Muv-Luv
- February 28, 2018
- aNCHOR Inc.
- 82h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Get on Steam"Muv-Luv is a single-player Romance Visual Novel game, featuring an intriguing story that starts as a lighthearted comedy before transforming into an action-packed, emotional thriller in an alternate reality. Its splendid soundtrack and memorable characters create a captivating experience, tackling dark themes with a crushing emotional payoff in its final chapter, making it one of the most highly-revered visual novels."
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
PSP
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Muv-Luv Extra is funny and enjoyable, with a charming cast of characters that make the slice-of-life story engaging.
- Muv-Luv Unlimited takes a darker turn, providing a compelling narrative that builds on the characters introduced in Extra.
- The trilogy as a whole is highly regarded, with Muv-Luv Alternative being considered one of the best visual novels of all time.
- Muv-Luv Extra can feel repetitive and trope-heavy, making it a slog for some players to get through.
- The pacing in both Extra and Unlimited can be slow, with some scenes dragging on longer than necessary.
- Many players feel that the first two parts serve primarily as setup for Alternative, which may leave them feeling unsatisfied on their own.
- story285 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The "Muv-Luv" series features a story that begins as a lighthearted high school romantic comedy in "Extra," evolving into a more serious and complex narrative in "Unlimited," which incorporates sci-fi elements and themes of war and personal growth. While "Extra" serves primarily as character and world-building, it is essential for understanding the deeper, more impactful storylines that unfold in "Unlimited" and the subsequent "Alternative." Overall, the narrative is praised for its character development and emotional depth, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and predictability.
“The story begins as a typical slice-of-life story, but quickly evolves into a science fiction adventure as Takeru finds himself transported to an alternate reality where giant robots called Tactical Surface Fighters (TSF) are used to fight an alien invasion.”
“Muv-luv is a game that will initially make one think that it is no deeper than a simple dating sim; in truth, it is masking an incredibly well-written story that spans worlds with such well-thought-out world-building, you'd think machines and events talked about were actually real if you didn't know better.”
“The story explores complex themes such as sacrifice, loss, and the human cost of war.”
“The stakes are so very, very low that you can't really be upset at the weak characterization of the women or the plot holes in the sci-fi storyline.”
“I'm not going to spend too much time talking about the story, because frankly what story is here is mostly predictable.”
“The first part is so simple and easygoing, then the story turns for the worse, and deepens further.”
- emotional43 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness, particularly in its impactful endings. While some players find the initial segments overly silly or drawn out, the emotional payoff in later chapters, especially in "Muv-Luv Alternative," is described as heart-wrenching and profound, making players genuinely care for the characters. Overall, the series is praised for its blend of humor and emotional depth, creating a memorable and touching experience.
“I have never experienced such a thought-provoking and heartbreaking series.”
“But, it made me cry, get genuinely upset, and care for multiple characters in a relatively quick runtime as it only took me about 18-20 hours to play through all routes.”
“The end, however, was extraordinarily emotional and I can say that I began to tear up.”
- humor40 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in Muv-Luv Extra is widely praised for its lighthearted and comedic approach, featuring a mix of silly antics, over-the-top scenarios, and engaging character interactions that often lead to genuine laughter. While some reviewers find the humor to be trope-heavy or simplistic, many appreciate the unique character dynamics and the balance between comedy and emotional moments, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of romantic comedies. Overall, the game is recognized as a funny visual novel that successfully blends humor with heartfelt storytelling.
“Muv-Luv Extra is your stereotypical school romantic harem story, with a plot that focuses on comedy, featuring plenty of over-the-top scenes and jokes that are very funny and lighthearted.”
“The comedy is genuinely funny and made me laugh out loud at several points, which is very rare for me when it comes to anime humor.”
“I couldn't stop laughing from how ridiculous, over the top, and goofy it was.”
“I would love to say you could skip it, but according to every site I've ever looked at, you need to experience this unfunny trash to truly appreciate everything that comes—and they're right.”
“Extra is awful, and while unlimited is substantially better, it doesn’t make up for the 10 hours I had to spend reading the most unfunny romcom ever conceived.”
- music38 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the storytelling and atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging soundtracks and excellent voice acting. While some users noted a lack of variety in certain sections, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is immersive, fitting well with the game's themes and emotional moments. The addition of a jukebox feature upon completion allows players to enjoy the original soundtrack further, solidifying its positive reception.
“The music was good, the sound quality was really well done, the imagery was phenomenal and so was the voice acting.”
“The soundtrack is a 9/10, very well done, fits the theme and is pretty well mastered considering the age of it.”
“The music and visual techniques, not to mention the style of storytelling, made this one of the most immersive visual novels I have ever read.”
“Cringe-worthy writing, repetitive music, and some bizarre pacing issues made this thing a real slog to get through.”
“The same light-hearted music plays (while new has been added for unlimited), and the carry-over characters are essentially the same as they were in extra.”
