Only for ressurrect this post. What you seek on a Visual Novel? (plot,H-scenes,etc.)
Ah thanks for giving it a try. Hope we could make this thread thrive again as I have many unpopular thoughts about VNs that I can't quite discuss with anyone
For me, I play VNs for unique writing styles. One example would be a more dialogue-focused kind. Top-rated VNs often succeed at characterisation beyond most novels, as the later craft often doesn't quite focus as much on polishing dialogues, due to traditional dependence on descriptive narration. Drama may be the closest alternative, but reading them require much more imaginative power than VNs, so VNs definitely serve as a bridge between my intellectual and recreational interests. Ace Attorney 1-4 would be good examples of witty characterization.
Of course, there are many other innovative aspects to VNs as well such as the art of story telling (e.g. Tell a Demon, Doki Doki Literature Club, Cupid's, Steins Gate), which is often coupled with unique plot and twists. I would say they have earned much of my appreciation during the gaming experience, but left little impact soon after. Moreover, the problem with sole dependence on good plot twist is little replay value, which correspondingly became the pitfalls of many good VNs since replay is often unavoidable (albeit save, load, skip jump functions) to achieve their multiple endings.
Sometimes, I play H games as well, which I prefer to be fluffier and less intricate. In those games, I seek for beautiful arts with the right proportion of all sprites, but these games tend to exaggerate certain body parts until they are too unpleasant or downright creepy to look at. Thus, I could rarely enjoy any H-games except for Fashioning Little Miss Lonesome, since most other Eroge look pretty ugly (lol).
