Info about Muv-Luv photonmelodies♮:

Official game description:
Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse
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About the Game
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This compilation contains the following three Muv-Luv adventures:
Adoration
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A novella-length spinoff title set in the world of “Duty ~Lost Arcadia~ The Euro Front” which offers a rare glimpse into what the world of Muv-Luv Alternative is like outside of Japan.  
When an uptight Japanese cadet gets stationed at a British military base during the final leg of his Royal Guard training, he thinks he’s got it all figured out. But he soon discovers that there’s more to being a surface pilot than sheer discipline when he’s assigned to the Cerberus Battalion, an esteemed TSF corps full of elite but eccentric surface pilots. Alongside a trio of buxom babes whose frisky flirtations throw him off at every turn, he’ll have to learn to loosen up and adapt to the unexpected in order to truly understand what it takes to be a soldier.
Resurrection
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One month prior to the events of Muv-Luv Alternative, a cybernetic soldier named Silvio Orlandi arrives at Yokohama Base to work security detail at an upcoming Alternative Program summit — though in truth, he’s an undercover agent sent by the European Union for the express purpose of gathering classified intel about Alternative IV, as well as any other concerning projects the enigmatic Professor Kouzuki might have in the works.  
Upon arrival, however, he quickly discovers that this won’t be a simple recon mission, as the Professor’s personal detachment — the Valkyrie Squadron — seems perpetually poised to distract him at every turn. And yet, their playful attitudes and suggestive antics seem to indicate that they have no real intention of obstructing his mission… but could it truly all be just a coincidence? Or is there more to this situation than meets the eye?
A Shimmering Shard of Spacetime
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The long-awaited follow-up to the original Muv-Luv saga is finally here! Picking up directly where Muv-Luv Alternative left off, Takeru returns to the wacky rom-com world of Muv-Luv Extra, only this time, things are more than a little bit different!  
When we last left Takeru, he’d just been introduced to his new classmates — the multimillionaire Meiya, her courtly sister Yuuhi, and the timid transfer student from overseas, Kasumi. Our story picks up with a class cook-off to determine who gets the privilege of sitting next to Takeru, but this is quickly overshadowed by a much more interesting reveal two days later.  
It seems Kasumi won’t be the only foreigner to grace the halls of Hakuryo Prep this year, as the school board has decided to participate in an all-new “teacher exchange program,” welcoming faculty members from all over the world in an effort to broaden students’ horizons.  
So you see, this isn’t just a simple rehash of Extra. No, this is an all-new adventure with all-new friends and possibilities. This is Final Extra.  
Join Takeru and the gang as they take part in all sorts of zany antics, from a school-wide airsoft tournament, to hitting the slopes at a mountain hot spring lodge, to getting caught up in an international conspiracy, to learning the true meaning of Christmas, to an all-expenses paid tropical island getaway — where Takeru might just have the chance to live out his wildest fantasies with the apple of his eye. Anything can happen in this new, rewritten reality — this Altered Fable — and it’s your story to unfold.

Release date: Jul 29, 2020

Categories: Visual Novel, Romance Simulation, Choice-based Narrative, Branching Narrative, Character-driven Narrative, Dialogue-driven Gameplay, Narrative-driven Gameplay


