Favorite visual novel?

[Eab1990]

Besides this game, of course. =P

Kidding. But, assuming you've played other VNs, what is your favorite? And if you haven't... Play others while you wait for the full release of this one. >_>

Anyway, my favorite (and also first fully completed one) is definitely Ever17. I got it for a bargain at Otakon '07 ($20 for it and two other VNs, Hourglass of Summer and Tea Society of a Witch, though they were in crappy DVD format), and I played it to completion that summer. Since then, Coco Yagami is still among my favorite characters, or rather, my all-time favorite. I'm a horrible fanboy of her. >_< In any case, I definitely recommend everyone play the game. Coco's route is godly.

Another favorite is Brass Restoration. It's freeware and translated by Yandere Translations, so feel free to Google and download from their site. I only played Kouri's route, but it's such a hilarious VN.

So, anyone else?

Sorry if this topic is old'd, btw, it seemed like one of the first topics this board would have, but I couldn't find a topic specifically asking this question, so...

[Validus Razgriz]

Excluding KS, the only visual novels I've played are the first two Phoenix Wright games, which were very good. I need to play the other games still.

If anyone has any suggestions for VN's to play, I'm open to suggestions. Thinking about going for Higurashi since I just finished the first season of the anime.

[ROFLWAFFLE!]

I'd say Yume Miru Kusuri, this is the best VN evar.
It can bring a river of tears down on yer face.

[Guest]

Excluding the first VN I played, I'd have to say my favorite VN was Saya no Uta. I can't think of any other piece of literature, or film or any other art that impacted me as much as it did. Seriously, for a couple months after my first playthrough anytime I was doing anything that didn't require complete concentration, I was thinking of Saya no Uta. Didn't help that I read through it at least another half a dozen times, either.

[Palodin]

Excluding the first VN I played, I'd have to say my favorite VN was Saya no Uta. I can't think of any other piece of literature, or film or any other art that impacted me as much as it did. Seriously, for a couple months after my first playthrough anytime I was doing anything that didn't require complete concentration, I was thinking of Saya no Uta. Didn't help that I read through it at least another half a dozen times, either.

Oh God, the walls are meat, everything is meat! That game disturbed me.

That said, its probably the best one I've played through as well, although my experience extends to KS, Wanko to Kurasou and Saya (Well, PC VN's anyway, I've got Phoenix Wright). I just started on Tsukihime today though.

[Eab1990]

Yume Miru Kusuri is good, but taking the best route of both games, Coco's route >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aeka's route. Though it is definitely worth a playthrough.

I liked Nekoko too.

Btw, the English-translated VNs I've played are...

Ever17
Hourglass of Summer
Tea Society of a Witch
ONE ~Kagayaku Kisetsu e~
Narcissu
OMGWTFOTL
Da Capo Plus Communication
Yume Miru Kusuri
Brass Restoration
Katawa Shoujo
Little My Maid
Dividead
Castle Fantasia 2

I have Kanon, Planetarian, ef: The First Tale, and Suika on my backlog.

And probably some others I'm forgetting.

[ROFLWAFFLE!]

Yume Miru Kusuri is good, but taking the best route of both games, Coco's route >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aeka's route. Though it is definitely worth a playthrough.

I liked Nekoko too.

Btw, the English-translated VNs I've played are...

Ever17
Hourglass of Summer
Tea Society of a Witch
ONE ~Kagayaku Kisetsu e~
Narcissu
OMGWTFOTL
Da Capo Plus Communication
Yume Miru Kusuri
Brass Restoration
Katawa Shoujo
Little My Maid
Dividead
Castle Fantasia 2

I have Kanon, Planetarian, ef: The First Tale, and Suika on my backlog.

And probably some others I'm forgetting.

