Muv-Luv photonflowers
- August 2, 2019
- aNCHOR Inc.
Get on Steam"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.
PC
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Reviews
- The collection of side stories provides enjoyable character development and backstory for fans of the Muv-Luv series.
- Atonement and Confessions are standout stories that are well-written and emotionally impactful, making the game worth playing for fans.
- The Extra side stories offer a light-hearted and humorous break from the heavier themes of the main series, providing a nice balance.
- Many of the Extra side stories are considered forgettable or lacking in substance, with some reviewers describing them as pointless.
- The game is criticized for its high price relative to the quality and length of the stories, leading some to recommend waiting for a sale.
- The English translations are noted to be poor, detracting from the overall experience and emotional depth of the stories.
- story82 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of emotional depth and inconsistent execution. While some side stories, particularly "Confessions" and "Atonement," are praised for their character development and rich backstories, others are criticized for being poorly structured or lacking substance. Overall, the narrative offers a blend of engaging arcs and frustrating plot choices, appealing primarily to dedicated fans of the Muv-Luv universe.
“Confessions is the main reason to read these spin-offs, in my opinion. It's a dark and sad story; I wish all of them were like this.”
“Every side story adds more depth to what is already an incredibly rich universe.”
“It's a quite strong story that gives 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.”
“The prime story is based on everyone being an idiot for plot purposes, though.”
“It was an okay framework for a story but is unfortunately pretty nonsensical in its execution.”
“The main story about Sumika was only annoying.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny fanservice and engaging side stories that are described as bright, short, and entertaining. While some scenarios provide amusing moments, such as quirky dialogues and humorous takes on cultural stereotypes, others are seen as lacking depth and not fully utilizing their comedic potential. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, with some players finding it delightful while others feel certain elements fall flat.
“The extra side stories are so damn good, man; 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.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of laughter and deep emotional storytelling, with some narratives evoking strong feelings of joy and sadness. While certain characters may lack depth, leading to a disconnect, others grapple with significant emotional trauma and guilt, enhancing the overall impact of their stories. Notably, "Inheritance" is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in its exploration of familial relationships and personal struggles.
“I think it alone is a couple 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 development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in "Muv Luv Extra" is noted for providing more backstory to its cast, enhancing the depth of the characters. However, some reviews indicate that while there are promising moments of development, particularly for Akira, the progression can feel abrupt and incomplete, leaving players wanting more.
“The game provides more backstory and character development to the cast of Muv Luv Extra.”
“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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the optimization may be difficult to assess due to language barriers, the emotional impact of the performances is universally appreciated and resonates beyond linguistic understanding.
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for their immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience by making the world feel more realistic and engaging. Users appreciate the attention to detail in both sound effects and background music, which contribute significantly to the emotional impact of the gameplay.
“The sound design, including both sound effects and background music, made the experience feel more real than words set to a drawn background should.”
“The music in this game is incredibly immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing players deeper into the experience.”
“Every note and sound in the soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an unforgettable auditory experience.”
“I don't mean that as in 'it disturbs me that they did such a good job.' 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.' Maybe it's because I have over 100 hours invested in this series and its world and characters, but 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.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel more like background noise than an engaging part of the experience.”
“I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a kinetic visual novel, meaning it offers a linear experience without player choices, focusing solely on the narrative progression.
“The gameplay is engaging and immersive, drawing you into the story without the need for choices.”
“I love how the kinetic visual novel format keeps the narrative flowing smoothly.”
“The simplicity of the gameplay allows for a deeper focus on character development and storytelling.”
“Gameplay...it's a visual novel, a kinetic one at that (no choices).”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks any real depth.”
“I found the mechanics to be clunky and unresponsive, which made the experience frustrating.”
