CLANNAD Side Stories
- June 2, 2016
- VisualArts/Key
Get on Steam"CLANNAD Side Stories" is a collection of visual novels that serves as a companion to the original CLANNAD game. It features side stories for several characters, expanding on their backgrounds and relationships, and is presented in a charming, illustrated style. These touching and sometimes humorous tales provide further insight into the world of CLANNAD, allowing players to delve deeper into the lives of its beloved cast.
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Reviews
- The side stories provide additional insights and character development for beloved characters from Clannad.
- Some stories are heartwarming and nostalgic, evoking strong emotions and memories from the original game.
- The art and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience for fans of the series.
- The game lacks essential visual novel features such as the ability to skip text, save progress, or view a backlog, making it frustrating for fast readers.
- Many stories feel short and underdeveloped, with some being perceived as filler or uninteresting.
- The voice acting and character portrayals differ from the original, which may disappoint fans expecting the same experience.
- story87 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The "story" aspect of the game is characterized as a collection of short, character-focused narratives that provide additional insights into the Clannad universe, though they lack the depth and interactivity of the main game. While some stories are praised for their emotional resonance and unique perspectives, others are criticized for being filler or inconsistent with the original plot. Overall, fans of Clannad may find enjoyment in these side stories, but they are not considered groundbreaking or essential to the main narrative.
“It expands and continues the story very well, with the last mini-story being a direct continuation after the ending of the main story (Clannad After Story, VN and anime, works for both).”
“Each story is beautifully written and heartfelt but only about 10-15 minutes in length by my approximation, this is not enough time to develop any meaningful connection to the characters which is why there's better things to spend your money on if you haven't read Clannad.”
“The story itself is basically a manifestation of life: growing up together with your precious families, friends, teachers, etc. These side stories give us deeper insight into each character in Clannad and each of them are so heartwarming until 30 minutes passed so quickly.”
“The story automatically scrolls, the voice actors aren't the same, and the quality of the writing is atrocious.”
“Some stories gave me chills and made me like certain characters more, Ushio's story was a straight-up insult to the original title and other stories felt like bad fan fiction.”
“The last thing that hurts the story are inconsistencies between the main Clannad and the side stories.”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game primarily consists of reused tracks from the original Clannad, which effectively sets the mood but often feels generic in the side stories. While some remixed versions and updated visuals provide a sense of nostalgia, the lack of new compositions and the absence of a music gallery detract from the overall experience. Fans appreciate the familiar sound but express disappointment over the limited musical variety and the inability to customize audio settings.
“The game is also heart-warming because of the return of visuals and scenes Clannad players know so well; the visuals are a little updated, with some really pretty character drawings, and the soundtrack, while also having a few updated versions of some songs, is the same, as well as the voice actors for everyone remaining the same, so there's a real air of nostalgia and familiarity to it.”
“Good music, good art, okay story, not the best price, but worth it overall at the sale price.”
“Background and music seem to be reused from the original Clannad since there are no character sprites most of the time you will be looking at the background art... writing is okay, jokes are there and characters seem to act true to original but it's just not that great.”
“Eh kind of a let down it's not like the main Clannad game where you have visual novel text to press a button, choices to pick from, character animations, the full soundtrack of Clannad; some soundtrack is missing in this one and you can't work your way up to that character's route.”
“You can't even manually mute some characters or music; there are only two sliders for sound!”
“For the background music, there is no new soundtrack introduced in this one.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by heartwarming and nostalgic short stories that evoke strong feelings, with some players reporting tears during certain narratives. While the stories are beautifully written and capture the essence of the original Clannad, they often lack the emotional depth and impact of the original, leaving some players wanting more character development. Overall, the game successfully delivers touching moments and a familiar atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience for fans.
“The short stories are solid (I cried in a few) and the characters are just as great as I remembered them.”
“Overall, the stories were really warm and they made me feel Clannad's atmosphere once more; some of them were even perfect and emotional.”
“Ushio's story and Akio's story made me cry again.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics in this expansion feature a distinct art style that differs from the main game, with updated visuals and character drawings that evoke nostalgia for Clannad players. While some character designs have changed, the overall aesthetic remains familiar, complemented by a soundtrack that includes both classic and updated versions of songs. The combination of new and familiar elements creates a heartwarming experience for fans of the series.
