume_Miru_Kusuri_-_A_Drug_That_Makes_You_Dream

(don't worry about all the patches and stuff, just enjoy the game)

>>2601062

ehhhhh. I wasn't a fan of YMK, but I suppose it couldn't hurt. It's got a lot more sex in it than most of the other suggestions, still.

>>2601036

A little off topic, but you should just ignore the first three episodes of Lucky Star.

Once you get past those it becomes an enjoyable and fun anime.

>>2601050
The story of the Junker and his inkling of hope left in humanity is the uplifting part.
To me, at least.

>>2601051
Because people have different tastes than you? I liked F/SN better than Ever17 or Planetarian (not to say that those VNs are bad).

>>2601062

Sixth person recommending YMK.

It's an excellent starter VN, even if it's depressing, all the Good ends are very happy.

>>2601062
I loved it so much that I'm actually planning on buying it. Seriously OP, don't be a pussy and read it.

>>2601074

Thats the thing about YMK, the sex actually plays a good part in the story.

At least with Aeka and Mizukis path, not too sure about Nekoko's.

You'll find out when you see it, but it wasn't just added in to give otakus something to fap to IMO.

>>2601062
I had actually found a torrent and begun to consider hopping on it, until I read the part of the description that read
>accompany the cat girl Nekoko on her quest for the mystical fairyland that only she can see

This seems to be a problem of late, people coming in from /a/ and /v/, having played the KS demo as their first Visual Novel, and asking for advice.

Well, this one seems to be different, he wants no Hentai, which seriously, seriously limits himself to about %10 of the genre.

My advice? True Remembrance is a good start, its short, has no H, and provides a good story without being depressing.

>>2601101
Nekoko has a serious problem, and her fairy exterior is just a cover for some deep trouble.

>>2601051
Type-Moon stuff is recommended to counterbalance the typical nakige with some shounen style action.

>>2601101

FUCK YOUR SHIT, NEKOKO IS THE BEST ROUTE

LOOK AT THAT ASS
THAT GLORIOUS DRUGGIE ASS

>>2601101
>Drug that makes you dream
>mystical fairyland
She's tripping balls, man.

>>2601101

Thats just one of the paths you can take (I think it's pretty good, but thats just me).

The other two are more serious and real, and more then make up for Nekoko.

Besides, you only see her twice if you don't go her route. She'll be out of the picture pretty fast.

>>2601100
FOOTJOB OF FATE

>>2601100

hm. The only VN I've played where the sex scenes actually added something to the story was Saya no Uta.

Incidentally, Saya is exactly the opposite of what OP is looking for - no comic relief, a lot of sex and really terribly depressing.

>>2601124
>serious and real

Thats the thing, though. Nekoko's problem is serious and real, just temporary hidden behind an odd face.

>>2601127
Saya no Uta really got me into the genre

Well, If you are looking for a VN that allows you to turn off the Hentai. Wind: a Breath of Heart allows you to turn it off. Unfortunately....there are two routes that are depressing as hell. Wind doesn't get a whole lot of love around here, but I still feel like its underrated.

then there's Crescendo, and One, both of which are good high school themed VNs.

Phantom of Inferno and Hourglass of Summer are good and have the H-scenes removed, unfortunately they suffer MASSIVELY from their format (ani-play DVD) which is awkward as fuck. Still worth attempting at least.
http://vndb.org/v35
http://vndb.org/v29
http://vndb.org/v51

Not OP here.
Can /jp/ recommend something seriously depressing?
Like, the kind of depressing that makes you not leave your room for a week because you can't take your mind off how horrible the world is. I want this.

>>2601168

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Utsuge

>>2601168
Planetarian. Next.

>>2601168
Get Yume Miru Kusuri
Play Aeka route
Purposely get bad ending

Get Saya no Uta
All endings are ;_;

The OP might enjoy Starlit Sky. http://www.renai.us/game/starlit.shtml

How come nobody reccomended Violent semen inferno yet?

>>2601198
THAT ART

>>2601198
cool midgets, bro.

>>2601204
The art is what the art is, and you're missing out if you only consider VNs with "good" art.

>>2601160
Phantom had the best DVD port, to be honest. I was actually grateful for the DVD format because I was able to play it for hours in the airport/in the airplane on a portable DVD player.

do the creators have any plans on releasing KS for a portable console? or maybe even a toyline?

>>2601217
Plus the DVD port has voices and stuff, which really add to the experience.

