One of my all time favorite visual novels this's one of the most underrated games which is a shame since it's a genuinely great visual novel that I wish more people checked out. Has some of the best twists I've seen in a game as well.
Might possibly be my favorite adventure game ever besides Psychonauts
Has a few minor annoyances that come up often, but overall coalesces into a startlingly unique and stylish adventure with a tremendous cast.
What this story lacks in mindfucky premise it makes up for with a great cast, decent pacing, and nearly flawless execution. I didn't expect to like this one as much as I do
One of the best visual novels ever. The live-action presentation is used so well, and the story and characters are all really fun, too. It feels like everything works together to make it a really unique, but familiar experience that's enjoyable all the way through. I hope it gets more popular in the West one day.
immensely enjoyable - a fantastic, charismatic and memorable cast of characters, a spiderweb of a story unraveling to reveal a truly engaging mystery, live-action backgrounds radiating charm and passion, alongside a visual style that will stick with me for years to come.
it’s best if you go in blind, please play it
it’s best if you go in blind, please play it
Genuinely took some kind of possession of me for the past week until I beat it, could not stop thinking about it even while doing literally anything else.
It doesn't even feel particularly like this has been my "gateway drug" to visual novels or anything since I have gone through a couple other acclaimed ones, something about this one just really struck a chord somewhere.
I think a lot of it really just comes down to how well it maintains its tone, every protagonist ostensibly gets their own genre determined by their situation until they all merge in one way or another, it's a very Yakuza/Like a Dragon balance of themes and tones though mostly carried by the crime drama nature of the main mystery.
And again like Yakuza it's not satisfied letting minor characters go without getting some proper development, joke characters and villains do get legit really moving moments and it all drives home how much this game truly does believe in humanity despite their irrevocably chaotic nature.
Most of the issues really just come to the fundamental problems that come with the multiple potential timelines, it was never really a problem for me until the last chapter when it stops giving you hints and my reason getting stuck was just that one of the characters just assumed the wrong thing about someone's intentions lol. It felt pretty silly and didn't make a lot of sense but with a game that's scattered with this many potential bad endings, it kind of comes with the territory.
Feels unfortunate this seems to be one of a very scant few live-action VNs, playing this on a daily basis really did feel like I was just tuning into another episode of a really good J-drama book, thing. Maybe I do really 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 like VNs more than I thought...
It doesn't even feel particularly like this has been my "gateway drug" to visual novels or anything since I have gone through a couple other acclaimed ones, something about this one just really struck a chord somewhere.
I think a lot of it really just comes down to how well it maintains its tone, every protagonist ostensibly gets their own genre determined by their situation until they all merge in one way or another, it's a very Yakuza/Like a Dragon balance of themes and tones though mostly carried by the crime drama nature of the main mystery.
And again like Yakuza it's not satisfied letting minor characters go without getting some proper development, joke characters and villains do get legit really moving moments and it all drives home how much this game truly does believe in humanity despite their irrevocably chaotic nature.
Most of the issues really just come to the fundamental problems that come with the multiple potential timelines, it was never really a problem for me until the last chapter when it stops giving you hints and my reason getting stuck was just that one of the characters just assumed the wrong thing about someone's intentions lol. It felt pretty silly and didn't make a lot of sense but with a game that's scattered with this many potential bad endings, it kind of comes with the territory.
Feels unfortunate this seems to be one of a very scant few live-action VNs, playing this on a daily basis really did feel like I was just tuning into another episode of a really good J-drama book, thing. Maybe I do really 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 like VNs more than I thought...
This is a great ''first VN'' if I've ever seen one, it's just fun all the way through, with fun characters that are fleshed out very well as the story continues through it's mystery as it slowly unveils, with genuinely moving bits here and there, had a great time with this VN.
Had it installed for about 4 years, and was reading it on and off for a while.
It really is just a book with photos, but a pretty fun one.
It really is just a book with photos, but a pretty fun one.
This is legit one of the best visual novels I've ever played. It's story is so well written and each character is developed and memorable in so many ways. What a ride this game is.
Liked the first part of the game more before it started getting more serious, but still great throughout.
you are my special
This shit was WILD
This review contains spoilers
Man, I really, really wanted to like this game, given its reputation in the genre, but I came away disappointed. Blame heightened expectations, perhaps, but when you're playing a game that infamously received a perfect score, the imperfections stand out: the drawn-out endgame and associated difficulty spike, the numerous fat jokes, the stereotypes about Southwest Asia, losing your only main route girl at 5 p.m...
