ROBOTICS;NOTES DaSH
- October 13, 2020
- MAGES. Inc.
ROBOTICS;NOTES DaSH is the sequel to ROBOTICS;NOTES, a visual novel adventure game. The game follows the members of Central Tanegashima High School's Robot Research Club as they uncover the secrets of a mysterious roboticist and her creations. With multiple endings, players must make choices that affect the story's outcome. This game is a must-play for fans of the science fiction genre and visual novel enthusiasts.
Reviews
- The game provides enjoyable character development and closure for the main cast from Robotics;Notes, particularly in the final routes.
- The visuals and music are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience despite some technical issues.
- Fans of the Science Adventure series may appreciate the numerous references and connections to other titles, making it a fun experience for dedicated followers.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and lacks mouse support, making it frustrating to play without the recommended fan patch.
- Many character routes feel like filler or non-canon, leading to a disappointing experience compared to the original Robotics;Notes.
- Daru's portrayal as a perverted character is off-putting for some players, detracting from the overall narrative and character dynamics.
- story59 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of this title is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its lack of stakes and coherence compared to previous entries in the series. While some non-canon routes provide enjoyable character development and tie up loose ends, the main plot is often described as lacking depth and feeling more like fan service than a substantial continuation. Ultimately, the final acts redeem the narrative somewhat, but many players feel it doesn't live up to the expectations set by its predecessors.
“The main premise is still good, and the last two acts of the story are actually pretty incredible, wrapping up loose ends from Robotics;Notes while also setting up future installments and further developing certain characters' relationships and story.”
“The story has its downsides, though some are subjective matters. All in all, this game completes and concludes the story of Robotics;Notes.”
“Even though it is a fandisc which has a smaller plot than the mainline, the story is still amazing and heartwarming, tying up loose ends from Robotics;Notes Elite perfectly, with many characters receiving major developments.”
“The plot and writing just aren't up to snuff with the rest of the series, and I was severely disappointed in the 10 years later Daru.”
“The most boring story I've read in media and one that pissed me off more than it made me laugh.”
“The game also doesn't really have a main plot until the very end.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the story lacking in depth and coherence, while others appreciate the heartwarming character developments and impactful moments, particularly in specific routes like Subaru's. Despite its status as a fandisc with a lighter plot, many reviewers highlight the emotional weight and satisfying conclusions it provides, especially in the latter parts of the story. Overall, while some narratives may feel underwhelming, the game succeeds in delivering wholesome and touching experiences.
“It's really really good and heart-warming.”
“The best part of this story is actually towards the end, and it turns so much of the emotional stakes and atmosphere on its head that it feels like a completely separate visual novel.”
“Even though it is a fandisc which has a smaller plot than the mainline, the story is still amazing and heart-warming, tying up loose ends from R;N Elite perfectly, many characters received major developments and fleshed out even more.”
“The most boring story I've encountered in any media, and one that frustrated me more than it made me laugh.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and lacked any real depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I expected a heartfelt experience, but instead, I was left feeling indifferent and unengaged.”
- character development8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in this game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the deeper exploration of returning characters and the wholesome moments, others feel that much of the content is filler and lacks significant plot progression. The writing is praised for its quality, and the main cast, including returning characters, benefits from additional development, though some players note that the overall importance of the game feels diminished compared to main entries in the series.
“It has a great story, good character development, excellent soundtrack and voice acting like its predecessor.”
“This visual novel gives nice character development to the main cast.”
“The returning casts, main and minor, received a good amount of airtime and further character developments.”
“It's great to see Daru again, but it's even better to see how this game touches on some drawbacks I had with the first game, specifically the lackluster character developments of certain characters.”
“If you want a bit more character development and are willing to ignore the annoying overarching non-plot, you might find enjoyment in this, but I don't feel particularly motivated to find out.”
