Info about Otome Riron to Sono Shuuhen -École de Paris-: Official game description: 《少女理论及其周边 -École de Paris-》中文版特典活动现正火热进行中！购买实体特典版的用户也可以通过专有页面即时领取游戏激活码进行游玩！ 《少女理论及其周边 -École de Paris-》是日本美少女游戏资深大厂Navel制作的超人气女装作品《近月少女的礼仪》的续作。国际中文版将拥有超越原版的1920X1080全高清画质，内置简体中文、繁体中文版与日文三版本，支持29个Steam成就、云存储与集换卡牌，也针对Steam deck进行了适配，并支持大量额外内容。 《少女理论及其周边 -École de Paris-》从前作《近月》延伸出的一条新的世界线展开，讲述了前作主人公大藏游星为了陪同自己的妹妹理想奈前往巴黎留学而再次扮演小仓朝日成为女仆所展开的全新故事，樱小路露娜等前作女主角也有在本作登场。 本作依旧由打造经典前作的原班人马所制作。业内人气女性画师铃平广与西又葵联袂担当游戏原画与角色设计；由主笔前作的实力剧本家东之助继续领衔剧本；由知名音乐人菊池司制作配乐。豪华声优阵容为本作及前作女主们献声。主题曲《Fragile》由知名歌姬美乡秋献唱。《少女理论及其周边 -École de Paris-》曾在美少女游戏大赏荣获综合第3，剧本第1，作画第5，音乐第3，影片第10以及角色第1（露娜）、第3（理想奈）等诸多奖项。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Release date: Dec 15, 2023 Categories: Visual Novel, Multiple Routes, Branching Narrative, Character Development, Romance, Crossdressing, Sequel, Fan Disc - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 26.0h - Story completion: 20.0h - Session length: 15.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The 26-hour clear time from a Japanese review, which notes all endings, CGs, and scenes were read, directly supports gameCompletion. The 20-hour figure for the sister route, mentioned in multiple Chinese reviews, represents the length of the main/primary route and supports storyCompletion. The 15-hour continuous play session to finish the sister route supports sessionLength. No evidence addresses post-game or endgame content, so endgame is null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Players report immediate and intense enjoyment of the Near Month series, diving into long sessions without any noted early friction. - Stance: Fun immediately - Anchor: N/A - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: N/A - Unlock drivers: N/A - Conditions: N/A - Player Archetypes: - Series Continuation Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: To experience the expanded story and character resolutions that follow the original game's events. - Playstyle: Plays through all routes in order, often after finishing the predecessor, and appreciates the full narrative arc. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: N/A - Reference games: Near Month; Theory - Heroine Devotee (buy) - Motivation: To see their favorite character's story fully developed and emotionally satisfying. - Playstyle: Prioritizes the preferred heroine's route, often replaying it, and may skip or rush other routes. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Ritsuna fan; imouto lover - Reference games: Near Month - Quality Critic (sale) - Motivation: To assess whether the game delivers consistent quality across all content, not just the main story. - Playstyle: Completes all routes and analyzes pacing, volume, and narrative coherence, often comparing to other visual novels. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: N/A - Reference games: Near Month 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 character development (weight 0.58): Characters are vividly portrayed with distinct personalities and well-developed growth arcs. Specific praise is given to the sister, Resona, Rias, and the protagonist Asahi. - Sister route is outstanding (weight 0.56): Multiple clusters consistently praise the sister route as excellent, emotionally moving, and a highlight of the game. It is considered the peak of the series' story and better than the main story. - Story surpasses previous title (weight 0.52): The main story is described as heavier, more complete, richer, and more ambitious than the first game. The script is also considered more advanced and exciting. - Luna is a standout character (weight 0.36): Luna's dramatic appearances, rescue scenes, and strong presence are highly praised. She is described as a savior, hall-of-fame level character, and her voice and personality are endearing. - Sister character is appealing (weight 0.31): The sister character is praised for being cute, well-rounded, and having a great growth arc. Her vocalizations and personality are also highlighted. - Game is fun and worth playing (weight 0.29): The game is described as fun, hard to put down, and overall good. It is recommended for its quality and large amount of content. - Character design and voice acting praised (weight 0.28): Character design, voice acting, and BGM are all praised for exceeding expectations and conveying emotions well. The new voice save system is also noted as a practical improvement. - Protagonist is charismatic (weight 0.22): The protagonist is praised as caring, brave, pure, and kind, with strong charisma and agency. He is considered one of the best male leads in the genre. - World-building and family expanded (weight 0.21): The game expands the Oura family background and world-building, making characters more well-rounded and vivid. Cameo appearances from the first game are also a joy. - Story rhythm and pacing are good (weight 0.18): The story rhythm is praised as appropriate, and the plot is more intense with dramatic elements. The foreshadowing from the first game is resolved well. - Risena route is best in series (weight 0.17): The Risena route is praised as the best and most perfect route in the series, with full character development and a touching growth story. It is also noted for its quality and length. - Asahi and Resona are cute (weight 0.15): The characters Asahi and Resona are described as cute, with rich expressions and charming personalities. Their growth is realistic and moving. - Idealuna