The game was fantastic, especially its realistic attitude to loneliness and depression. The patterns of fabric attracted my attention in a way no other before did. I think its a proof for that sometimes less is more. Great job! Though the expression of anger got a little bit overboard at some points, until then I didn't expect the english language does offer so many forms of insults and mentally added quite some interesting phrases to vocabulary :)!
I finished Augma about one year ago and drop by from time to time hoping for a sequel. The only thing I heard it is planned. Is there a status or information according to progress of 2nd part I missed?
As for the for the status of the sequel, it's been in planning for years (to completion) and will be coming next after a prequel that is estimated to release this year.
This is a masterpiece and the author is such a genius... i'm completely astounded by the writing, knowledge and imagination(experience) of the creator of these worlds!
It's tormenting but exciting to see how texts on the screen are struggling to break their limits through this experiment - texts run wild, completely get out of control, strangling the reader due to their inability to swallow the avalanche of words and their meanings. Texts alone could bring forth the greatest of all chaos. (However, it might as well be the other way around, as the texts are strangled/muffled/disappeared so quickly since we're unable to embrace them in time...ok i'm not making sense here)
Meanwhile, it's just interesting how much the story itself invites readers to think (the mystery/detective elements), while beneath a largely philosophical/religious backdrop, all actions of thinking (from the characters, or from the reader) seems futile and inconsequential. But it's cathartic, I guess.
Augma II Arc I is an experimental surrealist monolith -- despite it being quite short -- that is the result of years of deep thought and introspection through the lens of just one person and a few likeminded collaborators. There's a sincere fascination for the weird parts of life, the things you don't really think about, the nuances of the unusual, the avant-garde, slathered all over this visual novel. Although its' writing can be somewhat elementary and choppy at times, that's the result of a long journey of passion and it doesn't really take away from the full experience that the game wants to be, and although the story may peeve some in ways that may slightly annoy or bore the reader, again, it is a result of that passion. Arc I is both enormous yet tiny as a speck in regards to the universe it's set in, and that is what makes it so compelling.
In regards to the best things Arc I does, perhaps it's greatest achivement is it's world building, atmosphere, and overall synchronization between it's different aesthetics, from the music, to the characterization of the many personalities that you'll become familiar with, to the unique art style. Dystopian sci-fi and cyberpunk settings are not rare; in fact, it's quite the opposite in recency, but it's been quite a while since I've seen it looked at in the lens that the writer sees it through here. It's presentation is subtle but ever-looming, and the way each track of the OST is inserted in to each situation is almost always fitting and/or seamless, even if the quality of the compositions aren't all too consistent... not that it's necessarily a bad thing, as there aren't any tunes that I believe anyone would take offense to. On a personal note, the ambient tracks that were made for this game are absolutely breathtaking.
The writing style Kamigigana also incorporates makes it even more immersive, as the abstractions and complications of the English language in his grasp seem to just flow as freely as water, yet you still feel some jagged edges like it's some strong current, since it keeps you grounded, as much as it likes to be whimsical and rarely silly, even if that silliness can be poorly placed. There's a long stretch of chapters from 4 to 9 that I really enjoyed, with the ninth being my favorite. It's an achivement and a half to execute that sort of concept in an interesting way. The last stretch is also great, but doesn't appeal to me as much as the more bizarre concepts that are put on display. The ending is also one of the greatest parts of the story, leaving you with a lot of questions and truly makes you wonder who the cast can trust.
As for the weaker aspects, there aren't all too many. Many might find the beginning to be slow or out of place. It's mostly issues with characters and the comedy which in retrospect didn't fit too well with the rest of the overarching plotline that was built after the initial ideas of the plot. Some scenes I personally find too long in the story on the later chapters, but that's a matter of personal gripes or simply due to me not being used to that sort of style.
If you can trust me on one thing, this visual novel tries a lot of new things. Augma is a series I absolutely look forward to. There are stories with potential, and then there are stories with promise. One is a possibility, and one is a guarantee.
Augma is one of the strongest examples of the latter that I have had the pleasure of reading.
Oh wow, this was such an interesting experience. I really liked it overall, but I wanted to make a sort of review here, sharing what I liked and what I thought could be done better. I'll try and keep this generally pretty free of spoilers, but, y'know, I have to mention some spoilery things regardless so if you haven't finished Augma II Arc I maybe don't read the rest of this comment? haha. I'll start with what I liked.
