Info about BUSTAFELLOWS:

Official game description:
STORY
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Arrive in New Sieg, a beautiful fictional town. Step into the shoes of a strong, smart and gifted journalist in this romantic adventure. You play the part of a young woman with the ability to leap in the past for a very short period in the bodies of others, which you use for data collection and helping people. After witnessing the murder of a crooked lawyer – she goes back in time in an attempt to save him. Thus, the journey begins as our protagonist goes back in time in the body of another person and tries to warn Limbo. It's up to you to figure out how to save him!
FEATURES
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*   Unravel mysteries and solve puzzles
*   Take the lead and choose your destiny
*   Romance 5 dangerous fellows, each with an unlockable side story
*   Unlock different endings
*   Experience a unique interactive gameplay
*   Meet guests characters from Side Kicks!
*   Navigate through gorgeous visuals and polished animations
*   Listen to a complete Japanese voice cast, including KENN, Yoshimasa Hosoya & more
Will all routes lead to romance? Which happy ending awaits you? Play to find out!
CHARACTERS
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**Teuta - the protagonist (the name can be changed)**
A 21 years-old freelance journalist working in New Sieg. She witnessed the murder of her brother when she was younger and became a reporter for her to serve justice. She has a mysterious ability that allows her to leap in the past for a very short period in the bodies of others, and uses it to help people and collect data. She is a bright and cheerful woman with a positive personality. Although she is a reporter, she is not skilled at taking pictures.
**Limbo Fitzgerald - A Crooked Lawyer**
A 27 years-old Lawyer. Limbo is known for advocating in court for even the toughest criminals. Although he is called a crooked lawyer, he is extremely skilled, and he is popular in the city and is seen as a hero. He abides by the law in his own standards and serves justice. Born into an extremely wealthy family, Limbo is soft-hearted.
**Shu - A hitman that silently eliminates hitmen**
He is 28 years old. Shu is a heavy smoker who makes a living as a bounty killer by eliminating other hitmen. He is a top-class martial artist and specialised in long-range sniping. The best sniper in town, he has no other goals in life apart from executing those on the list left behind by his foster parents and mentor.
**Helvetica - A professional in changing people's appearance**
A 26 years-old plastic surgeon. Popular in New Sieg, he loves beautiful things and constantly rates passer-by women based on their looks. Highly confident in his skills, he believes that people can be reborn by changing their natural features.
**Mozu - An autopsy Specialist**
At only 25 years old, Mozu is the chief of the autopsy department and work with the police forces. He is often misunderstood as apathetic and indifferent towards others. His way of thinking is usually from a medical point of view, which sometimes creates unexpectedly fun situations. Mozu talks to corpses and it is rumoured that he dissects animals as a hobby. He likes riding bicycles.
**Scarecrow - A Self-proclaimed Underground Boss**
A 22 years-old cyber-geek and computer hacker who is famous on the internet for hacking, money laundering, stealing, etc. Thanks to his abilities and connections, he is a self-proclaimed underground boss.

Release date: Jul 30, 2021

Categories: Visual Novel, Otome, Multiple Routes, Time Travel Mechanics, Romance, Mystery, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well with Minor Tweak; summary: Game runs well on Steam Deck (Linux) with only a minor control adjustment. No Linux-specific launch, performance, or compatibility issues reported.
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Playable with Tinkering; summary: The Steam Deck experience is mixed. The game runs with minor input tinkering (binding a key) but suffers from blurry sprites due to lack of upscaling and a critical cross-platform compatibility issue that prevents save syncing between PC and Steam Deck. Some users find it playable, while others advise against using the Steam Deck for this title.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: Reviews indicate that the current $40 full price is too high for many, with several recommending to buy on sale. However, some players found full price acceptable, suggesting a lower but not drastically reduced price would be fair. A range of $15 to $30 balances these perspectives, aligning with typical sale discounts and the game's perceived value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 32.4h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 2.0h
  - Reasoning: The game completion estimate of 32.4 hours is directly stated in a detailed review that breaks down common route, personal routes, true route, and extras, consistent with another review reporting 32.8 hours for full completion and a third estimating ~30 hours. The endgame time (post-main-story extra content) is explicitly given as 2 hours. No evidence supports a specific story-only completion time or average session length, so those metrics are left null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes fun immediately due to likable characters, engaging pacing, and rich routes.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: N/A
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: N/A
- Player Archetypes:
  - Otome Story Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience romantic character dynamics and a strong, capable heroine.
