Info about CROSS†CHANNEL: Steam Edition:

Official game description:
”This is the Gunjo Broadcasting Club. Is there anyone left out there...?”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
_CROSS†CHANNEL: Steam Edition_ is the first official English localization of the visual novel cult classic _CROSS†CHANNEL_.  
Set in Gunjo Gakuin, a school specialized for those deemed by the government to be unfit for society, _CROSS†CHANNEL_ follows the story of eight members of the school's Broadcasting Club who have just returned from a disastrous field trip, which throws their club – and their friendships – into turmoil.  
Upon returning to school, the students quickly discover that they are the only living people around. Completely alone and rife with tension, will the students manage to mend their broken friendships and complete their broadcasting antenna in order to reach out to other possible survivors of whatever mysterious calamity has befallen them? Or will they come apart at the seams?
Game Features
-------------
*   The definitive masterpiece of Romeo Tanaka, veteran creator of numerous popular adventure games.  
*   The first non-Japanese localized release of the series, based on _CROSS†CHANNEL 〜For all people〜_.  
*   The story, widely hailed as the pinnacle of "loop" tales, portrays eight young people living the same week over and over for eternity.  
*   Over 20 hours of gameplay, featuring multiple routes.
Story
-----
Summer has come.  
With summer comes a long vacation from school.  
The Broadcasting Club has been torn apart, left to slowly disintegrate.  
Since returning from their first field trip of the summer, there's been a palpable distance between the club members.  
Now, only one single member continues to participate in the club activities.  
But a horrible realization has dawned on all of them: their school has been completely deserted. Are they really the only people left?  
The hero of our story is a member of the Broadcasting Club.  
He casually greets his friends as they show up at the otherwise deserted school.  
On the rooftop, we find club president Misato Miyasumi assembling a massive broadcast antenna, alone.  
This antenna was the club's summer project, and its completion for the purpose of sending a broadcast out to find other possible survivors has been their main goal.  
Last summer, the club comprised a close-knit group of friends who worked together. Yet now, only a single member continues their efforts.  
A group of the former friends watch her work, a cold glint in their eyes.  
This is the story of their clashing differences rising to a boil, and the resolutions that arise from these clashes.  
Once divided, the club members slowly begin to grow closer once again...

Release date: Mar 27, 2018

Categories: Visual Novel, Branching Narrative, Multiple Endings, Character-driven Narrative, Psychological Drama, Nonlinear Storytelling, Choice-based Narrative


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 28.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several mentions of the time spent on the game. One user mentions spending 2+ years on Cross Channel, which indicates a very long playtime but is likely an outlier due to additional activities like translation and analysis. Another user mentions taking 2 years on and off to complete the game, which also suggests a long but intermittent playtime. A more typical playtime is suggested by a user who mentions dropping the game 2-3 hours in, indicating that a single session might be a few hours long. However, there is no specific evidence provided for the typical time to finish the main story or the endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts off boring and tedious but improves significantly after the beach scene, where the story begins to make more sense and picks up pace.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: The beach scene
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: tedious protagonist dialogue; slow pacing; mandatory repetitions
  - Unlock drivers: story progression; reaching the beach scene
  - Conditions: patience to get through initial slow parts; appreciation for story-driven games
- Player Archetypes:
  - Disengaged Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking engaging and visually appealing experiences.
    - Playstyle: Prefers games with strong hooks and engaging gameplay.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: purist
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Story-First Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging narratives and character development.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on story and character-driven experiences.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: fan of visual novels
    - Reference games: Steins;Gate; Umineko
  - Genre-Savvy Comparator (sale)
    - Motivation: Comparing and contrasting with other games in the genre.
    - Playstyle: Analytical and comparative, focusing on genre-specific elements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: visual novel fan
    - Reference games: Z.A.T.O; Steins;Gate; Umineko
  - Aesthetic Appreciator (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the aesthetic and sensory aspects of the game.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on the visual and auditory experience.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: 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:
- Deep character development (weight 0.52): The game features deeply human characters with well-developed backstories and emotional impact. Players appreciate the character depth and exploration.
- Thought-provoking themes (weight 0.51): The game includes unique and deep philosophical themes that engage players. The narrative is thought-provoking and explores complex ideas.
- Themes of loneliness (weight 0.47): The game explores strong themes of loneliness, often intertwined with themes of redemption, communication, and the desire for human connection.
- Unique and interesting plot (weight 0.47): The game features an interesting and unique plot setup with intriguing mysteries and plot twists. The storyline is complex and engaging.
- Emotionally impactful narrative (weight 0.39): The story is emotionally impactful and resonates well with players. It includes memorable scenes and a strong emotional core.
- Engaging and well-paced story (weight 0.3): The game offers a good and well-paced narrative with a beautiful story. The translation is also well-received.
- Satisfying ending (weight 0.2): The game has an excellent and thought-provoking ending. Players appreciate the conclusion and the ending song.
- Well-written later chapters (weight 0.14): The later chapters of the game are particularly well-written, contributing to an overall well-crafted story.
- Innovative narrative techniques (weight 0.14): The game employs unique and innovative narrative techniques, including a distinctive narrative structure.
- Good portrayal of mental illness (weight 0.14): The game provides a good portrayal of mental illness and trauma, adding depth to the narrative and characters.
- Worthwhile experience (weight 0.14): Players find the game to be a worthwhile experience, making it worth playing and engaging throughout.
- Exploration of human condition (weight 0.14): The story grips players with its exploration of human flaws and beauty, delving into the complexities of the human condition.
- Fantastic soundtrack (weight 0.14): The game features a fantastic and memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Additional content in Steam version (weight 0.14): The Steam version of the game includes additional content and improvements, enhancing the overall experience.
- Engaging dialogue style (weight 0.14): The game has an engaging and unique writing style, making the dialogue stand out and adding to the narrative depth.