The characters were all very charming once I really got to know them. They were interesting, and even with some tropes here and there, I really liked their dynamics. The humor, especially past Chapter 1, was full of really good lines that had me absolutely dying at times. (Side note, I really wanna know what a "Cowboy Ranch" is in this context AHAHAH) There was also some beautifully written dialogue sprinkled in. I think the first time I really sat back and took it all in was during that rain scene with Linna! The art and overall aesthetic of this game is SO cool. It's actually what initially drew me in to play it in the first place! Even with some clear art improvements/older art sprinkled in, I found that I was always fully immersed in the vibe and nothing ever felt too jarring or out of place. The thick lineart on the characters really brings it all together into something quite pleasant. And the music, gosh, I truly don't think there's a song composed for this visual novel that I don't like. Seriously, props to Strung. Their music style is so unique and it fits the vibe of this game REALLY well, to the point I can't imagine it would be the same experience at all without them.
Now for a few things I feel the game has room for improvement! Or at the very least, some things to make a note of for future projects! :) While I did end up REALLY enjoying the game, I will admit that I almost dropped it entirely due to how slow going the intro felt. A lot of the prologue dialogue felt redundant, and I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist through chapter 1. This ceased being an issue entirely after that point, and midway through chapter 2 I was totally in love with the cast thus far and was left wanting to know more and figure out what was happening! It felt like the writing and dialogue quality had a HUGE jump, and I could see making the prologue shorter in some places benefitting the story in the long run, especially for people getting into it. Not that slow starts can't still take off (*cough cough* Homestuck, anyone?) but it can be difficult for new audiences to get into nonetheless! Another thing I felt was a little off was a few fanservicey scenes, namely that one scene with Loui undressing and the part with Verynstryfe mentioning licking soles. Both just seemed to go a little too far, and I felt they didn't contribute to the story much, if at all. I would've loved to see Loui show her comfort with the group through some other means, I think it could've made for a more heartfelt moment that wasn't basked in this awkward, secondhand embarrassment. I also agree with having some kind of little terminology guide! I ended up just writing all the information down myself as I read to make better sense of it haha.
But, really, those are my only critiques. Everything else I was honestly really impressed by! I didn't go in with many expectations besides the art looking nice, so the quality and lengths I enjoyed this really surprised me and I can sincerely see this visual novel gaining traction once it's fully complete. It deserves as much, at least! I'm honestly a little surprised more people haven't taken the time to get into it already. What you have is really a gem. With a little polish, it's going to shine very bright. :) One last thing before I go, because I couldn't find a good place to talk about it: I LOVED the idea behind the Zero cases!! I found them so fascinating and I really liked how the murder methods were based on the shapes of the numbers. The visuals were clear, the concept cool, I think overall that whole part stuck with me the most out of everything! Such a clever idea, you REALLY outdid yourself with that one. Okay, NOW I'm done. :) Best of luck with further development, and future projects! I'm looking forward to what's to come.
Just finished it. And I have to say. I really enjoyed it. I did have low expectations with this initially but it really drew me in and became a really great experience, the usage of tons of obscure words that had me googling them constantly was quite fun as well as tons of nice fun details that I was able to make out because I am learning Japanese such as say Loui wearing ぺったん T-shirt. The art is quite great once you get used to it though I would say that potentially using less patterns on clothing might help though I digress.
I really enjoyed the characters after I warmed up to them. I am also excited to see where they go from here and I would wish for some more comedic moments with them.
I also really enjoyed the ending as holy shit I felt it coming but I did not expect it.
There were some errors that I noticed mainly misspelling possibility as "posibility" and then according to my friends. This line having rough grammar.
"experience blind to it" (experience it blindly again) and "once more time". (remove time as once more works)
I would also really like it if a list of terminologies with explanations could be added as a quickly accessible menu as I felt that sometimes I can be overloaded with terms like say Aeroseven and I cannot quite recall who they are and so being able to who they are will help greatly. I think of this in terms of like Umineko where it was a press of a button to see all the characters and if they're alive or not.
And one last thing would be that during novel mode, It can be hard at least for me to realise who is saying what line which can be confusing and require a retake to get who said the line. Either by using colour coded names or by adding names in novel mode.
But overall, I am excited to see what you and your team will pull off with arc 2. I have high hopes :)
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The game was fantastic, especially its realistic attitude to loneliness and depression. The patterns of fabric attracted my attention in a way no other before did. I think its a proof for that sometimes less is more. Great job! Though the expression of anger got a little bit overboard at some points, until then I didn't expect the english language does offer so many forms of insults and mentally added quite some interesting phrases to vocabulary :)!