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community finds the current price of $14.99 to be too high. Multiple reviews indicate that the game is only worth purchasing at a significant discount, implying that a fair price would be considerably lower than the current price. The sentiment that the game is not worth the full price and should be bought only during a huge discount suggests that the community considers a fair price range to be much lower.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 16.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct mentions of playtime. The first quote mentions a total of 80 hours to complete the game, which aligns with the 'gameCompletion' metric. The second quote supports the 'endgame' metric, indicating additional hours for full achievement completion. The third quote provides specific hours for different completion stages, supporting both 'storyCompletion' and 'gameCompletion' metrics. The fourth quote gives a range of total gameplay hours, further supporting the 'gameCompletion' metric.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slow and can be tedious initially, but it becomes enjoyable once players get past the beginning and overcome early pacing and character issues.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Getting past the beginning
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: slow pacing; annoying main character; tedious minigames; meandering story
  - Unlock drivers: getting past the beginning; removal of difficult minigames; focus on narrative depth
  - Conditions: being a fan of the series; focusing on character interactions; appreciating story themes
- Player Archetypes:
  - Disappointed Franchise Fan (no buy)
    - Motivation: Loyalty to the series and its characters.
    - Playstyle: Critical and comparative, often referencing other games in the series.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: franchise fan; diehard fan
    - Reference games: Muv-Luv; Alternative
  - Completionist Achiever (sale)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion and unlocking all achievements.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and meticulous, aiming to complete all possible interactions and collectibles.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: completionist; achievement hunter
    - Reference games: Altered Fable
  - Optimizing Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enhancing the gameplay experience through external resources and technical adjustments.
    - Playstyle: Resourceful and detail-oriented, using guides and tools to improve the game experience.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: enthusiast; technical player
    - 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:
- Altered Fable praised for story and content (weight 0.58): Altered Fable is widely appreciated for its comprehensive and enjoyable story, wrapping up the trilogy nicely with a lot of content and fun minigames. Fans find it a great experience and a treat with its engaging narrative.
- Engaging and entertaining content (weight 0.42): The content is described as funny, enjoyable, engaging, and light-hearted. It provides an entertaining experience for players.
- Direct sequel to Muv-Luv Alternative (weight 0.33): The game is noted as a direct sequel to Muv-Luv Alternative, providing more content for fans of the series. It follows the ending of Muv-Luv AL and is recommended for fans.
- Detailed storylines and character development (weight 0.33): The game offers rich and detailed storylines with significant character development. This aspect is appreciated by the players.
- Worth the collection and wait (weight 0.32): The collection is considered worth it and a good bundle of stories. Fans feel it was worth the wait.
- Rewarding for longtime fans (weight 0.16): The game is seen as a tender and rewarding return for longtime fans of the series, providing a satisfying experience.
- Longer content with personal character arcs (weight 0.16): The game has increased in length and most characters have substantial personal story arcs, adding depth to the experience.
- Happy endings for characters (weight 0.16): Players enjoy seeing characters get happy endings, finding it rewarding and enjoyable.
- Funny romcom slice of life (weight 0.16): The content includes funny romcom slice-of-life elements with fanservice and humor that are well-received.
- Includes after-story and world-building (weight 0.15): The game features after-story content and world-building elements, enriching the overall narrative.
- Decent side stories included (weight 0.15): The game includes side stories that are considered decent and very good, adding to the overall content.
- Perfect for healing after Alternative (weight 0.15): The game is seen as perfect for healing after the events of Alternative, providing a comforting experience.