I can still see why it had such a profound influence on VNs. The gameplay loop is fun and innovative, hopping between narratives to facilitate serendipitous coincidences and chance encounters that lead to a good outcome. There are a couple of great twists and brilliant brick jokes. But I just didn't like the story once it turned serious. Minorikawa's route was easily my favourite (Run Lola Run for writers) and it's the one with the least connection to the overarching plot.
I can still see why it had such a profound influence on VNs. The gameplay loop is fun and innovative, hopping between narratives to facilitate serendipitous coincidences and chance encounters that lead to a good outcome. There are a couple of great twists and brilliant brick jokes. But I just didn't like the story once it turned serious. Minorikawa's route was easily my favourite (Run Lola Run for writers) and it's the one with the least connection to the overarching plot.
literalmente mesma experiência de ouvir isso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEdOykINQI4
As much as I love visual novels like Sakura no Toki, I would never recommend them to someone unfamiliar with the genre, or even someone who has played vn-adjacent titles such as planescape torment, 13 sentinels, library of ruina, kentucky route zero, or disco elysium. Many visual novels nowadays try to exclusively appeal to heavy visual novel readers, using tropes and references that people in the community can understand and enjoy, but often causes people outside the community to be alienated by.
Not 428. In fact, it's probably the single most mainstream-accessible visual novel I've ever seen, even more than visual novels that have actually found mainstream success such as ace attorney or DDLC. And unlike those two, it never sacrifices its writing quality or charm to do so.
Koichiro Ito could write Her Story, but Sam Barlow could never write 428: Shibuya Scramble.
Not 428. In fact, it's probably the single most mainstream-accessible visual novel I've ever seen, even more than visual novels that have actually found mainstream success such as ace attorney or DDLC. And unlike those two, it never sacrifices its writing quality or charm to do so.
Koichiro Ito could write Her Story, but Sam Barlow could never write 428: Shibuya Scramble.
A wonderful combination of heartfelt warmth and rolling tension amid a dark mystery, this game manages to constantly one-up itself with every move. My only complaints are that the bad endings are mostly bland and the trial-and-error nature of the game makes things way more tedious than they probably need to be. This is a game I can't really talk about much to those who don't know about it since so much of the fun is discovering the mystery, so just go play this already.
Side Note: The bonus anime preview included after the game ends made me die laughing because the TYPE-MOON art style clashes with the photorealism of literally everything else so hard. If only it were, y'know, actually good to circumvent that problem.
Side Note: The bonus anime preview included after the game ends made me die laughing because the TYPE-MOON art style clashes with the photorealism of literally everything else so hard. If only it were, y'know, actually good to circumvent that problem.
It's so fucked up that something with storytelling and visual presentation as phenomenal as this gets bogged down by whatever the fuck they were cooking with the entire Cannan plotline. I adore literally EVERYTHING else about this but man I cannot get behind most things pertaining to that, which is so fucked up with how hard literally everything else here goes. That isn't to say the entirety of this is ruined because of that tho, it's still incredibly good even with that and one of my favorite visual novels. Also the bad endings go insane, they're so fun.
Got to the normal/"The End?" ending and did not have the stamina to continue
HumveeRuin's Must-play
I'm usually not a fan of visual novels, or reading...
However, 428 Shibuya Scramble created a lovely story with multiple moments of suspense.
Plot points unraveled in tiny drops throughout multiple playthroughs of the same scenarios, but even small choices in one character's plot can have a large impact on another's.
I'm usually not a fan of visual novels, or reading...
However, 428 Shibuya Scramble created a lovely story with multiple moments of suspense.
Plot points unraveled in tiny drops throughout multiple playthroughs of the same scenarios, but even small choices in one character's plot can have a large impact on another's.
Only played it for a few hours so far and I have to admit, it's very charming! Stylistically, it reminds me of the sort of Japanese comedy drama similar to Kamen Rider Kabuto. (One of the few Japanese live action shows I've seen)
very unique game style its written out like an actual novel and there arent any voices
the use of real-life photography has an immersive effect and feels reminiscent of the tokusatsu genre
switching between timelines to make the "right" choice might be tedious for some but its a great interactive aspect
the use of real-life photography has an immersive effect and feels reminiscent of the tokusatsu genre
switching between timelines to make the "right" choice might be tedious for some but its a great interactive aspect
So much better than it has any right to be. I still listen to the credits song years after finishing it.
