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3 Visual Novels you should check out before condemning the entire medium as "porn games"
For those that don't know, a Visual Novel (not to be confused with a graphic novel!) is medium that is best described as an in between of a video game, anime, and book. They are written in prose, contain visuals and audio, and most though not all include choices that influence the direction of the story. Unfortunately Visual Novels (from here on out will be abbreviated as VNs) are rather obscure, and often the people that have heard of them, but that haven't actually read them, stigmatize them as "Porn games". I'm not here to completely dispel this myth, since a lot of VNs are admittedly just that (In the VN community those VNs are classified as Nukige), but certainly not all of them are! In fact there is a good minority of VNs that focus primarily on character development and story. And by minority, I am referring to a few hundred if you include untranslated titles, and around 50 - 70 for English translated titles. By the way, there exist thousands of visual novels in total. So without further ado, here are the 3 Visual Novels I suggest checking out before condemning the entire medium.
1) Narcissu: Narcissu is an absolutely beautiful story, but even more than that quite a meaningful read as well. I even wrote a whole analysis of it which you can read here (Warning by the nature of such an article it includes spoilers): blog.fuwanovel.net/2015/01/narcissu-and-death/
It's complicated to explain what Narcissu is about since it is about so much, and simultaneously so little. The easiest way to put it is that it is a story about waiting to die. To quote what I wrote in the article, "Ultimately, this story is about the awkward purgatory of when we are not yet dead, but no longer really alive." In addition to being a wonderful story, it also has no sex in it. So it is a great first VN. On top of that, it is free on Steam! Also, the original Narcissu (which I recommend reading before it's prequel called Side 2nd) is only a 2 - 5 hour read. You can easily read this in an evening. So there is really no reason to not at least check this visual novel out, as it is short, free, and quite well written and well translated.
2) Saya no Uta: Some of you may have heard of this VN simply because it was written by somebody who is now a big name in the anime industry: Gen Urobuchi (who is responsible for Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, etc.) Man, is this a horror story done right! In fact, I also wrote an analysis of this, it contains spoilers but you can read it here if you're curious: blog.fuwanovel.net/2015/03/perspective-in-saya-no-uta/
Saya no Uta is about a man who developed a horrendous cognitive disorder after surviving a car accident with the help of experimental brain surgery. The whole world appears as gore and flesh to him, and humans looks like grotesque monsters. The only thing keeping him sane is a girl named Saya he met. She is the only person left who looks aesthetically pleasing to him. The real question is, who is Saya? Unlike Narcissu, Saya no Uta does have some sex scenes, but those scenes are used to add to the story rather than distract from it. It's hard to explain without going into spoiler driven territory, but those sex scenes are unsettling and if you're paying attention to the story they are anything but arousing. You can purchase this VN from either here: jlist.com/product/NP002
or through Jastusa's website (Jastusa is the company that licensed and translated the VN).
3) Swan Song: This is my personal favorite visual novel, and has been since I read it 3 - 4 years ago. In my view no translated VN has topped it, although both Narcissu and Saya no Uta were serious contenders. In the VN community we call masterpiece level visual novels kamige, which means god-like game. And Swan Song is a true kamige. Where should I start. Swan Song is an epic, in the sense that it tackles large themes and truly questions what it means to be human, as well as what it means to live in civilization. How does it propose these questions? By utilizing an apocalyptic setting and forcing humans to recreate societies and band together. This may sound cliched, after all, all apocalyptic tales are about this to some degree. And like with any epic, it is not the premise that stands out, it is the execution that does. Song Song is excellently written (and well translated), it's soundtrack is absolutely stellar, but it also knows how to use silence properly as well, and it's visual presentation is unique and quite well fitting as well. The story is told though multiple perspectives and truly shows us how the characters change and develop as the story progresses. We get to see the change both from their own heads, but also from other characters perspectives as well. In fact there is a rape scene that occurs midway in the story, and a certain character witnesses the rape not knowing whether to run or attempt to rescue the person. We get to see though this character's eyes, and other characters eyes how this person drastically changes after this traumatic experience. You will see how this character's insanity develops in their own head, but also how it affects other people. Needless to say, this story is about human nature and it does not present a favorable image of it. Sadly, this is the hardest Visual novel to legally obtain, and the only reasonable method of getting it is through piracy. This is because it is unlicensed (the translation is a fan translation patch), and you will have to navigate though Japanese websites to purchase it. Further more, Japanese distributes of visual novels normally don't ship out side of Japan, so you will need to use a proxy. In other words, the Japanese distributors don't expect foreigners to buy this product, so by pirating you won't be cutting into their expected profits anyway. I'm not necessarily advocating for piracy, I'm just saying that legally obtaining it is near impossible, and in this case it isn't theft in the traditional sense either.