    - Playstyle: Plays through all routes, often blind first, focusing on character interactions and narrative immersion.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Collar x Malice; Butterfly's Poison
  - Technical Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: To achieve a smooth, frustration-free gaming experience without technical issues.
    - Playstyle: Uses workarounds like controllers or on-screen keyboard, often criticizes UI and port quality.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Completionist Achievement Hunter (no buy)
    - Motivation: To achieve 100% completion and collect achievements.
    - Playstyle: Systematic route completion, uses guides, invests many hours to achieve 100% completion and all achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: completionist
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Discount Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: To get good value for money without overpaying for flawed content.
    - Playstyle: Waits for sales, only purchases at deep discount, and recommends based on price-to-content ratio.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Excellent voice acting praised (weight 0.34): Players consistently praised the voice acting, noting it is high quality, matches characters, and effectively conveys emotion. The full voice acting, including for the protagonist, was seen as a major strength.
- Game is highly enjoyable (weight 0.23): Reviewers described the game as fun, comforting, and enjoyable to play. The overall playing experience was rated as satisfying and well worth the money spent.
- Teuta is a strong protagonist (weight 0.22): Teuta is consistently praised as an active, decisive, and well-written protagonist with ambition, heart, and independence. Players found her to be a reliable and adorable main character who drives the plot effectively.
- Well-written characters overall (weight 0.2): Players felt that characters were well-written, likable, and done justice with distinct personalities and unique charms. This includes both main and supporting characters.
- Character interactions are engaging (weight 0.18): Player feedback highlights lively, heartwarming interactions and strong relationships between characters. The dynamics were described as fun, touching, and well-developed throughout the game.
- Beautiful art and UI (weight 0.17): The game's art is described as beautiful, stunning, and of high quality. Additionally, the UI design was praised for being smooth, stylish, and catchy.
- Love interests are distinctive (weight 0.14): Each romanceable character is noted for having a distinct personality and an emotional, unique story. Players appreciated the variety and interesting stories among the love interests.
- Found family trope well-executed (weight 0.11): The found family theme is highlighted as a strong, lovely, and pervasive element of the game's narrative. Players appreciated how well this trope was integrated into the story.
- Mozu is charming character (weight 0.08): Mozu's personality is singled out as the most appealing and charming, even appearing in other character routes. This character was considered a likable standout.
- Low game price is valued (weight 0.08): Reviewers noticed and appreciated the game's low price, noting it as a noticeable and cheap cost. This adds to the overall sense of value.

Common complaints:
- Unsubtitled spoken dialogue (weight 0.26): Several spoken lines, including transition scenes, event dialogue, and ending videos, are not subtitled or translated. This means players miss important content, reducing comprehension and immersion.
- Poor PC port controls (weight 0.21): The PC port suffers from bad controls, awkward keyboard mapping, and poor resolution. Keyboard controls are unconventional, cannot be remapped, and the interface is unintuitive, making the game difficult to play.
- Weak story writing (weight 0.19): The main story and narrative are poorly written, with plot holes, flaws, and rushed developments. Players find the story weak and not engaging, which diminishes the overall experience.
- Missing quit button (weight 0.14): There is no exit or quit button available in the game or its main menu, making it inconvenient for players to leave the game. This is a common usability complaint.
- Short individual routes (weight 0.12): The individual character routes are fairly short, with some being much shorter than others. Players feel the routes are rushed and lack sufficient depth or development.
