haruakichamp
Very fun VN based on mixing battle of wits and Higurashi-style howdunit mystery designed to be "solvable" by the reader before the solution is presented. Almost all events are possible to foresee on some level by following hints, which I really appreciate. The battle of wits was fantastic, piecing the various puzzles and whodunits was satisfying, the MC is fun and doesn't fall for usual problems of his trope. There are some weaknesses (below average voice acting, insistence on adding romance everywhere, + some spoilery issues) but I will still jump on anything sequely or similar from the devs if it comes.
This review contains spoilers
Marked as spoiler because I'll mention gameplay elements, but I'm still far from having beaten the game.
I might update this review once / if I beat the game.
As other have mentioned, the pace of the game can be a turn-off. It takes a long time to start, then relatively early on, it introduces the mechanic of keys, which you obtain by usually dying and obtaining new info doing so, which will let you make other choices earlier in the story in your next "loop".
Well, in the first part of the game (several hours at least), you won't unlock any more key. You can die a few times, but it's always useless. That first part feels like the "control story", what happens if you're not much more than simply a witness within the mystery. Then, you get your first ending, the credits roll, and you are granted your second key, which will give you a new choice at the very start of the story.
That's more or less where I'm at, and it feels like the most exciting part of the story so far, even though things have been enjoyable up to now !
I might update this review once / if I beat the game.
As other have mentioned, the pace of the game can be a turn-off. It takes a long time to start, then relatively early on, it introduces the mechanic of keys, which you obtain by usually dying and obtaining new info doing so, which will let you make other choices earlier in the story in your next "loop".
Well, in the first part of the game (several hours at least), you won't unlock any more key. You can die a few times, but it's always useless. That first part feels like the "control story", what happens if you're not much more than simply a witness within the mystery. Then, you get your first ending, the credits roll, and you are granted your second key, which will give you a new choice at the very start of the story.
That's more or less where I'm at, and it feels like the most exciting part of the story so far, even though things have been enjoyable up to now !