Little Busters!

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In "Little Busters!", Riki Naoe, once lonely, finds joy with friends who call themselves the Little Busters. Together, they attend school and participate in youthful shenanigans. The 2007 visual novel release later got an Ecstasy edition, adding new heroines and expanding the story. The game encourages players to experience a heartwarming journey filled with camaraderie and personal growth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 445 reviews

story103 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game features a well-developed cast of characters, each with their own unique stories and emotional arcs.
The soundtrack is exceptional, enhancing the emotional impact of the story and providing a memorable auditory experience.
The blend of humor and drama creates a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged throughout the lengthy playtime.

The common route can feel overly long and repetitive, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
Some character routes are less satisfying than others, leading to an inconsistent experience across the different storylines.
The transition to widescreen has resulted in cropped CGs, which can detract from the visual experience.

story
315 mentions
33 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Little Busters!" is widely praised for its emotional depth, character development, and themes of friendship and personal growth. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that evolves through multiple character routes, culminating in a powerful main story that ties everything together. While some find the pacing slow at times, the overall experience is described as heartwarming and impactful, often evoking strong emotional responses.
- “Little Busters is a heartwarming and ambitious story, constantly evolving as you play through the game, adding extra scenes, nuances & callbacks, and new perspectives as you uncover more about each character.”
- “This game will reach every corner of your desensitized heart and rip it to shreds with some of the most clever, unique, and brilliant storytelling I have seen.”
- “Little Busters to me is a tremendous story that celebrates the beauty of life with a colorful and wonderful cast who broke my heart, mended it, and broke it all over again in a story that I would call nothing less than a masterpiece of the medium.”
- “The main story (refrain) is well made and kind of hit me hard.”
- “Some of the routes do drag on too long and if you think too hard about the premise of the main storyline, it doesn't really hold together that well.”
- “The story itself is not as consistent as the very best visual novels, but when it's good, it's really good.”
emotional
109 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Little Busters!" is widely praised for its ability to evoke a full spectrum of feelings, from laughter to deep sorrow, making it a memorable experience for players. Many reviewers highlight the game's heartwarming storytelling, character development, and impactful music, which together create an emotional rollercoaster that resonates long after completion. While some comparisons are made to other works like "Clannad," "Little Busters!" stands out for its unique blend of humor and tragedy, leaving players with lasting emotional impressions.
- “Little Busters is a heartwarming and ambitious story, constantly evolving as you play through the game, adding extra scenes, nuances & callbacks, and new perspectives as you uncover more about each character.”
- “This game made me feel every emotion under the sun.”
- “Words cannot describe the emotional ride one experiences playing through Little Busters.”
music
102 mentions
56 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many reviewers calling it a "masterpiece" and "god-tier." The original soundtrack, composed by Jun Maeda, features a diverse range of captivating pieces that perfectly complement the game's atmosphere and character arcs, making it one of the standout elements of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered essential to the game's impact, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game itself.
- “This is backed by an amazing original soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack goes hard too, whether it be the perfectly fitting character themes, the boppin' everyday activity themes, or the tear-jerking melodies that will capture one's heart and hold it tight.”
- “The soundtrack of Little Busters will blow you away, lift you up, hit you hard on the floor and make you bawl, and put you at peace.”
- “Some of the flashbacks were too long and just showed a goddamn cloud for almost 20 minutes without changing music or scene.”
- “Perhaps the OST isn't as memorable as its elder sibling Clannad, but it makes up for it in other elements.”
- “The slice-of-life music that plays during scenes set in a normal school day is really relaxing and soothing, while the music that plays during more dramatic scenes becomes more sad; really good and fitting music.”
humor
61 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is widely praised for its balance between lighthearted comedy and emotional depth, often eliciting both laughter and tears from players. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted comedic moments, engaging character interactions, and entertaining mini-games that contribute to a fun and immersive experience. Overall, the humor is described as charming, relatable, and integral to the storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “It was funny, thought-provoking, and simply one of the greatest stories I've ever seen.”
- “The humor is unlike anything you've seen and the stories all hold their own sense of situational gravity.”
- “It's hilarious and heartwarming watching their circle grow and the scale of the shenanigans increase, it takes me back to an idyllic representation of youth, where I could just laugh with my friends every day without a care.”
gameplay
21 mentions
29 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique blend of RNG mechanics and engaging mini-games, such as baseball and dungeon crawling, which enhance the visual novel experience and keep it fresh across multiple playthroughs. While some players find the mini-games enjoyable, others feel they can become repetitive, and there are concerns about early story progression. Overall, the game offers a substantial amount of content, allowing players to explore different routes and character backstories, making it a noteworthy experience in the visual novel genre.
- “This occurs in no small part due to the unique integration of RNG mechanics through the game's fighting tournament ranking system and optional mini-games, which allows each subsequent route or playthrough to always have something new and interesting even in the sections common to all routes (such as when the weakest character defeats the strongest character in combat, the absurdity of which will actually be recognized by the game)! ”
- “I really like the 'choose-your-adventure' gameplay because one choice a player makes can change the course of the story and as a result, it presents new dialogues to read which helps me understand the characters' backstories and personalities better.”
- “There’s also the gameplay, in the form of several quick mini-games which range from baseball practice to a fighting tournament, from hunting down mysterious creatures (which give a pretty hilarious insight on the character of Kyousuke) to serving in a cafeteria.”
