Muv-Luv photonflowers

About

"Muv-Luv Photonflowers" is a visual novel that compiles two stories from the Muv-Luv series. The first part, "Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom ~Muv-Luv After Episode~," is a lighthearted romp that follows the aftermath of Sumika's route from Muv-Luv Extra, exploring the relationship between Sumika and Takeru. The second part features six individual ministories from the perspective of different characters in the tragic timeline of Muv-Luv Alternative. This collection offers a deeper understanding of the series' characters and events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 174 reviews

story21 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

The game provides enjoyable side stories that expand on the characters and lore of the Muv-Luv universe, particularly the Alternative side stories which are well-written and impactful.
Stories like 'Atonement' and 'Confessions' are standout pieces that offer deep character development and emotional resonance, making them must-reads for fans.
The Extra side stories, while lighter and more humorous, serve as a nice therapy session after the heavy themes of Muv-Luv Alternative.

Many of the Extra side stories are considered forgettable or lacking in substance, with some reviewers feeling they are merely filler without significant payoff.
The English translations of the stories have been criticized for being poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
The game is seen as overpriced for the amount of content provided, with some stories being too short or not worth the time investment.

story
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
82%
5%
The story aspect of Muv-Luv Extra and its alternative side stories is praised for its depth and character development, particularly through longer narratives like "Confessions" and "Atonement," which provide significant backstory for key characters. While some side stories are seen as less impactful or poorly executed, the overall narrative structure enriches the established universe, offering emotional arcs and satisfying conclusions, especially for dedicated fans. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies and pacing issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The alternative side stories are significantly heavier, and the Marimo side story alone is fantastic.”
- “Every side story adds more depth to what already is an incredibly rich universe.”
- “It's a quite strong story that gets us a better look at Alternative's world in times and places both similar to and unlike how Takeru saw them, making it a good expansion on the characters, the world, and the story.”
- “Rain Dancers centers around characters that I'd never heard of, fighting at a front that I've never seen covered in Muv-Luv before, and didn't really have any kind of a discernible story arc.”
- “The stories in Extra are fairly short, and in a way they're fun, but unless you have a particular attachment to the girl involved, they're little more than what would be an interlude scene within the main Extra story.”
- “It had many issues that made it difficult to enjoy, feeling too long for what was ultimately a very simple story, with a contrived conflict that made it hard to like either of the major characters.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as bright, funny, and often absurd, particularly in the extra side stories, which are praised for their short and entertaining nature. While some scenarios, like the case of the missing tail and the yakisoba festival, feature light humor that may not resonate with everyone, the overall dialogue and situations provide a mix of depth and comedic relief, including some amusing fanservice. However, some players feel that certain humorous elements fall flat and do not contribute significantly to the overall experience.
- “The extra side stories are so damn good, they're all funny, short, and sweet.”
- “It gives some more knowledge about the psyche of this girl, and has also some funny dialogues.”
- “It has all you need: depth, good dialogues, funny situations, and some hilarious fan service.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of laughter and deep emotional storytelling, with some narratives evoking strong feelings of guilt and trauma among characters. While certain episodes resonate more profoundly, particularly "Inheritance," others struggle to engage due to uninteresting character arcs. Overall, players appreciate the satisfying story arcs and emotional endings that enhance their connection to the characters.
- “I think it alone is a couple of hours worth of reading and has a satisfying story arc with an emotional ending.”
- “There's plenty of laughter throughout the episode, although it is quite an emotional story as well (we're talking like extra level emotional, not alternative).”
- “Characters deal with a lot of guilt and emotional trauma, be it from not being able to pull their weight, to having forsaken their homeland or ideals, to the guilt of having survived a sortie.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Character development in the game is noted for providing additional backstory, particularly for the cast of Muv Luv Extra, enhancing the depth of characters like Akira. However, some players feel that the development is inconsistent, starting strong but ultimately stalling without a satisfying conclusion. Overall, while there are moments of meaningful growth, the execution leaves some wanting more.
- “Gives more backstory and character development to the cast of Muv Luv Extra.”
- “Rain Dancers: they started doing some decent character development, then it just suddenly stops without ever really going anywhere.”
- “It starts off slow, but ends up having decent character development for Akira, to the point where I'd actually like to see more of her at some point in the future.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the game's optimization, focusing instead on the emotional impact of performances. As such, there is no clear consensus or information regarding the game's optimization quality.
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for their immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience and making the world feel more tangible. Players note that the attention to detail in sound effects and background music significantly contributes to the emotional impact of the gameplay.
- “The sound design, both sound effects and background music, made it feel more real than words set to a drawn background should.”
- “The music in this game enhances the atmosphere and immerses you in the world, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The soundtrack is incredibly well-composed, perfectly matching the game's tone and elevating the overall experience.”
- “The sound design - both sound effects as well as background music - just made it feel more real than words set to a drawn background should.”
- “I mean, since they did such a good job, I'm disturbed because you can hear every rip, snap, and squelch as the beta eats a tsf pilot alive.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is characterized as a kinetic visual novel, meaning it offers a linear narrative experience without player choices.
- “Gameplay...it's a visual novel, a kinetic one at that (no choices).”
- “Gameplay...it's a visual novel, a kinetic one at that (no choices).”