Love's Sweet Garnish
- September 7, 2018
- Canvas+Garden
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Love's Sweet Garnish" is a visual novel about Ogisawa Asaki, a new student at Hanao Usaka academy, who decides to reopen his grandmother's closed café as a way to cheer her up during her hospitalization. With the help of his childhood friend, Chisato Komada, Asaki renovates the café and prepares new menus, all while forming bonds with the town's residents. The game features charming mascot characters and allows players to experience a heartwarming story of friendship, growth, and sweet confections.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features cute character designs and beautiful artwork, making it visually appealing.
- The story is relaxing and enjoyable, providing a comfy slice-of-life experience centered around a cafe.
- The voice acting and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The plot feels rushed and predictable, with only two character routes available despite having five potential heroines.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and character development.
- There are some translation issues and minor bugs that can detract from the overall experience.
- story174 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as cute and light-hearted, focusing on the daily life of a boy working in a café alongside several female characters. However, many reviewers note that the plot feels rushed, predictable, and lacks depth, with only two character routes available, leading to a sense of limited engagement with the characters. While some appreciate the charming art and voice acting, others find the pacing slow and the overall narrative lacking in substance, making it a mixed experience for players.
“This is such a beautiful story, please give it a try <3”
“I actually waited for the promotion before buying it and honestly I think this game really has potential, a cute universe with a really romantic and simple story.”
“The charm of the story was enough to make me lower my guard and actually enjoy it to the point where I was involuntarily reacting to everything that was happening like I was there with the characters - something I personally haven't been able to do in ages.”
“The flow of the story is slow and awkward, and the coffee shop stuff is very dry.”
“Halfway through, the story really drags on and on.”
“If you're searching for a story that will make you cry, laugh, and get attached... you won't get any of it, really.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the visual novel is highly praised for its quality and suitability, with many reviewers noting that it enhances the overall experience without being intrusive. The soundtrack is described as cute, comfy, and well-composed, fitting the scenes perfectly and contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere. Overall, it is considered a standout feature, making the game accessible and enjoyable for newcomers to the genre.
“The story is short, but well written and simple to understand and follow since it only has two routes, the CGs are beautifully crafted and the music puts you in the right vibe.”
“[b]Music/Sound/Voice Acting:[/b] [i]9/10[/i] The music was composed with this game in mind, it fits the scenes perfectly and doesn't interfere with the scene being presented, it's also interesting enough to not be the kind of music that's there because there [i]has[/i] to be music there.”
“For people who are new to the VN genre of games, this is an excellent starting point as the story is easily read and easy to immerse yourself into, and the music is really gentle and isn't mismatched to the intentions of the scene.”
“Somehow the soundtrack used for the h scenes actually isn't over the top unlike other visual novels I've played, so that's a huge plus.”
“For people who are new to the visual novel genre of games, this is an excellent starting point as the story is easily read and easy to immerse yourself into, and the music is really gentle and isn't mismatched to the intentions of the scene.”
“- decent music.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their beautiful and cute art style, with many reviewers highlighting the clean and professional quality of the character sprites and expressions. The overall design contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it particularly appealing to fans of charming visuals. Many users rated the graphics highly, with some giving a perfect score of 10/10.
“I really enjoyed this visual novel, the characters were super cute and the art style was absolutely beautiful!”
“[b]graphics/art:[/b] [i]10/10[/i] I can't complain here, the sprites were cleanly and professionally drawn, the expressions were accurate and well executed, and even the special scenes held no real detracting factors I could find.”
“Almost all visual novels do not require a graphics card to run the game; a processor is more than enough. However, let's not exaggerate, 2000s PCs are not going to run the game.”
“The art style was so cute and relaxing, but the drama was unnecessary and so out of nowhere.”
“If you like cute things, this is definitely the visual novel for you, because the two main heroines (as well as most of the side characters) are extremely cute (as you can already tell from the artwork).”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, featuring likeable characters and touching moments that foster a sense of closeness. While the story may be considered mundane, it effectively delivers a sweet and relaxing experience that resonates with players, making it a delightful journey.
“The girls are so likeable, and there are quite a few emotional moments later on that really make you feel close to them.”
“The story is a bit mundane, but touching and semi-believable.”
“Characters are cute, the setting is relaxing, and overall it's just a short heartwarming story.”
- character development10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its effectiveness, though it can feel abrupt and jarring, particularly when introducing drama that shifts characters into antagonistic roles. While some players appreciate the depth this brings, it can also lead to frustration and a negative perception of certain characters, especially when unresolved tensions are heavily relied upon. Overall, the character designs and personalities are praised, contributing positively to the narrative experience.
“The story is good with great character designs and personalities.”
“I'm not too big on the tired trope of unresolved sexual tension ramping up, especially when the specific girl's route started; it drove me crazy sometimes when you're trying not to yell at your screen 'it's so obvious' or 'spit it out', although I will excuse that for some cases due to character development.”
“I think the drama introduced when you're on the route of whichever girl felt incredibly jarring with how suddenly it was introduced; the character development as a result was fine, but it felt pretty cruel to the girl(s) because it felt like 'hey suddenly this character you were talking to yeah they're the antagonist for now' and it just made me have a dislike for the character because of it.”
“I'm not too big on the tired trope of unresolved sexual tension ramping up, especially when the specific girl's route started. It drove me crazy sometimes when I wanted to yell at the screen 'it's so obvious' or 'spit it out', although I will excuse that for some cases due to character development.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as minimal, with some users finding it cute and funny, while others feel it contributes to a sense of boredom and lack of engagement. Overall, the humor seems inconsistent, leaving some players entertained while others are disappointed.
“Cute and funny visual novel! 😭”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the visual novel (vn) is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking, which limits interactive elements and player engagement.
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, primarily due to a lack of meaningful connection or engagement with the content, leading to a monotonous experience.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game significantly enhances player attachment to the characters, with effective character design and storytelling contributing to an immersive experience.
“We really get attached to the characters thanks to the character design and the atmosphere of the story.”
