Legit question .

[GuudBooi]

What this game can offer ? I mean, the only thing i see is a game full of fanservice, with a clichè storyline ( one guy and 50 multiple womans that looks really cute ) also pantyshots and body armor with... you know... and also a uncensored patch on the way and incredible unrealistic non-sense big eyes, looks like the visual novel clannad ( but at least i have some respect for it, since it looks like it has way less fanservice than this )
So at this point i'm afraid of this game, it seems like it brings more fan service than actual plot, it looks like any other visual novel you can find on steam .

[Bluewave41]

Extra in my opinion is an average introduction to characters, I didn't care much for the story or anything I just wanted to get to Unlimited.

Unlimited though offers an introduction to Alternative which is definitely hands down the best VN out there right now.

I think that's reason enough, you'll miss out on a bunch in Alternative if you don't read Unlimited first.

[Randomacts]

I'm not sure if you understand the concept of visual novels themselves. Have you played one before?

The best way I can explain (most) visual novels is they are kind of like choose your own adventure books. Muv-Luv Extra/Unlimited is a pretty damn good one and imo besides the H-scenes that are not in the unpatched steam release I don't feel it is overdone.

By the time you finish unlimited (or perhaps by the time you finish extra) you will likely love the characters. Then you will start Alternative once it is released and you will have an amazing experience that is worthy of its #1 spot on VNDB.

As far as reason that these games cost a lot for what they seem, the games are actually very lengthy. Muv-Luv Extra / Unlimited is rated at Long (30 - 50 hours) and Alternative is Very long (> 50 hours) according to VNDB.

If you have any questions about the genre feel free to ask and I or somebody else will hopefully be able to help you.

Edit: You can also check out all the reviews on steam. The game only has two negative reviews one being the guy is salty and really wants his H patch that puts the H scenes back and the other being somebody who salty that they changed two of the sound tracks in the game. (A change that won't matter at all to you) compared to the Japanese version.

A lot of those reviews do a lot better job then I just did on saying why it is worth playing.

[free kill]

I'll assume this isn't just a bait thread. Basically, the reason why muv-luv is considered amazing is because it takes the basic premise of a key style tragedy VN and streches it out over three (technically 2.5) games. A lot of people fail to understand the point of extra, it is supposed to be a bit of a generic VN with a very light hearted and comedic element which later on becomes more serious as you continue down the routes. This is pretty par for the course with VNs, and back when this was released, the twist was an actual twist, unlimited genuinly suprised people and they coverd the twist very subtly (while it does serve a purpose in character development and explaining Takeru's skills as a pilot, valgeron also made it so no one was supsicious when they noticed someone being credited for the mecha designs).

The point of Extra is to set up a world, in this case a somewhat generic eroge, and let the character grow on, showing you their raison d'etre and their personality. The designs are actually rather intentionially generic, and follow the designs from earlier works. Honestly, the fanservice is intentional to set up the aesthetic, (plus if you think this is bad, you would have hated the origionial version )

All the genericness of extra helps to make unlimited, and later alternative, become a starker contrast, as well, it creates a sense of sympathy with the characters and drives home a sense of how horrible the world is and how traumatic the events of the game are. This is especially clear when you see the actual ending of alternative and realize that one of the main themes of the game is that Takeru yearns for the peaceful world of Extra.

Bascially, as I have probably badly worded, everything done is intentionial, and is legitamitly done for the sake of plot ( actual plot, not "plot"), and character development.

Plus, as much as this may make me seem like a creepy pervert, some of the h-scenes do actually showcase certain characters motives and flaws, as well, some of the censored content in alternative isn't H at all and involves *CHOMP*. Plus, in alternative the censored content will probably include a certain scene that really helps to explain what a certain character went through, twizzlers and all .

[GuudBooi]

Originally posted by Randomacts:

I'm not sure if you understand the concept of visual novels themselves. Have you played one before?

The best way I can explain (most) visual novels is they are kind of like choose your own adventure books. Muv-Luv Extra/Unlimited is a pretty damn good one and imo besides the H-scenes that are not in the unpatched steam release I don't feel it is overdone.

By the time you finish unlimited (or perhaps by the time you finish extra) you will likely love the characters. Then you will start Alternative once it is released and you will have an amazing experience that is worthy of its #1 spot on VNDB.

