Samurai of Hyuga Book 3

[i]Samurai of Hyuga Book 3[/i] is a text-based, choose-your-own-adventure game developed and published by Hosted Games. As the name states, it is the third game in the [i]Samurai of Hyuga[/i] series, so suffice it to say that it's best to have played the previous two in the series before reading this review, as there will be spoilers. Of course, you can also check out my reviews of [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/calliestar/recommended/524540?snr=1_1056_1055_1056][i]Samurai of Hyuga[/i][/url] and [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/calliestar/recommended/524560?snr=1_1056_1055_1056][i]Samurai of Hyuga Book 2[/i][/url]. As usual, you take on the role of a ronin, a samurai without a master, who has ended up in a mansion on an island along with your charge and trusty companions. At the end of Book 2, [spoiler]you won a vacation to this island and all the amenities that the host has to offer although you're secretly on a mission to hunt and kill demons, having been ordered to do so by the emperor himself[/spoiler]. However, there's a bit of a hiccup, as the chef of the mansion has been found murdered. Thus, the first part of this story delves into you being thrust into the role of a detective and then a defense attorney, while the latter part focuses on continuing your ongoing mission of [spoiler]hunting and killing demons[/spoiler]. As for the gameplay, there are lots of choices presented throughout the story. However, before you delve into the story, you're given options as to preload a save file from Book 2 or create an entirely new character. (For review purposes, I used save files from Book 2.) Once that's done, then you can get into the actual story. Although the choices are mostly multiple-choice, there are a few times where they're more fill-in-the-blank, mainly in the first part of the story. The fill-in-the-blank aspect is entirely new, as this is my first encounter with it in any CYOA. As you play through the story, the game keeps track of your character's personality attributes, like whether they're more impulsive or calculating. Of course, there are lots of Steam/in-game achievements, and they count towards a user's global total. Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my thoughts. It has been quite a while since I played the previous book in this series, so I was a bit concerned that I'd entirely forget what happened to my character and her companions. Fortunately, the game does a great job of summarizing the events of the previous books, so I was able to catch up on events. Now, with the first part of the story, I read a few reviews (after I finished the game, of course), and there are mixed reactions about this. I understand why this is the case, as it feels weird that the MC has to suddenly become a detective in order to [spoiler]exonerate their friend from being executed[/spoiler]. Personally, I don't mind that there's an investigation and a trial afterwards, as I enjoy a good murder investigation. However, it breaks a bit of immersion in regards to the MC, as they're supposed to be a ronin, more of a fighter. Once this part of the story is over, though, then it gets back on track, with the MC and her companions off to find the next demon. I enjoyed this part of the story as well, as I got to see the characters in a rural area, so very different from the previous two books in which the characters were in cities. Especially, I liked observing the personality change in the MC, which is first noted by her ninja companion (the one who serves the emperor). This ends up making a difference since [spoiler]at the end of the story, due to a certain tragedy that turns the MC cold, they decide to leave the others and finally confront their past[/spoiler]. Clearly, the cliffhanger is meant for the reader to want to read Book 4, which I will eventually get around to. XD As for the choices, I observed that most of them affect the MC's attunement. Basically, if a choice is in harmony with the MC's personality, then attunement will increase or stay the same. As the choices I picked were almost always in harmony, I didn't notice any changes in how the MC behaved towards other characters. I assume that if many of the user's choices end up decreasing the MC's attunement too much, then their personality would markedly change. Ahh I should note that with the fill-in-the-blank segments, I have mixed feelings about this. Although I understand the writer's intent to have the reader think about the murder, figure out the clues, and whatnot, this part can be difficult if the reader isn't prepared for solving a murder. Thankfully, there is a user guide if you get stuck on this part. However, I was able to obtain all of the achievements, but it might take a couple of playthroughs (at least) in order to do so. Since this is a text-based adventure, there isn't any accompanying art or music. This might be a turn off for those who want their games to have these aspects, but if you simply want to read and get absorbed in a story, willing to use your imagination to picture the characters, events, etc., then there won't be any issues with reading this CYOA. Overall, would I recommend [i]Samurai of Hyuga Book 3[/i]? If you enjoy a good CYOA and have especially followed the [i]Samurai of Hyuga[/i] series, I think this is worth taking a look. It picks up where Book 2 left off, so you'll definitely want to know what happens next. Also, I liked the cliffhanger at the end, making me want to get around to Book 4 and find out what happens to the MC. For the asking price, I'd say it's worth getting, as it took me over 8 hours to obtain all of the achievements. (I went through two playthroughs.) Of course, you can wait to get it on sale, and it's in a couple of Steam bundles. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]

Okay, I really liked book 1 and book 2 was okay for the most part (I wasn’t a fan of the shogi games). This game, well it was still good, however I felt that it was two different stories in a way. I personally feel that the island from book 2 and the beginning of this game should haven been one whole story and that the part after the start should have been it’s own game as they’re vastly different. That being said I love the characters and the series takes me back to the days when I used to watch Kenshin which this kinda matches the feeling of. The story—if you minus the complaint above—is quite good and reminiscent of manga or an anime episode. The game is long though so you may want to take breaks if you can, or you may get frustrated. (Especially since there’s no saves.) I’d buy the game on sale, but not full priced. I got frustrated too many times to recommend it at full price.

