I have been reading weeaboo trash media since the start of the year. Here I jot down some ‘I can’t promise are spoiler free’ thoughts on these things.
Bakemonogatari
This got me back into reading in Japanese. I picked up the EN ver first, but gave up on the first page at the translation. This was quite an easy read, because of the Monogatari series being a huge amount of dialogue back and forth between the characters (and you know what, I really like that).
Honestly, this wasn’t that different to the anime in terms of how memorable it was and the impact. Although I did appreciate some of the extra dialogue (between characters I enjoy, and not Hachikuji) and the extra context (Araragi being a struggling student at a prestigious school).
It wasn’t all a wonderful experience that didn’t bore me at all though. I still very much love Hitagi Crab, but I don’t think I can push myself to finish Kizu as I’m not a big fan of Ms Sans Underblade. Maybe I just should’ve started where the anime left off. All of this just to see Yotsugi-chan again…
WHITE ALBUM 2
This actually brought out so much emotions out of me. I don’t necessarily think this is the best VN of all time (because I’m not interested in RomComs!), but I will admit that it is very well written and well executed to induce maximum stomach ache. I keep thinking about that Touma scene where she talked about “my best friend’s boyfriend” and “we finally became friends”, even typing this is making my stomach upset.
This is low key like the modern Romeo and Juliet, the sort of thing you’d study at school and question why does the author try to fuck with everyone in the story by making everything happen (passive) and the characters make the worst decisions (active), both at the worst moment possible. This shit is not realistic in real life. By the swiss cheese model, the chance of all of these things happening is smaller than me being reborn as a beautiful girl in 100 years .
And you know what, all of that drama is whatever. As the Closing Chapter goes on, I feel empathetic (or is it sympathetic? I still don’t know the difference) for Setsuna. Maybe she made bad decisions as a teenager, but does that really matter many years later as an adult?
I found the other girls’ routes in WA2 to be a bit boring. Like sure, a popular eroge needs more H-scenes and more women - busty women, flat women, glasses women, whatever (I skip H-scenes btw). I appreciate the Setsuna scenes within these routes though.
I only just started CODA, but with how we are basically back to the setting of IC - one faltering man vs. two women he holds dearly, I’m not sure if I have the courage to finish this chapter. In fact, I don’t even think there needs to be a conclusion to who he ends up with. Shakespeare would probably do that. And that’s why I think Romeo & Juliet is garbage. Why can’t they make us study Fate/stay night or something.
Magical Girls Witch Trials
This one was a little bit underwhelming for its rating on vndb. I still enjoyed it, but I expected a lot more. Maybe story isn’t a main factor in people’s votes on that website. It’s a Danganronpa-esque VN but with magical girls.
I felt that the core storyline was a bit rushed and fell off towards the end. I enjoyed the themes of certain characters, but I wish they were expanded a bit more. Although I will say that I am looking forward to this studio’s next work.
I couldn’t help but think, it really is normalised knowledge that Mahou Shoujos become witches when they descend into despair, as much as vampires turn into dust when exposed to sunlight.
Tsukihime (OG)
Fate/stay night ruined this for me. Or in other words, I have high expectations for the remakes that will never be released, let alone on PC. I’m sorry for comparing this all the time to F/sn, but F/sn was just so fucking good, easily one of my favourite pieces of media, that I can’t help craving for the same thing in Tsukihime.
Once again, I can’t help but be drawn to the TYPE-MOON world. The worldbuilding and characters fascinate me a lot, even though the plot for some of the routes aren’t super special. I may have not been too interested in some of the route themselves, but the endings of this game were perfect. My favourite ending is probably Kohaku’s. I am just so happy for her. Although my favourite girl is probably Arcueid. Arc is very cute. Her hair vents are super moe.
I usually can’t sit through pretty animations of Shounen fights, but somehow the VN medium makes it so much more exciting. I felt this way for F/sn as well. Fights are so much more exciting when accompanied by the character’s internal thoughts.
I won’t touch blue glass moon until red garden is released… Also I will not be getting into Melty Blood. Do you even know any fighting game players who finished Tsukihime?
Concluding remarks
I’m getting on ChäoS;HEAd next. Maybe I will continue reading Kara no Kyoukai during my commute or when I wait for my builds to build. Or maybe I will finish the latest Haruhi novel (I miss her so much but I want the continuation of Surprise).
I’m going to Japan end of this month to continue my weeaboo activities.
I recommend you all get Fate/stay night on Steam when it’s on sale.