Common complaints:
- Poor English translation quality (weight 0.67): The English translation is widely criticized for being poor, with numerous spelling errors, grammatical inconsistencies, and overall difficulty in understanding. Many players find it clunky and likely inaccurate.
- Unlikable protagonist (weight 0.54): The protagonist is often described as antagonistic and unlikable. His actions and character traits are frequently criticized by players.
- Lack of language support (weight 0.33): Players have noted the absence of Chinese and Japanese language support, which limits accessibility for non-English speaking audiences.
- Excessive censorship (weight 0.28): The game is heavily censored, with many players noting the absence of 18+ content and altered graphics.
- Confusing and inconsistent plot (weight 0.24): The plot is often described as confusing and inconsistent, with some storylines feeling out of place or incomplete.
- Slow pacing and difficult to follow (weight 0.23): The game has slow pacing, especially in the early stages, and the plot can be hard to follow, making it difficult to get into.
- Poor font style (weight 0.18): The font style used for English text is considered horrible and difficult to read, detracting from the overall experience.
- Repetitive and unskippable dialogues (weight 0.13): The game features repetitive dialogues that cannot be skipped, which can be frustrating for players.
- Excessive fanservice (weight 0.13): Some players find the amount of fanservice and hentai scenes to be excessive and unnecessary.
- Lower quality CGs (weight 0.12): The CGs in the game are noted to be of lower quality, with some appearing to be upscaled.

Gameplay feedback:
- Strong narrative and character development (weight 0.48): The game features a character-driven narrative with a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development. Players appreciate the non-linear storytelling and the depth of the narrative structure.
- Psychological and emotional depth (weight 0.47): The game explores psychological and emotional themes, offering players a deep and thought-provoking experience. It includes philosophical themes and emotional depth that resonate with players.
- Complex visual novel genre (weight 0.39): As a visual novel, the game offers a complex narrative with well-developed characters and deep themes. Players enjoy the intricate storylines and the depth of the characters.
- Multiple endings and routes (weight 0.25): The game features multiple story routes and endings, encouraging players to explore different outcomes through multiple playthroughs. This adds to the game's replayability and depth.
- Unique gameplay mechanics (weight 0.19): The game includes unique mechanics such as decision-making, a reincarnation system, and time travel. These elements add variety and depth to the gameplay experience.
- Includes fantasy and horror elements (weight 0.13): The game incorporates elements of psychological horror and fantasy, adding to its unique atmosphere and appeal.
- Mixed reception on execution (weight 0.08): While the game has deep themes and a complex narrative, some players feel that the execution is poor. This mixed reception highlights areas for potential improvement.
- Expanded content in Steam version (weight 0.07): The Steam version of the game offers an expanded storyline, providing additional content for players to enjoy.
- Unusual plot line (weight 0.06): The game features an unusual plot line, which can be a unique selling point for some players.
- Character interactions (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the character interactions within the game, which add depth to the narrative.
- Additional CGs in visual novel (weight 0.05): The game includes additional CGs, enhancing the visual experience for players.