This review contains spoilers
cute, but really tested my patience by springing a two hour long scenario written by fucking nasu that i had to read to unlock any other content. unforgivable.
sekai wa sore demoooooo
very fun story with the best writing ive ever read in a visual novel. a lot of rly fun puzzles in here with the decision making gimmick. great characters, had the biggest smile on my face like the entire game.
only issue is the pc port is not very great, a game like this with no mouse controls is wild. not being able to change text speed without a mod is also very questionable, but it is still very playable.
only issue is the pc port is not very great, a game like this with no mouse controls is wild. not being able to change text speed without a mod is also very questionable, but it is still very playable.
I have OCD, this game is gonna kill me one day.
one the various masterclasses from spike chunsoft's and their expertise with visual novels, before this game I thought that maybe a visual novel with live action images would be bad and even kinda cringy but thank god I was wrong, Play it and please, if you have the time, complete in one day, it's worth it
man that was so fun so good I cried so fucking muchhh. the story mechanic is so different from anything ive played, following each person an hour at a time and the jump mechanic. i love you osawa twins i love you achi endo, every character in this even the brief side characters are so interesting and memorable this game is really special
It is an obvious game about connections, with the stories of the various protagonists being interwoven through diverse means. These connections are also a victory of good faith against evil. While the evil plan in the shadows is responsible for causing havoc always one step ahead of all of Shibuya, the player's power to guide everyone into the best course always prevails.
It is not even a subtle push on the characters as they step into dilemmas, it is a force so powerful that it is capable of making arbitrary decisions that can save the day. This is why the game allows itself to indulge constantly in its comedic tone. Including the bad endings. It is not afraid to paint a catastrophe as a mere joke because it knows the situation can be saved, they are a mere pastime of a daydream, or perhaps a nightmare, that could but never will be.
These connections are also implicit in the plot itself. As the climax is reached, all interpersonal conflicts are eventually ironed out to form a cohesive whole. The game, in the midst of these impossible to avoid threads that take place in Shibuya, allows itself to include a plot with a character isolated, both from the physical outside and from his family, and help him reconnect with his loved ones and the world through gestures as simple as an anonymous message on an online pop singer fan forum or a bodyguard (a buffoon in actual fact) put on assignment who nevertheless genuinely cares about his objective, his friend, beyond duty.
It is strange, but each session felt thoroughly pleasant, watching faces intermingle between stories and laughing, somewhat cruelly but harmlessly at heart, at the crossovers as they did not even suspect the weight that their encounters carried. On occasion, the protagonists are ignorant of why or how a decision or a connection would end one way or the other. Using the shield of humor, what really hides behind is a faith in that the schemes of evil cannot overcome an unexplainable and unstoppable goodness.
It is not even a subtle push on the characters as they step into dilemmas, it is a force so powerful that it is capable of making arbitrary decisions that can save the day. This is why the game allows itself to indulge constantly in its comedic tone. Including the bad endings. It is not afraid to paint a catastrophe as a mere joke because it knows the situation can be saved, they are a mere pastime of a daydream, or perhaps a nightmare, that could but never will be.
These connections are also implicit in the plot itself. As the climax is reached, all interpersonal conflicts are eventually ironed out to form a cohesive whole. The game, in the midst of these impossible to avoid threads that take place in Shibuya, allows itself to include a plot with a character isolated, both from the physical outside and from his family, and help him reconnect with his loved ones and the world through gestures as simple as an anonymous message on an online pop singer fan forum or a bodyguard (a buffoon in actual fact) put on assignment who nevertheless genuinely cares about his objective, his friend, beyond duty.
It is strange, but each session felt thoroughly pleasant, watching faces intermingle between stories and laughing, somewhat cruelly but harmlessly at heart, at the crossovers as they did not even suspect the weight that their encounters carried. On occasion, the protagonists are ignorant of why or how a decision or a connection would end one way or the other. Using the shield of humor, what really hides behind is a faith in that the schemes of evil cannot overcome an unexplainable and unstoppable goodness.