Info about Riddle Joker:

Official game description:
Riddle Joker is a Japanese-style visual novel produced by Yuzusoft, a Japanese developer of romance VNs.  
The game won numerous awards on the year of its release in Japan for its art, music, and characters.
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**Story:**  
For decades, superpowers and psychic abilities were thought to be mere science fiction, but the discovery of a certain particle called the "Astron" at the end of the 20th century proved to the world that these wondrous phenomena were real. Nowadays, these abilities have been dubbed "astral abilities," with those who can wield them being knows as "Astrals."  
Arihara Satoru is but an ordinary person living in this futuristic world.  
However, beneath that guise, he's actually a secret agent working for an organization that uses Astrals.  
One day, he receives a new mission:  
Pose as a student and infiltrate a famous academy for Astrals.  
After successfully transferring into the academy together with his sister Arihara Nanami, he settles into his new life there, meeting new friends like his classmates Mitsukasa Ayase and Nijouin Hazuki, and his upperclassman Shikibe Mayu, among others.  
Until an unfortunate accident leads to Mitsukasa Ayase finding out his true identity! And in that situation, he also learns that she has her own big secret...  
**CHARACTERS**

Release date: Dec 18, 2020

Categories: Visual Novel, Romance, Choice-based Narrative, Character-driven Interactions and Dialogue, Supernatural Elements, School Life Simulation, Slice of Life, Comedy

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 20; verdict: Works Well with Minor Issues; summary: The game generally runs well on Steam Deck OLED with improved SteamOS compatibility. However, there are reports of crashes during the ending movies on Linux/Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Playable with Issues; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that while the game is marked as incompatible with Steam Deck, many users report it as playable on Steam Deck OLED with improved compatibility. However, significant issues include crashes during video playback, particularly with opening and ending movies, and general stability problems with frequent crashes in similar games. These issues highlight areas needing attention to enhance the user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $25.00 - $35.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth the price due to its high production quality and artistic value. One user specifically mentions that the game is worth purchasing even at a discounted price of $50, indicating that the perceived value is high. Another user states that the game is worth the price regardless of discounts, reinforcing the idea that the game's quality justifies its cost. These points suggest that the community considers the fair base-game price to be around the current base price or slightly lower.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 90.0h
  - Story completion: 50.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime. The first quote mentions a playtime of '一个多月' (over a month), which is vague but suggests a significant time investment. The second quote explicitly states a playtime of 90 hours for completing all routes. The third quote compares the length to other Yuzusoft titles, estimating around 50 hours of auto-read time. The fourth quote mentions finishing 40+ hours of reading in under two weeks, indicating a substantial playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is engaging from the start due to its smooth narrative and balanced elements, but some repetitive plotlines can reduce enjoyment over time.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Engaging story and pacing
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Repetitive plotlines; Boring exposition dumps
  - Unlock drivers: Engaging story elements; Balanced slice-of-life and comedy
  - Conditions: Interest in visual novels; Tolerance for repetitive elements; Appreciation for slice-of-life and comedy
- Player Archetypes:
  - 妹控 (Imouto-con Enthusiast) (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the unique dynamics and emotional depth of the sisterly relationship with 七海.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on playing through the storylines of characters they are most attached to, particularly those involving sisterly relationships.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: 妹控
    - Reference games: 千恋万花; 魔女的夜宴
  - 忠实粉丝 (Loyal Fan) (buy)
    - Motivation: Loyalty to the game developer and enjoyment of their consistent quality and style.
    - Playstyle: Plays through all the storylines and appreciates the connections and references to previous works by the same developer.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: 柚子社粉丝
    - Reference games: 千恋万花; 魔女的夜宴; E×E; Dracu Riot!
  - 全线战士 (Completionist) (buy)
    - Motivation: Achieving a sense of completion by experiencing all possible storylines and endings.
    - Playstyle: Systematically plays through every available route and storyline to ensure they experience all content the game has to offer.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: 全线战士
    - Reference games: 千恋万花; 魔女的夜宴


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Praised storyline and character arcs (weight 0.96): The storyline is noted for being interesting, elaborate, and engaging. Specific character arcs, such as those of 三司 綾瀬 and Nanami, are particularly praised for their depth and emotional impact.
- High-quality artwork and visuals (weight 0.47): The game features high-quality artwork, character designs, and visuals. The CGs and overall art style are noted for being polished, vibrant, and visually appealing.
- High-quality voice acting and soundtrack (weight 0.41): The game features top-level voice acting performances, particularly praised for characters like 桐谷华, 楠原, and 遥空. The soundtrack is also noted for its high quality and enjoyable music.
- Positive overall game experience (weight 0.34): Despite some flaws, the game is considered a good work with an overall high quality. Players find the game enjoyable and recommend it to others.
- Engaging UI and character design (weight 0.25): The UI design and character designs are noted for their excellence and appeal. The UI style and special effects are integrated well with the game's features.
- High production quality (weight 0.23): The game maintains a high production quality, with high-quality visuals, CGs, and overall production value. The game is noted for its high quality standards.
- Emotional depth and resonance (weight 0.14): The game provides emotional depth and resonance through its storytelling and character interactions. Players find the emotional engagement fulfilling and impactful.

