In Game Choices

[milman95]

I just downloaded the demo and so far it has been really fun :) Im looking forward to playing the full game when it comes out! I can already see myself becoming invested in the characters and the story. I was just wondering though, will the game have that many player choices? So far there have been none in the demo so I was just wondering if there will be many in the full game! :)

[Nemjen]

They're not a focus but there are seven character routes each with a good and a bad ending, which ending you get is based on a key choice that happens in the route.

There are also a few choices that offer alternative dialogue.

[milman95]

Thank you for the reply I appreciate it :)

How long would you estimate it takes to read through 1 route? How many chapters of story would 1 route contain?

Looking forward to playing the full game! It can't come out fast enough for me thats for sure :)

[Nemjen]

A couple of hours a route maybe? I might not be the best person to ask that as I am quite a slow reader and even slower when it comes to QA checks. Perhaps if one of the beta testers notices this thread they can give something a bit more concrete, length and visual novels can be a bit of a person to person thing.

I think the chapter thing confuses things a bit, much easier to think of it as one common route + seven character routes.

Also thanks, we're also getting very excited about releasing the game.

[milman95]

Ya I would say I am a fairly fast reader myself! Hopefully a tester does notice and can give me their thoughts!

If I can ask one more thing, since there is 1 common route and 7 character routes would it be appropriate to say that the first 2 chapters are the "common route" and then you go into one final "character chapter" making one single play through a total of 3 chapters? I know I found the demo chapter to be quite extensive and long so if the other chapters are similar in length I think one playthrough would be quite long!

Thank again for all the replys, I think the commication you have with the games fans is definetly an awesome thing :)

[Nemjen]

Originally posted by milman95:

If I can ask one more thing, since there is 1 common route and 7 character routes would it be appropriate to say that the first 2 chapters are the "common route" and then you go into one final "character chapter" making one single play through a total of 3 chapters?

With the exception of one character who has additional chapter points in their route this is the intention yes.

[limith]

I'm a speed reader, around 500k words in around 20 hours (nonstop w/food breaks) if I'm really interested in a story (but it strains my eyes considerably, ~415 words/minute) when scanning down a page. At skimming speeds (if say I'm not that interested in a story) I can usually finish a 300k story in roughly 3-4 hours. I just did a quick time and around 2000 wpm is my max (but that really hurts comprehension and my eyes). As VN has text appear in the same area (vs needing to move your eyes) your general reading speed should be able to go up as well. Lastly for my normal reading speed I would say around 300 w/minute. It can vary based on how intrested I am in a story or section.

The shortest route is finishable in around 1 hours for the good end, I assume bad end adds on another .5-1 hours. The common route is about 3 hours. The longest character arc is around a 3 hour read (again good end only). Note this speed includes skipping all VO dialogue.

Nattan: 1
Mika: 1.5
Julie: 2
Aki: 2
Mariya: 3
Nemu: 2
Sasami: 4??? (not yet released, supposedly extra long)

Expected reading time (all routes) - 20 hours (?)

The routes are also fairly unique without repeated dialogue once the common routes are over.

I guess another comparison would be eg Muv Luv Alternative which is ranked at 50+ hours on vndb I finished in ~16 hours when I first read it (again skipping all VO) but when re-reading took much longer (as I listened to each VO line)

[milman95]

Thanks for the breakdown I appreciate it :) Im pumped for the full release it cant come fast enough!

What would you say was your personal favorite and least favorite route out of all of them as they stand right now from playing the beta's?

[limith]

Best (in different ways)
Mariya's route was probably the most polished route in the beta and overall most satisfying.
Sasami's route is getting extra attention so it might be the best. No idea since not released yet.
Nemu's route was the most 'beyond expectations' route (given I thought it would be the most fanservicy route and those tend to have poor plots. It was really solid instead.)

Weakest Route:
Julie's route can be summed up as Mariya's but worse (unless you are really into Tsunderes)

Nattan's route I had low expectations as it was one of the least popular in polls and it was clear less effort would be budgeted towards. If you weren't aware of that then it might be dissapointing. That said, Nattan's is one of the more down to earth routes (like her personality) and it was original.

If you are curious, others have posted impressions for each chapter (route) on the forums.
eg the latest chapter(Nattans): http://forum.loveinspace.moe/thread/525/shining-song-starnova-chapter-feedback

[milman95]

Thanks for breaking down the routes a little for me and linkng me to the forums! Appreciate it :)

I notice the only characterss you didnt bring up were Aki and Mika, would you say their chapters were a bit forgettable then? I was most looking forward to Aki's and Nattan's route personally :) Its funny how im usually into tsunderes but I didnt really care too much for Julie after playing the demo!

