Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer… Ah yes, a remake of one of the most popular 1992 VN releases – and wonderfully done at that. The game features Sumeragi Kohaku’s (the original lead artist) new and improved art style, with her sticking close to the source as much as she can; and the oh-so-wonderful gameplay elements that I like to have in my VNs. The goal is pretty straightforward, get a girlfriend by the end of Summer! Plus, Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer introduces an option that’ll help you on your quest. Essentially it’ll make your game failproof! – If you still get a bad ending, even after that, you need some serious help.

P.S. You can progress more than one route at the same time. So, knock yourself out!

In a nutshell, the reasons I’m particularly fond of Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer are these:

• An eden for those who love the “onee-san”-type heroine, as there are plenty of them here
  
• Management and exploration aspects were an excellent addition
  
• Various slice-of-life stories that are just really sweet
  
• The 90s aesthetic was refreshing to look at
  
• Official restoration patch is available for free!

What I love about this VN is that it features a plethora of heroines that cover all the archetype personalities to try out. While the lack of any deep story might be a turn-off for some, I find that slice-of-life aspect between each couple to be cute and a pleasant read. Granted, some of them can be a bit over the top and made me do a facepalm from time to time. But overall, they were a-okay. Especially the older heroines’ route, which was just perfect.

The new visuals were exceptional. Sumeragi Kohaku pulled out all the stops on this one. Not only that she reworked the CGs using an entirely new style, but she also made sure all the 90s vibe was intact. Fun fact! If you check out the CGs from the original release, you can see that they are almost identical – I’m talking about the poses and angles of the shot.

Playing Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer for the first time can be a teensy bit confusing, because during a character event, not only do you have multiple responses to choose from, but you also have to interact by clicking on the surroundings to trigger additional dialogs. This part can be tricky, and I know it all too well. On my first run, where I “accidentally” bumped into a certain school nurse on the staircase and knocked her off-balance, I clicked away like there was no tomorrow since I had been staring at that scene for almost half an hour trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. Even now, I still have no clue as to what I missed. Here is a tip: after you exhaust the dialog, spam your mouse button and start clicking away on the screen; if you can end the conversation, you are doing it right.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508967
Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer features two ways to experience the game. For those who want a bit of challenge on their gameplay, I suggest going with the “classic mode.” It allows you to explore and fully utilize the VN’s features, such as spending gold on a fortune teller to see how you fare with each heroine or on a cryptic-old man to either rewind or fast forward time in case you make some mistakes along the way. Additionally, the only hints you will get are from dialog during an encounter, which requires trial and error. Basically, the classic mode is the purest form of original dating sims where in order to win your heroines’ heart, you will have to put actual effort – kind of similar to the real deal if you ask me, the effort part.

The other thing you need to know is that there are requirements before you can progress your affection level. To trigger some event, not only you need to be friendly with the target but also their peers, which you can effortlessly tell from their interactions. Now, I know what you are thinking: “bruh, that's too hard! Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Lucky for you, the remake comes with an “easy mode”, but there is a trade-off.

The “easy mode” features directions during exploration, response reactions during dialog, and the icing on the cake, a flag schedule for easier time management. Those new features are a sweet addition and all; however, they render all the VN’s original features and management aspects useless as you can check the schedule and instantly jump to each event. The fact that the gameplay relies on you making use of those features for progress and for them to be obsolete is low-key disappointing. While I have mixed feelings on that part, I cannot deny its handiness. Additionally, if you ever feel like your gameplay is boring or too hard, you can simply switch between each mode with no drawbacks.

In a nutshell, what the “easy mode” does is turning Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer into a regular VN where you can breeze through the game. That or you are here to read some love stories minus the frustrating part.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508941
No workaround on this one, as it is originally an adult dating sim in the first place. It turns out that the all-ages one is not exactly what I call an “all-ages” version. Instead of replacing the h-scenes, you get dialog lines between you and the heroine of your choice which confirm that you did the deed. However, that’s not my main gripe with the unpatched version. The real issue is that they removed most of the CGs, with no new additional ones to replace them, and worst of all, you will be forced to read through certain scenes while staring at a black screen – that is a big no-no in my book. The patched version also comes with the memory reel option, which is something like a scene replay option that is a staple for VNs.

Do yourself a favor and use the patch. It is the only way to enjoy the game. In addition to gaining access to the full content, you will have a chance to encounter h-scenes unrelated to the MC as you explore the city. One thing you need to keep in mind is that the h-scenes are not quite lengthy. Some were pretty short and straight-to-the-point; even so, they perfectly illustrated the bond between each couple. Most of the restored scenes were a wholesome read. My favorite part was when one of the heroines pulled off a fourth-wall-breaking action and gave you a stern lecture about the consequences of your actions.

Best of all, the patch has no technical issues whatsoever. Just download and dump the content into your local game folder – simple as that.

I cannot express enough how much I love VNs that have an exploration element, which is something you can hardly come by these days. Furthermore, Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer, with the patch applied, is the perfect remake of the 1992 release. It stays true to the original release while guaranteeing casual-new players can enjoy the game just as much as those who have played the original. The new visuals are also easy on the eyes; you can still see the original style even with the modernized visual touch – and it is perfect! If you are tired of just reading through VNs, I recommend you give this one a shot! Especially if you are into “onee-san”-type heroines like I am or heartwarming stories in general – whatever floats your boat.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508895

Follow our Curator page, Summit Reviews, to see more high-quality reviews regularly.

