Dusk and Dawn was a disappointing sequel

[Brother Krieg]

Crimson Dawn was a great VN, full of fun and exciting yandere moments, but the sequel was a letdown. Now I know Dusk and Dawn wasn't meant as a full-fledged sequel but rather a minor expansion about their lives in college, but it left a lot to be desired.

It didn't really have yandere moments or hard choices to make, it was a very safe game, choices didn't really seem to matter and there weren't really a lot of bad endings, generally, the choices made would change what dialogue you would see, or what dialogue options you would have, and that was it. To be clear, my intention behind the criticism isn't to bash the game but to be constructive, I'd love to see a sequel to the series.

That said, looking back on my Crimson Dawn experience. I think what was missing in the sequel was there wasn't any real antagonist to help move the plot forward. KoiTech filled that role perfectly in the first game, a dangerous threat that only Lizzie knew about, but not John nor the player. The sequel was lacking any real villain, there was no real threat to them, any threats that were present were mostly Lizzie being paranoid and protective.
I think there was a missed opportunity for a perfect antagonist to drive the plot forward.

*SPOILER ALERT*
In the playthrough, you eventually hear on the news that there was another girl like Lizzie on another campus who went on a rampage. It was exciting news until you learned she was killed by the police, but what if she hadn't been? What if the girl who went on the rampage was actually on their campus and still at large? I think that what would have been a better twist to the story and would get players excited. It also would have been interesting if this girl was on their campus the whole time and she took a liking to John the same way Lizzie did, and for whatever reason, the girls like Lizzie take a liking to John, and Lizzie has to protect him from them. It'd be great because they are a very real threat to John and Lizzie, they'd want John but Lizzie is in the way. I think this would put the player in a very precarious and dangerous situation where they'd have to choose carefully. The player could trust Lizzie, or the new girl, or neither of them, each with their own consequences. There are many ways to introduce the new girl as well, she could come off normal at first, or approach John full-on yandere. Personally, this is the kind of thing I'd like to see in a sequel if there is one.

Just my 2cents!

[CupcakeNrgYT]

[Brother Krieg]

Originally posted by Catabinga:

This is just a post giving feedback to the game as well as being hopeful for a sequel to the series.
I don't know how anyone would mistake that for salt.
Thanks for the free bump though.

[CupcakeNrgYT]

Im making a joke haha, and yeah, I enjoyed the game but I do agree with your critique.

[Scrotus Gropulonum]

I also felt that the lack of a real antagonist or real danger was a missed opportunity, and am very much hoping for a CD3... I feel that there is room in the plot for another game. I absolutely loved playing these and Ouroboros, and am playing through TLS now. (I have a few problems with TLS but that's unrelated, overall I'm enjoying it.) All I want from Crimson Dawn is... More. More yandere, more danger, more love, more triumph, more game.

[mineoa]

I thought it was really nice. And the pacing and events made sense to where they were. It's not two very young people with difficulties meeting and trying to make it work while nefarious things happen to them directly, it's now to slightly older yet still young people trying to make a future for the two of them and the nefarious things happening nearby but not to them directly. It's the Yandere mindset in a new daily life that doesn't have as much drama or urgency as it used to. And just as well, Lizzie doesn't have to prove herself to John anymore. She already has him. And he's already used to her.

[Bud]

I honestly truly enjoyed this game and as I haven't played it in over a year and I am here to still mention a rebuttle should mean something.

I not only enjoyed the game but the 'way' the choices were made and 'how' the could be chosen as well with sometimes a little 'event' or a change to how you would pick was a nice touch.

Oh yeah, without a doubt, I liked the second more than the first and they both are on my top ten VN list of all times, check my Steam profile for the completed list.