route is outstanding (weight 0.14): The Idealuna route is praised as outstanding, with a cute voice and endearing personality. Luna's appearance in desperate moments is beautiful and moving. - Sequel inherits first game's strengths (weight 0.13): The sequel inherits the excellent qualities of the first game without relying too much on its patterns. It is considered the peak of the series' story. - Common route is valuable (weight 0.13): The common route alone makes the Imouto route worth it, with good character development and a well-supported main storyline. - Meril is a charming character (weight 0.12): Meril's purity, kindness, and nun-like quality make her an appealing and angelic character. Her route is described as substantial and filling. - Game is beautiful and elegant (weight 0.08): The game is described as beautiful, elegant, and classy, with a large amount of content and excellent quality. - Yukihisa Oukura is well-written (weight 0.07): Yukihisa Oukura is praised as a great male character, well-written and like an angel. His presence adds depth to the story. Common complaints: - Other routes are filler (weight 0.46): Many players feel that routes other than the main or sister's route are thin, short, and lack emotional depth. These routes are often described as filler content that exists only to pad the game. - Rushed and anticlimactic ending (weight 0.29): Multiple reviews criticize the ending for being rushed, perfunctory, and lacking proper buildup. The early setup is described as feeling like a joke, and the conclusion wraps up too neatly. - Missing and misplaced text (weight 0.21): A significant number of reviews report missing or misplaced text, making parts of the game unreadable. This issue is especially prevalent in the Steam version, which also lacks an epilogue. - Unrealistic family conflict resolution (weight 0.18): The resolution of the family conflict is criticized for being too quick and idealistic. Specific instances, such as the father forgiving a character who insulted his wife, are hard to accept. - Aet route lacks content (weight 0.18): The Aet route is singled out as being too short, lacking an H-scene and after story, and feeling like filler. It is considered weaker compared to other routes. - Short overall story length (weight 0.14): Several reviews note that the game is short and has less content than the previous title. The story feels underdeveloped and lacks memorable moments. - Forced windowed fullscreen issues (weight 0.11): The game forces windowed fullscreen mode, preventing players from switching to other windows and causing problems during streaming. This is a technical annoyance that affects usability. - F12 key conflict with Steam (weight 0.07): The default F12 menu key conflicts with Steam's screenshot shortcut and cannot be rebinded, causing frustration for players who want to take screenshots. - Depressing endings (weight 0.07): Some endings leave a gloomy and suffocating feeling, providing little satisfaction. This contrasts with the forced happy endings mentioned elsewhere. - Character design overlap (weight 0.07): Risena's character design overlaps with Luna, and Luna is often used as a comparison, which may detract from Risena's uniqueness. Gameplay feedback: - Visual novel with multiple routes (weight 0.59): The game is consistently described as a visual novel featuring a common route and multiple character-specific routes, with branching narratives and multiple endings. This structure is a core aspect of the game's design. - Sequel to bad ending (weight 0.55): The game is a sequel that continues from a bad ending of the first game, set in a parallel world or alternate timeline. This narrative setup is frequently mentioned and defines the story's premise. - Setting moves to Paris (weight 0.22): The story's setting shifts from Japan to Paris, France, where the protagonist and his sister attend a fashion school. This change of locale is a notable element of the narrative. - Focus on family conflict (weight 0.2): The narrative centers on family infighting, sibling bonds, and the protagonist's pursuit of dreams, often involving the Oomiya or Oura family. This thematic focus is highlighted in several reviews. - Features cross-dressing theme (weight 0.1): The game includes a cross-dressing protagonist, a theme that is explicitly noted in multiple reviews. This element is a distinctive feature of the story. - Sister route has more content (weight 0.09): The sister character is romanceable and her route is noted to have more content than other routes, focusing on themes of growth. This is a specific point of praise or criticism. - Route entry depends on choices (weight 0.07): Route entry depends on the player's choices, and some routes require a second playthrough to unlock. This is a gameplay mechanic mentioned in reviews. - ADV game with standard galge structure (weight 0.06): The game is an ADV (adventure game) with a standard galge structure that releases accumulated tension at the end. This structural description is provided in one review. - Compared to other titles (weight 0.06): The game is compared to other titles regarding its handling of sibling romance and story structure. These comparisons are made in individual reviews. - Features cameo appearances (weight 0.04): The game includes cameo appearances from characters of the first game, adding continuity and fan service. This is noted as a positive aspect. - Has voice collection feature (weight 