Game Rant: Loop of Timeless Love (Astraythem)

[moroboshiyuumei]

Due to the shockingly vast sea of mediocre eroge, I at times find myself at a loss over what filters should be used when it comes to looking at games. For a while, I figured the most complex-looking stories had the most potential and was proven wrong by some titles (including the horrible waste of time known as The God of Death). This is why I

Comments

[hybrid_xisha]

Wow...this is a more interesting entry in the eroge genre than I've seen in a long time. Good to see that the old (story archetypes) can be made to feel new again!

[moroboshiyuumei]

Indeed. I was very pleased with how it all turned out in the end. Chapter 3 is a bit on the heart-wrenching side. Even the words in the OP song: "I was able to protect nee-san, but now have no place in this timeline. I wish I could see her smile once more, but oh well. So....good bye, nee-san. From the bottom of my heart, I'll pray for your happiness."

That's powerful stuff, and not seen as often in these games.

[chobittsu1]

This is the first eroge that I have bought and played and I'm very impressed! A very intricate storyline with awesome bgm's (especially the ones for the dramatic scenes really amplify the mood) that makes you want to go on and on...
The Natsuki from chapter 2 is particularly cute; somes times you just want to hug her or pat her on the head. Her VA does an impressive job performing 3 pitch levels of that voice...
Maybe the only minor thing is that the sex scenes seem to be a bit on the long side (I don't know about the duration of a regular eroge sex scene though), but I guess it is because the thoughts of the protagonist are quite elaborate, just like in normal book.
Furthermore I like that you regularly switch viewpoints from the protagonist to the other characters and back; that way you get to see what the other characters are thinking and feeling.
As you said, this is definitely a keeper!

[moroboshiyuumei]

Koharubara Eika did a pretty good job portraying the three eras of Natsuki. That's what has kept me wondering whether it is someone who's already famous who just did it under a new alias or whether Chuable just happened to find a very good relatively-unknown VA to take the role.

I'll definitely agree that the music enhanced the dramatic feel. I don't think Natsuki's death in chapter 1 and the tsunami scene at the end of chapter 3 would have gotten to me the way they did otherwise. They were very good with the use of build up, too.

On a side note, it was recently brought to my attention that Hoshii and his girlfriend, Akeno, are from another game called Seven Nights. I'll have to read on it and see what that's about.