Performance notes:
- Improved graphics on Steam (weight 0.09): The Steam version of the game features enhanced graphics, providing a better visual experience for players.
- Censored content in port (weight 0.09): The game port is criticized for having censored content, which detracts from the original experience and disappoints players.
- Poor optimization (weight 0.09): The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to performance issues such as lag and low frame rates.
- FMVs incompatible with Steam Deck (weight 0.08): Full Motion Videos (FMVs) in the game do not work properly on the Steam Deck, affecting the gameplay experience for users of this device.
- Slow UI response (weight 0.08): The user interface in the game responds slowly, causing delays and frustration for players.
- Poorly cropped visual effects (weight 0.08): Visual effects and cutscenes (CGs) in the game are poorly cropped and upscaled, resulting in a subpar visual experience.
- Audio balancing issues (weight 0.08): Players have reported problems with the audio balance in the game, making it difficult to hear certain sounds or dialogue clearly.
- Long save times (weight 0.08): Players experience long wait times when saving their progress, which disrupts the flow of the game.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for visual novel fans (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for fans of visual novels, with multiple reviews suggesting it is worth a look for enthusiasts of the genre.
- Highly recommended to friends (weight 0.15): Many reviews mention that the game is highly recommended and worth sharing with friends.
- Play the original version (weight 0.15): Players recommend experiencing the original or complete version of the game for a better overall experience rather than the Steam version.
- Worth playing for additional content (weight 0.14): The game is considered worth playing due to its additional content, including the 'Friends Tower' story.
- Deep narrative appeal (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for fans of deep narratives, suggesting it has a compelling storyline.
- Worth the price (weight 0.08): Reviews indicate that the game is worth its price, offering good value for money.
- Recommended despite its flaws (weight 0.08): The game is recommended despite having some flaws, indicating that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses.
- Emotional and lasting impact (weight 0.08): The game is noted for its lasting impact and emotional resonance, making it a memorable experience.
- Need for Chinese translation (weight 0.08): There is a noted need for a Chinese translation to make the game more accessible to a broader audience.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.15): Players are frustrated primarily due to poor localization, including lack of language support, especially Chinese, and poor translation quality. Additionally, repetitive dialogues, excessive inappropriate humor, and the protagonist's annoying behavior contribute to the frustration. The confusing and poorly executed plot, along with slow pacing and censorship, further exacerbate this emotion.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Disappointment stems from the game's poor translation and lack of language support, particularly for Chinese. Players also express dissatisfaction with the protagonist's character and the shallow, confusing plot. Technical issues like FMVs not working and low-quality CGs, along with censorship, add to the disappointment.
- Admiration (weight 0.11): Players admire the game's deep and thought-provoking narrative, as well as the complex character development. The protagonist's resilience and the story's emotional depth are particularly praised. The game's philosophical themes and unique narrative structure also contribute to this admiration.
- Appreciation (weight 0.09): Appreciation is driven by the game's atmospheric writing and interesting story concept. Players value the deep character development and the emotional impact of the story. The themes of loneliness and human connection, along with the original time travel mechanic, are also highly appreciated.
- Empathy (weight 0.07): Players feel empathy towards the characters' struggles and emotions, particularly the themes of loneliness and human connection. The protagonist's journey and the relatable struggles of the characters evoke a strong empathetic response.
- Moved (weight 0.06): Players are moved by the emotional depth and character development in the story. The unique narrative style and thought-provoking themes, along with the emotional impact of the storyline and music, contribute to this feeling.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Satisfaction comes from the engaging storyline and character development. The emotional impact of the story and the additional content with improved graphics also contribute to this positive emotion.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): Sadness is evoked by the themes of loneliness and isolation, particularly the protagonist's ultimate loneliness. The emotional impact of the ending and the character development also contribute to this feeling.
- Reflection (weight 0.03): Players reflect on the game's themes and their relevance to personal life experiences. Thoughts on the protagonist's struggles and growth also prompt this reflective emotion.
- Reflective (weight 0.03): The depth of themes, including loneliness, redemption, and communication, prompts a reflective response. Players engage in personal reflections on the game's themes and narrative.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is triggered by reflecting on personal experiences and connections with the game's themes. Memories associated with playing similar games in the past also contribute to this feeling.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the deep and engaging storyline. The complex and unique narrative of the game keeps players intrigued.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is derived from the emotional impact and memorable scenes in the game. The humorous dialogue also contributes to this positive emotion.
- Loneliness (weight 0.01): Feelings of loneliness are evoked by the game's themes of loneliness and isolation. The emotional impact of the story resonates with players' personal experiences of loneliness.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is caused by disturbing character fantasies and the protagonist's behavior, which some players find unpleasant and offensive.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is inspired by the game's themes of perseverance and living on despite hardships. The narrative encourages players to find hope in difficult situations.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity is piqued by the game's complexity and potential. The engaging plot hooks and interesting narrative keep players curious about what will happen next.
- Criticism (weight 0.01): Criticism is directed towards the game's humorous and pseudoscientific elements, as well as the translation quality and odd errors. Players find these aspects detract from the overall experience.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is felt by players who are excited to see what happens next in the story. The desire to replay the game in the future also contributes to this emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement is generated by the engaging storyline and character development. Players are excited by the narrative and themes presented in the game.}