0.04): The game includes a voice collection feature, which is a typical addition in visual novels. This is mentioned as a minor feature. - Allows skipping chapters on replay (weight 0.04): The game allows players to skip chapters on replay, which is a convenience feature. This is noted in a single review. - Has suspend function (weight 0.04): The game includes a suspend function, allowing players to pause and resume. This is a minor quality-of-life feature. - Uses static CG (weight 0.04): The game uses static CG images, which is a common style in visual novels. This is mentioned as a visual characteristic. - Half moe and half story-driven (weight 0.04): The game is described as being half moe and half story-driven, indicating a balance between cute character interactions and narrative depth. This is a single review's perspective. - Setting is international aristocratic academy (weight 0.04): The game is set in an international aristocratic academy cultural exchange, which is a unique setting detail. This is mentioned in a single review. - Story focuses on fashion design (weight 0.04): The story revolves around fashion design, which is a central theme in the game. This is noted in a single review. - Few branching storylines (weight 0.04): The game has few branching storylines, which may limit replayability. This is noted in a single review. - Protagonist returns as maid (weight 0.04): The protagonist from the previous work returns as a maid, which is a notable character role change. This is mentioned in a single review. Performance notes: - Windows 10 compatibility failure (weight 0.05): The game fails to run on Windows 10, forcing players to use a virtual machine with Windows XP. This is a major barrier for modern users and suggests outdated technical implementation. - Poor optimization among galgames (weight 0.05): Reviewers report the worst optimization they have experienced in the galgame genre, indicating severe performance or technical shortcomings. This likely contributes to the fullscreen and compatibility issues. Recommendations: - Play previous game first (weight 0.41): Many reviewers strongly recommend playing the previous title before this one, as it is a direct sequel and enhances understanding and enjoyment. This is the most common piece of advice across clusters. - Recommended for series fans (weight 0.38): The game is broadly recommended for fans of the series and those who enjoyed the previous title. It is seen as a satisfying continuation for existing players. - Overall positive recommendation (weight 0.22): Several reviewers give the game a general positive recommendation, calling it worth playing and highly recommended. This reflects overall satisfaction with the game. - Specific routes vary in quality (weight 0.2): Some routes are considered weaker or skippable, while others like the sister route are praised. Reviewers suggest focusing on the best routes for a fulfilling experience. - Patch required for bugs (weight 0.14): Reviewers warn that the game requires a patch to fix missing text, mistranslations, and broken context. Without it, the experience is marred by technical issues. - Niche audience appeal (weight 0.12): The game is recommended for specific audiences, such as fans of imouto-type characters or a particular character, and may not appeal to everyone. - Play sequel after this (weight 0.1): Reviewers recommend playing the sequel after finishing this game, and suggest waiting a while after the previous game to better appreciate the story. - Buyer beware on Steam (weight 0.1): Some reviewers advise caution when buying on Steam due to missing content or translation issues, suggesting alternative platforms or versions. - Bundle discount available (weight 0.07): Owning the previous game provides a discount on the bundle, and new players are advised to buy both together during a sale for better value. - Mediocre or passable (weight 0.07): A few reviewers find the game only passable or mediocre, indicating mixed feelings about its overall quality. - Worth trying overall (weight 0.06): Some reviewers simply say the game is worth trying or experiencing, without strong caveats. - Skip certain route (weight 0.06): One route can be skipped as it is reset in a sequel, and another route is skippable. - Play theory after routes (weight 0.04): One reviewer strongly recommends playing the theory and after-theory content after completing the four main routes for a fuller experience. - Crossdressing work praised (weight 0.04): The game is recommended as a good crossdressing work, appealing to fans of that genre. - Main story recommended (weight 0.04): The main story is worth recommending, even if other aspects are weaker. - Sequel remake for fans (weight 0.04): Fans of a certain character are advised to go to the sequel remake instead of this game. - Savor the game slowly (weight 0.04): One reviewer suggests playing slowly to appreciate the game's meaning and philosophy. - Balanced comedy and drama (weight 0.04): The game is praised for balancing comedy and serious elements, with tear-jerking scenes. - Cautious purchase advice (weight 0.04): One reviewer advises buyers to be cautious before purchasing, likely due to the issues mentioned. Other player notes: - Compared favorably to previous (weight 0.25): The game is compared to the previous title and considered on par or better, with a higher degree of completion. Some reviewers call it the best in the series. - Sequel not on Steam (weight 0.21): The