I finished Augma about one year ago and drop by from time to time hoping for a sequel. The only thing I heard it is planned. Is there a status or information according to progress of 2nd part I missed?
Thank you!
As for the for the status of the sequel, it's been in planning for years (to completion) and will be coming next after a prequel that is estimated to release this year.
This is a masterpiece and the author is such a genius... i'm completely astounded by the writing, knowledge and imagination(experience) of the creator of these worlds!
It's tormenting but exciting to see how texts on the screen are struggling to break their limits through this experiment - texts run wild, completely get out of control, strangling the reader due to their inability to swallow the avalanche of words and their meanings. Texts alone could bring forth the greatest of all chaos. (However, it might as well be the other way around, as the texts are strangled/muffled/disappeared so quickly since we're unable to embrace them in time...ok i'm not making sense here)
Meanwhile, it's just interesting how much the story itself invites readers to think (the mystery/detective elements), while beneath a largely philosophical/religious backdrop, all actions of thinking (from the characters, or from the reader) seems futile and inconsequential. But it's cathartic, I guess.
(Can't wait for ArcII ~
Thank you!
(REVIEW ATTRIBUTED TO VNDB)
Augma II Arc I is an experimental surrealist monolith -- despite it being quite short -- that is the result of years of deep thought and introspection through the lens of just one person and a few likeminded collaborators. There's a sincere fascination for the weird parts of life, the things you don't really think about, the nuances of the unusual, the avant-garde, slathered all over this visual novel. Although its' writing can be somewhat elementary and choppy at times, that's the result of a long journey of passion and it doesn't really take away from the full experience that the game wants to be, and although the story may peeve some in ways that may slightly annoy or bore the reader, again, it is a result of that passion. Arc I is both enormous yet tiny as a speck in regards to the universe it's set in, and that is what makes it so compelling.
In regards to the best things Arc I does, perhaps it's greatest achivement is it's world building, atmosphere, and overall synchronization between it's different aesthetics, from the music, to the characterization of the many personalities that you'll become familiar with, to the unique art style. Dystopian sci-fi and cyberpunk settings are not rare; in fact, it's quite the opposite in recency, but it's been quite a while since I've seen it looked at in the lens that the writer sees it through here. It's presentation is subtle but ever-looming, and the way each track of the OST is inserted in to each situation is almost always fitting and/or seamless, even if the quality of the compositions aren't all too consistent... not that it's necessarily a bad thing, as there aren't any tunes that I believe anyone would take offense to. On a personal note, the ambient tracks that were made for this game are absolutely breathtaking.
The writing style Kamigigana also incorporates makes it even more immersive, as the abstractions and complications of the English language in his grasp seem to just flow as freely as water, yet you still feel some jagged edges like it's some strong current, since it keeps you grounded, as much as it likes to be whimsical and rarely silly, even if that silliness can be poorly placed. There's a long stretch of chapters from 4 to 9 that I really enjoyed, with the ninth being my favorite. It's an achivement and a half to execute that sort of concept in an interesting way. The last stretch is also great, but doesn't appeal to me as much as the more bizarre concepts that are put on display. The ending is also one of the greatest parts of the story, leaving you with a lot of questions and truly makes you wonder who the cast can trust.
As for the weaker aspects, there aren't all too many. Many might find the beginning to be slow or out of place. It's mostly issues with characters and the comedy which in retrospect didn't fit too well with the rest of the overarching plotline that was built after the initial ideas of the plot. Some scenes I personally find too long in the story on the later chapters, but that's a matter of personal gripes or simply due to me not being used to that sort of style.
If you can trust me on one thing, this visual novel tries a lot of new things. Augma is a series I absolutely look forward to. There are stories with potential, and then there are stories with promise. One is a possibility, and one is a guarantee.
Augma is one of the strongest examples of the latter that I have had the pleasure of reading.
Strong 7/10 - Light 8/10
Oh wow, this was such an interesting experience. I really liked it overall, but I wanted to make a sort of review here, sharing what I liked and what I thought could be done better. I'll try and keep this generally pretty free of spoilers, but, y'know, I have to mention some spoilery things regardless so if you haven't finished Augma II Arc I maybe don't read the rest of this comment? haha. I'll start with what I liked.
