Heart of Summer

Fun VN.

Had a great time. Did not end up on route I was aiming for at first, or even the second option, but the story was still very sweet. Add to that the fact that different routes embody very different genres and you get lot of replayability. Will definitely come back later to check other paths.

I was kind of mind blown by how much I enjoyed this game. Ended up playing all the routes and managed to stumble on several bad ends as well. Here's my spoiler-free review on the game. The long and short of it. [h1] THE SHORT OF IT [/h1] A very solid indie visual novel with great story. Consider buying if you like these positive factors in a visual novel: [h2] Strongest points [/h2] -[b]Very good story[/b] (some routes are pure cinema) -[b]Multiple genres = every route is VASTLY different[/b] (for example there are routes that focus on areas like [b] horror [/b] or [b] mafia[/b]) -[b]Great balance of humor and serious tones[/b] (Genuinely funny humor without sacrificing any serious elements) -[b]Important and meaningful choices[/b] (There are numerous "daily life choices" but also choices with heavy consequences. You can clearly feel the weight and impact of your choices, especially on certain routes) [h3] THE LONG OF IT [/h3] You live a relaxed delinquent's life in a new school, but very soon find yourself in all kinds of ridiculous and chaotic situations. Sometimes it might be extorting the school newspaper club to protect your privacy. Sometimes it's you getting threatened by literal mafia. Or it could be cheating at anything and everything just to get your way at school. From learning to skateboard [b] just to impress some girls [/b] to solving [i] a serial abduction incident[/i]. Anything goes. Your daily life suddenly gets bombarded with all kinds of trouble, and sometimes that trouble might even prove to be the very end of your blissful summer days... The game is a multi-genre experience. It mixes a [i] relatively [/i] normal school life (if you can call it that) with a strong variety of wild genres that aren't usually explored in the visual novel industry, such as [b] occult secret society, Italian mafia [/b] and even [b] emos [/b] (yes, [b] emos[/b]). On top of being a romance visual novel, it also explores (or rather dives deep into) genres like mystery, thriller and even horror depending on your choices in-game. The genres are usually teased before choosing a route, so you [i] might [/i] get an idea what you are getting into. However, the game has a tendency to keep you on your toes. Don't be surprised if you end up in [i] way crazier [/i] shenanigans than what you imagined. The game has an excellent balance of humor and serious tones. The story has a nice "flow" kind of feel to it, where you bounce between regular daily life and all kinds of chaotic and crazy shenanigans. It isn't nonstop comedy; the end result is a surprisingly immersive and naturally flowing story. Every route has a fulfilling story arc, and each route is VASTLY different. As for characters, they are colorful and full of personality. Figuring out some of the characters' motives and behavior can be crucial and it adds a little extra depth to the story to figure out. I found every route immersive and some of them are very engaging with the choices presented to the player. Some of the routes are a little longer than others, and depending on the route/genre, also the consequences of your choices may vary greatly. All in all a [u] very solid visual novel experience [/u] with [b] great humor [/b] and surprisingly [b] deep [/b] and [b] thought provoking story[/b]. The story really is the strongest suit of the game, and it manages to have [b] 5 different genres [/b] packed in one. Great game, can recommend.

Made it halfway through the game-hoping to finish it soon, fingers crossed. Early verdict? This thing is straight fire, no cap. Mainly ‘cause of writing and how insanely well characters are done. Now let me break it down: Characters. I’m obsessed. These folks keep surprising you in best ways. Zero stereotypes here-everyone's got their own quirks or hidden layers (in a good way). It’s actually fun just interacting with them, and sometimes you’re low-key hyped just waiting for them to show up again. There’s even this tiny sense of tension or excitement when they’re on screen, and weirdly, it’s super satisfying. They don’t feel copy-pasted or like they’re trying to mimic other stuff. Each one’s got their own unique vibe, fr. Art Style. It slaps. Some people might say there aren’t enough variations for character sprites, but honestly? It’s more than enough 4 me. Quality-wise, it’s a solid 9/10. Backgrounds. Also top-tier. Great atmosphere, super clean, and they really pull you into world. Story/Writing. Yo, this is on another lvl. It's not your typical Japanese VN, and definitely not some random anime parody. It’s a whole different beast - and that’s a good thing. Story strikes this sweet balance between being funny and being real. Sometimes it leans hard into one or the other (especially the serious stuff), and those shifts hit hard. Hard to explain without dropping spoilers, but trust me - you’ve never played anything quite like this. It's gonna leave a mark, in best way. Music. Chef’s kiss. It matches mood perfectly and boosts every moment. Tech/Polish. No bugs, no weird stuff-just smooth sailing. Final (kinda) Verdict. Still haven’t finished it, but unless something wild happens at end, I don’t see my opinion changing. 100% recommend grabbing it and diving in. This one’s worth your time.

>First day at new school >Get humiliated infront of all the girls >No accomodation for me >Have to sleepover at JackDonald's and forced to survive on 200 yen It can only get better from here

Came for the girls, stayed for the homie.

I love this game! its got incredible romance, comedy, a reliable(sometimes) best friend, horror, and italian mafia. Personally i loved the Emi route, it was cinematic and very funny. ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE PRICE