sequel, which fixes route issues and contains heroines' epilogues, is not available on Steam. Reviewers express disappointment and ask if it will be released on the platform. - Patch required for play (weight 0.14): The game requires a patch to play, and the official site provides it. Without the patch, text may be missing and event cuts are too rough, breaking the scenario. - Fan disc sequel (weight 0.14): The game is a fan disc continuation of the previous title, expanding the series' world and settings. It is not a full sequel but a supplementary work. - Similar to first game (weight 0.13): The game is similar to the first game, filling a gap and inheriting strengths from the previous title. It is a continuation that maintains the series' style. - Rewritten routes improved (weight 0.13): The Ait route was rewritten in the after-theory and is better than the original version. The Bliuette route was also remade by the official developers. - Series order and timeline (weight 0.1): The series order is the previous game, this game, then the afterstory of the previous game. The sequel and its fan disc are part of the same timeline. - Sister route main true end (weight 0.1): The game has multiple routes with the sister route as the main true end. This route is set in Paris and was not present in the first game. - Official Chinese version issues (weight 0.1): The official Chinese release has quality issues, including deleted dialogue with patterns like 'adult' and 'sister complex'. A fan translation on Bilibili is suggested as a workaround. - Game aimed at fans (weight 0.09): The game is aimed at fans of the series, with cameo appearances and expansions on backstories. It is not recommended as a starting point. - Steam version missing content (weight 0.08): The Steam version is missing a significant portion of the story, including the epilogue, compared to the complete game. This is a major drawback for players. - Fewer heroine routes (weight 0.08): The game has 3 heroines compared to 4 in the previous work, offering fewer routes. This is noted as a reduction in content. - Pricing concerns (weight 0.07): The game is sold at the same price as the previous game despite having less content, including fewer routes. This is a point of criticism. - Art and artists praised (weight 0.07): The art is by two long-time collaborating artists who also worked on another title. The art quality is a positive aspect of the game. - Awards won (weight 0.07): The game won awards at a bishoujo game awards, including third overall and first for script. The character Luna won first place in the character category. - Long story length (weight 0.07): The main story is very long, starting from a specific month and ending at a fashion show. The full story takes over 50 hours to complete automatically. - R18 patch availability (weight 0.04): The R18 patch is available via a link from Navel's website and has been updated once since release. Players who applied it on release day should re-apply it. - Achievements and cards (weight 0.04): The game includes achievements and trading cards, adding replay value for Steam users. - Technical issues with VM (weight 0.04): Running the game via a virtual machine can solve most issues except streaming. This is a workaround for technical problems. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.16): Players are disappointed by the uneven route balance, with the sister's route receiving the most content while other routes, especially the German character's, feel like filler or are too short. The rushed and anticlimactic endings, lack of romantic development in some routes, and the absence of certain romanceable characters further contribute to this feeling. Technical issues like missing text and a rough UI also diminish the overall experience. - Admiration (weight 0.15): Players admire the sister's route for its delicate emotions, visible character growth, and strong structure, praising it as the peak of the series. The protagonist's resilience, kindness, and charisma are also highly admired, along with the deep portrayal of sibling relationships. The appearance of Luna and the excellent writing of characters like Yukihisa Oukura are also highlighted as impressive. - Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration stems from technical issues such as missing text, incoherent translations, and keybinding conflicts, which severely harm readability and gameplay. The repetitive plot elements, poorly handled villain, and rushed endings also contribute to this feeling. The lack of content for the price and the need for patches to fix missing dialogue are additional sources of frustration. - Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players are satisfied with the sister route's quality, which exceeded expectations and provided a good ending, compensating for the lack of a sister route in the previous game. The substantial and well-supported main storyline, along with the protagonist's growth and the couple's eventual happiness, are also praised. The game is considered a good work that improves on the first game's issues. - Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the excellent story of the sister's route, the impactful appearance of another character, and the large amount of text with praised music. The sequel's improvements over the first game, unique highlights in each route, and deep characterization of the antagonist are also valued. The resolution of foreshadowing and the