- Rushed endings (weight 0.11): The true ending and other ending feel rushed and chaotic, with development wrapped up too quickly. Players find the ending unpleasant and forced.
- Unexplained time-rewind ability (weight 0.1): Teuta's time-rewinding ability is used arbitrarily without explaining its origin or rules. This underutilized and poorly written time travel hook leaves players confused.
- Rushed romance development (weight 0.1): The romance development, especially in Crow's route, is rushed and unconvincing, with poor pacing. Some romance routes feel less balanced and abrupt.
- Boring common route (weight 0.1): The common route is long and boring, which discourages players from continuing. The game also drags at certain points, suffering from pacing issues.
- Loose story ends (weight 0.06): The story leaves many loose ends and unanswered questions, with certain plot points remaining unexplained. This incomplete narrative resolution frustrates players.
- Reviewer stops playing (weight 0.06): Some reviewers decided not to finish the game, stopping due to various issues. This indicates significant dissatisfaction with the game experience.
- No Steam achievements (weight 0.06): The game lacks external Steam achievements, despite having achievements in-game. Players expect these features on the Steam platform.
- Hard to find save (weight 0.06): The save button is hard to locate in the interface, making it difficult for players to save progress. This interface issue adds frustration.
- Shallow romantic storyline (weight 0.06): The romantic storyline and mystery plot are shallow and boring, failing to engage players. The characters' development lacks depth and interest.
- Childish main character (weight 0.06): The playable character is perceived as childish and annoying, which reduces player immersion. Her behavior may be off-putting to many players.
- Text box overflow issues (weight 0.06): Text sometimes appears outside the text box and backlog, causing parts of the sentence to be missed. This technical issue affects readability and comprehension.
- Disliked character Helvetica (weight 0.05): The character Helvetica is disliked by some players, possibly due to personality or behavior. This negative view affects their enjoyment of the game.
- Inconsistent character names (weight 0.05): Localization in the game has inconsistent names for some side characters, like switching between Zora and Zola. This inconsistency is confusing and unprofessional.

Gameplay feedback:
- Visual novel with multiple routes (weight 0.81): The game is primarily a visual novel with multiple story routes, including common and character-specific paths. Players can experience different narratives and endings based on their choices.
- Otome romance genre game (weight 0.48): It is an otome game targeting a female audience, featuring romance with male love interests. The presentation is typical of Japanese visual novels with text-based dialogue.
- Common route plus character routes (weight 0.37): The game is structured with a common route that branches into individual routes for each romanceable character. Completing these routes unlocks additional content such as a truth route.
- Multiple romanceable characters (weight 0.29): There are five romanceable male characters, each with their own storyline and endings. The routes are separate and show different aspects of the characters.
- Time travel gameplay mechanic (weight 0.23): The protagonist has the ability to time travel or rewind time, which plays a central role in the story. This mechanic allows players to alter events and affects the narrative.
- Supports English and Japanese (weight 0.12): The game can be played in English or Japanese, with voice acting in Japanese. This bilingual support makes it accessible to a wider audience.
- Unlockable bonus chapters (weight 0.09): The final two chapters become accessible only after completing all five character routes. This encourages players to explore every route for full story completion.
- Multiple bad endings possible (weight 0.06): Player choices directly impact the ending, which can be either good or bad. Various bad endings exist, adding replay value and requiring careful decision-making.
- Crime mystery genre mix (weight 0.06): The game blends visual novel storytelling with investigation, action, and suspense, alongside romance elements. It offers a more engaging, plot-driven experience.
- Extra side stories and lore (weight 0.06): Extras include side character lore and mini stories, providing additional depth beyond the main routes. This content enriches the overall narrative.

Performance notes:
- Poor video quality reported (weight 0.13): Multiple clusters mention low-clarity videos, including the opening video and in-game cutscenes, with one noting encoding issues. This is a frequent and specific problem affecting presentation.
