A Walk Down Memory Lane – Route 4
March 16, 2009
After going through hundreds of eroge and dozens of OPs, we’re now back to the present. This final post covers last year, 2008. There’s a lot of new companies and plenty of nice games and OPs. The future is bright. Now you may return to wondering how you’re going to find time to play all the March releases.
2008
Asanagi no Aquanauts (Fizz) – “Aqua Voice”
I’m kinda playing this at the moment. Twincest alert. Why doesn’t Merry have a route!?
ef – the latter tale. (minori) – “emotional flutter”
I actually liked the first ef OP better. I can’t wait for eden*.
11eyes -Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shojo- (Lass) – “Lunatic Tears…”
The best intro song of 2008 and 2nd in PV behind Kara no Shoujo. OP has similarities to Lass’ previous work 3days.
Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai ~Prelude~ (Navel) – “Sky Sanctuary”
I like this song a lot. The OP style is also different from most. Reading accany’s post, I’m inclined to try this and the main game some day.
Kamipani! (Clochette) – “Kore Kara Memories”
Shintaro’s art is really nice. I heard mixed reviews from the game.
Kimi ga Yobu, Megiddo no Oka de (Leaf) – “Hold a Dream”
There needs to be more anime-style OPs. I’m not so sure I want to spend the time to play a RPG though.
Concerto Note (Applique) – “Concerto Note”
One of the best games of 2008. The system is a bit interesting with the routes and requirement to replay the game.
Shin Koihime†Musou (BaseSon) – “HE∀tingSφul”
I’m playing this at the moment. I like a lot of the new chars, like Tanpopo, Hinari and Nenene (Yes, I’m playing Shu first). My only complaint is that due to the number of characters (>50), they had to group a lot of characters together, resulting in less individual character development and more 3P.
D.C. After Seasons (CIRCUS) – “Hello Future”
DCAS is the PC port of DCFS, which was based off DCWS and DCSV, but uses the cast from DCPC/DCPS. Got that? It’s just a series of side stories for the DC heroines. There’s actually an OP for each season (3 main chars for each), but I’ll let you look at those on your own. Miharu <3
D.C. Girl’s Symphony (CIRCUS/Sanctuary) – “Cherry’s Magic&Love”
This is an otome game (game for girls, reverse harem). But it has Nanaka, so I included it here. Shio is cute too. Hinano wrote a review of this a few months ago.
Twinkle Crusaders (Lillian) – “Yumemiboshi★Boom! Boom!”
Such a cute OP.
Naisho Shishunki (HamHamSoft) – “Naisho Shishunki”
Secrets and imoutos. Hook me up.
Natsuzora Kanata (YuzuSoft) – “Omoi no Kanata”
YuzuSoft #3! I can’t wait to see Tenshin Ranman’s.
Hoshi Uta (FrontWing) – “Tazunebito”
The latest installment of FrontWing’s “Uta” series. Love the art.
MapleColors2 (ApRicoT) – “Get Over”
While it has its share of panty shots, I found the character introductions quite playful and representative of the game.
Other games during this year:
- Akatsuki no Goei (Shangri-la)
- Beat Blades Haruka (AliceSoft)
- CHAOS;HEAD (Nitro+, 15+/R)
- Coming x Humming (SAGA PLANETS)
- D.C.II P.C. (CIRCUS)
- Fairly Life (HOOK)
- Fortune Arterial (AUGUST)
- Fuyu no Rondo (DIVA)
- G Senjou no Maou (AkabeiSoft2)
- Garden (CUFFS)
- Gouen no Soleil (SkyFish)
- Hare Hare Harem (SMEE)
- Haruiro Ouse (Purple Software)
- Kara no Shoujo (Innocent Grey)
- Little Busters! Ecstasy (key)
- Love Death 3 ~Realtime Lovers~ (TEATIME)
- Musumaker (Digital Cute)
- Prima☆Stella (Atelier Kaguya)
- Princess Frontier (AXL)
- Princess Lover (Ricotta)
- Rui wa Tomo o Yobu (Akatsuki Works)
- Sakaagari Hurricane ~Let’s Pile Up Our School!~ (GIGA)
- Sakura Strasse (Palette)
- Shikkoku no Sharnoth (Liar Soft)
- Sora o Tobu, Mittsu no Houhou. (La’cryma)
- Suiheisen Made Nan Mile? (ABHAR)
- Sumaga (Nitro+)
- Supreme Candy (Makura)
- Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity- (Lump of Sugar)
- ToHeart2: AnotherDays (Leaf)
- Toushin Toshi 3 (AliceSoft)
- Tsuyokiss 2 (CandySoft)
- Volume7 (RococoWorks)
- Wizard’s Climber (SofthouseChara)
- Wondering Repair! (Escu:de)
- Yosuga no Sora (Sphere)
8 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
![『airy[F]airy (エアリィフェアリィ)』応援中！](http://omochikaeri.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/airy_fairy_support.png)
![【id[イド]】応援バナー](http://omochikaeri.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/id_support.png)
1.