I waited for what seemed like a small eternity for this installment to come out, and man was I so excited when i was working my way back through all the new releases on steam and found that i had some how missed it when this came out! was in my cart immediately and within minutes I was in "That World" again. I was doing well, I almost seemingly too easily managed to steer my way through the trap had been sprung on me at the end of the last installment. Victory was at hand and i was feeling smug, until uhm I wasnt? Something happens and suddenly Im powerless and succumb when I should have been slitting someones throat with my katana. Somehow my spirit animal frees me, but only after chastizing me for not waitting for the right timing (uhm sorry little guy but no one gave me that option, really!) And once again Im challenging the bad guy with my sword. Only somehow I end up fighting more with myself than the bad guy and apparently break something important to who I am in the process. Then the real story of this installment starts. But Im not who I was and no matter the choices I seem to make their the wrong ones, and Im failling at everything I should be suceeding at.... all the way to the end of this book. This is The Empire Strikes Back on steroids. It made me ask Why? It made me angry enough to rage quit at 1am in the morning, and when I decided to finish it after I got home from work today, it made me want to cry for what befell my beloved ronin. Do I recomend this game? Yes, with the caveat that you are prepared to deal with the game not playing fair. Honestly its a good thing my character is a ronin and not a samuria, otherwise I think he would have commited seppuku.

Two things confused me with this game: First was the price, which was higher than the previous two books. Second, was the detective-like elements of the first part of the game. I was genuinely concerned that I may have made a mistake by purchasing this game. That it was deviating from what I've come to expect from Samurai of Hyuga, while also punching the price up. However, I am glad to say that this was a great entry. It is both longer and more complex than the previous two games, while being just as fun to play. It is well worth the higher price.

Allow me to preface this by saying I only played through it once. I was honestly disappointed in this one. The problem as a whole is pacing. The first 2 books set a pace. For the characters relationships, story progress, and quirks added to the series. In book 3, things felt too quick. It doesn't have to do with the characters already introduced, but the characters now introduced. Even if this is the longest book in the series, things went too quick. [spoiler] A character introduced in the middle is killed at the end and now all of a sudden the protagonist changes his ways drastically. [/spoiler] It took time for the characters to really have a connection with the protagonist, but in a few chapters, the characters introduced are head over heels for the protagonist. It felt out of place. I recommend Book 1 and 2. Not 3. I only hope that in Book 4, the pacing will be set better and not be overly ambitious. And also not feel so much like a shounen anime, but rather a more gritty ronin story. Judging from the ending, that might be the direction, but that was also the same for the ending to book 2.

Still waiting for Masami-chan route

Of course if you are reading tyhis review you have played the other games and probably liked them enough to be interested in this one and you wont be diappointed. The two added stats and sleuthing at the beginning are a welcome edition and the character developments of nearly the whole cast was absolutely fun to read. I do have a wraning though. There is a very odd tonal shift half way through that fundamentally challeneges both the Ronin and you as a reader and gloriously sets up the second half of this 6 part series.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I can't wait for book 4, I both love and hate how well they do cliffhangers. This is probably the most annoying cliffhanger for me. 10/10 gonna play/read again.

The part of the series where the railroading kicks into high gear. You fight two of the five deamons in this book but both fights are one hell of an anticlimax as you fight and win outside of choices and its completly unsatisfactory. Your ronin is for the most of the second part utterley incompetent and you do not even get to kill the utterly despicable secondary villian. Seriously, why set up a confrontation like that and then have it go nowhere exept to get the ronin into the breakdown necessary for the next book. Alignments do not matter anymore outside of changing some lines. The second big problem is with the pacing. As a consequens of the no-climax in the last book, this book has two storys. First regarding the island-cliffhanger in the last book, then a complete new one. The new one isnt bad, heck its the second best in the series and introducing Kohaku a well written and interesting character. But thanks to the whole two storys part its underdevelopt, doesnt get enough time to set up and resolve and is seriously hampered by the railroading necessary for the ronins breakdown. Just wasted potential.

Yeah, it's all downhill from here. For the choices it gives you, know that nothing is changed beyond your surface personality and <Personality> insertions, like <Impulsive> or <Calculated>, and the initial response sentence to them. Just adds a bit of flavor. Attunement seems irrelevant, at least for the entire story so far. Author has a story he wants to tell, usually at the expense of your ronin. That's well and good, but so far as a 'Hero's Journey' is concerned, this is the beginning of that downward inertia. Maybe it will be better in book 6, but who knows? Certainly not me. And, if the trend begun in book 3, then proceeding thru books 4 and 5, continues? well, this is a good place to cut your losses, assuming, that is, that you have an image of your ronin as anything beyond a self-flagellating loser. It wouldn't be such a big deal if your efforts were occasionally rewarded, rather than denigrated. For every single page of 'positive' or enjoyable stuff, there's at least two chapters of deflation, like your good time is air in a balloon slowly being fart-squeaked out in that high pitch whine. ---Definitely the weakest entry. So much to do, so many ways to really mess it up. If you care about attunement, this one is a nightmare. Countless dialogue choices that seemingly fit your character's animal/personality, in actuality, do not. And you'll take a -5% to -20% hit per derp. I'll be honest, and recommend the game(s) for their overall quality. Make no mistake, however, trying to be anything but a chump is a losing battle. First and second playthroughs I tried on my own, third and fourth i used the Steam guides. Basically the same hat, different weather.