- PC port generally bad (weight 0.12): Several clusters describe the PC port as terrible, with awkward controls, poor resolution, and overall technical issues. This indicates a widespread disappointment with the port quality.
- PC optimization is poor (weight 0.11): Multiple clusters complain about poor PC performance, including low resolution and upscaling issues affecting visuals. This is a core technical problem for the PC build.
- English dialogue display bugs (weight 0.1): Incomplete or missing English dialogues and subtitles, including unreadable subtitles and untranslated phrases, suggest localization problems. These issues persist even with aspect ratio changes.
- Controls are clumsy (weight 0.08): Controls feel awkward and unintuitive, possibly due to a lacking control mapping. This hampers gameplay experience.
- Sound balancing problems (weight 0.06): Feedback indicates that audio levels are inconsistent, either too low or too high. This affects overall immersion and is a common complaint.
- Steam Deck performance praised (weight 0.06): The game runs well on Steam Deck according to two separate pieces of feedback. This positive note contrasts with many PC-specific complaints.
- Dialogue resolution poor (weight 0.03): The dialogue screen in the PC version has low resolution, requiring windowed mode to be readable. This is a specific UI issue affecting readability.
- Mod corruption risk (weight 0.03): Installing Chinese mods could corrupt save files, leading to data loss. This is a niche but potentially severe issue for modding players.

Recommendations:
- General recommendation given (weight 0.24): Several reviews provide a general recommendation without specific caveats, indicating overall satisfaction with the game. This suggests the game has broad appeal within its niche.
- Recommended for otome fans (weight 0.22): Multiple clusters strongly recommend the game specifically to fans of the otome genre, noting it is worth the price for them. This is a recurring positive sentiment among the target audience.
- Avoid purchase entirely (weight 0.17): Some reviews strongly advise against buying the game, with several calling it a waste of money or recommending other options. This negative sentiment is significant and may be due to various flaws.
- Buy on sale, not full price (weight 0.16): A notable portion of feedback advises waiting for a discount before purchasing, with some saying the game is not worth its full cost. This implies the game's value is better realized at a lower price point.
- PC port has issues (weight 0.11): Several reviews highlight technical problems with the PC version, including resolution and control issues, recommending console play instead. This is a important warning for Steam shoppers.
- Recommended for romance players (weight 0.11): Conversely, other feedback recommends the game to those who enjoy romance and detailed storylines, indicating that it satisfies romantic interests for some. This may depend on player expectations.
- Not recommended for mystery fans (weight 0.09): Some reviews warn that the game does not deliver as a mystery title, which could disappoint players seeking a compelling crime story. This is a specific negative for a subset of players.
- Play Shu route last (weight 0.09): Multiple reviews advise playing Shu's route at the end to maximize story impact and avoid disappointment. This is a strategic tip for players concerned about narrative pacing.
- Not recommended for romance (weight 0.07): A few reviewers point out that the game is not suitable for players expecting romance content, as it leans more on other elements. This is a crucial caveat for potential buyers.
- Trigger warning needed (weight 0.06): One feedback emphasizes the game contains dark and triggering content, including violence and assault, advising caution for sensitive players. This is crucial information for content advisories.
- Value for time spent (weight 0.06): The game is praised for providing a good amount of content for the price, with one review calling it worth it for the game time. This speaks to its bang-per-buck.
- Route order suggestions (weight 0.06): Several reviews recommend a specific order for playing the routes (e.g., Limbo, Helvetica, Scarecrow, Mozu, Shu) for best narrative flow. This is a practical tip for new players.
- Not for non-serious players (weight 0.06): The game is not recommended for players seeking a serious, plot-heavy experience, as it has lighthearted elements. Conversely, it suits those who like a more casual story.
- Technical bugs noted (weight 0.06): A few reviews mention technical bugs such as missing subtitles and other glitches, though some still enjoyed the game. This indicates the game might have port issues.
- For vigilante story fans (weight 0.04): Recommendations based on the protagonist acting and vigilante themes are positive. This suggests the game is appealing to fans of dark, action-oriented narratives.
