Info about Narcissu 1st & 2nd:

Official game description:
_This version will be free forever. However, if you like it, a newer version with 4 more stories and other content is available in theNarcissu 10th Anniversary Anthology_  
... on that blindingly bright day ...  
... on that very day of winter ...  
This is a story of disease and suffering; of medication and adverse effects; of thoracotomy scars and cellular poisons; of the living who cannot help but to die and of the dying who cannot help but to live; of a resting place other than "on 7F" or "at home".  
This is a story of so many things.  
But most of all ...  
This is the story  
of a girl whose heart was standing still  
and a boy whose breath was being stolen away,  
both of whom die.

Release date: Apr 24, 2015

Categories: Visual Novel, Narrative-driven Gameplay, Character-driven Narrative, Emotional Storytelling, Philosophical Exploration, Interactive Fiction, Choice-based Narrative, Single-player

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Mixed Feedback with Community Support; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a significant dependency on external data sources such as Baidu Baike to understand the game's narrative and themes. Additionally, there are notable complaints about the game's outdated system and user interface, which users find unhelpful. Despite these issues, there is a positive aspect of community support, with users sharing resources and helping each other improve the gaming experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 6.0h
  - Story completion: 4.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the playtime required to complete the game. Several users mention finishing the game in a few hours, with specific mentions of 4 to 6 hours for completing both parts of the game and additional content. This consistent feedback helps to establish a clear estimate for the typical playtime hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and potentially boring start but eventually immerses players with its well-written story and good pacing.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Immersed in the story
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Slow start; Lack of gameplay elements
  - Unlock drivers: Well-written story; Good pacing
  - Conditions: Patience for slow-paced games; Appreciation for well-written stories
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Emotional engagement and narrative depth.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and reflective, focusing on the story and its themes.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Visual novel fan; Story enthusiast
    - Reference games: Clannad; Key works
  - Budget-Conscious Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Value for money and accessibility.
    - Playstyle: Casual and opportunistic, focusing on completing the game quickly.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Budget gamer; Casual player
    - Reference games: Other free visual novels
  - Completionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Achievement hunting and completion.
    - Playstyle: Goal-oriented and efficient, focusing on unlocking achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Achievement hunter; Completionist
    - Reference games: Other achievement-rich games


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:
- Beautiful and emotional story (weight 0.54): The game features a beautifully written and profoundly human story that is both touching and emotionally impactful. Players describe it as one of the best stories they have experienced, with deep and meaningful themes.
- Outstanding music and soundtrack (weight 0.26): The game features an incredible soundtrack that enhances the emotional impact of the story. The music is described as outstanding, high-quality, and haunting, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- Short and free experience (weight 0.1): The game is short but memorable, offering a free experience that is both interesting and emotionally impactful. Players appreciate the accessibility and brevity of the game.
- Community translations available (weight 0.07): The game has community support for translations, making it accessible to a wider audience. Players appreciate the availability of translations.
- Easy achievements (weight 0.05): The game features easy-to-obtain achievements, allowing players to complete all accomplishments without much difficulty.

Common complaints:
- Lack of visuals and aesthetics (weight 0.17): Many players noted the game's lack of visual appeal, including animations and overall aesthetics.
- Limited interactivity and gameplay (weight 0.14): Players found the game lacking in interactivity, traditional gameplay elements, and voice acting.
- Second part feels unnecessary (weight 0.13): The second part of the game is often criticized for feeling unnecessary and overshadowing the first part.
- Heavy and sad themes (weight 0.1): The game's themes are noted to be heavy and sad, which may not appeal to all players.
- Grammar and translation issues (weight 0.09): There are mentions of grammar issues and incomplete or minor issues with translations in various languages.
- Outdated user interface (weight 0.08): The game's interface is frequently described as outdated and rough, detracting from the user experience.
- Short story and gameplay (weight 0.08): The story and overall gameplay duration are considered too short by many players.
- Repetitive and linear gameplay (weight 0.08): Gameplay is criticized for being repetitive, completely linear, and lacking choices or branches.
- Old and simplistic system (weight 0.08): The game's system is seen as old and simplistic, lacking special features and user-friendliness.
- Lack of happy ending (weight 0.06): The story is criticized for being depressing and lacking a happy ending.
- Low resolution illustrations (weight 0.06): The game's illustrations and overall graphics are often described as low resolution and basic.
- System and operability issues (weight 0.06): Players reported various system issues, including problems with mouse control and settings not saving.
- Lack of language support (weight 0.06): The game is criticized for not being available in certain languages like French and Spanish.
- Confusing religious parts (weight 0.03): Some players found the religious parts of the game confusing and off-putting.

Gameplay feedback:
- Visual novel with narrative focus (weight 0.35): The game is a kinetic visual novel that emphasizes narrative and character development, often with thriller and emotional elements. It follows a minimalist presentation style typical of Japanese visual novels.
- Minimalist style and gameplay (weight 0.11): The game features a minimalist visual style with narrow horizontal illustrations and simple but effective artwork. The gameplay is minimal, focusing more on storytelling than traditional gameplay mechanics.
- Multi-part and multi-sided narrative (weight 0.07): The game may be divided into multiple parts or sides, offering a structured narrative experience. This can include different segments or perspectives within the story.
- Specific thematic explorations (weight 0.05): The game explores specific themes such as the origins of the narcissus flower, road trips, and hospice settings. These themes add layers of meaning to the narrative.
- Mixed genre elements (weight 0.05): While primarily a visual novel, the game may include elements from other genres, such as roguelike features, fast-paced combat, and 2D shooter segments. These elements are less common but add variety to the gameplay.
- Gameplay mechanics (weight 0.05): The game includes various gameplay mechanics such as the ability to skip content, autoplay features, and multiple objectives. These mechanics enhance the player's experience and provide additional functionality.