I loved Nekoko's route, it made me cry the most out of the rest.
I cried tears of sadness (seeing her shove PILLS HERE, not seeing her for 2 years, and seeing her cry (I mean it's always shitty to see happy/cheerful people cry).
And I cried tears of Joy (Seeing her not going to the fairy home, and seeing her after 2 years)

[Haruhiist]

CLANNAD.
Then again, other than ridiculously violent rape hentai visual novels it's the only one I've played, but I have a lot more waiting to be played.

ToHeart 2
Planetarian
Kanon (Translation very close to completion!)
Sono Hanabira
Fate/Stay Night
A I R

And a few others whose names I cannot recall at the moment.
Though, definitely in love with CLANNAD. I has a desk mat with 4/6 of the CLANNAD girls on it, always under my nose. On my desk. And a Fuuko jacket.
Hnn..

[Eab1990]

Kanon has just Ayu's route left to translate, I believe, among a few other things. Surprising how the news of three of the routes being completed managed to escape my notice until just recently. I knew about Shiori's completed translation a few months back, but was far too busy with college-related matters to take the time to play. And now that it's almost done, it's best to wait until the full release.

Forgot to get Clannad, though. I need to play that too...

[kyuven]

First off I'd like to say "Hello" to everyone!
Second, back to the topic:
I've been playing so many lately it's hard to really pick a single one...not that I even would, as I like different games for different reasons.
For my, ahem, fetishes:
Yami no Koe series
COWCAW!
Most of the games translated by Dark Translations (yes there's a theme here)
Mahou Shoujo Nayuta
etc.

But those fall more in the, uh, H-Game territory, rather than simply Visual Novels (I have a distinction in my mind...though it's a very, VERY fine line. VERY fine.)

I'm currently playing through Saya no Uta, so no opinions there yet (though usually fan translated games have a tendency to be very, VERY good)
My favorites, though, have got to be:
Yume Miru Kusuri- Mentioned before by others, but I loved this game, it actually inspired me in my own writing attempts, and honestly if you like KS then this game is a natural extension, as even though Aeka, Mizuki, and Nekoko aren't physically disabled, each one has a psychological issue (though Aeka's isn't her fault in the slightest...at least according to every psychiatrist and school therapist I've ever met in the U.S...) that rivals the KS girl's physical issues. I really came to feel for Aeka, especially since I went in to the game knowing full well what a MASSIVE problem bullying is in Japan (they don't blame the bully when a kid sits on paint, they blame the victim for attracting the bully's attention in the first place...). Nekoko was a close second, though Mizuki was very daaaaw as well. The fact that the game was fully able to show the results of all three paths drastically changing the lives of all three girls (kind of heartwrenching actually if you play through Aeka or Nekoko's route first and knowingly miss the interaction that locks the route...as the player you KNOW you could have prevented them from falling...unlike missing Mizuki's route the two of them end up on the evening news o_o) The sex didn't feel tacked on, and in Mizuki's case actually played into the plot in an important way...of course that's partially what her route is ABOUT anyway...

Princess Waltz- Even though it's blatantly an attempt to cash in on the TYPE MOON popularity, the game is very good in its own right. It actually has a few plot twists you don't see coming...and two big ones you can see from a mile away. The characters are well designed and memorable, especially Lun Lun. The script itself is solid, along with the base effects actually makes it feel almost like an anime instead of a VN. Most of all, though...the music. The battle music really catches you, for months at a time even! Only downside is the lame card battling system...yes, it has a card battling system. Luckily the cool music plays during the battles.

Kanon, Clannad, and AIR are on the list as well, but I haven't finished them soooo :3

[The Commissar]

I only played the Type-Moon ones, sadly. VNs just consume a lot of time for me.

