[1.0 & 2.0] Spent a good hour writing a Steam Review
Mar 12, 2016 12:27:15 GMT -8
vaendryl and knightoblivion like this
Post by newageofpower on Mar 12, 2016 12:27:15 GMT -8
[Disclaimer - Spoiler Warning! Wall of Text Ahead!]
Having played both the original and 2.0 patch, I understand why many of the fans are angry at Liberation Day.
The storyline is shorter than Volume 1 (First Arrival) and Volume 2 (Mask of Arcadius). There is a dissapointing lack of character development for best girl, after a strong showing in Volume 2. There are lots of blood, gore, and deaths (apparent deaths, especially in the original 1.0 Liberation Day) affecting even the main cast.
You are 'railroaded' down a path which leads to an (apparent) Bad End. Admittedly, the story was fairly linear in the earlier volumes, just disguised better.
If you are in the game for Waifus, I totally understand (and even expect) disappointment or anger.
However, that ignores the good parts of the game. While the first half of the game felt cheesy, it helped set up the latter portion - and even the early half of the game confirmed your choices (from Volume 1 and Volume 2) had consequences. The bedside Ava scene was especially touching.
And then the brutal reversals at the end of the story. The double (or was it triple?) plot twist.
As a fellow author, I can only applaud Samu-kun's (as the creator calls himself) incredible performance at the end of (1.0) Liberation Day. The shattering of ideas and hopes, juxtapositioned with Kayto Shields still deciding to do what his ideas tell him to be the right thing, rather than the easy path.
Samu's execution of the ending was a masterpiece. As your legendary ship lies shattered, Camino beings to play. The Warning Tones alerting Kryska that she's about to run out of ammo, as Icari hides behind her shield.
The vocalist beinning her singing, just as the enemy captains order their crews to gun down your ship's lifepods. Even as holographic damage charts and navigational alerts show Kayto's impending doom, the soundtrack hits its climax as he gives the mother of all speeches.
Holy shit. The 'onii-chan' had me tearing up a little.
At the end of 1.0 Liberation Day, my internal thought process was "Samu, just take my money." If the main character has to go down a bad end, this is one of the most epic ways to die.
Now though, after the 2.0 patch... Yes, Sola has been promised character development. Yes, Kuushana is awesome as fuck. Yes, the entireharem command staff (bar Kryska, who is probably only into Icari) has finally confessed to the Captain.
However, there are some problems with the "epilogue". Asaga's intense character development throughout the Liberation Day is undone in the blink of an eye. Kryska's naivety intensifies, as if to compensate for the burst of character development she had earlier. Worst of all, Kayto's most epic scene is devalued.
Breakdown of Pros
[*]The new art design for Chigara succeeded in reducing her 'blandness'. It was very cute. Initially, I didn't like Eyepatch Ava, but it grew on me as I played the game more. Icari's art definitely feels more refined than before.
[*]The brutal reversals and the stacked plot twists. Some of them, I suspected, even predicted on the forums, but the combination was a merciless (and painful) gutwrench worthy of Gen Urobochi himself. Well done, Samu.
[*]Tactical variety - combat is more balanced and there are more differing units and viable strategies than before.
[*]Mecha porn. The 'animations' and the unit designs feel even sharper, crisper than before.
[*]UI. Sunrider Academy's interface is much cleaner and pleasant to look at than the First Arrival/Mask of Arcadius UI.
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Breakdown of Cons
[*]Cheesiness of the first half. This story has the potential to become a masterpiece, but the in-your-face cheesiness lends itself better to a bland Harem Drama. Please, Samu, please.
[*]Sola's Voice Actress. The other VAs have moments of dissonance where they don't sound like their characters, but Sola's VA almost never sounds like Sola. I had to turn on English Battle Audio because I could not stand JP Sola.
[*]Clarity. Some things are a bit murky on the first read, and not expressed really well. I'm relatively certain, for example, most readers didn't get that Alice wanted humanity dead while Alpha wanted dominion.
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Again, I highly recommend this game. If you are here for ecchi harem action, you may be dissapointed (especially by patch 1.0) or even angry - however, if you realize this is but the stepping stone to something even bigger, this is an amazing experience.
Final thoughts:
[*]Now that we used Cossette (heh) can we execute her next time? Preferably without using up a Wishall?
[*]Yandere Chigara is one of the great gems of the 2.0 Patch. Truly impressive, how much meaning can be compressed into a single line.
[*]I liked how both the brutality of autocracy (Ryuvia, New Empire) is contrasted with the corruption and mindless destruction of the masses (The Alliance, PACT)
[*]Samu-kun, please do not have Kayto pussy out and get all wishy washy. His waifu died in his arms - that's not something you come back with and retain all your Sanity Points. Please have him fulfill his promise of destroying everything Fontana holds dear. I want to see full out Murderboner!Kayto Shields execute Fontana. Bonus points if you contrast Captain Shields, Space Hero (from Volume 1 and 2) with Captain Shields, the Genocide.