>>2601226
i dunno how easy it is to port stuff to vnds but if it's built on the same engine as tsukihime and fate/stay night it should probably make its way to ds.

>>2601250
I thought KS was built on Ren'py.

No H?

Are you Katawa dev?

>>2601226

That might be putting the cart before the horse, considering they're a long way from an actual full release...

At least they're light-years ahead of those Sakura River guys.

>>2601258
No, he's actually Ixrec.

>>2601265

maybe you can hire some laid off programmers from 3D realms :3

>>2601266
LOL
But really,go mention H to the guys making Katawa-ANY kind of H,go ahead,just try it.

Try not to let them gouge your eyes out or stab you with a fork they get reeeeeal touchy over any mention of it...

No shit.

>>2601292
Yeah, since the 3D Realms devs are so good at producing things in a timely manner before the operation goes belly-up.

>>2601198
If that's the art they can come up with, whoever made this should stick to text-only mediums.

>Katawa Shoujo was really amazing
>92 posts and 11 image replies omitted

successful troll is successful

>>2601331
Haven't H-scenes already been confirmed for KS though?

Why do they consider it a touchy subject?

>>2601441
Because MrX or CaptainX here waltz into their IRC chat and request for them to make changes like he's the boss, thus the devs banned him from IRC and now he's trying to smear their reputation.

>>2601441

It's been confirmed, along with the option to turn them off.

Kana Little Sister.

Just get back to the KS irc channel.
We don't give a shit about KS here.
While there ask them for recommendation too.

>>2601441
I'm just betting it's gonna be very "vanilla" and NOT what the typical 4channer will expect.

>>2601457
Their story-the truth:I just was making conversations and suggestions,cpl_crud said "mention that again and I'll ban you" I thought it was a joke,fuck I do that on an IRC channel myself-but for laughs,and not for a lame-assed reason like "I don't like what you're saying"

Well he was serious and proved himself to be a prick about it,most all the dev team that was there supported him-so "touchy"
I really dare you to go to the IRC and ask about sex and what you can and can't do in-game,if you catch a case of the banz don't say I didn't warn you.

>>2601465
This what I don't get-if you can shut them off why not give the option to turn it into a reg H VN? I think we can say the average 4channer will want to have some fap.

I'm fine without any but the whole attiude I get is mystifying to me.

And no I won't stop but I will not stoop to the name calling that they WILL stoop to anytime I open my mouth.

So go ahead and call all the names you want I won't,I may joke and post the odd chirno pic but that's it.

>>2601533
>This what I don't get-if you can shut them off why not give the option to turn it into a reg H VN?

What are you trying to say? That doesn't make any sense.

I don't know or care much about any of this stupid drama. The devs do sound like dicks, though.

Oh god, why do you people care so much about 'My First VN'?

>>2600961

>Anyway, I'd recommed Clannad and Planetarium.

>Clannad and Planetarium.

>Planetarium.

>>2600856
Read everything circled in green, then come back and ask.

>>2601557
Simple:If you can shut the H scenes off (which I take is gonna be some work anyhow) why not go whole hog?

Have the option to shut them off and there's no sex,you get together with the girl of your choice and ride off into the sunset.

Turn them on and get to do the horny bunny with the girl of your choice in whatever way you commonly see in H,porn etc i.e. vag,oral,anal~cripple sex? foot jobs? thigh jobs? scar fetish? fuck I dunno.

The thing is this is just a SUGGESTION and no one has any reason to listen to me-at all.
I just think you can't have a "middle ground" in a "H" VN,at least not that I've seen,in a drug that makes you dream there was low key sex,but we also fucked a cat girl in the ass,took a "fragile" girl and fucked her brains out Etc.

Again my two cents and take it as you will,no real need to listen to me.

>>2601650
Because turning off content requires about a minute of coding if it's in the original design. Adding content takes actual work.

Are you really that dumb?

H scenes require a lot of time and effort - they typically have multiple CGs + variations compared to standard scenario stuff.

And it's totally not worth it, because if you want to play a VN for the H scenes, get something by Atelier Kaguya or Tinkerbell instead.

>>2601659
Ah now we come to the fun part-

After they said you can turn it off I asked what kind of H could be had? I'd heard of the foot jobs and whatnot,but since I do like anal with women I asked about that and said "I'd guess you get the reg three vag,oral,anal".......

Things went down hill from there;cpl_crud has a vendetta against anal and just about lopped my head off,in short he was a dick when a simple "no" may have sufficed.

I'm not sure what you get to be honest-I never got to ask.......