I realize this is quite a long post, but I can't really put my thoughts more laconically either. The Visual Novel medium means a lot to me, and it has quite a lot of potential for story telling. It is a shame so many disregard this medium, because they truly are missing out on some wonderful works of art. In fact, that is why I put this topic under the category of "Art", because Visual Novels are a relatively new medium of artistic expression. After reading this, I really hope some of you do check these VNs out, but even if you don't. I hope you at least walk way understanding that not all Visual Novels are porn games!
1) Narcissu: Narcissu is an absolutely beautiful story, but even more than that quite a meaningful read as well. I even wrote a whole analysis of it which you can read here (Warning by the nature of such an article it includes spoilers): blog.fuwanovel.net/2015/01/narcissu-and-death/
It's complicated to explain what Narcissu is about since it is about so much, and simultaneously so little. The easiest way to put it is that it is a story about waiting to die. To quote what I wrote in the article, "Ultimately, this story is about the awkward purgatory of when we are not yet dead, but no longer really alive." In addition to being a wonderful story, it also has no sex in it. So it is a great first VN. On top of that, it is free on Steam! Also, the original Narcissu (which I recommend reading before it's prequel called Side 2nd) is only a 2 - 5 hour read. You can easily read this in an evening. So there is really no reason to not at least check this visual novel out, as it is short, free, and quite well written and well translated.
2) Saya no Uta: Some of you may have heard of this VN simply because it was written by somebody who is now a big name in the anime industry: Gen Urobuchi (who is responsible for Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, etc.) Man, is this a horror story done right! In fact, I also wrote an analysis of this, it contains spoilers but you can read it here if you're curious: blog.fuwanovel.net/2015/03/perspective-in-saya-no-uta/
Saya no Uta is about a man who developed a horrendous cognitive disorder after surviving a car accident with the help of experimental brain surgery. The whole world appears as gore and flesh to him, and humans looks like grotesque monsters. The only thing keeping him sane is a girl named Saya he met. She is the only person left who looks aesthetically pleasing to him. The real question is, who is Saya? Unlike Narcissu, Saya no Uta does have some sex scenes, but those scenes are used to add to the story rather than distract from it. It's hard to explain without going into spoiler driven territory, but those sex scenes are unsettling and if you're paying attention to the story they are anything but arousing. You can purchase this VN from either here: jlist.com/product/NP002
or through Jastusa's website (Jastusa is the company that licensed and translated the VN).
3) Swan Song: This is my personal favorite visual novel, and has been since I read it 3 - 4 years ago. In my view no translated VN has topped it, although both Narcissu and Saya no Uta were serious contenders. In the VN community we call masterpiece level visual novels kamige, which means god-like game. And Swan Song is a true kamige. Where should I start. Swan Song is an epic, in the sense that it tackles large themes and truly questions what it means to be human, as well as what it means to live in civilization. How does it propose these questions? By utilizing an apocalyptic setting and forcing humans to recreate societies and band together. This may sound cliched, after all, all apocalyptic tales are about this to some degree. And like with any epic, it is not the premise that stands out, it is the execution that does. Song Song is excellently written (and well translated), it's soundtrack is absolutely stellar, but it also knows how to use silence properly as well, and it's visual presentation is unique and quite well fitting as well. The story is told though multiple perspectives and truly shows us how the characters change and develop as the story progresses. We get to see the change both from their own heads, but also from other characters perspectives as well. In fact there is a rape scene that occurs midway in the story, and a certain character witnesses the rape not knowing whether to run or attempt to rescue the person. We get to see though this character's eyes, and other characters eyes how this person drastically changes after this traumatic experience. You will see how this character's insanity develops in their own head, but also how it affects other people. Needless to say, this story is about human nature and it does not present a favorable image of it. Sadly, this is the hardest Visual novel to legally obtain, and the only reasonable method of getting it is through piracy. This is because it is unlicensed (the translation is a fan translation patch), and you will have to navigate though Japanese websites to purchase it. Further more, Japanese distributes of visual novels normally don't ship out side of Japan, so you will need to use a proxy. In other words, the Japanese distributors don't expect foreigners to buy this product, so by pirating you won't be cutting into their expected profits anyway. I'm not necessarily advocating for piracy, I'm just saying that legally obtaining it is near impossible, and in this case it isn't theft in the traditional sense either.
I realize this is quite a long post, but I can't really put my thoughts more laconically either. The Visual Novel medium means a lot to me, and it has quite a lot of potential for story telling. It is a shame so many disregard this medium, because they truly are missing out on some wonderful works of art. In fact, that is why I put this topic under the category of "Art", because Visual Novels are a relatively new medium of artistic expression. After reading this, I really hope some of you do check these VNs out, but even if you don't. I hope you at least walk way understanding that not all Visual Novels are porn games!