[Eab1990]

Yume Miru Kusuri- Mentioned before by others, but I loved this game, it actually inspired me in my own writing attempts, and honestly if you like KS then this game is a natural extension, as even though Aeka, Mizuki, and Nekoko aren't physically disabled, each one has a psychological issue (though Aeka's isn't her fault in the slightest...at least according to every psychiatrist and school therapist I've ever met in the U.S...) that rivals the KS girl's physical issues. I really came to feel for Aeka, especially since I went in to the game knowing full well what a MASSIVE problem bullying is in Japan (they don't blame the bully when a kid sits on paint, they blame the victim for attracting the bully's attention in the first place...). Nekoko was a close second, though Mizuki was very daaaaw as well. The fact that the game was fully able to show the results of all three paths drastically changing the lives of all three girls (kind of heartwrenching actually if you play through Aeka or Nekoko's route first and knowingly miss the interaction that locks the route...as the player you KNOW you could have prevented them from falling...unlike missing Mizuki's route the two of them end up on the evening news o_o) The sex didn't feel tacked on, and in Mizuki's case actually played into the plot in an important way...of course that's partially what her route is ABOUT anyway...

Indeed, Aeka is totally not at fault, the entire ****ing school is. It's one of those situations where society fails, not the person. Phantom Brave is also like that.

No doubt the community drove her to her own psychological issues, but those are ultimately not her fault.

Mizuki's route didn't really strike me as anything special until near the end. Before that, it was just an obstacle to me completing Aeka's route sooner.

And Nekoko is just fun, though Kouhei should've taken action sooner to stop Nekoko from taking drugs.

A shame Aya's route never made it in.

[vaen]

I loved yume miru kusuri, every 17 and fate stay night a great deal. especially the last one. (saber and rin are awesome)
I liked planetarium, saya no uta, kana little sister and tsukihime.
chaos;head was.. ok

wanko to kurasou is just a porn game but I still thought it was really cute.
apart from these all the other VN's I played are also just porn games. they have their moments sometimes but not worth mentioning really.

I'd say katawa shoujo is somewhere between like and love among these, which really is amazing for a VN without voice acting. looking forward to see where the full version will wind up

also, this might be relevant to all your interests:
http://gilheney.com/VNs/index.php?bot=[jp]VNs-English
edit: copy paste the link , forum messes it up

[kyuven]

I loved yume miru kusuri, every 17 and fate stay night a great deal. especially the last one. (saber and rin are awesome)
I liked planetarium, saya no uta, kana little sister and tsukihime.
chaos;head was.. ok

wanko to kurasou is just a porn game but I still thought it was really cute.
apart from these all the other VN's I played are also just porn games. they have their moments sometimes but not worth mentioning really.

I'd say katawa shoujo is somewhere between like and love among these, which really is amazing for a VN without voice acting. looking forward to see where the full version will wind up

also, this might be relevant to all your interests:
http://gilheney.com/VNs/index.php?bot=[jp]VNs-English
edit: copy paste the link , forum messes it up

so is that site all translation patches? or the full game?
Personally I have...issues...with DLing games for free that are available in English...makes me feel like I'm stealing (yeah yeah downloading ones not available in English is technically the same, but Japanese games are hideously overpriced compared to American games, and I don't feel like paying 18 bucks in shipping cost on top of that =x)

[vaen]

so is that site all translation patches? or the full game?
Personally I have...issues...with DLing games for free that are available in English...makes me feel like I'm stealing (yeah yeah downloading ones not available in English is technically the same, but Japanese games are hideously overpriced compared to American games, and I don't feel like paying 18 bucks in shipping cost on top of that =x)

Hirameki translated and published quite a number of VNs but they went out of business (because of pirates like me no doubt, even though I only got into VNs after they went under).
since there is no way to legally get them anyway now I'd say go for it. ever 17 is the only one from them I know well though.
the rest are all translated by fansubs and the translators are mirror moon for example (FSN, tsukihime) are vocal about not wanting their work to be used with pirated copies though I've not cared much for that myself.
the site itself seems like it lists full games though. I've not gotten anything from it myself however. I just torrent everything I want, but this is a nice collection to choose from.
g-collections offers many translated eroge however, kana little sister being one of them. you can buy and download them from their store.