Common complaints:
- Excessive censorship (weight 0.64): Players are frustrated with the excessive and rampant censorship in the game, including the removal of adult content and scenes.
- Content and mini-games removed (weight 0.44): Players are dissatisfied with the removal of adult content, mini-games, and specific scenes, including 18+ content and sex scenes, which were present in the original version.
- Poor translation quality (weight 0.32): The game's translation is criticized for being machine-translated, inaccurate, and of poor quality, affecting the overall experience.
- Missing routes and characters (weight 0.32): Disappointment over the absence of specific character routes, such as Yuuko Kouzuki, and the reduction of favorite characters' screen time.
- Poorly implemented mini-game (weight 0.24): The Watermelon Slicing mini-game is criticized for being poorly implemented and frustrating to play.
- Difficult to understand and read (weight 0.22): The game is criticized for being difficult to understand and read, requiring patience and effort to complete.
- Unsatisfying ending (weight 0.21): The game is criticized for having no actual ending, an incomplete ending, or an unsatisfying conclusion.
- Lack of proper routes (weight 0.15): Altered Fable is criticized for lacking proper routes for each girl, resulting in an incomplete experience.
- Overpriced and disappointing (weight 0.15): Players feel the game is overpriced and disappointing overall, especially with the cut content.
- Excessive fanservice (weight 0.14): The game is noted for having excessive and cheesy fanservice scenes, which some players find off-putting.
- Limited availability and version (weight 0.13): The game is only available on the 20th-anniversary edition and is an all-ages version, which disappoints some players.
- Inappropriate character dialogue (weight 0.13): The game is criticized for having inappropriate and misrepresented character dialogue.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiple storylines and character interactions (weight 0.34): The game features three major chapters with different storylines, including multiple stories with different tones and character interactions. It also contains two other side stories.
- Character relationships and development (weight 0.28): The game emphasizes character interactions, romantic elements, and the development of relationships between characters.
- Visual novel with multiple routes (weight 0.23): The game is a visual novel with character routes, story progression, and multiple routes and endings based on player choices.
- References to previous games (weight 0.22): The game contains references and callbacks to previous games in the series, treating itself similarly to how Extra did.
- Multiple Muv-Luv stories (weight 0.21): The game includes multiple stories within the Muv-Luv universe, each with different focuses.
- Comedic slice-of-life moments (weight 0.21): The game includes comedic slice-of-life moments, providing a lighthearted and humorous experience.
- Achievement system (weight 0.2): The game includes an achievement system, with full achievement completion tied to completing all routes and obtaining all CGs.
- Specific gameplay instructions (weight 0.19): The game provides specific instructions for obtaining certain wallpapers and achieving specific routes, requiring attention to detail and specific choices.
- Episode-based storytelling (weight 0.16): The game features story-driven gameplay with episode-based storytelling.
- Lighthearted comedy story (weight 0.16): Adoration is described as a lighthearted comedy with a story that lasts about 4 hours.
- Comparisons to Extra (weight 0.15): The game is compared to Extra in terms of thematic and tonal elements, following a similar lighthearted approach.
- Surreal and dreamlike premise (weight 0.15): The game features a surreal and dreamlike premise, with mini routes occurring during dream sequences.
- Themes of healing and closure (weight 0.15): The game explores themes of healing and closure, focusing on character development and emotional resolution.
- Mindset for full enjoyment (weight 0.15): Players need to be in the right mindset to fully enjoy the game, letting go of previous expectations and focusing on the new narrative.
- Mini-games and translation (weight 0.14): The game includes mini-games and translation features, adding variety and accessibility to the gameplay experience.
- Drama and comedy themes (weight 0.09): The game blends drama and comedy themes, providing a mix of emotional and humorous moments.
- Poignant emotional reunions (weight 0.09): The story features poignant emotional reunions, adding depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.
- RomCom genre elements (weight 0.09): The game includes elements of the RomCom genre, focusing on romantic comedy themes.
- Political intrigue and espionage (weight 0.09): The story includes elements of political intrigue and espionage, adding depth to the narrative.
- Muv-Luv Extra with stronger punch (weight 0.09): Muv-Luv Altered Fable is described as Muv-Luv Extra with a stronger narrative impact, offering a more intense experience.
- Story length (weight 0.09): Altered Fable is a 10-hour story for a first clear and 16 hours for a full clear, providing a substantial amount of content.
- Collection of random events (weight 0.08): Altered Fable is described as a collection of random events, offering a varied and unpredictable narrative experience.
- Memes and references (weight 0.08): Altered Fable contains many memes and references, adding a layer of humor and nostalgia for fans of the series.
- Multiple choices and decisions (weight 0.08): The game features multiple choices and decisions, allowing players to influence the story and outcomes.
- Character-focused episodes (weight 0.08): The game includes character-focused episodes, emphasizing the development and interactions of individual characters.
- Short stories like Photonflowers (weight 0.08): The game includes a couple of short stories similar to Photonflowers, providing additional narrative content.
- Silly and absurd story (weight 0.08): Resurrection is described as a silly and absurd story, providing a humorous and unconventional narrative.
- Story bundle (weight 0.08): The game is described as a story bundle, offering a collection of narratives within a single package.
- Comparisons to other games (weight 0.08): The game is compared to other games in the series, highlighting similarities and differences in narrative and gameplay.
- Resurrection story (weight 0.08): Resurrection is mentioned as a part of the game's content, providing a unique and distinct narrative experience.
- Random elements for CGs/wallpapers (weight 0.08): The game includes random elements for obtaining CGs and wallpapers, adding a layer of unpredictability and replay value.

