Be warned of heavy spoilers ahead!
Now I'm not going to review it all tonight-no no no, I want to reveiw it on a character by character basis. Especially since Clannad is such a long visual novel, a short paragaraph or two wouldn't cut it for me to express this months-long journey into the depths of this creation.
Also I haven't quite finished Nagisa's arc+after story, so I'm also stalling a bit.
Let's begin shall we?
General comments:
Music: pretty and fitting, there are very few songs I don't like, though there is the ocasional handful. Although it is nice, I can't say much else other than 'pretty' not earth-shatteringly awesome, but nice.
Art: OH MY GOD THE EYES-are so BEAUTIFUL. It's clear that Key has learned a little something about the uncanny valley since the days of Kanon and Air, as these girls do not look half as weird or creepy, but are genuinly cute! Of course, your opnion may vary, sometimes it makes their eyes seem vacant or oddly detailed compared to the rest of the scene, but you get used to it.
Story: (almost) every time I finish an arc I am in tears, and will stay that way for the rest of the night. The writting is excelent (...mostly, we'll get to that in a few more posts)
Overall: This is a very entertaining and well done visual novel great for anyone who loves romance/sad stories.
By this way this is MY REVIEW, if you didn't feel this way, or a character I eventually slam happens to be your favorite, whatever! This is how I PERSONALLY FELT about this game.
Onward to the individual breakdowns!
SPOILERS AHOY!
Misae:
General: Misae has a pretty short arc, and it's also very simple to get into. You simply talk to her every time you happen to see her, and that means try not to get interested in any other girls (this is only difficult if you've a) never played a visual novel (from now on will be abreviated by VN) before or b) you are too nice a person to resist being nice and interested in everyone) After some time of her being nicer and nicer to you, you find her cat. Simply ask to come visit her later and BAM you're in!
Misae as a character: She isn't the most developed character in the story, she has a pathetically short route and is often shoved aside as a background extra for most of the rest of the game. She's tough as nails, but has a softer side to her. I personally didn't find her terribly interesting in comparison to some of the other routes, but I also enjoyed her route quite a lot as well.
Story Arc: After you have entered her route offically, most of her story and character development happen through a flashback to her school days, and a boy she loved. It is told from the POV of a different narrator, a boy whom she met in the hospital who is extreamly grateful to her and wants to grant her wish. At first she blows him off as a nut, but they develop a friendship over time. It's very slice-of-life style, and pretty laid back in terms of story and conflict, which I usually don't like. However it was plesant to read, if not a little slow. Eventually Misae confesses and the boy fufills her wish for him to stay by her side....because he was never a person however, and the spell that he had to grant her wish gone, he turns back into a cat and stays by her side to this very day.(....? I know this is weird, just go with it) Tomoya somehow sees this dream and realizes the truth about her cat, and decides not to pursue her romantically...or something, it's been a while.
Overall rating: 6/10 It's nice...and that's about it.
Tomoyo:
General: Tomoyo's arc is much more what you'd expect from this genre of game. It's more typical of a VN, but it was done very well and Tomoyo actually became one of the more popular heroins from the game. To get to her, you'll need to go check out that fight down in front of the school and follow up. Then you'll meet her. After that to keep hanging out with her, go along with Sunohara's weird plans to prove she isn't a woman. After that, go online and find a guide. I can't help you. Be warned, her arc is pretty long in comparison to Misae's, but it is worth it. It's filled with both drama and charm and is an entertaing read.
Character: Tomoyo is a girl a year younger than Tomoya Okazaki, the narrator for all you dummies who are reading this for no reason, she wants to become the student council president. She also wants to distance herself from her previous life of infamy and voilence. Her goal is to save the sakura trees that bloom near the school becasue her sickly little brother loves them. In the process, she and the resident delinquent, (it's Tomoya) start dating. Tomoyo has a lot of insecurities about various things and she is strange, but I remember her arc very fondly.
Story Arc: Like I said above this is more 'typical' of a VN. You're going to date the student council president type-character. But in many ways, she defies this sterotype, and her story is all the stronger for it in my opinion. She was also popular for having the most kissing and romantic scenes out of any of the other heroins, which don't give Tomoya a kiss until almost the end of their arcs usually.
Overall: 9/10 this was awesome and sweet and touching! I loved this arc! Near perfection!
I'll get more later, for now it's time to sleep. ZzzZzzZzz
Oh yeah! In case you wanted a face to put with a name here are what the first two I reveiwed look like.
This Misae as an adult: (Basically, this is her only CG, and it didn't even happen in her route! That's how short of a route it was!)
and as a kid:
Tomoyo:
And for all that narrated kissing and making out there is the only CG for them
Ah, well, whatever. EPIC Route.
LOVE YOU TOMOYO!
