Info about STEINS;GATE 0:

Official game description:
A new story in the critically-acclaimed STEINS;GATE series. From the depths of despair--explore a whole new world line. Your favorite characters return alongside a brand new cast!  
**Key Features**  
*   STEINS;GATE 0 continues the time travelling theme - but adds artificial intelligence as its central hook  
*   Help a group of young students bend time to their will and prevent the onset of World War 3  
*   Beautiful artwork and engaging story for an unforgettable experience  
*   Tells the story of an 'Alternate Worldline' - what happens if players failed the original story  
*   Interact with the story using your smart phone - answering (or not!) your phone, and your responses, will determine the outcome to the story

Release date: May 8, 2018

Categories: Visual Novel, Choice-based Narrative, Branching Narrative, Time Travel Mechanics, Psychological Drama, Character-driven Interactions and Dialogue, Multiple Endings

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Guides Mandatory; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a significant reliance on external guides to navigate and enjoy the game fully. Users frequently mention the need for guides to understand complex mechanics and avoid confusion. This dependency on external resources highlights potential areas for improvement in in-game instructions and mechanics clarity.
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several significant issues. Frequent crashes during gameplay are a major concern, with multiple users reporting this problem. Compatibility issues with AMD cards, leading to black screens and memory errors, are also notable. Additionally, text errors and controller configuration issues have been reported, though less frequently. These issues collectively impact the user experience, with frequent crashes and compatibility problems being the most severe.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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 Story and Character Development (weight 0.97): The game is praised for its deep and engaging storyline, with well-developed characters and emotional depth. Players appreciate the character arcs and the narrative complexity, which includes multiple routes and endings.
- Emotional and Impactful Story (weight 0.95): The story is described as emotionally powerful and impactful, with many players experiencing strong emotional responses to the narrative and character developments.
- High-Quality Music and Artwork (weight 0.16): The game's music and artwork are highly praised, with many players noting the exceptional soundtrack and beautiful art style. The music enhances the emotional impact of the story.
- Comparison with Other Works (weight 0.1): Players often compare the game to other works in the series and genre, noting that it stands out as one of the best time travel stories and visual novels.

Common complaints:
- Art style changes and inconsistencies (weight 0.68): The game features significant changes in art style, which many players find jarring and less appealing. The inconsistent art quality and mixed use of new and old character designs are also criticized.
- Story pacing and structure issues (weight 0.48): The game's story is criticized for its pacing issues, including abrupt changes, confusing narrative structure, and fragmented plot. Many players find the story less immersive and more confusing compared to the original.
- Unsatisfactory endings (weight 0.48): The game's endings, particularly the true ending, are criticized for being rushed, unsatisfactory, and lacking proper conclusion. Some endings feel abrupt and poorly explained.
- Character development and design flaws (weight 0.47): Character development is seen as weak, with some characters being underdeveloped or irrelevant. Character designs and expressions are also criticized for being poor or inconsistent.
- Lack of continuity with the original (weight 0.46): The game is seen as not being a true continuation of the Steins;Gate line, lacking the impact and continuity of the original. This includes changes in character interactions and story elements that do not align well with the original.
- Unnecessary and underutilized elements (weight 0.43): The game includes unnecessary characters, subplots, and routes that feel redundant or pointless. Some elements and characters are underutilized, leading to a less satisfying experience.
- Gameplay and UI issues (weight 0.31): The game's UI and gameplay mechanics are criticized for being less engaging and more confusing compared to the original. The lack of clear explanations and unclear settings add to the frustration.
- Translation and language issues (weight 0.27): The game's translation, particularly in Simplified Chinese, is criticized for having many typos and being poor overall. This affects the reading experience and understanding of the story.