Common complaints:
- Weak and unengaging plot (weight 0.69): The game's storyline is widely criticized for being unengaging, weak, and forgettable. Many players found the plot to lack depth and have several flaws, making it boring and disappointing.
- Poor male protagonist portrayal (weight 0.61): The male protagonist is often criticized for being foolish, stupid, and incompetent. His low intelligence and emotional quotient, as well as his questionable actions and decisions, have been highlighted as major issues.
- Uneven and underdeveloped routes (weight 0.37): Some routes in the game feel padded, less fleshed out, and uneven in length. Players have noted that certain routes could benefit from additional development and more consistent quality.
- Short and mediocre game length (weight 0.36): The game is considered to be of average quality and has been criticized for its short length. Players feel that the overall game quality is mediocre and that the game has some flaws.
- Poor portrayal of spy identity (weight 0.35): The portrayal of the male protagonist as a spy is criticized for being trivial and unrealistic. Players feel that the spy identity is not well-developed and is often overshadowed by other elements.
- Lack of ability and responsibility in characters (weight 0.33): Criticism is directed towards specific characters for their lack of ability and responsibility. The main character's intelligence and emotional intelligence are also criticized.
- Technical issues and crashes (weight 0.1): The game is reported to have frequent crashes and performance issues. These technical problems significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Unmemorable and rushed ending (weight 0.09): The ending of the game is criticized for being unmemorable and feeling rushed. Players feel that the conclusion does not live up to the expectations set by the rest of the game.
- Localization and translation issues (weight 0.09): The game has been criticized for localization issues and mistranslations. These errors can affect the understanding and enjoyment of the game for non-native speakers.
- Incomplete content on Steam (weight 0.09): Players have noted that the game has limited and incomplete content on the Steam platform. This can lead to a less satisfying gaming experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Supernatural school setting (weight 0.37): The game features a unique blend of supernatural abilities and a school setting, creating an intriguing backdrop for the story.
- Multiple character routes (weight 0.33): The game offers multiple character routes, allowing players to experience different storylines and endings based on their choices.
- Character-driven romance (weight 0.27): The game focuses on character-driven storytelling with a strong emphasis on romance and emotional narratives.
- Storyline variations and impact (weight 0.24): The game includes multiple storylines and endings, with player choices significantly impacting the narrative progression.
- Relaxing and casual gameplay (weight 0.24): The game offers a relaxing gameplay experience suitable for casual play, focusing on daily life and relationships.
- Choice-based visual novel (weight 0.2): As a visual novel, the game emphasizes a choice-based narrative that drives the story and emotional engagement.
- Diverse visual novel elements (weight 0.2): The game combines various elements such as science fiction, romance, action, and slice-of-life, offering a rich and varied experience.
- Detailed character interactions (weight 0.17): The game features detailed character interactions that are influenced by player choices, enhancing emotional storytelling.
- Spy and battle elements (weight 0.09): The game incorporates spy and battle elements, adding excitement and variety to the gameplay.
- Long gameplay duration (weight 0.09): The game features a long gameplay duration, providing extensive content and replay value.
- Improved UI and system (weight 0.08): The game has an improved UI and system, building upon the foundation of previous works with optimizations and innovations.
- Flowchart mechanic (weight 0.08): The game includes a flowchart mechanic, adding a unique element to the gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes and performance issues (weight 0.15): The game experiences frequent crashes and performance problems, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Steam community features broken (weight 0.1): The Steam version of the game has issues with community features, including non-functional guides and discussion sections.
- Steam Deck compatibility issues (weight 0.1): There are compatibility issues with Steam Deck, including crashing problems on Linux/Steam Deck.
- Supports 1080p and high FPS (weight 0.1): The game supports 1080p native resolution and high FPS, providing a good visual experience for players with capable hardware.
- Screenshot sharing not working (weight 0.05): Players are unable to share screenshots, which impacts their ability to engage with the community and share experiences.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.05): The game can run on low-end PCs, making it accessible to a wider range of players.

Recommendations:
- Specific route recommendations (weight 0.32): Suggestions to play specific character routes in a particular order for the best experience, such as Mayu's route before Moyu's and Mao's route before Sanze Rina's.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.3): The game is highly recommended to everyone, especially for those new to the genre and fans of visual novels.
- Recommended for romcom fans (weight 0.23): The game is recommended for those who enjoy romantic comedies, especially with supernatural elements.
- Play with others (weight 0.16): The game is recommended to be played with others, including partners, for a better experience.
- Recommendations for other games (weight 0.12): Some reviewers recommend playing other games like 'Hello Lady!' for a more serious setting or 'Senren Banka' instead.
- Waiting for DLC (weight 0.04): Some reviewers are waiting for DLC content.
- Download save files (weight 0.04): Suggestion to download save files for specific needs.
- Simple school life experience (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for its simple school life experience.
- Recommended for teens (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for teens.

