8/10 In the realm of Galgames, an influential domain comparable to the Oscars in the film industry, there's the "Getchu Bishoujo Game Prizes", where a legendary character made a remarkable impact. Over three years, from 2012 to 2014, this character won a triple crown in the character department, first as a main heroine and then twice as a supporting character with limited appearances. She not only outshone other main heroines in the series but also became the first character to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (thus being barred from future competitions). This legendary figure is Sakurakouji Luna from "Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou". Apart from the charm of the character Sakurakouji Luna, "Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou" itself is a distinctive game, clearly standing out from other Galgames, and is well worth a try for all fans of Japanese visual novels. The plot of the game revolves around Ookura Yuusei , a tragic-born illegitimate child of a noble family, who reluctantly cross-dresses to pursue his dream at a fashion school, leading to a story of growth that includes elements of talent, noble lifestyle, and everyday life. In terms of writing, the prologue bears a resemblance to "The Count of Monte Cristo" with its slightly archaic style, while the main story is more straightforward, focusing on everyday life and driven by themes of romance, emotion, and sincere feelings. The story is lengthy and well-developed, offering detailed portrayals of character growth, emotional journeys, and relationships. The excellent voice acting, unique Japanese humor with puns, homophonic jokes, and grammatical puns add much enjoyment. The diverse characters are well-rounded, with fully fleshed out motivations and memorable personas. System-wise, the game allows players to skip already-read content by scene. Notably, the After Story of this game, unlike most traditional Galgames that lack substantial narrative content, offers a significant volume of content that completes branch routes, enriching the world and story, resulting in a well-rounded and genuinely meaningful After Story. As a visual novel with a strong narrative focus, "Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou" unfortunately has its flaws. Beyond the common limitations in expressiveness typical of visual novels, the overall style of the storyline can feel a bit over the top, with certain plot elements lacking in rigor and an uneven progression. A particularly disappointing aspect is the varying quality across different narrative branches. Many branch developments give a sense of converging yet disjointed paths, failing to utilize all characters effectively. The storyline of Yanagase Minato, in particular, feels disappointingly superficial and inconsistent with her character in other routes, potentially weakening the overall impression of the game. The everyday life scenes are often overly extended, making the middle part of the story feel bland, while the climaxes lack sufficient impact, posing a challenge for less patient players. The game's slightly outdated art style, coupled with some disjointed transitions and confusing sound effects, might leave players baffled if they don't appreciate its unique charm. Also, The After Story, which requires completion of all narrative branches, could disrupt the coherence of the player's experience. Moreover, the official recommendation to play "Otome Riron to Sono Shuuhen -École de Paris" before the After Story seems unnecessary, as it didn't seem to spoil anything and the delayed playthrough made me forget some plot details of the main game. Overall, "Tsuki ni Yorisou Otome no Sahou" is a visual novel with thorough emotional development, delicately portrayed feelings, and an extensive script. It's highly suitable for players who have patience, enjoy literary-style Japanese visual novels, and are interested in the game's theme. However, its extensive depiction of everyday life, relatively plain narrative content, heavy emphasis on noble life and fashion design, and somewhat hasty resolution of key conflicts may not appeal to those with less patience, fans of shorter visual novels, players uninterested in the specific themes, or those with high standards for plot development. The character Sakurakouji Luna's overwhelming presence in the game tends to overshadow other characters, even in different narrative branches, which isn't entirely favorable for a multi-choice Galgame. Additionally, I believe it's perfectly fine to complete the main game directly. Following the official recommendation to play the After Story after "Otome Riron to Sono Shuuhen -École de Paris" only adds unnecessary complications and detracts from the experience. Find my reviews valuable? [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/justgamecurator]Click here to join my curator group (still in construction). Your support is my greatest motivation!
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