- Enjoyment with mods (weight 0.03): A reviewer found the game more enjoyable after installing mods, hinting at possible shortcomings in the original version. This suggests modding can enhance the experience.
- Controller recommended (weight 0.03): A review suggests using a controller for a better experience, implying keyboard controls may be less optimal. This is a practical tip for PC players.
- Buy to support sequel (weight 0.03): One user encourages buying the game to support a Steam release of a sequel, a additional reason to purchase for fans of the series. This is a niche but relevant point.

Other player notes:
- Chinese localization support mixed (weight 0.34): There is notable demand for Chinese localization, with some noting the Switch version has it while the Steam version may not. A fan-made Chinese translation patch is also available, indicating the official Chinese support is inconsistent across platforms.
- Sequel and continuation present (weight 0.21): Reviews frequently mention that a second game or sequel is available or anticipated. The sequel is already in development and highly anticipated by players, adding value to the overall experience.
- Good value for price (weight 0.17): The game is frequently described as worth its price due to the large amount of content. The price is often discounted, making it an attractive purchase, especially if bought during a sale.
- Audio and subtitle setup (weight 0.17): Players appreciate the Japanese voice acting combined with English subtitles, but some mention that Japanese dialogue is not fully subtitled, and Chinese subtitles may not be complete on Steam. This affects accessibility for non-Japanese speakers.
- Otome visual novel classic (weight 0.16): Multiple reviews describe the game as a Japanese otome visual novel, often praising it as one of the best in the genre. The identity as a story-driven otome title with long routes is a key characteristic.
- Game is relatively short (weight 0.08): The game is shorter than typical visual novels, with a completion time around 30 hours. While this might be a drawback for some, it also makes the game accessible for shorter play sessions.
- Missing Steam achievements noted (weight 0.08): Several reviewers point out the lack of Steam achievements, even though in-game achievements exist. This is a minor but noticeable deficiency for platform-oriented players.
- Incomplete dialogs translated (weight 0.06): Only UI and text are fully translated, but some spoken lines in transition scenes and elsewhere lack subtitles or translation, causing accessibility gaps for non-Japanese readers.
- Steam Deck compatible (weight 0.06): The game is confirmed to be playable on Steam Deck, which is an important factor for many modern players who use portable PC gaming.
- Full voice acting available (weight 0.06): The game features full voice acting, including the protagonist, which is a notable feature for a visual novel and often improves the immersion.
- Korean patch available (weight 0.06): There is a fan-made Korean localization patch, which is important for players who prefer Korean and serves as an alternative to the official English and Chinese support.
- High review scores given (weight 0.06): At least one reviewer gave the game a perfect or near-perfect score, indicating a strong overall satisfaction. This is a testament to the game's quality.
- Purchasing strategies vary (weight 0.06): Some players bought the game after trying a demo, while others waited for a sale. This shows that players consider the game's value based on their purchasing habits.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.21): Players face severe technical issues, including a poor PC port, lost save data, unintuitive key bindings, and missing subtitles, which hinder gameplay. Narrative problems such as plot holes, illogical routes, and forced character resolutions further compound the frustration, making the experience feel unpolished and unsatisfying.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Expectations are dashed by short, rushed routes with weak romance and pacing issues, while the final endings feel chaotic and unfulfilling. Technical flaws like blurry graphics and missing subtitles, along with a lack of localization, contribute to a sense that the game did not reach its potential.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): The common route, character interactions, and found family dynamics keep the game entertaining, with likeable characters and lively voice acting enhancing the fun. The engaging story and smooth transition scenes provide a positive experience, making playtime enjoyable and rewarding.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Completing all routes and story endings leaves apositive sense of achievement, supported by a well-written common route, good pacing, and high production quality. The affordable price, charming characters, and interesting themes make the experience a valuable and satisfying one for players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): The game's strong points, such as the stunning art, voice acting, and distinct characters, are valued and enhance the story. The inclusion of the voiced protagonist, unique route designs, and thoughtful presentation shows the developers' effort, which is appreciated by players.
