y'know, i really liked this game. i had a good time playing through all the different routes, getting to the different endings, and even had a pretty good time with most of the puzzles. i can't really think of a better way to adapt the prisoners dilemma to a videogame form. all your choices really do feel like you're making significant decisions. the ultimate conclusion of the game was insane, but enjoyable. it does make sense, even if it took me a while to understand what the fuck was happening.
the 3D models in this one are 'fine' at best. early into playing, i found them to be incredibly distracting, and the closeup prerendered shots of the 3D characters interacting just look plain,,, bad, at least on the original 3DS version. the game environments are 3D, but honestly i think it woulda been way better if they had kept the same 2D art style that 999 had that makes its character designs feel so charming. there's little usage out of the advantages of having 3D character models, outside from extremely scarce fully animated 3D segments that are never more than a few seconds long. the style of the models just feels off and as if everyone's made of plastic, and lacking in a good visual style like other 3D VN characters, such as the 3DS installments of ace attorney.
the characters and voice acting were also mostly just,,, fine. overtime, i grew to like some of the characters at least some amount, but this cast isn't all that great compared to its predecessor. there's some nice moments of interactions, and i like the most important characters to the story, but some things really bother me. there's several jokes from our main character that are just blatant sexual harassment that feel incredibly out of character, like as if they were just put in the game as a joke, but i didn't find them funny and was instead just really uncomfortable every time they came up. the voice acting ranges from actively improving the experience, usually in more unique important moments, to feeling weirdly stilted and awkward. actually listening to the way some of these characters sound in the English voice acting made me feel like "whuh" sometimes.
overall, i think i definitely still liked 999 more. 999 felt like a much more emotional experience, especially with its conclusion, that makes it feel like a much more special story to me. i think this story is cool too, no doubt, but it doesn't carry that same charge that 999 did when it had me sobbing constantly in its final act. there's so much in this game conceptually and plotwise that it does feel a little bloated at times, and i wonder if some elements could have been removed to make the rest even stronger. i will definitely be thinking about this game and its concepts for the few weeks. excited to play ZTD even if it doesn't seem like it's anywhere near on the same level as 999 and VLR.
the 3D models in this one are 'fine' at best. early into playing, i found them to be incredibly distracting, and the closeup prerendered shots of the 3D characters interacting just look plain,,, bad, at least on the original 3DS version. the game environments are 3D, but honestly i think it woulda been way better if they had kept the same 2D art style that 999 had that makes its character designs feel so charming. there's little usage out of the advantages of having 3D character models, outside from extremely scarce fully animated 3D segments that are never more than a few seconds long. the style of the models just feels off and as if everyone's made of plastic, and lacking in a good visual style like other 3D VN characters, such as the 3DS installments of ace attorney.
the characters and voice acting were also mostly just,,, fine. overtime, i grew to like some of the characters at least some amount, but this cast isn't all that great compared to its predecessor. there's some nice moments of interactions, and i like the most important characters to the story, but some things really bother me. there's several jokes from our main character that are just blatant sexual harassment that feel incredibly out of character, like as if they were just put in the game as a joke, but i didn't find them funny and was instead just really uncomfortable every time they came up. the voice acting ranges from actively improving the experience, usually in more unique important moments, to feeling weirdly stilted and awkward. actually listening to the way some of these characters sound in the English voice acting made me feel like "whuh" sometimes.
overall, i think i definitely still liked 999 more. 999 felt like a much more emotional experience, especially with its conclusion, that makes it feel like a much more special story to me. i think this story is cool too, no doubt, but it doesn't carry that same charge that 999 did when it had me sobbing constantly in its final act. there's so much in this game conceptually and plotwise that it does feel a little bloated at times, and i wonder if some elements could have been removed to make the rest even stronger. i will definitely be thinking about this game and its concepts for the few weeks. excited to play ZTD even if it doesn't seem like it's anywhere near on the same level as 999 and VLR.
maeam
1 month ago