If you're anything like the rest of us
(and chances are, you are, since you're here), then you were likely
left with a feeling of “what next?” after completing Katawa
Shoujo. No more choices left to make; no more memories left to
create. It may sound like I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not. It was a
pretty hollow feeling I had once it was over.
Fortunately, Katawa Shoujo is just one
in a sea of excellent visual novels out there, all exploring similar
themes, or at least having the same feels-laden effects. While I'll
never be one to say that you should spend your time on the computer
as opposed to working out, learning an instrument, or meeting new people (all common results of reading KS), it is nice to know that
there's always something new you can dive into to try to reclaim that
feeling.
Before I get started on a few other,
highly-recommended visual novels, I want to say one thing: I won't
post download links here (unless the program is freeware to begin
with). Make your own decisions about piracy, but know that these
companies do rely on their games selling to keep making more. With
that said, fan-made English patches, which are necessary for most
VN's, are almost always free to download, so don't hesitate to post
those here. I might, if I can find any links. With all that out of
the way, the first feels-heavy visual novel on our list is...
Symphonic Rain.
Symphonic Rain is famous for a couple reasons. One is for being an absolute pain to patch to English. Another is for being well-worth the effort. The story follows Chris Verittin (don't quote me on spelling, there) a musical prodigy who has the rare ability of being able to play an instrument called the fortell. Separated by a great distance from his girlfriend Ari, he has few friends at the prestigious music school he attends. One of the few is Ari's younger sister, Torta. The other is Phorni, a "sprite of music" with whom he shares his life and apartment. While she's got a wonderful singing voice, nobody else can see or hear her. He's quite sure of the little fairy's existence, though.
During the events of the game, he also meets Falsita, an extremely talented and renowned vocalist, as well as Lise, a freshman and amateur vocalist. These two characters, along with Torta, make up the three initially-playable routes, with a couple extras that can be unlocked as these ones are finished
.
The basic premise of the plot revolves around Chris' laziness, especially when it comes to finding a vocalist with whom he can partner up for his end of the year, graduation recital. With the opportunity to meet three skilled vocalists in game, well... I think you can see where this is going.
Originally released in 2004, the game has stood up well, consistently ranking highly in visual novel popularity charts. One of the crowning achievements of Kogado Studios, it's also one of a very limited number of their works to have been translated to English. Like a couple of their other VN's, Symphonic Rain also includes a rhythmic, music-playing minigame in which the reader must play along with certain songs. It's kinda like Guitar Hero, on a keyboard. For those who don't enjoy it, though, the option is available to set the game to auto-mode.
With a grand total of six routes, each of varying lengths, the game is about medium length. It contains no nudity or sexual content, nor strong language, earning it an "All Ages" rating.
Clannad
In the world of anime and visual novels, one that's always spoken of with hushed tones and words of reverie is Clannad. One of several masterpieces by Key, the company that pioneered the nakige, or "crying game," genre, Clannad is also the most renowned.
The main character is Tomoya Okazaki, a good-for-nothing high school student who may not even be able to graduate. A few months into his senior year, he meets a variety of girls who just might be able to change him. They are, in order from left to right according to the above image: Fuko Ibuki, Kotomi Ichinose, Kyou Fujibayashi, Nagisa Furakawa, and Tomoyo Sakagami. Nagisa's is the "main" route of the game, and the anime adaptation focuses on her story.
Intermittently, throughout all the routes, strange scenes taking place in a world that has ended occur. In these scenes, there are but two characters: a sentient doll, constructed of junk, and the girl who made him. They are the only two left in this desolate place, which sparkles with lights that promise of another, better world.
Key seamlessly blends these two worlds together, using the unique mixture of realism and magic that only they seem to be able to get right. Throughout the different routes, and even the non-romantic ones, the reader learns more and more about Tomoya and about each character, as they collect mysterious "orbs of light." All the secrets are revealed in the second half of the already lengthy game, entitled "After Story." (Note that these are all part of the same story; there is no second disk or anything). After Story is a continuation of the primary Nagisa route, and widely hailed as much better than the preceding half of the game, which is known as the School Life arc.
It's very much a slice-of-life VN, but so was Katawa Shoujo. It's also a helluva time commitment. The most popular path guide online is titled the "Clannad 300 Hour Guide," and that name may not be inaccurate. With approximately 11 arcs, all of considerable length, in just the School Life arc alone, Clannad earns a "very long" description. It's well worth it, though - there's a reason the game holds the number two spot for VN rankings, just below Muv-Luv. Clannad contains some language, no nudity, and some sexual content, but nothing too explicit. It's appropriate for all ages, just with some discretion.
For those who are interested in the story but don't want to put forth the time required to play through the VN, Kyoto Animation has also made an excellent anime adaptation that touches on each of the routes, while primarily focusing on Nagisa's. Between Clannad and the Clannad: After Story series, there are about 50 episodes, with a number of OVA's, and a movie that covers both seasons.
In addition, Key released a spin-off game entitled "Tomoyo After: It's a Wonderful Life," which focuses entirely on the popular character of Tomoyo Sakagami and what things would've been like if she were the main character. An English patch for the game was just released yesterday, so I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Yume Miru Kusuri - A Drug That Makes You Dream
While it's widely hailed as a great beginner VN, I'll be honest - I don't think that highly of YMK. However, it needs to be mentioned, solely for what its done for the medium.
One of the first Japanese VN's to be translated to English, YMK was popular before KS was even an idea, some five or so years ago. The creators wanted to make a game focusing on issues that they thought would be relevant to high school students, such as sex, drugs, and bullying.
They succeeded, but the results can be seen as a little extreme.
The main character is Kouhei Kagame. He's a fairly ordinary high school student, with no remarkable traits, save his feeling of emptiness. Suddenly, his whole world is turned upside down when he meets three remarkable girls. They are Aeka, the exchange student who is perpetually bullied, Mizuki, the student council president who is bored of life, and Nekoko, who claims to be a fairy.
Kouhei's own problems are quickly put into perspective as he gets to know these three girls and has to save them from their own issues. Not, of course, without a gratuitous amount of sex involved, though.
The game does a good job of making you feel for the characters. I'll give it that much. I damn near cried a number of times in Aeka's route, and even shed a tear or two at times. However, the game is stuffed with a lot of sex. While I've got no problem with sexual content, this was disgustingly much. As such, I only completed Aeka's route and got only part of the way through Mizuki's, never even touching Nekoko's.
So, why is it considered such a great beginner's VN? I'm honestly not sure. It's got moments of feels, moments of humor, and moments that really make you question your own existence. That much is true. Still though, for me, YMK felt like a chore to read at times, and my mentioning it here is more or less obligatory. I know a lot of people love it all the same, and if you enjoy it, more power to you. Come back and let the rest of us know how it was.
With three routes of I-Don't-Know-How-Long length, YMK is still just a medium length VN. It's got lots of nudity, lots of strong language, and lots of sexual content, making it for mature audiences only.
Obviously, this is only a tiny sample of what's waiting for you in the wonderful world of visual novels. However, these were some of the most frequently recommended VN's when I looked for a place to vanish to after KS, and are some of the most popular novels around. For what it's worth, Symphonic Rain is my favorite in the world. These three, along with Katawa Shoujo, have played a huge role in bringing me to where I am today, and I'd love to hear that they do the same for you, too.
Disagree with my taste? See something I said that was incorrect? Just wanna chat? Feel free to do so in the comments. Any feedback is much appreciated, as this is my first time blogging.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
So I blog when I have time, and I usually have free time between classes, so the pictures are weak, I will make sure I add photos to this post later (Or if Ben adds some without me knowing I won't complain :3)