“Would rate it 8/10; a lot of its content is fanservice, not much story, but great character developments.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the background music for its nostalgic and new compositions that enhance the overall experience, while others found it lacking. The soundtrack effectively incorporates motifs from the original game, contributing to strong storytelling and character development. Overall, the music is noted for its quality and fitting presentation alongside the visuals.
“The background music is even better, bringing back old songs while also presenting new ones.”
“It has a great story, good character development, excellent soundtrack, and voice acting like its predecessor.”
“(2/10) for the music.”
“Music slaps as sci-fi adventure tunes do, but that's to be expected.”
“The soundtrack also reinforced this aspect by incorporating motifs from Steins;Gate where appropriate.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews; while some praised the impressive visuals and faithful style reminiscent of the original, others criticized graphical bugs and perceived a lack of effort in the port's overall presentation. The design and music were generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. However, issues like the absence of basic mouse support and trading cards were noted as signs of laziness in the port's execution.
“And as for the presentation - the visuals, the music - all great.”
“The graphics used a similar style to the original and were well done, and the design and songs were good and fit in with the story.”
“Perhaps one of the best visual novels in terms of visuals.”
“Dash was not good; it seemed mostly like an excuse to have the girls in sexual outfits and to have Daru be a 'pervert gentleman.' Honestly, I stopped playing. I was also seeing some pretty bad graphical bugs.”
“The lack of basic mouse support and not having trading cards (for which they could use any piece of preexisting artwork from this visual novel) shows the laziness of this port.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including frequent crashes, softlocks, and slow loading times, which necessitate regular saving. Additionally, users have noted the absence of mouse support and various technical glitches that detract from the overall experience.
“Was somewhat buggy for me, softlocked (mostly from not loading a new scene) and crashed a couple of times, so had to save semi-frequently.”
“- Buggy release (random black screen, crashes, slow loading).”
“But it is also marred by a lot of technical issues, such as: freezes, crashes, lack of mouse support.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some finding it unfunny and even off-putting, particularly due to the character Daru's inappropriate behavior. While the main plot has the potential for humor, it often falls flat, leading to frustration rather than laughter. However, there are moments of emotional and heartwarming humor that provide some levity amidst the shortcomings.
“The main plot itself sounds hilarious initially, and Kimijima's threat seems ridiculous and childish, leading me to think this episode is about holidays and having fun.”
“Emotional CGs, heartwarming moments, and funny events condensed in just 20 hours.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily emphasizes character interactions rather than mechanical elements, but many users feel that it lacks substantial gameplay mechanics, leading to a diminished overall experience.
“The gameplay is almost completely removed.”
“In other words, its main focus is not robots or any mechanical stuff; it's mostly about characters.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for the game has been criticized for being misleading, as it heavily promotes character routes that are not canon, despite advertising romance as a key feature. This disconnect between marketing and actual content has left players feeling frustrated and confused.
“The advertising for this game is very misleading, as all but two of the character routes are non-canon, unlike the original Robotics;Notes, which were all canon.”
“It is absolutely baffling that they would advertise romancing characters as one of the key selling points, yet not have it in the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is noted to be somewhat bland, but it significantly shifts towards the end, enhancing emotional stakes and creating a feeling akin to a different visual novel.
“The best part of this story is actually towards the end, and it turns so much of the emotional stakes and atmosphere on its head that it feels like a completely separate visual novel.”
“Thus the atmosphere feels a little bland.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and confusing, as it struggles to define its identity between being an expansion, a fandisc, or a sequel, leading to a frustrating experience.
“The game can't decide if it wants to be an expansion set, a fandisc, or a sequel, and it's all just a tedious mess.”
“Grinding feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being demanding on hardware, with some users experiencing stuttering at 1080p resolution and needing to lower settings to achieve smoother performance. However, despite these issues, the visuals are praised for their stunning and immersive quality.
“Even though they are too much for my machine to handle on 1080p (I had to set it to 1280x768 to stop the stuttering), they provide a stunning and immersive experience.”