2019-07-01_PC_Gamer

CLANNAD

C

lannad is the visual novel

that originated many of

the genre’s conventions

• a painfully average guy
  meets a number of cute girls and
  slowly gains their trust while he helps
  out at his high school’s drama club.
  Its central romance features multiple
  branching pathways and doesn’t shy
  away from bad outcomes.
  Clannad’s a real tear-jerker for many
  people, since it focuses on a
  terminally ill girl who, thanks to you,
  finds joy in life once more.

A

n ambitiousefforttoplaywiththeclichésof

datingsims,DokiDokiLiteratureClub

attemptstocriticallyexaminetheroleofthe

player.Thepsychologicalhorrorelementstake

thingstoofar,resultingina gamethat’soverlycrass.While

innovative,DDLCfailstohandlesubjectssuchasmental

healthwiththenecessarycare.Needlesslylabouringthe

pointofhowit’sdifferent,it soonbecomesa grind.

DOKI DOKI

LITERATURE CLUB

1

LEARN SOME TERMS

Not every visual novel is Japanese, but

many use genre terms to describe their

content. Being able to tell “nakige” from

“otome” may help save time on the hunt

for your next game.

TOP TIPS

How to become an avid fan

VA-11 HALL-A

If you just want to relax and have engaging conversations,
try bartending sim Va-11 Hall-A. It’s set in a cyberpunk world
that features humanoid dogs and androids, but the topics
your guests discuss pertain to real issues of today. The
dialogue feels natural – your character Jill is a bartender
who treats her patrons as her equals, whoever they are. And
the drink mixing is a welcome diversion from reading.

TIRED OF SCHOOL?

LGBTQ+FRIENDLY

PURIST’S CHOICE 2

EMBRACE ALL THE EMOTIONS

What often makes visual novels so

appealing are the unforeseeable turns their

plots can take. Their habit to go for

maximum drama or romance can either be

just what you need or severely exhaust you.

3

GET USED TO WAITING

Once thoroughly enamoured you may

get to the point where you actively dive into

the world of fan translations, or simply wait

a long time to ever see a western release of

that interesting visual novel.

AVOID THIS

BUTTERFLYSOUP

Here you’re not a guy trying to

wheedle his way in with the ladies.

Butterfly Soup focuses on two girls

falling in love as they spend their days

with their friends. Great writing offers

believable relationships and fully

realised characters, who you learn a lot

about by taking control of different

characters throughout.

EXTRA LIFE

NOW PLAYING I UPDATE I MOD SPOTLIGHT I GUIDE (^) I HOW TO I DIARY I REINSTALL I M U S T P L A Y