[limith]

Originally posted by milman95:

Thanks for breaking down the routes a little for me and linkng me to the forums! Appreciate it :)

I notice the only characterss you didnt bring up were Aki and Mika, would you say their chapters were a bit forgettable then? I was most looking forward to Aki's and Nattan's route personally :) Its funny how im usually into tsunderes but I didnt really care too much for Julie after playing the demo!

They weren't forgettable, they were just not in the 'worst and best' categories you asked for xD

I enjoyed Mika's route personally as it was the route which involved a non-idol related goal for the chosen girl. I thought it was a bit short though and would have liked to read more.. If you are into idol things then you might not like the route, so I decided to not mention it as it really depends on your tastes (it's one of the funnier routes, Nattan's route is also funny).

Aki's route was also very good (but not in the best category in my opinion) and provides a different look into being an idol. She's a fake dere (does that make her tsun?). It didn't exactly go over the foreshadowing from the common/other routes like I thought it would and was somewhat predictable after I got over that.You might like her route better since she's an opposite type of tsudere. Also her personality changes over the course of the route to be much more likable.

In terms of the tone/personalities of the routes/girls:
(following http://goboiano.com/the-14-popular-dere-types-in-every-anime/)
Nattan - Deredere/Down to Earth (more humorous)
Mika - Dandere/Memes and References (more humorous)
Mariya - Kuudere/Jaded Best Girl (more serious)
Julie - Tsundere - Type B/Scandals! (more drama)
Aki - Tsundere - Type A/Himedere/Ambitious Hardworker(mixed)
Nemu - Yandere (more serious)
Sasami - Reverse Mayadere a la Chigara???, idk, Mags has been hinting some bad things happening in the route.
____
Just have low expectations for Nattans route in terms of length and you will be fine. Maybe they can do a DLC if the game sells well to expand the route or something.

[milman95]

Haha thats true my bad x)

Thanks for breaking down everything though! I do appreciate it and its just got me more excited for the game :)

I think in order or routes ill probrably go Aki - Nattan - Nemu - Mariya

Its too bad some of the routes like Nattan's are shorter, but it makes sense to give more time and assets to more popular characters! Maybe a DLC will happen in the future since im sure they could probrably make some kind of franchise out of this game!

[limith]

If you want to play the betas of the routes now (no vocal tracks they announced on kickstarter and no editing) you can still get Aki's if you back at the $25 tier level on Patreon. You won't get your name in the credits but you can play all the routes more or less. Otherwise I think the game is gonna get released soon-ish given the kickstarter is closing end of this month. Probably will take them a bit to ship and manufacture though.

[milman95]

Ya I noticed their patreon last night and ended up pledging 30 to be able to get the game early when its released to patreon supporters! I wont be able to afford 30 a month in the future, but I do hope to continue supporting LIS in the future on patreon :)

Unfortunely I ended up pledging in early April so no name in the credits for me :/ but thats okay. It seems though I can only download Nattan's beta. I did play it though and it was actually a lot cuter than I thought it was going to be for her character. Given her story with the producer choosing another girl will almost seem wrong now. Id like to play the other betas but they are all taken down :/

[limith]

If you are pledging the maximum tier on Patreon, you (should) be able to get all the older betas, they are done in a different post. On the left side where the tags are select 're-run' and look for the posts that don't have expired in the name. The first one should be Aki's. With each beta if you would like to skip the common route you can enter in console commands listed on the forums in the announcements section for each beta.

Nattan's route is really warm and fuzzy.

[milman95]

Thanks for pointing that out to me! I just downloaded Aki's route and playing it will be a good motivation to get through a final paper I have due :) I had thought all the other betas were taken off patreon im glad I can go through them all now when I have the time!

In your opinion, do you think the contents of the routes will be substantially different in the final game? I dont have much experience with playing betas for visual novels and was wondering if you had any ideas as to what might be added or taken out :)

Also, which route would you say gave you the most feels once you were finished it? I know Nattan's definetly did and that to me is a sign of a great character! Do you see LIS turning this game into a series? Ive read elsewhere some of the endings are pretty cut and dry meaning a potential sequel would be hard to ever do.