well-crafted international atmosphere are further points of appreciation. - Excitement (weight 0.05): Players are excited by the sister route, which is considered more exciting than the main story, and by the stunning appearance of Luna. The multi-line narrative, explosive plot, and unpredictable development in the Rias route are also sources of excitement. The game's large content, excellent quality, and improvements over the previous game generate enthusiasm. - Affection (weight 0.04): Players feel affection for the sister character Ritsuna, whose growth from a socially withdrawn person is appealing, and for Idealuna, whose voice and personality are loved. The sister character is described as cute and very appealing, with strong affection expressed for her. Other characters like Meryl and Asahi Ogura are also praised and loved. - Moved (weight 0.03): Players are moved by the scene where four characters appear when all seemed lost and by the story of mutual support and salvation between the two main characters. The theme of siblings supporting each other and breaking out of a cocoon is deeply moving, with the work bringing tears of emotion. The transformation of a character from cocoon to butterfly and the depiction of family emotions are also impactful. - Sadness (weight 0.03): Players feel sadness due to Luna's illness and the abrupt ending of the story with Rina and Asahi. The Lillian story is painful to read, and the characters' path is described as dark and full of pain. The emotional scene with Luna's appearance and the DESIR music in a desperate situation, along with the rescue scene, are tear-jerking. - Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players enjoy the game for being fun to play, with the sister route and the common route's light tempo being particularly praised. The Rias and Meril lines are enjoyable, and the sister character is appealing enough to change a reviewer's preference. The intricate story, immersive atmosphere, and good graphics and music all contribute to the enjoyment. - Amusement (weight 0.02): Players are amused by funny moments involving Lillian and Ayane, the comedic bad endings, and the melodramatic family conflict story. The transformation of the character 衣远 from villain to comic relief is amusing, and the 'Arrogant Noble' chapter is funny. The cuteness of the character route also adds to the amusement. - Joy (weight 0.02): Players feel joy from the well-written sister route showing Ritsuna's growth and sibling cooperation, and from the deeply engaging and emotionally moving story and characters. Cameo appearances of characters from the first game and the protagonist's growth with warm daily life scenes bring happiness. The story provides warmth and a satisfying ending, with a beloved character's appearance almost making a reviewer cry. - Being moved (weight 0.02): Players are moved by Rina's resistance scenes and the after-theory scenes with Anthony standing up for the protagonist. The sibling story of healing and supporting each other, along with the stories and emotions of the protagonist and heroine, are deeply touching. The love and hope in the story and the characters' growth, especially in the heroine Resona's story, are also moving. - Discomfort (weight 0.01): Players feel discomfort from the oppressive background and family atmosphere, as well as the gloomy endings. One character is described as too perverted, and the portrayal of a German character and a French character has problematic political implications. These elements create a sense of unease. - Emotional (weight 0.01): Players are emotional due to the growth of Yusei and Idealuna, and the sister route is amazing and brought a reviewer to tears. The game is described as good and very classy, with a scene featuring piano and violin music causing tears. The emotional depth of the story is a key factor. - Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia from the cameo appearance of a character and the emotional scene, which evokes a feeling of survival after hardship for players of the first game. A reviewer who played the first game about ten years ago was moved to replay the series. The game's connection to the previous title is a strong source of nostalgia. - Sympathy (weight 0.01): Players feel sympathy for the characters' struggles with isolation, social anxiety, and family power, and feel sorry for Rina. The sister character's suffering from bullying and family pressure is also a source of sympathy. These elements make the characters' plights relatable and touching. - Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the unexpected appearance of the previous protagonist and the unexpected resolution of the antagonist and other family members. The unexpected culprit behind the crisis in the story also adds to the surprise. These plot twists are effective and engaging. - Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief from Luna's appearance at the most desperate moment and from encountering a character in a desperate situation. The game being long is also a source of relief, as it provides more content. These moments of rescue and the game's length are satisfying. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy from enjoying the game and finding the interactions heartwarming, and seeing a character from the previous title improved a reviewer's mood. The sister route is described as a happy world where the protagonist belongs only to her. These elements bring joy and contentment.}