- Sadness (weight 0.06): The tragic events and heartbreaking routes, especially Adam's story, deeply move players and often trigger tears, as emotional storylines and voice acting create a powerful connection. The bittersweet truth, plus painful bad endings, contribute to a deeply felt sadness.
- Affection (weight 0.06): The game's main cast, with the family-like bond and charming dynamics, inspires affection, and it is easy to become attached to characters like Teuta and Mozu. These relationships and personality all increase the overall fondness for the group and the gameplay experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): The game features engaging storylines with dramatic and romantic content that keeps players excited, with the pacing and bad endings often adding to the thrill. The good story, strong voice performances, and likeable cast all increase eager anticipation for the sequel, making the whole experience very exciting.
- Love (weight 0.04): The game shines through its well-written characters, their development, and the meaningful interactions in each route, which many players loved. The high-quality art, chemistry plus respectful handling of sensitive subjects all create a strong bond and sense of love for the game, and characters like Shu and Adam are especially impactful.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): The funny interactions among the characters, especially the banter and dynamic with Shu and Crow, led players to smile and laugh often. The quirky plot twists and silly translation choices, like the swimsuit CG details and the description of the heroes as 'heroes,' provide plenty of humorous moments that add a light-hearted charm.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): The game is admired for its beautiful visuals, realistic settings, and strong character writing, especially in routes like Helwick’s, which it gave depth and realism. The quality of the staging, voice acting, and dynamic between the characters also contributes to the admiration for this work and the characters.
- Disgust (weight 0.03): The content triggers disgust because of instances that seem inappropriate or unwanted, such as male characters engaging in sexual harassment, forced fanservice in a poorly crafted pool scene, and certain CG images focusing on female characters instead of the anticipated romantic content. These priorities contrast with the game’s intent and reflect poorly in the context, adding significantly to the sense of disgust.
- Anger (weight 0.03): The game provokes anger due to the main character control issues and problematic narrative decisions, such as a protagonist misusing her time-reversal powers with serious outcomes. The significant plot defects, such as poor medical inaccuracies and a defective truth route, also add to a sense of anger, especially for players with specific expectations for the genre.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): The game features several issues, including missing subtitle translations, questionable characters, and pacing problems, all of which cause minor but consistent annoyances. The replayability is also hampered by technical issues like the inability to access certain dialogue and the forced default name, adding to the general sense of dissatisfaction and frustration while playing.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): The game’s story can become quite repetitive, especially the common route that feels drawn out, leading to monotony and sleepiness in players. The two truth routes also rely too heavily on expositions, which feeling less twisty and more tedious as they progress, detracting from the overall experience.
- Delight (weight 0.02): The charming character interactions, well-defined art, and the quality of the music are central to the overall delight it surprising the players. The emotional bonds forged through the romance and entertaining message of the story also contribute to a genuinely enjoyable and moving time with the game.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): The game surprises players of with unpredictable plot twists, unexpected shifts in characters, and routes that proves more engaging than first expected. The emotional depth and quality of certain path, which have a strong, moving feeling, also add to the overall surprise because it exceeded many initial expectations.
- Joy (weight 0.01): The game provides a fun, comfortable experience with unique and emotional route stories that draw the player in. The fun character and touching moments make the game a great idea and overall leading to genuine laughter and feelings, which is often appreciated with each character feeling real.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are perplexed by a translation that uses old-fashioned conversational language, and the protagonist displays surprisingly immature character development for someone with her story. The lack of clear explanation for important plot details also leads to a feeling of general confusion, alongside trouble like having to find the exit button within the interface.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): The game has a satisfying experience because it is fun and encourages to complete everything, mainly because of the progress system. The player is happy enough to purchase it a second time on another platform, and the game exceeds their high expectations for the routes, especially making it clear as a pleasure.}