Performance notes:
- Outdated graphics and sound (weight 0.05): Players frequently mention that the game's graphics and sound are basic and dated, indicating a need for modernization.
- Performance issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of performance problems, suggesting the game may not run smoothly on certain systems.
- Mouse control problems (weight 0.03): Some players experience issues with mouse controls, which can affect gameplay and user experience.

Recommendations:
- Emotionally impactful experience (weight 0.3): The game is highly recommended for its emotional impact and depth, making it suitable for players who enjoy emotionally resonant and meaningful stories.
- Deep and philosophical story (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for its deep, philosophical, and realistic storytelling, appealing to those who enjoy profound narratives.
- Free and accessible (weight 0.1): The game is noted for being free to play, making it an accessible option for those interested in trying out visual novels.
- Play order suggestions (weight 0.08): Players suggest specific play orders, such as starting with the first game or playing part 2 first, to enhance the overall experience.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.07): Many players highly recommend the game for its overall experience, highlighting its quality and emotional depth.
- Good for new VN readers (weight 0.05): The game is recommended as a good starting point for new visual novel readers, offering an introduction to the medium.
- Achievement hunting (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for achievement hunters, offering additional challenges and goals for players to pursue.
- Immersion tips (weight 0.02): Players recommend using automatic mode or a gamepad for a more immersive experience.
- Voiced version recommended (weight 0.02): The voiced version of the game is recommended for an enhanced experience.
- Trauma triggers warning (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for people who are okay with trauma triggers, indicating that it deals with sensitive topics.

Other player notes:
- Request for Chinese language support (weight 0.05): Players are requesting the game to be available in Chinese on Steam. A community-made translation patch is already available.

Emotions:
- Sadness (weight 0.27): The overwhelming majority of players express sadness due to the game's heavy themes of death, terminal illness, and loss. The emotional impact is amplified by the melancholic music and the tragic character arcs, which often end in death or unfulfilled futures. Many players report being deeply moved to tears by the story's exploration of despair and the characters' struggles with mortality.
- Reflective (weight 0.06): Players are prompted to reflect on the game's deep and meaningful themes, particularly those surrounding life, death, and the human experience. The narrative structure and philosophical questions raised by the story encourage contemplation on personal experiences and perspectives on life.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Players admire the game's outstanding atmosphere, voice acting, and music, which contribute to its emotional depth. The thematic depth, character development, and minimalistic yet powerful storytelling are also highly praised for creating a moving and memorable experience.
- Hope (weight 0.05): Despite the game's heavy themes, players find hope in the story's exploration of tenderness, self-love, and finding meaning in life. The narrative provides a sense of strength and hope, even in desperate situations, resonating deeply with players.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Players feel a sense of nostalgia due to personal memories associated with the game, its age, and its lasting emotional impact. Reconnecting with the game brings back fond memories and a longing for the past experiences tied to it.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experience joy from the game's unique charm, beautiful soundtrack, and touching story. The high-quality and enjoyable experience, combined with the positive impact and memorable moments, contribute to a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
- Moved (weight 0.03): Players are deeply touched by the game's emotional narrative and the significance of the journey and its themes. The combination of the story and music creates a profound emotional impact that resonates with players.
- Frustration (weight 0.03): Players express frustration with technical issues, such as font sizes, interface design, and language barriers. The lack of complete translation patches and poor writing also contribute to a sense of annoyance and difficulty in enjoying the game.
- Reflection (weight 0.06): Players reflect on the game's exploration of life, death, and acceptance, as well as the philosophical themes and existential questions raised by the story. The deep themes and emotional impact prompt personal reflection on life and its meaning.
- Empathy (weight 0.03): Players deeply engage with the characters' struggles and emotional journeys, often relating the game's themes to real-life experiences. The detailed narrative and personal connections to medical issues foster a strong sense of empathy.
- Appreciative (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's deep themes, excellent atmosphere, and unique qualities. The combination of the story, music, and classic visual novel style creates a genuine and memorable experience that players value highly.
- Emotional Resonance (weight 0.02): Players are deeply moved by the game's touching story and its profound themes of life and death. The beautiful narrative and emotional resonance create a strong sense of being deeply affected by the game's content.
- Melancholy (weight 0.02): Players experience a sense of melancholy due to the game's themes of mortality, acceptance, and emotional impact. The narrative's exploration of sadness and helplessness leaves players with a lingering sense of emptiness.
- Melancholic (weight 0.02): Players feel a sense of melancholy from the game's themes of illness, suffering, and death. The emotional impact of the story and character development contributes to a philosophical reflection on the game's impact.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's excellent music quality, strong impression, and thought-provoking content. The story's ability to teach valuable life lessons and its uniqueness among similar games are highly valued.
- Thoughtful (weight 0.02): Players are prompted to think deeply about the game's themes of life and death. The narrative encourages contemplation on facing death and societal pressures, fostering a thoughtful and introspective experience.
- Emotional (weight 0.02): Players are deeply affected emotionally by the game's story and characters. The emotional impact is so strong that it often brings players to tears, creating a powerful and memorable experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players express gratitude for the game's positive impact on their lives and for the developers' work. The appreciation of friendship and the receipt of additional content, such as the OST DLC, contribute to a sense of thankfulness.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic due to their personal experiences with the game over several years. The preference for older visual novels and the desire to relive the initial experience contribute to a sense of longing and fond memories.}