As far as reason that these games cost a lot for what they seem, the games are actually very lengthy. Muv-Luv Extra / Unlimited is rated at Long (30 - 50 hours) and Alternative is Very long (> 50 hours) according to VNDB.

If you have any questions about the genre feel free to ask and I or somebody else will hopefully be able to help you. :bigups:

Edit: You can also check out all the reviews on steam. The game only has two negative reviews one being the guy is salty and really wants his H patch that puts the H scenes back and the other being somebody who salty that they changed two of the sound tracks in the game. (A change that won't matter at all to you) compared to the Japanese version.

A lot of those reviews do a lot better job then I just did on saying why it is worth playing.

I played the first game of Ace attorney (and also i know some things Ghost tricks), from this game i can see that a visual novel can brig a lot of things to the table, things like interactive gameplay without the need of only using the "pick your path" things, but i don't blame the use of that type of narrative, cause it can actually be good .
What i am saying is that this game looks like every other visual novel that came up on steam recently, a lot of fanservice, and it looks like that at this point any developer lost any interest on making actual good plot or interesting options ( even if there are some cool visual novels, but they are really easy to count on an hand or two ) .
Muv Luv actually looks like any other visual novel, a lot of fanservice ( panty shots, armor that don't cover the up part, clichè things like a boy with other 50 girls, cute anime girls, and also incredibly big eyes, they are non-sense tho, and also an uncensored patch, i mean 18 scenes can actually be good but most of the time if the game is so based on fan servivce they end up being just the last road to complete fan service ) .
I mean is there an actual plot for the game ? Is there acutally something worth to play the game for, or there just a lot of possible decisions to do while only looking at panty shots ?

[GuudBooi]

Originally posted by animeface.jpg:

I'll assume this isn't just a bait thread. Basically, the reason why muv-luv is considered amazing is because it takes the basic premise of a key style tragedy VN and streches it out over three (technically 2.5) games. A lot of people fail to understand the point of extra, it is supposed to be a bit of a generic VN with a very light hearted and comedic element which later on becomes more serious as you continue down the routes. This is pretty par for the course with VNs, and back when this was released, the twist was an actual twist, unlimited genuinly suprised people and they coverd the twist very subtly (while it does serve a purpose in character development and explaining Takeru's skills as a pilot, valgeron also made it so no one was supsicious when they noticed someone being credited for the mecha designs).

The point of Extra is to set up a world, in this case a somewhat generic eroge, and let the character grow on, showing you their raison d'etre and their personality. The designs are actually rather intentionially generic, and follow the designs from earlier works. Honestly, the fanservice is intentional to set up the aesthetic, (plus if you think this is bad, you would have hated the origionial version :B1:)

All the genericness of extra helps to make unlimited, and later alternative, become a starker contrast, as well, it creates a sense of sympathy with the characters and drives home a sense of how horrible the world is and how traumatic the events of the game are. This is especially clear when you see the actual ending of alternative and realize that one of the main themes of the game is that Takeru yearns for the peaceful world of Extra.

Bascially, as I have probably badly worded, everything done is intentionial, and is legitamitly done for the sake of plot ( actual plot, not "plot"), and character development.

Plus, as much as this may make me seem like a creepy pervert, some of the h-scenes do actually showcase certain characters motives and flaws, as well, some of the censored content in alternative isn't H at all and involves *CHOMP*. Plus, in alternative the censored content will probably include a certain scene that really helps to explain what a certain character went through, twizzlers and all .

So this game is extra or unlimited or it contains both ? I mean if it's only extra, what you are saying is that this part of the game is just generic things and fan service at it's best for just then start to being good at unlimited ?

[Scars Unseen]

Muv-Luv contains both the Extra and Unlimited stories. Alternative is separate and should be out this winter.

[GuudBooi]

Originally posted by Scars Unseen:

Muv-Luv contains both the Extra and Unlimited stories. Alternative is separate and should be out this winter.

OK , that's a good thing to know .

[GuudBooi]

Also forgot about the eyes part, they are not that big at the end... not like clannad .

