) i'd say my favorites of each are zero escape 999 (i like the trilogy as a whole!) and jack jeanne (i love kisa and sou hiiii <3) i tried buried stars a while back, but i'd probably have to start from the beginning if i decide to pick it up again lol.
I've had this in my mind for a while but have neglected to reply! My apologies... it's the sort of thing where it felt like a good idea to sit on.
I'm very out of touch with really any fandom opinion or discourse at all, so it's difficult for me to properly say 'this is underrated, I think, but it shouldn't be', ORZ... however, most of my favourites tend to be not super popular, so I can at least start there! It's cliche, as I've been re-reading it for the first time in a couple years, but the visual novel Please Be Happy is quite near and dear to my heart. Something about its premise is so relatable in many ways (becoming more deeply understanding of oneself, thanks to the kindness of newly met friends in a new place), but also very specific in others (which I won't go into, for fear of spoilering others, but I would imagine nobody here has ever been a fox). It's the sort of story I can't help but smile at because of how it combines bits of sentimentality and introspection with comfortable, joyful fun. 'Cosy', if I had to put it into words, though that feels a bit, mm, minimising or downplaying, somehow. And sure, perhaps it's a little painful in some parts, but that's mostly due to how I think back on myself reading it as a seventeen-or-so year old girl and how I very likely felt reading it, and juxtaposing it to myself now -- painful moments in media are lovely, too, they're something I treasure deeply.
The voice direction and especially soundtrack are wonderful as well, to the point where I often get a track or two stuck in my head LOL. The way that dialogue is presented onscreen feels very fresh and dynamic! Simply put, I firmly believe that even if it was an otome novel, I would still love it just as much as I do now... I guess you could say the GL part is a nice bonus, though it's not something I exactly seek out, typically.
Anyways. Right. If I had to pick one... I think it'd be that one. It goes a bit deeper than that, I'm sure; I have some memories connected to when I first read it that may be colouring my thoughts, but I wholeheartedly reccommend it even with that in mind. It's the sort of thing I think should be seen as a 'must-read' novel, much more than whatever most people are saying. (No idea what they like, but.) So, yes! I'm finding it was as good as I thought it was before, so that should count for something. I want to go to Wellington, New Zealand, specifically because of it, also.
Wow! That's a lot of words! Way too many! I'm sorry! LOL.
Let's see... who to ask... @oran if I could ask the same of you, actually?
, @recarmdra convinced me to start Zero Escape: 999 (under the promise she would guide me through it so I wouldn't see much triggering content), and I really am liking it so far even though I'm not far in! I adore Clover and Snake so so much (especially Clover!), and June is such a weirdgirl... I feel seen by both Clover and June. Would love to hear your thoughts sometime!
i fantasize about making a vn all the time but unfortunately it requires a large amount of time and dedication to one project that i unfortunately lack. i wish you the best of luck in your visual novel endeavors!!!