Zen | March 16, 2009 at 5:00 pm
It is interesting to note that while the main character art has not evolved in terms of quality much over the last few years, there has been a greater divergence in styles. The various artists have more clearly defined their own style which allows them to stand out and be recognized.
I have also noticed there has been a shift in the number of games that use renders for the backround images. Personally I see this as a good thing as it makes them feel more crisp, clean, and consistent. Renders also carry a certain clarity that makes the backround feel less organic, creating more focus on the characters themselves.
Another interesting note seems to be the greater diversity of plots and character designs. As the market becomes saturated the various companies seem to be trying to push the envelope in their concepts in order to stand out and find their niche. This is probably the best part of having such a dense and competitive market. There are very few of the same old simple stories and those which stick to that formula tend to be forgotten quickly.
Altogether it feels as though we are in a golden age of quality eroge, and I for one am looking forward to the future…
… assuming I ever finish reading the past… ( ._.)
2.
Micchi | March 16, 2009 at 5:14 pm
@Zen: Good points. The quality of the background art definitely has improved a lot to the point where it’s not only minori or Purple Software which is well known for it. Nowadays, players can pick and choose those that appeal to their tastes as companies generally specialize. For example, I like UnisonShift, MoonStone and YuzuSoft, whereas Hemi-tan would play AliceSoft, Xuse and Eushully games which I would never touch.
I definitely know what you mean by ‘average is not good enough’. Look at Areas. It has OK art, character design, OP, plot summary, etc. But that’s it: It’s just ‘OK’. When compared to other games, I really can’t get excited to play it.
3.
m3rryweather | March 16, 2009 at 5:30 pm
“Why doesn’t Merry have a route!?”
…
Micchi, what are you implying?
4.
Kresnik | March 17, 2009 at 1:15 am
Concerto Note is how every company should follow for the template of true ending. And the scenario tree system is the best system for skipping through.
@m3rry: It means Micchi wants to see you get (insert the first word comes into your mind here, no make it words)
5.
Algester | March 17, 2009 at 2:03 am
lol m3rry
asanagi no aquanaut called meriel but has the nickname of merry and yeah she has no route… wait… i still havent played asanagi no aquanauts even though the reviews i heard says it was good…. NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bah its still on my backlog case… i mean… lots of them are…. hoshiuta ended up crap for kresnik and me… <_< as for yosuga no sora if you want slice of life thats the game i could recommend not to mention twincest XD yeah… i have to say minato changes everything about incest XD YES TO HOT IMOUTO!!! then clover point for a wicked plot twist regarding the same issue
6.
accany | March 17, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hmmm the 3 top winners of last year for me was G senjou no maoh, Sumaga and Rui wa tomo o yobu.
What i really hope is that companies should stop going through the typical way of making the story. I mean the classic will be 5 girls one guy and all the girls like the guy.
2008 was much better than previous years though. I can only hope this continues on. Eroges cure my boredom lol.
Flyable heart is already out btw… Installing it now XD. And i just finished devils devel concept. It’s view of the world was… interesting. Lol.
7.
Micchi | March 17, 2009 at 11:09 pm
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
8.
Algester | March 18, 2009 at 4:28 am
OMGGGG indeed but when it came out i lost net connection :( *sob* *huhu*