[Randomacts]

You should take a look at some actual reviews. Do note that most of them will be based off the fan translation (That also had the H scenes still in it obviously) ..and the script translation quality is vastly improved.. but here is a good one

https://steamcommunity.com/id/robotization/recommended/449830/

[Svenhent]

Hmm, kinda hard to explain without spoiling too much... Let's see what I can say:

Muv-Luv triology usually does give off a cliche feeling for newcomers unfamiliar to VNs or just the franchise in general. It presents itself as a series that has quite an amount of fanservice from the get go with the character designs and some romance comedy tropes, especially for the 1st part of the triology. Things tend to feel a little sluggish for Muv-Luv (Extra and Unlimited) when you're first reading it, but towards the end of Unlimited and continuation to Alternative (which will be released in the future), you'll realise that all the slow build-ups prior to it actually established a really interesting and great plot. Feel free to ask around the community and majority of us will agree that the overall story and experience across the triology plays a far more important role in this franchise's success than the fanservice elements.

By the way, I think I might as well give some explanation on Visual Novels. The examples you mentioned are more of the moege genre of the visual novel, which the works will feature the cute and fanservice-y contents. Visual novels are relatively new in Steam, especially since the early pioneers in Steam are uliticing anime or fanservice as the highlight of the product. (I personally disregard some of these as they don't exactly present the true essence of Visual Novel.) A few good examples of outstanding visual novels that aren't considered fanservice are Steins;Gate (one of the best SF VN available), the Zero Escape series (999, Virtue's Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma are outstanding thriller VN), Danganronpa series (thriller, kinda crazy, but amazing experience) and Ace Attorney as you mentioned. Perhaps you can take a look at some of these and it will help give you a better perspective of VNs outside moege or romance genre.

If you're interested to try out visual novels or find out more about them, feel free to mingle around the VN community and I'm sure everyone's willing to share with you some new experience that you're unaware of. (You can even let me know if you need any more info, I'm free to offer ideas)

[GuudBooi]

From what i can see, Muv-Luv maybe actually give something on the table, and so from what i can understand the Extra and Unlimited part are just the set up for the actual good enter Alternative .
Honestly i just made this thread for the only puprose to know what other people could actually say about this game, because it just looked like any other fan service visual novel that came out recentely, which i totally find degredating for the entire genre .
If you think about it the only thing i know is that at the first part this game is really generic, then mecha comes from somewhere, and then it becomes really good, so is not easy to for me to say that it looks like a good game ( it sounds like an idiotic anime ) but i can't say it completely if i don't play it . At least from what i can read this game isn't just the normal fanservice visual novel, and i like it, but i'm not sure if i will ever try it . Also i know Zero time dilemma coming out and saw it somewhere, doesn't look bad .
So, see you space cowboy ( have to watch that one day ) .

[Svenhent]

Sure~ Glad to hear that we're able to offer you some insights to Muv-Luv. If you're uncertain about trying it out at this moment, perhaps you can take some time to think about it and check back when Muv-Luv Alternative is about to be released. It might provide a better reading "pace" (? my English) when the whole triology is out without the waiting in between.

[GuudBooi]

Originally posted by Svenhent:

Sure~ Glad to hear that we're able to offer you some insights to Muv-Luv. If you're uncertain about trying it out at this moment, perhaps you can take some time to think about it and check back when Muv-Luv Alternative is about to be released. It might provide a better reading "pace" (? my English) when the whole triology is out without the waiting in between.

I will probably give it a try in the future, when i can get this game with a deal that i will find more generous for me, but at least i will stop look at this game like i was looking at most of the visual novels coming out recently on steam ... with the face of disappointment .

[Tempestus_L'Cie]

Story line of Alternative is absolute shock. Ever seen Clannad? That kind of shocks ( maybe far more impactfull ). But I agree I do not see why should I pay 30 Euroes for such an old game. Also without H-Scenes.

I would really love to support the ne Visual Novels industry. But steam is going on in in the wrong way. We will allow violence and stuff and we won't allow something natural like sex..... yup yup.

Until steam changes this policy I won't spend not even single euro.
And for the translation price, this is seriously out of hand.

Released February 28, 2003 (CD)

[Dragoon]

Well, if you're literate you can read the story. If you just blazed through the "annoying text" for the pictures then it's probably not worth it for you....