This is one of the most consistently funny AND engaging visual novels I read in a long time.
I think the people who try to sell this as a plotge are not selling it correctly. To me it's a plotge in the same vein as the agave route from Majikoi. It has its serious themes but the action is very goofy shounen and there's still all of the over-the-top comedy especially with the whole unique parodying nukige thing.
But considering that I just compared it to Agave from Majikoi, which is my favorite visual novel, obviously means I still put this visual novel in high praise.
I actually quite liked all the routes. Some people have said that Misaki route is their least favorite but honestly outside a few rushed developments, it was easily the funniest route reminding me of a Majikoi or Asa Project route with how ridiculously funny it got. Nanase, Hinami, and True route for all good in different ways, I would say Nanases route is only my least favorite for minor reasons.
I think by the end I found every single major character likable or interesting. Including the antagonists, with some who you are not supposed to like it first. (Which does go into one of the interesting themes of the VN of you eventually coming around to things you initially dislike)
Junnosuke was a decent entertaining main Character mostly brought down by him being a hypocritical asshole at times.
My main girl ranking goes something like this:
Misaki - No surprise she's my favorite considering she's the very quirky hilarious girl. But she also has a nice wholesome side (in fact, I liked how every single heroine with a route are all distinctive variations of nice girls)
Fumino - A very wholesome character with surprising depth. Maybe went slightly far on her being willingly subservient.
Hinami - An amusing character with some funny if occasionally Repetitive loli/senpai jokes. Definitely the least deep character but makes up for with some of the most wholesome scenes in the whole game.
Asane - the only character I would say got slightly worse as the story went on. Her jokes got slightly more repetitive and they made her slightly bitchier than I was expecting to non-Nanase girls. That said, her funny jokes were still really funny.
Touka - She was easily the most interesting antagonist to me so I was kind of disappointed they sequel baited her depth.
Nanase - Likeable but just doesn't stick out as much as everybody else above her.
Rei - Definitely got the most love in terms of giving proper backstory and depth. Her base personality just isn't quite as good as everybody else's.
Ikuko - She's okay, but definitely my overall least favorite. Her base personality is too OneNote and her depth and development is way too rushed when it shows. (The opposite problem of Touka)
Just a little aside on the translation. I do think there were a bunch of lines where they went a little too far on the localization memes/references/political jabs but to be honest, they felt more like mild to moderate annoyances at most. I would say the complaints are kind of overblown but if it really bothers you, there is an improvement patch you can find on vndb.
I'm still stewing on my final score, but with how consistently I enjoyed just about everything about it. I would not be surprised if I settled on a 10/10. It's been forever since I've given one to a full length visual novel.
I think the people who try to sell this as a plotge are not selling it correctly. To me it's a plotge in the same vein as the agave route from Majikoi. It has its serious themes but the action is very goofy shounen and there's still all of the over-the-top comedy especially with the whole unique parodying nukige thing.
But considering that I just compared it to Agave from Majikoi, which is my favorite visual novel, obviously means I still put this visual novel in high praise.
I actually quite liked all the routes. Some people have said that Misaki route is their least favorite but honestly outside a few rushed developments, it was easily the funniest route reminding me of a Majikoi or Asa Project route with how ridiculously funny it got. Nanase, Hinami, and True route for all good in different ways, I would say Nanases route is only my least favorite for minor reasons.
I think by the end I found every single major character likable or interesting. Including the antagonists, with some who you are not supposed to like it first. (Which does go into one of the interesting themes of the VN of you eventually coming around to things you initially dislike)
Junnosuke was a decent entertaining main Character mostly brought down by him being a hypocritical asshole at times.
My main girl ranking goes something like this:
Misaki - No surprise she's my favorite considering she's the very quirky hilarious girl. But she also has a nice wholesome side (in fact, I liked how every single heroine with a route are all distinctive variations of nice girls)
Fumino - A very wholesome character with surprising depth. Maybe went slightly far on her being willingly subservient.
Hinami - An amusing character with some funny if occasionally Repetitive loli/senpai jokes. Definitely the least deep character but makes up for with some of the most wholesome scenes in the whole game.
Asane - the only character I would say got slightly worse as the story went on. Her jokes got slightly more repetitive and they made her slightly bitchier than I was expecting to non-Nanase girls. That said, her funny jokes were still really funny.
Touka - She was easily the most interesting antagonist to me so I was kind of disappointed they sequel baited her depth.
Nanase - Likeable but just doesn't stick out as much as everybody else above her.
Rei - Definitely got the most love in terms of giving proper backstory and depth. Her base personality just isn't quite as good as everybody else's.
Ikuko - She's okay, but definitely my overall least favorite. Her base personality is too OneNote and her depth and development is way too rushed when it shows. (The opposite problem of Touka)
Just a little aside on the translation. I do think there were a bunch of lines where they went a little too far on the localization memes/references/political jabs but to be honest, they felt more like mild to moderate annoyances at most. I would say the complaints are kind of overblown but if it really bothers you, there is an improvement patch you can find on vndb.
I'm still stewing on my final score, but with how consistently I enjoyed just about everything about it. I would not be surprised if I settled on a 10/10. It's been forever since I've given one to a full length visual novel.