Performance notes:
- Upscaler recommended for visuals (weight 0.16): Players recommend using a 4k upscaler to enhance the visual experience, especially for sub-HD art.
- Resolution and UI scaling issues (weight 0.15): Some players report issues with resolution and text/UI scaling, which may affect readability and visual quality.
- Stable and clean technical execution (weight 0.1): The game runs smoothly without major technical issues, providing a stable experience.
- Faithful to original tone (weight 0.1): The game remains true to the tone and feel of the original works, maintaining consistency.
- Good Steam Deck performance (weight 0.09): The game runs well on Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for the platform.
- No audio crackling issues (weight 0.08): Players report that there are no audio crackling bugs, contributing to a smooth audio experience.
- Touch support available (weight 0.08): The game includes touch support, enhancing accessibility for touchscreen users.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Muv-Luv fans (weight 0.58): This game is highly recommended for those who have enjoyed previous installments in the Muv-Luv series, including Photon Flowers and Alternative.
- Consider specific versions carefully (weight 0.22): Players are advised to consider which version of the game to buy, as the original version offers full content while the Steam version focuses on side stories.
- Provides series closure (weight 0.21): The game offers a lovely and therapeutic closure to the series, serving as a great way to say goodbye to the characters.
- Not for those valuing complete content (weight 0.13): Players who believe that cut content is necessary may not enjoy this game, and it is not recommended even for diehard fans in some cases.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.09): It is suggested to buy the game only during a significant sale, indicating that the full price may not be worth it for some players.
- Engaging and detailed content (weight 0.08): The game is suggested for those who enjoy detailed and engaging content, providing a rich experience for fans of the series.

Other player notes:
- Accurate text translation (weight 0.1): The translated text is generally accurate, which helps in understanding the game content better.
- Translation tools enhance gameplay (weight 0.1): Players suggest using LunaTranslator with sakuraLLM for real-time translation to aid in reading Japanese text.
- Supports specific game engines (weight 0.09): The toolset is noted to support the game engine used in muv-luv, making it versatile for different games.
- Useful for language learning (weight 0.09): The combination of translation and phonetic annotations aids in language learning while playing.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.22): Players felt let down by the lack of depth in stories and character development, as well as the excessive censorship and removed content. The overall game quality, including blurry text and UI, along with translation issues, further contributed to this sentiment.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players were frustrated with the game due to poor translation quality, censorship, and the removal of content. Additionally, the difficulty in achieving 100% completion and the presence of a challenging minigame added to the frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.15): Players found satisfaction in the enjoyable story and character dialogue, as well as the detailed analysis and comprehensive overview of the game. The volume and value of the content, along with the closure provided by the Extra Ending part, were also appreciated.
- Joy (weight 0.09): Players experienced joy from the positive emotional impact of the game and its characters. The common route and the 'true route endings' were particularly enjoyable, contributing to a positive experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoyed the funny and engaging stories, as well as the rich content and familiar characters. The 'Altered Fable' story and the side stories were particularly highlighted as sources of enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players were excited about the additional lore and content, as well as the inclusion of multiple storylines and characters. The game being a must-buy for fans and containing a story that follows the ending of Muv-Luv AL added to the excitement.
- Sadness (weight 0.03): Players felt sadness due to emotional scenes and character interactions, as well as the betrayal of expectations for the series. The personal emotional journey depicted in the game also contributed to this feeling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players felt nostalgic due to the game's return to the tone of Muv-Luv Extra and the comparisons to previous installments. Mentions of previous game installments and character arcs evoked a sense of nostalgia.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Players were amused by the character's dialogue and interactions, as well as the funny and absurd moments in the stories. The humorous content and enjoyable episodes added to the amusement.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players were enthusiastic about the collection and its stories, as well as the references to other games and storylines. The high recommendation for the VN and specific stories within it contributed to this enthusiasm.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players expressed anger over lost scenes and the silence from the publisher regarding these issues.}