[Personal] Visual Novels Ratings (11/27/12)

You know what the biggest problem is when most people rate a Visual Novel? Most people get enticed by some of the stronger aspects of a Visual Novel and that leads them to limit their focus on how the Visual Novel as a whole synthesizes. Many people may think/say they rate VNs on an overall basis but most of the time that's not the case because certain aspects of a VN stood out to them without them realizing it.

So, regarding flaws in certain areas.. The reason I focus on both Story/Concept more is because if any of the two have a flaw then that affects Gameplay/Art regardless. For instance you could then have a beautiful looking VN with loads of content lacking in viable concept because it may have been deterred along with its story. Sure, it can be linear if it wants, it just needs to back it up with a few overwhelming things, and in many cases it's the story. Sometimes though you get a VN with a focus on gameplay with great art but an okay story with a sluggish concept, this is a VN that aims to attract you to its gameplay and art, but it can get a high score if said gameplay is reinforced in some way.

To be honest, for a few VNs I sometimes consider them "spammers". I know there's a phrase for it, but I like the word 'spammers' better because it makes perfect sense. These are VNs which try to pack in very nice art with a bland story and spam content like no tomorrow. Many people fall for that for certain reasons and I can see why, but that's not what I look into unless it truly was "overwhelming" and suffices with a nice concept; I've yet to see any 'spammers' that fulfill that ideal. In many cases, 'spammers' also drag the story along and when that happens it affects side routes as well, on purpose, to elongate those corresponding VNs.

Since I rate on emphasis of Story/Concept.. Although a VN may lack in one area, if its Story/Concept is superior then I do make a minor exception. However, if it doesn't lack but literally fails in one area yet is superior in another, then I don't make an exception and I rate based on that. It can't simply fail, it has to at least be "okay."

Extra:
If you look at the ones that I have higher ratings on, I should've just given them at least a 9/10 instead of being a jerk, right? Well, I can't do that, because I've played many VNs, I've read many stories in books and I'm a writing hobbyist as well. The fact that I'm also a gamer isn't ignored when judging VNs. If Clannad's scenarios, or Ever 17's story, or the ending of the Berserk anime doesn't even brush my emotions, then that forces many stories to work with their concept. Considering all those elements, I then judge a VN as an individual. It may be a harsh way to judge but I do take into account what other people view the stories as and how unique it is to its trade, only slightly limiting my expectations although my expectations are a part of it. If I didn't do that, I'd be biased, but since I do, it levels the playing field for a VN's rating.
There is no VN that can be described as "Great" in all categories of Story, Concept, Gameplay, and Art as far as I know.
If you can tell me of a VN that you think is 9/10 in its story, 9/10 in its idea or its uniqueness with the story, 9/10 in its contents or artistic value pertaining to that particular VN, and with at least one of those areas receiving a perfect score of 10/10 please let me know, because that is a great VN in all areas of the experience.
There are only VNs in existence which are simply superior in a few areas and adequate in others rather than superior in a few areas and great in others. That's why no VN has been given my personal 9/10 rating, yet.

An ideal VN.. Let's look at a simple example of my personal ideal.

Ideal Story:
It has to work well with the concept, it needs to have a certain drive, it needs to teach the player something and ponder certain ideas that are within the VN, it doesn't matter whether or not its fiction/non-fiction, it just has to work well.

Ideal Concept:
Its concept can be simple yet it should be complex and like no other. A concept that needs to work well with its story; original. It shouldn't be hard to come up with a concept that is complex and be like no other, I just thought of a few after thinking about it for 10 seconds. In this world, from the day we are born, we are born without one of the senses, in this world, if our parents do not the sacrifice one of our senses, we will not be given life, and in this world, the senses that are sacrificed from birth are forever lost to us, never returning.
See how simple yet unique that is? Give me 10 minutes and I can already come up with a better concept and great story to work well with it, heck, hire some CG artists, and if I direct the animation team this could be the start of a VN. Wow, I'm motivated but I don't have the necessary time, need to get through college first.

Ideal Gameplay:
Abundant content, non-linear, but if it's linear it has to be backed up, there are some VNs which make up for being linear. Things that can be answered through any extra features. Only if necessary, if the VN just slaps it on then that's not ideal.

Ideal Art:
Something along the lines of detail such as this, and this is digital art too. This is just one example, there are many different examples from various digital artists.


This is one simple explanation of an ideal Visual Novel. And this is why it would be unfair to judge all Visual Novels based on ideals.