Other player notes:
- Adult content availability (weight 0.1): The game offers optional adult content that is not included in the default version on Steam. Players can access this content through an adult patch available on the developer's website.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Players are frustrated by frequent game crashes, performance issues, and bugs. The protagonist's inconsistent abilities and poor decision-making, along with illogical plot points and pacing issues, contribute to this frustration. Additionally, the perceived weakness and unlikability of the protagonist, as well as the varying quality of story routes and lack of updates, further exacerbate these feelings.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Players express disappointment due to repetitive and boring storylines, lack of expected content, and short routes. The protagonist's weakness and poor character development, along with generic and clichéd plotlines, contribute to this disappointment. Additionally, the lack of adult content and poor translation further detract from the overall experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the engaging plot, attractive world-building, and well-developed characters. The variety of female leads, unique world-building, and high-quality visuals contribute to this enjoyment. Additionally, positive experiences with specific character routes and the overall storyline enhance the gameplay experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players are satisfied with the high-quality CG, smooth progression, and charming heroines. The enjoyable character interactions, romance, artwork, voice acting, and soundtrack contribute to this satisfaction. Additionally, the engaging storylines, unique elements, and excellent UI further enhance the overall experience.
- Joy (weight 0.07): Players experience joy from the engaging storyline, character development, and high-quality gameplay. The enjoyment of game routes, soundtrack, and character interactions contribute to this joy. Additionally, the beautiful art, emotional storytelling, and positive memories further enhance the emotional impact of the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the engaging story and character routes. The flowchart mechanic, social interactions, and gameplay experience contribute to this excitement. Additionally, the enthusiasm for specific characters and their storylines further enhance the overall experience.
- Affection (weight 0.04): Players express affection for specific characters and their storylines. The emotional expressions, character interactions, and pure love stories contribute to this affection. Additionally, the desire to stay with certain characters forever further enhances the emotional connection.
- Love (weight 0.04): Players express deep affection for certain characters and their routes. The emotional depth, character relationships, and storylines contribute to this love. Additionally, the appreciation for character interactions and their development further enhances the emotional impact.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgia due to the game's storyline and character interactions. The comparison to other games from the same developer and personal experiences contribute to this nostalgia. Additionally, the sense of longing for school life and romantic experiences further enhances the emotional connection.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players express liking for specific character routes and their personalities. The engaging storylines and character development contribute to this liking. Additionally, the enjoyment of certain character routes and their unique traits further enhance the overall experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players show enthusiasm for the detailed character analysis and storyline discussions. The enjoyable interactions, gameplay, and character design contribute to this enthusiasm. Additionally, the strong support for the game developer and positive descriptions of the gameplay experience further enhance the overall excitement.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the character design, voice acting, and story. The appreciation for character roles, backgrounds, and their perfect traits contribute to this admiration. Additionally, the high-quality presentation and attention to detail further enhance the overall experience.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with the well-designed characters and storylines. The engaging plot, attractive world-building, and enjoyable character routes contribute to this happiness. Additionally, the positive memories and emotional impact of the game further enhance the overall experience.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Players feel happiness due to the cute and lovable characters. The emotional and romantic aspects of the game, along with the enjoyable storyline and character interactions, contribute to this happiness. Additionally, the strong emotional connection to the characters and their stories further enhances the overall experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the pure love theme and high level of customization. The well-designed story, characters, and their significance contribute to this appreciation. Additionally, the detailed character routes and their development further enhance the overall experience.
- Excited (weight 0.02): Players are excited about the engaging story and character routes. The mix of school comedy and special agent action, along with the enjoyable interactions and gameplay, contribute to this excitement. Additionally, the enthusiasm for specific characters and their storylines further enhances the overall experience.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to the male protagonist's uselessness and poor writing. The illogical plot points and the protagonist's actions contribute to this anger. Additionally, the lack of certain content and poor character development further exacerbate these feelings.
- Satisfied (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the high-quality presentation and user-friendly features. The compelling world, character design, and attention to detail contribute to this satisfaction. Additionally, the good overall experience despite some flaws further enhances the overall experience.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the weak plot and lack of engagement in most routes. The rushed plot development and poor character development contribute to this disappointment. Additionally, the lack of expected content and poor translation further detract from the overall experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the humorous take on the main character's actions. The interesting character interactions and humorous content contribute to this amusement. Additionally, the enjoyable and funny aspects of the game further enhance the overall experience.}