Gameplay feedback:
- Complex narrative structure (weight 0.31): The game features a tree-like, multi-route story structure with multiple endings, influenced by player decisions. It includes time travel mechanics and explores various character perspectives, creating a complex and emotionally impactful narrative.
- Phone mechanics central to gameplay (weight 0.1): The game uses smartphone and Rine messages as key mechanics. Phone calls and timed choices to answer or ignore shape the story's multiple routes and endings, making phone interactions crucial to the gameplay experience.
- Continuation of Steins;Gate story (weight 0.06): The game is a sequel and midquel to the original Steins;Gate story, continuing the tragedy from the β World Line. It introduces new characters and retains hallmarks of the first game while exploring a darker and more brutal narrative.
- Fan service and improved features (weight 0.04): The game includes fan service and additional content, such as improved sprite quality, new character sprites, and individual character volume editing. It also features unique settings different from the anime adaptation.
- True ending and lore (weight 0.03): The game has a true ending that fits well with the universe's lore, although it may feel rushed. The true ending is triggered under specific conditions and does not require replying to specific content.
- Gameplay mechanics and features (weight 0.02): The game includes various gameplay mechanics such as the RINE system, unique save functionality, and a tips list that clarifies terms like 'worldlines'. It also features a backlog and auto/skip functions for easy dialogue revisiting and fast-forwarding.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.05): Many players report that the game crashes often, which significantly impacts the gaming experience. This issue appears to be widespread and affects various aspects of gameplay.
- Minor translation errors (weight 0.01): Some players have noticed minor translation errors, particularly with pronouns. While these errors do not severely impact gameplay, they can be immersion-breaking.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for fans (weight 0.31): The game is highly recommended for fans of the original game, the series, and those who enjoy narrative-driven games and psychological drama. It offers more content and different endings, making it a must-play for fans and a gripping standalone for newcomers.
- Play original game first (weight 0.31): Reviewers suggest playing the original STEINS;GATE game or watching the anime before playing this game to better understand the story and characters. It is also recommended to reach the true ending in the original game before starting this one.
- Worth playing for story (weight 0.28): Despite not being as thrilling as the original, the game is worth playing for its story, emotional impact, and complex narratives. It is praised for its narrative depth and emotional engagement.
- Use guides and patches (weight 0.28): For the best experience, it is recommended to use a spoiler-free guide while playing and to install the Committee of Zero patch for improved translation. This helps in avoiding narrative breaks and enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Not recommended for all (weight 0.27): The game is not recommended for those who are not fans of the series or the genre. It is also suggested to wait for discounts before purchasing and to have sufficient continuous time to fully enjoy the game.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players are disappointed due to several aspects of the game, including the reduction in text message interactions and the overall story quality compared to the original. Issues such as inconsistent character design, poor story pacing, and frequent crashes contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the art style changes and the perceived lack of depth in character development and storyline have led to a sense of dissatisfaction among players.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.09): Players feel nostalgic due to the connections to the original Steins;Gate game, including returning characters and the use of old sprites. The game evokes memories and emotions associated with the first game, leading to personal reflections and comparisons. This sentiment is further amplified by the game's story and characters, which remind players of their past experiences.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): Players are excited about the game's narrative and time travel mechanics, which offer a fascinating and engaging experience. The discovery of new story elements, multiple endings, and the emotional impact of certain routes contribute to this excitement. Additionally, the fast-paced narrative, engaging story, and emotional journey keep players on the edge of their seats.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players experience joy due to the overall positive experience, emotional therapy, and profound character development. The game's exceptional music, engaging story, and heartwarming moments contribute to this sentiment. Despite some flaws, the impactful story and personal experiences bring a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
- Admiration (weight 0.08): Players admire the game's intricate storyline, character development, and emotional depth. The narrative depth, philosophical themes, and the game's ability to evoke strong emotions are highly praised. The game is seen as a great addition to the series, successfully continuing the sci-fi core and emotional tension of the previous installment.
- Frustration (weight 0.08): Players feel frustrated due to the game's UI and controller operation changes, which lack proper button prompts. The unclear plot points, poor translation, and confusing multi-perspective storytelling add to this frustration. Additionally, the game's performance issues, such as crashing on PC, and the poor control scheme contribute to a sense of annoyance and difficulty in enjoying the game.
- Sadness (weight 0.08): Players feel sadness due to the game's emotional and psychological depth, which includes darker and more melancholic story elements. The tragic aspects of the game's world, character deaths, and heart-wrenching narrative evoke strong emotional responses. The emotional weight of the characters' struggles and the dark themes contribute to a sense of sadness and empathy.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfied with the game's packed content, broad narrative, and emotional depth. The character development, narrative depth, and creative AI setting are highly praised. The explosive story in the true route and the addition of new characters contribute to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's enriched storyline, narrative depth, and character development. The game's attempt to reward players for exploring all endings and its expansion on the original are highly valued. Despite some flaws, the game's narrative and themes, as well as its engaging soundtrack, are appreciated by players.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players feel confused due to the game's complex narrative structure, which includes different routes contradicting each other and difficulty in understanding world line changes. The inconsistent character designs and unclear plot points add to this confusion. The game's intricate storytelling and lack of clear guidance contribute to a sense of bewilderment.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Players are engaged by the game's immersive storyline, character development, and complex narrative. The thought-provoking themes, interesting plot twists, and emotional impact keep players invested in the game. The pressing atmosphere and interconnected storylines contribute to a high level of engagement.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players express deep love for the game due to its emotional depth, character development, and personal connections to the story. The game is seen as a story filled with love, trust, and redemption, which resonates strongly with players. The reviewer's deep love for the game and the Steins;Gate series is evident in their emotional responses.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to the excessive negative energy in most scenes and the brief meeting with the assistant. The dissatisfaction with UI changes, storyline, and character development, as well as the presence of perverted content, contribute to this sentiment. The frustration with story pacing and plot points adds to the sense of anger and annoyance.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.01): Players enjoy the game due to its likable story and characters, which provide an overall enjoyable experience. The cool moments and the engaging narrative keep players entertained and invested in the game. The positive experience and the enjoyment of both the game and anime contribute to a sense of happiness and satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Players feel excited about experiencing events from different characters' perspectives and the return of a beloved character. The game's narrative and character dynamics evoke a sense of thrill and anticipation. The unique details and the engaging story contribute to a high level of excitement and enjoyment.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players feel happiness due to the return of a beloved character and the uplifting moments in the story. The game's ability to evoke positive emotions and the fulfilling moments contribute to this sentiment. The overall enjoyable experience and the heartwarming character relationships bring a sense of joy and contentment.
- Empathy (weight 0.01): Players feel empathy due to the character's emotional journey, psychological struggles, and the impact of their decisions. The game's narrative depth and the portrayal of characters' emotions evoke a strong sense of understanding and connection. The emotional impact of the story and the characters' experiences contribute to a deep sense of empathy.
- Despair (weight 0.01): Players feel despair due to the dark and tragic aspects of the storyline and the characters' emotional struggles. The game's ability to portray deep emotional scars and the acceptance of these struggles evokes a sense of hopelessness and sadness. The emotional weight of the narrative and the characters' experiences contribute to a feeling of despair.
- Disappointment (weight 0.01): Players feel disappointed due to logical loopholes and poor handling of certain aspects of the game. The inconsistencies and flaws in the game's design and execution contribute to this sentiment. The unmet expectations and the perceived lack of quality in certain areas lead to a sense of disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Players feel a surge of excitement and passion due to the climactic moments in the game, such as hearing a familiar mad laugh and the revival of a beloved character. These intense and thrilling moments evoke a strong emotional response and a sense of exhilaration. The game's ability to create such powerful and memorable experiences contributes to this feeling of being pumped up and energized.}