The characters were all very charming once I really got to know them. They were interesting, and even with some tropes here and there, I really liked their dynamics. The humor, especially past Chapter 1, was full of really good lines that had me absolutely dying at times. (Side note, I really wanna know what a "Cowboy Ranch" is in this context AHAHAH) There was also some beautifully written dialogue sprinkled in. I think the first time I really sat back and took it all in was during that rain scene with Linna! The art and overall aesthetic of this game is SO cool. It's actually what initially drew me in to play it in the first place! Even with some clear art improvements/older art sprinkled in, I found that I was always fully immersed in the vibe and nothing ever felt too jarring or out of place. The thick lineart on the characters really brings it all together into something quite pleasant. And the music, gosh, I truly don't think there's a song composed for this visual novel that I don't like. Seriously, props to Strung. Their music style is so unique and it fits the vibe of this game REALLY well, to the point I can't imagine it would be the same experience at all without them.
Now for a few things I feel the game has room for improvement! Or at the very least, some things to make a note of for future projects! :) While I did end up REALLY enjoying the game, I will admit that I almost dropped it entirely due to how slow going the intro felt. A lot of the prologue dialogue felt redundant, and I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist through chapter 1. This ceased being an issue entirely after that point, and midway through chapter 2 I was totally in love with the cast thus far and was left wanting to know more and figure out what was happening! It felt like the writing and dialogue quality had a HUGE jump, and I could see making the prologue shorter in some places benefitting the story in the long run, especially for people getting into it. Not that slow starts can't still take off (*cough cough* Homestuck, anyone?) but it can be difficult for new audiences to get into nonetheless! Another thing I felt was a little off was a few fanservicey scenes, namely that one scene with Loui undressing and the part with Verynstryfe mentioning licking soles. Both just seemed to go a little too far, and I felt they didn't contribute to the story much, if at all. I would've loved to see Loui show her comfort with the group through some other means, I think it could've made for a more heartfelt moment that wasn't basked in this awkward, secondhand embarrassment. I also agree with having some kind of little terminology guide! I ended up just writing all the information down myself as I read to make better sense of it haha.
But, really, those are my only critiques. Everything else I was honestly really impressed by! I didn't go in with many expectations besides the art looking nice, so the quality and lengths I enjoyed this really surprised me and I can sincerely see this visual novel gaining traction once it's fully complete. It deserves as much, at least! I'm honestly a little surprised more people haven't taken the time to get into it already. What you have is really a gem. With a little polish, it's going to shine very bright. :) One last thing before I go, because I couldn't find a good place to talk about it: I LOVED the idea behind the Zero cases!! I found them so fascinating and I really liked how the murder methods were based on the shapes of the numbers. The visuals were clear, the concept cool, I think overall that whole part stuck with me the most out of everything! Such a clever idea, you REALLY outdid yourself with that one. Okay, NOW I'm done. :) Best of luck with further development, and future projects! I'm looking forward to what's to come.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. Your inputs will be useful.
Just finished it. And I have to say. I really enjoyed it. I did have low expectations with this initially but it really drew me in and became a really great experience, the usage of tons of obscure words that had me googling them constantly was quite fun as well as tons of nice fun details that I was able to make out because I am learning Japanese such as say Loui wearing ぺったん T-shirt. The art is quite great once you get used to it though I would say that potentially using less patterns on clothing might help though I digress.
I really enjoyed the characters after I warmed up to them. I am also excited to see where they go from here and I would wish for some more comedic moments with them.
I also really enjoyed the ending as holy shit I felt it coming but I did not expect it.
There were some errors that I noticed mainly misspelling possibility as "posibility" and then according to my friends. This line having rough grammar.
"experience blind to it" (experience it blindly again) and "once more time". (remove time as once more works)
I would also really like it if a list of terminologies with explanations could be added as a quickly accessible menu as I felt that sometimes I can be overloaded with terms like say Aeroseven and I cannot quite recall who they are and so being able to who they are will help greatly. I think of this in terms of like Umineko where it was a press of a button to see all the characters and if they're alive or not.
And one last thing would be that during novel mode, It can be hard at least for me to realise who is saying what line which can be confusing and require a retake to get who said the line. Either by using colour coded names or by adding names in novel mode.
But overall, I am excited to see what you and your team will pull off with arc 2. I have high hopes :)
Have a nice day and be proud of what you made.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. There will be an update sooner or later to fix most of the text errors, so thank you for pointing that out.
For the terminology list, Arc II will have a terminology/status screen for characters to keep track of information since it's very heavy on that.
Thanks a bunch, I'm glad you enjoyed!