[/ul]
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Having played both the original and 2.0 patch, I understand why many of the fans are angry at Liberation Day.
The storyline is shorter than Volume 1 (First Arrival) and Volume 2 (Mask of Arcadius). There is a dissapointing lack of character development for best girl, after a strong showing in Volume 2. There are lots of blood, gore, and deaths (apparent deaths, especially in the original 1.0 Liberation Day) affecting even the main cast.
You are 'railroaded' down a path which leads to an (apparent) Bad End. Admittedly, the story was fairly linear in the earlier volumes, just disguised better.
If you are in the game for Waifus, I totally understand (and even expect) disappointment or anger.
However, that ignores the good parts of the game. While the first half of the game felt cheesy, it helped set up the latter portion - and even the early half of the game confirmed your choices (from Volume 1 and Volume 2) had consequences. The bedside Ava scene was especially touching.
And then the brutal reversals at the end of the story. The double (or was it triple?) plot twist.
As a fellow author, I can only applaud Samu-kun's (as the creator calls himself) incredible performance at the end of (1.0) Liberation Day. The shattering of ideas and hopes, juxtapositioned with Kayto Shields still deciding to do what his ideas tell him to be the right thing, rather than the easy path.
Samu's execution of the ending was a masterpiece. As your legendary ship lies shattered, Camino beings to play. The Warning Tones alerting Kryska that she's about to run out of ammo, as Icari hides behind her shield.
The vocalist beinning her singing, just as the enemy captains order their crews to gun down your ship's lifepods. Even as holographic damage charts and navigational alerts show Kayto's impending doom, the soundtrack hits its climax as he gives the mother of all speeches.
Holy shit. The 'onii-chan' had me tearing up a little.
At the end of 1.0 Liberation Day, my internal thought process was "Samu, just take my money." If the main character has to go down a bad end, this is one of the most epic ways to die.
Now though, after the 2.0 patch... Yes, Sola has been promised character development. Yes, Kuushana is awesome as fuck. Yes, the entire
However, there are some problems with the "epilogue". Asaga's intense character development throughout the Liberation Day is undone in the blink of an eye. Kryska's naivety intensifies, as if to compensate for the burst of character development she had earlier. Worst of all, Kayto's most epic scene is devalued.
Breakdown of Pros
[*]The new art design for Chigara succeeded in reducing her 'blandness'. It was very cute. Initially, I didn't like Eyepatch Ava, but it grew on me as I played the game more. Icari's art definitely feels more refined than before.
[*]The brutal reversals and the stacked plot twists. Some of them, I suspected, even predicted on the forums, but the combination was a merciless (and painful) gutwrench worthy of Gen Urobochi himself. Well done, Samu.
[*]Tactical variety - combat is more balanced and there are more differing units and viable strategies than before.
[*]Mecha porn. The 'animations' and the unit designs feel even sharper, crisper than before.
[*]UI. Sunrider Academy's interface is much cleaner and pleasant to look at than the First Arrival/Mask of Arcadius UI.
[/font][/ul]
Breakdown of Cons
[*]Cheesiness of the first half. This story has the potential to become a masterpiece, but the in-your-face cheesiness lends itself better to a bland Harem Drama. Please, Samu, please.
[*]Sola's Voice Actress. The other VAs have moments of dissonance where they don't sound like their characters, but Sola's VA almost never sounds like Sola. I had to turn on English Battle Audio because I could not stand JP Sola.
[*]Clarity. Some things are a bit murky on the first read, and not expressed really well. I'm relatively certain, for example, most readers didn't get that Alice wanted humanity dead while Alpha wanted dominion.
[/font][/ul]
Again, I highly recommend this game. If you are here for ecchi harem action, you may be dissapointed (especially by patch 1.0) or even angry - however, if you realize this is but the stepping stone to something even bigger, this is an amazing experience.
Final thoughts:
[*]Now that we used Cossette (heh) can we execute her next time? Preferably without using up a Wishall?
[*]Yandere Chigara is one of the great gems of the 2.0 Patch. Truly impressive, how much meaning can be compressed into a single line.
[*]I liked how both the brutality of autocracy (Ryuvia, New Empire) is contrasted with the corruption and mindless destruction of the masses (The Alliance, PACT)
[*]Samu-kun, please do not have Kayto pussy out and get all wishy washy. His waifu died in his arms - that's not something you come back with and retain all your Sanity Points. Please have him fulfill his promise of destroying everything Fontana holds dear. I want to see full out Murderboner!Kayto Shields execute Fontana. Bonus points if you contrast Captain Shields, Space Hero (from Volume 1 and 2) with Captain Shields, the Genocide.
[/ul]
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