“The whole reason you'd read this is so you can read alternative but the steam version is apparently censored (violent content missing as well) and with worse music so I'm not playing that version.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic late 90s and early 2000s anime art style, which some players find charming despite its low resolution and simplicity. While the visuals may not appeal to those accustomed to modern graphics, they are complemented by high-quality character designs and a fitting musical score, creating an overall enjoyable experience for fans of the genre. The artwork serves as a celebration of early 2000s anime culture, resonating well with players who appreciate that aesthetic.
“The game's artwork and character designs are high-quality, and the music is fitting to the atmosphere of the game.”
“Honestly, it is also a celebration/time capsule of anime and anime-centric culture from the early 2000s and for better or worse captures that aesthetic perfectly.”
“Not surprisingly, character visuals have that late 90s and early 2000s feel, though one that has not aged in the slightest.”
“Since this is a very old game that has just been reworked to run on newer machines, the old anime art style will turn off most people used to the newer stuff.”
“The art style is also really early 2000s and its great.”
- character development14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and quality, with well-crafted character arcs that intertwine humor and serious themes. The two storylines effectively build on character traits and conflicts, with standout moments that subvert genre tropes. While the character designs are often exaggerated and comedic, they contribute to a rich narrative experience that enhances the overall engagement with the characters.
“Great means of character development and overall means of establishing character traits for the main event that is Muv Luv Alternative.”
“The charm of the characters, the subversion of tropes, the world-building, and the character development turned this into a great read.”
“The two stories weave together, with a good deal of character development stretched between them.”
“The comedy and the characters are almost parodic of the genre itself; the events of the story are unexpectedly over-the-top and nonsensical for a story of this scale and setting, and the character designs are wild.”
“But it's all character development with minimal filler.”
“The name itself, the silly character designs, the tropey anime character archetypes, the high-school dating sim fluff, the random sci-fi twist with pseudo quantum physics, the psychological horror, my new therapy appointments.... all culminate into a story full of bullshit plot devices, but I found it pretty amusing to read through the entire thing.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by high-quality artwork, fitting music, and engaging character interactions, creating a captivating experience that balances humor and seriousness. While some players noted a lack of traditional atmosphere-building elements, the overall tone and well-crafted story keep players invested throughout. The soundtrack further complements the game's mood, effectively setting the stage for both lighthearted and intense moments.
“The game's artwork and character designs are high-quality, and the music is fitting to the atmosphere of the game.”
“While the game is lengthy, it will keep players hooked with its well-written story, characters, and atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is great, the interactions are great and interesting; even through the serious scenes, there are times where you will find yourself smiling or laughing, as this game knows how to build suspense and how to also release it.”
“Also, there really isn't any atmosphere building going on, unlike in some visual novels.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay in these visual novels is primarily focused on making choices at critical moments, resembling traditional visual novel mechanics rather than offering conventional gameplay elements. Players can expect around 27 hours of gameplay, with significant time spent exploring different narrative paths. Overall, while the gameplay is standard for the genre, it is complemented by a strong story.
“27 hours of gameplay - 20 for all paths of 'extra', and 7 for 2 paths of 'unlimited'.”
“These visual novels are very much the 'classic' choose-your-response-at-critical-moments-to-get-different-results sort of affairs, with nothing that could really be described as 'gameplay' in the traditional sense.”
“From the gameplay standpoint, Muv-Luv is hardly any different from most visual novels.”
“But here's the thing: while I have no qualms with the gameplay and story, the visuals, on the other hand, are another thing.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to unskippable cutscenes and prolonged slice-of-life scenes that interrupt the narrative flow. While there is some commendable world-building, many feel that the pacing drags, making the experience feel repetitive and frustrating.
“It's all very tedious to go through with unskippable cutscenes, and even the secret ending, which I was told would be super important, ended up as just another vague cliffhanger.”
“Listen, I have read a huge amount of visual novels, and after years of doing so, my tolerance towards slow-paced slice-of-life scenes and anime tropes has kind of waned - it's always the same; grinding a story that's just becoming interesting to a halt to mess around for a few hours with nothing.”
“There's some decent world-building and setup for the finale of Muv-Luv Alternative (sold separately!), but it also feels a bit tedious at times, while not as drawn out as Extra.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its strong narrative, complex characters, and multiple endings that encourage players to explore different outcomes. However, while it builds on its predecessor in meaningful ways, some reviewers feel it may not hold up as well on its own in terms of replay value.
“Its strong narrative and complex characters will keep players engaged throughout the story, and its multiple endings offer ample replay value.”
“Unlimited is an excellent and more serious follow-up to Extra and develops its plot, characters, and themes in some very clever and satisfying ways, however, it falls short in other aspects when judged in isolation and in terms of replay value.”
“Unlimited is an excellent and more serious follow-up to Extra and develops its plot, characters, and themes in some very clever and satisfying ways; however, it falls short in other aspects when judged in isolation and in terms of replay value.”