- “The existence of mini-games is okay, but its gameplay can be boring after a few times.”
- “The routes slowly become a chore to play, even with gameplay elements like a dungeon crawler during Saya's route.”
- “But this is a visual novel, so that means it doesn't have any gameplay. Why bother rating it? The answer to that question is that there are mini-games in this visual novel ranging from playing baseball to a RNG fighting sim to a dungeon crawler with a shooting gallery game. There's plenty of stuff in this game to distract you from actually reading it.”
graphics
17 mentions
47 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their expressive artwork and character designs, showcasing the renowned quality typical of the studio. While the resolution is limited to 720p in a 16:9 aspect ratio, the visuals are described as vibrant and engaging, effectively complementing the story and atmosphere. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, minimal animation, and a well-executed art style contributes to a cozy and immersive experience.
- “Beyond the interactions though, the artwork and CGs are all wildly expressive, having the characters positively brimming with vivacity and vigor, masterfully accentuated with a soundtrack that never fails to capture the vibe of any given situation.”
- “Amazing visuals, amazing music, amazing story, everything about this visual novel is fantastic.”
- “The visuals are great, and the voice acting is superb.”
- “The graphics are 16:9 720p, which isn't ideal, but still more than sufficient.”
- “There were no visuals for it either.”
- “I wasn't exactly appreciative of Clannad's art style at the start (which was the first time I came into contact with Hinoue's art), but combined with the story, it's on a whole other level, same goes for LB.”
character development
10 mentions
60 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Character development is a standout feature in the game, with each character possessing rich backstories that resonate emotionally with players. Many reviewers highlight the depth of character growth, making them feel like real friends, though some express a desire for even more drastic transformations in certain characters. Overall, the combination of heartfelt storytelling, humor, and well-crafted character arcs contributes to a nearly perfect experience.
- “Character development is definitely the most important part of any video game for me, and 'Little Busters' absolutely delivers.”
- “Character development is so good that it feels like they are actually your friends in real life.”
- “A heartwarming story that handles its themes exceptionally well and is full of great character development and genuinely funny writing; it's a long read but worth every minute of it.”
- “Personally, I think some characters would have benefited from more drastic character development, but maybe I'm slightly spoiled by Muv Luv Alternative.”
- “Character development - this is definitely the most important part of any video game for me (even when I play non-visual novel games), and 'Little Busters' absolutely delivers.”
- “All characters have backstory and character development.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive storytelling, character interactions, and seamless integration of music that enhances emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the lively and friendly ambiance, complemented by engaging mini-games and memorable soundtracks that elevate the overall experience. The shifts in atmosphere throughout the narrative are particularly noted, creating a dynamic and impactful journey for players.
- “This visual novel really just nails everything: the story, the music, the characters, the atmosphere, the humor, the mini games, and even the visuals.”
- “Music and OST is excellent as well, giving the game a great atmosphere and greatly deepens the emotional weight of the drama when it needs to.”
- “After that particular event, the whole atmosphere of her route completely changes and it's something you need to experience for yourself in order to understand what I mean.”
- “They really help create an atmosphere; you know something bad is happening when you hear 'lamplight' or 'parhelion' start playing. The ending songs for the routes are also great, and an especially memorable one is 'Song for Friends' - 10/10.”
- “But damn, some of the ambient tracks just seamlessly blend in with the atmosphere of certain scenes that almost made me feel like I was reading a fantasy story.”
replayability
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The visual novel offers significant replayability, with engaging routes that become more enjoyable upon subsequent playthroughs, especially after uncovering the main mystery. Players are encouraged to explore various content and notice changes throughout the game, enhancing the overall experience. While some may question the extent of its replayability, many agree that the depth and humor contribute to a strong desire to revisit the game.
- “One thing I like is how enjoyable the routes are to replay once you've played through Refrain and know the answer to the mystery of the world; it adds nice replay value.”
- “A ridiculous amount of content to do, with so much replayability that encourages you to pay attention for changes as the game progresses.”
- “This was another great visual novel with more depth and replayability than most.”
- “Some people would say replayability, but it would be a bit of a misconception.”
- “Replayability comes from the desire of a player to explore more and to know more about the world they dive into.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is largely criticized for its repetitiveness and tedium, with many mini-games described as mind-numbingly boring and uninteresting. Players find the need to repeat activities and routes, especially without a guide, to be tedious rather than enjoyable, although some appreciate the option to skip once they become familiar with the content. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Finally, going through the game without a guide is just tedious at times, as getting a choice incorrect on the common route means having to skip through it all over again on top of already having to do so every time a route is completed.”
- “Mind-numbingly boring slice of life: the game consists of tedious, uninteresting activities such as watching cats, observing fish, preparing food, moving furniture, practicing baseball, and feeding people at the cafeteria.”
- “But...that is really more tedious than enjoyable...at least it was for me.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The optimization of character performances received mixed feedback, with some users enjoying specific portrayals, like Masato's, while others found certain styles, such as Komari's moe performance, less appealing. Overall, the variety in performances contributes to a diverse experience, though preferences may vary among players.
- “I love some of the other performances; Masato, who has the same voice actor as Lancer from Fate, stands out in this regard.”
- “The optimization of character performances really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that hindered my gameplay experience, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The frame rate drops during intense scenes are unacceptable and ruin the immersion.”