Actually, I thought it was going to be some incomprehensible hard-to-follow mess (and therefore, the score and number of votes) and it is like that to some slight extent, but I'm enjoying this more than I thought. Feels like they slapped Shin sekai yori and Twilight (yeah, the one with the vampires and wolves) and Texhnolyze and Lain together. I can't say much since I'm only on episode 2 though. I'll go back to Konaka with Gasaraki so I'm excited a lot for that, just decided to start my streak of pretentious dark 370 IQ shows with Gilgamesh.
I will try to check out Akito. Thanks for the recommendation.
Some people hate the Western influenced Japanese directors, but I found that they're among my favorites. I think they produce the best works. I like that some creatives such as Ikuhara and Konaka are Westaboos. The mix of influence from Christianity and Japanese elements in Texhnolyze was what drew me to it.
I'm honestly not sure anymore about Code Geass. I never really had any interest in its extended universe or the robots since I only really liked that the narrative of the original show functioned as some commercialized version of Penguindrum. A de facto Ikuhara show, written by Ichirou Okouchi who also authored the Utena light novels, and one of the themes being "means (Suzaku, Shoma) vs ends (Lelouch, Kanba)". Even with how all of the characters redeem themselves by the end.
Maybe you'll disagree, but it's like 70% Penguindrum and 30% Utena in my mind, but more mass appealing. In fact I think Penguindrum was influenced heavily by both Bakemonogatari and Code Geass. Fukkatsu no Lelouch was a shameless cashgrab, and I feel like they can't achieve the same thing anymore, you know. I'll be watching nonetheless, but my expectations are low. You? By the way please let me know if any other installments of CG manage to achieve the same thing I'm saying.
Yeah, the narrative turned unexpectedly romantic there. I really like the way Narahara mixes heroic/alternative history/realistic elements. The worldbuilding in Hanachirasu was really nice. Muramasa tried too much for my own taste. I like more succinct.
Fata is worth checking out for sure since it's quite short too, but it's probably the biggest example of hit or miss I can think of. Its fans say that it's the greatest piece of fiction they've consumed (I think along with Umineko, Fata fans tend to cite it as the greatest most. There are less WA2 or SubaHibi fans saying it's their greatest), its haters say it's the worst. Well let me know what you think, you should definitively know what you think by the end of Door 5 or something.
And Musicus is just...🔥, but there's a reason why the appeal isn't as strong as something like Muramasa.
I think you're on the money that Igarasu is influenced by Kageaki (since Ittetsu wrote Hanachirasu in a rush after Muramasa, when Nitro+ demanded him to write a short VN so that they could see if Muramasa would have any market value). And I like the twists regarding the MC in Muramasa and Hanachirasu too, Kageaki has a serious guilt complex, and Akane and Igarasu both have lost their minds, they can predict their enemy's movement in Shogi but they can't come up with their own.
I far prefer Takeda Akane to Kageaki though. That moment
when he sees Igarasu slay his own bride, such a monster changes his ways with so much ease and puts an end to it once and for all. One of the greatest character developments I've seen. How he accepts such a destroying truth in silence and then takes action is pretty crazy.
Glad to see that you liked it. Did you catch the subtle twist at the end,
where Akane's sister that Igarasu slays at the end is actually his own fiancée from four years ago, the one he's been trying to avenge. And what ensues is a relentless, monstrous villain realizing how wrong his ways were.
Ah, who could forget Takuji's legendary classroom speech. On that one I definitely agree with you, yeah, it feels directly influenced from Lain. It's the MEDIA!! The End Sky II more life changing and media perspective reshaping on its own than the entirety of Umineko fr.
As for Hanachirasu, it depends on your definition of dark but I don't think it goes to the same extremes that Muramasa does, so it's probably better. Save for one or two scenes, I'd be more worried about the extremely descriptive swordfights haha. Don't expect much though, the appeal is not as strong as Muramasa, but I liked it quite a bit for several reasons, mainly the MC and one certain plot point. Ah man, certainly looks like you have got a lot on your backlog XD Just eight more years of reading VNs and I'll be out of this VN medium shortly too...
Ah, glad to hear that you liked it a lot this time thanks to other works influencing your perspective. I was just joking about End Sky though XD But I really like the visualization and materialization of that concept. This motivated me to give Lain a rewatch too but its unengaging nature is scaring me.
BTW, you can add Meikei no Lupercalia to your VN list. I'm reading through it right now and it's really nice. Surprisingly enjoyable read.
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Actually, I thought it was going to be some incomprehensible hard-to-follow mess (and therefore, the score and number of votes) and it is like that to some slight extent, but I'm enjoying this more than I thought. Feels like they slapped Shin sekai yori and Twilight (yeah, the one with the vampires and wolves) and Texhnolyze and Lain together. I can't say much since I'm only on episode 2 though. I'll go back to Konaka with Gasaraki so I'm excited a lot for that, just decided to start my streak of pretentious dark 370 IQ shows with Gilgamesh.
Some people hate the Western influenced Japanese directors, but I found that they're among my favorites. I think they produce the best works. I like that some creatives such as Ikuhara and Konaka are Westaboos. The mix of influence from Christianity and Japanese elements in Texhnolyze was what drew me to it.
Maybe you'll disagree, but it's like 70% Penguindrum and 30% Utena in my mind, but more mass appealing. In fact I think Penguindrum was influenced heavily by both Bakemonogatari and Code Geass. Fukkatsu no Lelouch was a shameless cashgrab, and I feel like they can't achieve the same thing anymore, you know. I'll be watching nonetheless, but my expectations are low. You? By the way please let me know if any other installments of CG manage to achieve the same thing I'm saying.
Hahaha, responding to a masterpiece of music with a masterpiece of music... Almost as good as dreamenddischarger...
Fata is worth checking out for sure since it's quite short too, but it's probably the biggest example of hit or miss I can think of. Its fans say that it's the greatest piece of fiction they've consumed (I think along with Umineko, Fata fans tend to cite it as the greatest most. There are less WA2 or SubaHibi fans saying it's their greatest), its haters say it's the worst. Well let me know what you think, you should definitively know what you think by the end of Door 5 or something.
And Musicus is just...🔥, but there's a reason why the appeal isn't as strong as something like Muramasa.
I far prefer Takeda Akane to Kageaki though. That moment
As for Hanachirasu, it depends on your definition of dark but I don't think it goes to the same extremes that Muramasa does, so it's probably better. Save for one or two scenes, I'd be more worried about the extremely descriptive swordfights haha. Don't expect much though, the appeal is not as strong as Muramasa, but I liked it quite a bit for several reasons, mainly the MC and one certain plot point. Ah man, certainly looks like you have got a lot on your backlog XD Just eight more years of reading VNs and I'll be out of this VN medium shortly too...
BTW, you can add Meikei no Lupercalia to your VN list. I'm reading through it right now and it's really nice. Surprisingly enjoyable read.