Comments
What are some recommendations you'd make to people who haven't played one before? Narcissu is some pretty heavy shit, I can see it turning some people off, and it sounds to me like Saya no Uta might be the same way. Don't know a damned thing about Swan song, but I'm sensing a pattern, here, sounds pretty fucking grim. Anything lighter, funnier, or otherwise different?
Second is probably the first Danganronpa. I was actually surprised how much I kept going back to that game until the end.
and https://vndb.org/v3360 and https://vndb.org/v858? Of those I listed, Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side: 2nd Kiss and Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side seem to have translation patches.
I didn't know people preferred the gameplay VNs. Lol, there tends to be two types of VN readers/players. Those that think "Get this story out of my gameplay" and those that think "Get this gameplay out of my story". I am definitely the latter case. So I usually read more novel type VNs than game play oriented ones.
And to the rest of you insincerely humoring me, I thought people here would at least be open minded enough to consider a different view. Yes, it's popular for western gamers/geeks to badmouth VNs because they are a somewhat foreign concept. But I though people here were mature enough to at least consider a different point of view.
Consider a different point of view? You're talking shit to people with a different point of view because they have a different point of view, some of which are on the other side of something you clearly have a deep passion for. You want to talk maturity, maybe get quietly back on the handle you just flew off of and consider if you're practicing the maturity and consideration you're demanding.
I have no idea if you're still reading, but I'd also advise you to reconsider your approach. Your screed - which I did read, and most of which is wholly unnecessary text - is exceedingly condescending, as your framing assumes an audience that is ignorant of the visual novel medium.
You're in high school. Some of us have known about VN's quite possibly as long as you've been alive. To start a conversation with what amounts to "none of you know what VN's are, so let me nerdsplain them to you" is an excellent way to completely alienate your audience from the beginning. They're not a "foreign concept" to us "westerners." Elaborated othering of the audience doesn't make you come off as knowledgeable or cool - it makes you look like an asshole.
Also, speaking as a guy who massacres whitespace in order to gratify his ego, you'll get better assimilation of your message with a tighter delivery. Don't meander - every statement should contain salient information that continues to drive towards a central point.
This is sort of the problem with many original English language VN developers, they try to make VNs when they are ill-read and barely touch professionally made Japanese ones. That's like trying to write a book when you never read a well written one in your life. That's why many hardcore VN fans laugh at the western VN industry. As for you're other point, perhaps I expressed my anger a bit childishly, but when people are too lazy to even read what I wrote and then disagree with me, well obviously I'm going to get frustrated. Regardless, I'm done here. I tried to present my point sincerely and thoughtfully, and I've been given nothing but negligence. As I told Apreche, this community isn't for me, and neither will my posts be appreciated here. So the best option is for me to just leave. I'm sorry for leaving behind this catastrophe, that was anything but my original intention.
Thanks, jerkass.
Coming at this from someone who knows the Manga and Anime community, which has a massive overlap with the VN community - Are you sure it's not just snobbishness? The natural assumption that the Japanese VNs are better because they're Japanese VNs? You're the expert, you want to give us your opinion, or facts if you've got them. Don't just cut and run like a punk, educate. Knowledge is like tea, best shared, don't go leaving us in the dark, here.
I want to hear what the problem is with Western VNs - You think western VNs often suck? You've got western VN makers here, step up and use what you know to help them not suck, contributing nothing but a sneer at the idea just makes you part of the problem at best. You'd probably rather I didn't describe the at worst, if we want to remain on friendly terms. Mate, out of nowhere you suddenly went out of your mind and started raving at people. Before that, I can't even really see anyone disagreeing with you. A few people ask questions, or express preferences for different games, but nobody said you're wrong, or really disagreed.
Regardless, they're not responsible for how you act, you are. Get your shit together and don't shuffle the blame around. Don't worry about finding excuses for acting out, worry about asking yourself if you're being the person Mr Rogers thought you could be. Seems to me that you were going pretty well, until you suddenly went apeshit for reasons I'm genuinely struggling to figure out. Dumbass, I was appreciating them. You know things I don't know, and I want to know them, for a start. Really, the worst thing you did was miss a few paragraph breaks, at least until you suddenly hulked out on us, and I won't say I'm exactly het up over it, relatively minor readability issue, and I figure you understand the importance of readability. Not even a storm in a teacup. The only thing you're leaving behind is my minor annoyance at not being able to find out more of what you know, and also the forum record for "fastest self-destruction."