[h1]One of the pioneers of dating sims made a spectacular return, and I must say, the new style is growing on me![/h1] Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer… Ah yes, a remake of one of the most popular 1992 VN releases – and wonderfully done at that. The game features Sumeragi Kohaku’s (the original lead artist) new and improved art style, with her sticking close to the source as much as she can; and the oh-so-wonderful gameplay elements that I like to have in my VNs. The goal is pretty straightforward, get a girlfriend by the end of Summer! Plus, Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer introduces an option that’ll help you on your quest. Essentially it’ll make your game failproof! – If you still get a bad ending, even after that, you need some serious help. P.S. You can progress more than one route at the same time. So, knock yourself out! [h2][b]Now, about the game[/b][/h2] [b] In a nutshell, the reasons I’m particularly fond of Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer are these: [/b] [list] [*] An eden for those who love the “onee-san”-type heroine, as there are plenty of them here [*] Management and exploration aspects were an excellent addition [*] Various slice-of-life stories that are just really sweet [*] The 90s aesthetic was refreshing to look at [*] Official restoration patch is available for free! [/list] [h3]This will be one “bangin summer” indeed[/h3] What I love about this VN is that it features a plethora of heroines that cover all the archetype personalities to try out. While the lack of any deep story might be a turn-off for some, I find that slice-of-life aspect between each couple to be cute and a pleasant read. Granted, some of them can be a bit over the top and made me do a facepalm from time to time. But overall, they were a-okay. Especially the older heroines’ route, which was just perfect. The new visuals were exceptional. Sumeragi Kohaku pulled out all the stops on this one. Not only that she reworked the CGs using an entirely new style, but she also made sure all the 90s vibe was intact. Fun fact! If you check out the CGs from the original release, you can see that they are almost identical – I’m talking about the poses and angles of the shot. Playing Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer for the first time can be a teensy bit confusing, because during a character event, not only do you have multiple responses to choose from, but you also have to interact by clicking on the surroundings to trigger additional dialogs. This part can be tricky, and I know it all too well. On my first run, where I “accidentally” bumped into a certain school nurse on the staircase and knocked her off-balance, I clicked away like there was no tomorrow since I had been staring at that scene for almost half an hour trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. Even now, I still have no clue as to what I missed. Here is a tip: after you exhaust the dialog, spam your mouse button and start clicking away on the screen; if you can end the conversation, you are doing it right. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508967 [h3]Whether it is easy or classic, they both have pros and cons[/h3] Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer features two ways to experience the game. For those who want a bit of challenge on their gameplay, I suggest going with the “classic mode.” It allows you to explore and fully utilize the VN’s features, such as spending gold on a fortune teller to see how you fare with each heroine or on a cryptic-old man to either rewind or fast forward time in case you make some mistakes along the way. Additionally, the only hints you will get are from dialog during an encounter, which requires trial and error. Basically, the classic mode is the purest form of original dating sims where in order to win your heroines’ heart, you will have to put actual effort – kind of similar to the real deal if you ask me, the effort part. The other thing you need to know is that there are requirements before you can progress your affection level. To trigger some event, not only you need to be friendly with the target but also their peers, which you can effortlessly tell from their interactions. Now, I know what you are thinking: “[i]bruh, that's too hard! Ain’t nobody got time for that![/i]” Lucky for you, the remake comes with an “easy mode”, but there is a trade-off. The “easy mode” features directions during exploration, response reactions during dialog, and the icing on the cake, a flag schedule for easier time management. Those new features are a sweet addition and all; however, they render all the VN’s original features and management aspects useless as you can check the schedule and instantly jump to each event. The fact that the gameplay relies on you making use of those features for progress and for them to be obsolete is low-key disappointing. While I have mixed feelings on that part, I cannot deny its handiness. Additionally, if you ever feel like your gameplay is boring or too hard, you can simply switch between each mode with no drawbacks. In a nutshell, what the “easy mode” does is turning Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer into a regular VN where you can breeze through the game. That or you are here to read some love stories minus the frustrating part. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508941 [h3]Gotta need the patch for this one[/h3] No workaround on this one, as it is originally an adult dating sim in the first place. It turns out that the all-ages one is not exactly what I call an “all-ages” version. Instead of replacing the h-scenes, you get dialog lines between you and the heroine of your choice which confirm that you did the deed. However, that’s not my main gripe with the unpatched version. The real issue is that they removed most of the CGs, with no new additional ones to replace them, and worst of all, you will be forced to read through certain scenes while staring at a black screen – that is a big no-no in my book. The patched version also comes with the memory reel option, which is something like a scene replay option that is a staple for VNs. Do yourself a favor and use the patch. It is the only way to enjoy the game. In addition to gaining access to the full content, you will have a chance to encounter h-scenes unrelated to the MC as you explore the city. One thing you need to keep in mind is that the h-scenes are not quite lengthy. Some were pretty short and straight-to-the-point; even so, they perfectly illustrated the bond between each couple. Most of the restored scenes were a wholesome read. My favorite part was when one of the heroines pulled off a fourth-wall-breaking action and gave you a stern lecture about the consequences of your actions. Best of all, the patch has no technical issues whatsoever. Just download and dump the content into your local game folder – simple as that. [h2][b]Overall[/b][/h2] I cannot express enough how much I love VNs that have an exploration element, which is something you can hardly come by these days. Furthermore, Dōkyūsei: Bangin Summer, with the patch applied, is the perfect remake of the 1992 release. It stays true to the original release while guaranteeing casual-new players can enjoy the game just as much as those who have played the original. The new visuals are also easy on the eyes; you can still see the original style even with the modernized visual touch – and it is perfect! If you are tired of just reading through VNs, I recommend you give this one a shot! Especially if you are into “onee-san”-type heroines like I am or heartwarming stories in general – whatever floats your boat. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2835508895 [quote]Follow our Curator page, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41449676/] Summit Reviews[/url], to see more high-quality reviews regularly.[/quote]