Hanachirasu is the first work of Narahara Ittetsu. It is a tale of two rivals inevitably and tragically making their way to one another in an attempt to settle things once and for all. One of the strengths of Hanachirasu is probably in its long descriptions of martial arts and techniques in its fights. Since all the fights in the visual novel are finished within a single stroke, the sheer information and mind games that Narahara writes before the kill stroke serve to give tension and a unique personality to the scenarios. Behind all the brutality and fights however, is a contemplative and perhaps calming nihilism to it all. This contemplative nihilism is best highlighted in the climax, achieved and brought to far reaching heights with Narahara's beautiful, masterful prose. The only gripe I have with this visual novel is that I wish it was tad bit longer so it could flesh out its political world building and some of its characters.
Thanks to this game I know way more about Japanese swordfighting than I ever wanted to.
swords cool
Homoerotic swordfighting with an amazing ost and memorable endings. A great short ride.
The mc is a horrible person but this plays to the vn's charm except in one particular overly gratuitous scene.
The mc is a horrible person but this plays to the vn's charm except in one particular overly gratuitous scene.
Really interesting dive on people who commit their lives to the blade. Liked it a lot
Nicit really does not have most of the things i love about muramasa, but its really well done, even if it didnt stick to me personally, and i didnt really like the final fight compared to the others, the ost reminds me of fatal fury, also kaigen represents my soul
How can one write something this distant yet close to their supposed one and only magnum opus. Hanachirasu is an amazing love letter to swordsmanship and samurai fiction as a whole, while still being fresh and interesting. I only could wish that this was longer but for something written in a short time just to promote the 'big one' this is incredible.
And not only the writing is insane. The soundtrack is the best in the whole medium and the art is is arguably better than the Muramasa
I'm amazed yet still sad over on how someone this good at writing exists but won't pick their brush ever again.
And not only the writing is insane. The soundtrack is the best in the whole medium and the art is is arguably better than the Muramasa
I'm amazed yet still sad over on how someone this good at writing exists but won't pick their brush ever again.
A WARRIOR'S BOND KNOWS NO BOUNDS
this the worst and best visual novel ive ever read, only thing keeping it being good is the yaoi
kurunun yanında yaş da yanar atasözü muramasadan değil hanachirasudandır saygılar.
Narahara hippisi
Very fun read all in all though the overwhelming swords info dumps and ridiculous endings left a sour taste in my mouth. Definitely hyped me more for my incoming Muramasa (re)read.
kılıçlar gay değildir
muramasa kanae route's message on vengeance is presented in a bite-sized package here, alongside ittetsu narahara's love for kendo. hanachirasu is an light and enjoyable experience elevated by an incredible soundtrack.
a yaoi
Where dwells the wind that scatters the flowers?
This review contains spoilers
Rivalry between two skilled individuals who are dead set on killing one another yet seem to be evenly matched, though only one can come out on top in the end. You should already know this stuff from the synopsis so I'm not going to get too much into the plot of the story and instead focus on the main appeal of the game (to me personally at least)
If you can look past certain questionable scenes from the beginning of the game, it's a really insightful visual novel to people who are interested in studying the blade / are seeking to better themselves by learning the way of the sword and who aren't afraid of reading over 20 Wikipedia pages regarding the plethora of infodumps it throws at the reader.
From basic swordfighting attack exposure principles (martial arts terminology) of sen-no-sen, sen-no-go and sensen-no-sen to the history of the various different dojos known for having practitioners of different techniques from different times to name a few of my favourite infodumps, give the reader a chance to focus on the fights alone and fully comprehend the level of skill some of the characters in the story posses.
Will probably revise this review once muramasa drops but for now that's all I have for you today.
Full Metal Daemon Muramasa preworkout // end
Where dwells the wind that scatters the flowers?
If you can look past certain questionable scenes from the beginning of the game, it's a really insightful visual novel to people who are interested in studying the blade / are seeking to better themselves by learning the way of the sword and who aren't afraid of reading over 20 Wikipedia pages regarding the plethora of infodumps it throws at the reader.
From basic swordfighting attack exposure principles (martial arts terminology) of sen-no-sen, sen-no-go and sensen-no-sen to the history of the various different dojos known for having practitioners of different techniques from different times to name a few of my favourite infodumps, give the reader a chance to focus on the fights alone and fully comprehend the level of skill some of the characters in the story posses.
Will probably revise this review once muramasa drops but for now that's all I have for you today.
Full Metal Daemon Muramasa preworkout // end
Where dwells the wind that scatters the flowers?
A fainted sen against a feinted sen-no-sen meant to truly be a go-no-sen was actually a real second sen against the true go-no-sen.
If you understood that, based.
If you didn't understand that, you will...
Hanachirasu is a great VN, but you will likely be depressed at points while reading it. If you can handle that, have fun! Narahara's affection for the sword is palpable, and if you're anything like me, you won't be able to get enough of it.
If you understood that, based.
If you didn't understand that, you will...
Hanachirasu is a great VN, but you will likely be depressed at points while reading it. If you can handle that, have fun! Narahara's affection for the sword is palpable, and if you're anything like me, you won't be able to get enough of it.
gay nerds fighting: the visual novel
A love letter to swordsmanship with an absolute banger of a soundtrack and an ending scene that I'll probably never forget.
Doesn't matter if you read this game before or after Muramasa, you must read both because together they offer a more complete picture of what Narahara wanted to say by making these two games.
Hanachirasu is very short and to the point, it does not overstay its welcome. Its main ending is perfection, and the gag ends are killer.
Hanachirasu is not as ambitious a work as Muramasa, but I was surprised by how well-realized its world felt to me anyway. I can understand if someone considers this equal to Muramasa, even if it doesn't look it at first. It's actually just really hard for me to think of this as a separate work from Muramasa at all.
Hanachirasu is very short and to the point, it does not overstay its welcome. Its main ending is perfection, and the gag ends are killer.
Hanachirasu is not as ambitious a work as Muramasa, but I was surprised by how well-realized its world felt to me anyway. I can understand if someone considers this equal to Muramasa, even if it doesn't look it at first. It's actually just really hard for me to think of this as a separate work from Muramasa at all.
Akane is truly the protagonist of all time
Glad Narahara isn't picking up his pen again.
akane did nothing wrong
But what a beautiful and tragic story Ittetsu managed to make here. Until the middle of the work, there were other elements that fascinated me, instead of the story itself, but the work will show its full face in the last chapters and I loved it. I really like the way Ittetsu alludes to various Japanese historical events that end up being portrayed here, in addition to his vast knowledge of fencing that ends up appearing at every moment of the battle. It really is a story that dedicates his love for the sword and a time in Japan.
There's a Tumblr post that goes like "While you were attending therapy, I was studying the blade. What do you mean I need 'better coping mechanisms'?"
That's this game.
That's this game.
I LOVE YAOI!!!!!!
Yaoi
Short.
Simple.
Profound.
Narahara Ittetsu's superior work.
A damn shame he will never reach this peak again.
Simple.
Profound.
Narahara Ittetsu's superior work.
A damn shame he will never reach this peak again.
very visceral and compellingly described swordfights. the central rivalry comes to incredibly satisfying conclusion. nothing amazing-amazing, but definitely worth checking out if it intrigues you. short, but punchy.
and actually definitely really a yaoi.
and actually definitely really a yaoi.