“The game is also heart-warming because of the return of visuals and scenes Clannad players know so well; the visuals are a little updated, with some really pretty character drawings, and the soundtrack, while also having a few updated versions of some songs, is the same, as well as the voice actors for everyone remaining the same, so there's a real air of nostalgia and familiarity to it.”
“This game, as the title says, offers side stories of the characters from the Clannad universe with an updated art style.”
“The art style in this expansion is different from the main game, and Tomoya's voice actor is different from the one in the anime adaptation.”
“As I mentioned before, the game has some CGs and they look pretty nice; I think they went with a different artist or art style.”
“This game, as the title suggests, offers side stories of the characters from the Clannad universe with an updated art style.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of Clannad Side Stories has been described as merely passable, with some users finding the performance settings, such as altering the mouse cursor for better performance, to be humorous rather than effective. Overall, the game's performance is primarily supported by its script and voice acting, rather than technical optimization.
“I genuinely think the funniest part about it is that it has performance settings including 'make mouse cursor monochromatic to enhance performance' or 'check here if you hear noise when sound is playing.'”
“I think it's to treat the stories like a radio where you can hear everyone's performances as intended.”
“The performance level of Clannad side stories is only passable, purely from the script of the story and the performance of the voice actors.”
“The performance level of Clannad side stories is only passable, purely from the script of the story and the performance of the voice actors.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by short arcs lasting 20 to 30 minutes, providing a steady stream of new content for Clannad fans. While the game offers a minimum of 6 hours of playtime, the inability to skip text like in typical visual novels may deter some players, leading to mixed opinions on its value at full price compared to a discounted rate.
“Although the length of each arc doesn't exceed 20 or 30 minutes of gameplay, it is a good option to keep having new Clannad content.”
“Set aside the fact that this game contains Clannad content, there are so many things to say regarding the mechanics.”
“I say that it’s a minimum of 6 hours of gameplay because, unlike all visual novels, you cannot click your way through the text.”
“Set aside that this game contained Clannad content, there are so many things to say regarding the mechanics.”
“For a full price of $20, I would say that it’s not worth the minimum of 6 hours of gameplay, but for the sale value of $5, I would say sign me up!”
“I say that it’s a minimum of 6 hours of gameplay because unlike all visual novels, you cannot click your way through the text.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of hilarity and sweetness, with some users noting that while Sunohara's presence is limited, his comedic moments are still memorable. Overall, the game features amusing stories that add an adorable and insightful layer to the experience.
“It's hilariously adorable but also insightful and sweet.”
“There are some funny stories.”
“Sunohara is so funny; it felt like there was less of him in this game. I like Sunohara; that guy is funny!”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as warm and emotionally engaging, reminiscent of "Clannad," with stories that provide a relaxing and cheerful experience. The quality sound design, including effective sound effects and ambient sounds, further enhances this inviting atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for fans seeking to connect more deeply with the characters.
“Overall, the stories were really warm and they made me feel Clannad's atmosphere once more; some of them were even perfect and emotional.”
“I strongly recommend it for all Clannad fans who want to know a little more about the characters, spend some more time with them, or just relax. Most of the stories can cheer you up due to their carefree atmosphere and cute situations, and moreover - this novel is absolutely kinetic.”
“The quality sound effects and ambient sound enhance the atmosphere.”
“Overall stories were really warm and they made me feel Clannad's atmosphere once more; some of them were even perfect and emotional.”
“I strongly recommend it for all you Clannad fans who want to know a little more about the characters, spend some more time with them, or just relax, because most of the stories can cheer you up due to their carefree atmosphere and cute situations.”
“Sound design - quality sound effects and ambient sound enhance the atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, often characterized by a painful user experience and tedious routes that detract from overall enjoyment.
“You just have to soldier through painful UX and tedious routes for it.”
“The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“It takes far too long to progress, making the experience feel more like a job than a game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users feeling that the stories do not offer enough value to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“I bought this on sale for 8€, but I got something I can pretty much throw into a trash bin after I read it, since the stories have no replay value.”