999 [8.3]
BALDR Sky: Dive 1 "Lost Memory" [8.1]*
BALDR Sky: Dive 2 "Recordare" [8.2]*
Brass Restoration [6.2]
Casual Romance Club [7.9]
Chain [6.0]
ChaoS;HEAd [8.0]
Clannad [8.4]
Crescendo [7.5]
Da Capo [7.9]
Deardrops [7.6]*
Don’t Take it Personally, Babe, it Just Ain't Your Story [6.0]
Edelweiss [7.8]
Edelweiss Eiden Fantasia [7.9]
ef - a fairy tale of the two. [8.3]
Ever 17 -the out of infinity- [8.5]
Farland Symphony [7.4]
Fate/stay night [8.6]
G-senjou no Maou [8.6]
Higurashi [8.3]
Hourglass of Summer [8.0]
Kamidori Alchemy Meister [8.0]
Katawa Shoujo [7.8]
Kira☆Kira [7.7]
Kira☆Kira Curtain Call [7.6]
Little Busters! [8.4]
Narcissu [8.0]
North Wind [7.0]*
Piano [7.5]*
planetarian ~the reverie of a little planet~ [7.6]
Princess Waltz [7.9]
Rance Quest 2 [7.2]
Really? Really! [7.9]*
Recettear - An Item Shop’s Tale [7.6]
Remember 11 -the age of infinity- [7.9]
Rewrite [8.2]*
Ripples [5.7]
Saya no Uta [8.0]
School Days [8.1]*
Sengoku Rance [8.2]
Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo [8.3]
Shining Wind Fan Festa [7.2]*
Shuffle! [7.9]
Signal Heart [7.4]*
Snow Sakura [7.7]
Summer Days [8.0]*
Swan Song [7.8]
Tears to Tiara [7.6]
Tsukihime [8.2]
Utawarerumono [8.1]
Wanko to Kurasou [7.8]
Wind -a breath of heart- [8.1]
Yume Miru Kusuri [7.7]

Total: 52

[b][size=15]Highest Ratings[/h] (Not favorite/best)
1. Fate/stay night, G-senjou no Maou
2. Ever 17 -the out of infinity-
3. Clannad, Little Busters!
4. 999, ef - a fairy tale of the two., Higurashi, Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo
5. BALDR Sky: Dive 2 "Recordare"*, Rewrite*, Sengoku Rance, Tsukihime

[size=15]Lowest Ratings[/h] (Not hated/worst)
1. Ripples
2. Chain, Don’t Take it Personally, Babe, it Just Ain't Your Story
3. Brass Restoration
4. North Wind*
5. Rance Quest 2, Shining Wind Fan Festa*

[size=15][Personal] Favorites[/h]
1. Swan Song
2. Ever 17 -the out of infinity-
4. ef - a fairy tale of the two.
5. planetarian ~the reverie of a little planet~

- ChaoS;HEAd [b][8.0]
- Katawa Shoujo [7.8]
- Narcissu [8.0]
- planetarian ~the reverie of a little planet~ [7.6]
- Saya no Uta [8.0]
- Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo [8.3]
- Swan Song [7.8]
- Yume Miru Kusuri [7.7]

Spoiler to shorten the length of thread.

Ah, I never never thought to make an account there on VNDB, just been randomly browsing this whole time on there. This also reminds me to make an account on newgrounds as well. Though, isn't the downfall of that not being able to pinpoint the exact rating you want?
Sometimes I can't give a VN a 9/10 if it's 8.5/10, but you can't possibly give it a 8/10, that wouldn't be fair either.

But thanks, I'll get to it.

Edit:
Also, the reason I haven't given a 10/10 yet is because I've yet to find a VN which has the following:
A great story, a very plausible concept that works with the story and works well in general, gameplay meaning options and content along with decent assortments, and art is self explanatory but not focused on. Good art is a plus but it has to be backed up.

If anyone can point me to one with those standards then I'd appreciate it as my first solid 9/10 or 10/10 VN once I thoroughly complete it.

This is because:

10/10 = Perfect
9/10 = Excellent
8/10 = Great

Spoiler to shorten the length of thread.

There's a load of VNs that I'm voided from giving my honest opinion on because they're 80-95%% complete.
Frustrating.

Have to consider any "True Routes", "Clerification Dialogue", "Side Routes" or just plain extra content that adds to the VN in some form.

One example of that is Recettear which took me ages to completely obtain all items and character sidestories. That's called Replay Value though.

Spoiler to shorten the length of thread.



Yeah, I debated with myself on that, it has that video game-esque feeling. But I consider it as being a "VN which focused on gameplay" which is where its points come from.
But it is hard to consider those type of things as VNs.

Edit:
Look see, I already ran into a problem.. I don't want to give Crescendo a 7/10, nor do I want to give it an 8/10...

Spoiler to shorten the length of thread.



I suppose so, but I personally like seeing decimals, especially where it breaks at the ?.5 point.






I'll provide my VNDB link in OP once I finish rating all the VNs I've played, I might as well rate the ones I've at least 85%+ completed (although reluctant) but some I'm going to have to look over again..