Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[Gone_Dead]

Yeah, that's kind of what I was trying to say. You put it into words better than I did lol
And then there's the odd way some fans and even the author are treating Blade. Calling him a pathetic wet cat, weird marriage jokes (is marriage going to be a mandatory part of his romance ending or something?), all this stuff made it impossible for me to treat his character seriously

It's actually one of the few IF's I didn't check the Tumblr for. I enjoyed it in the beginning but it sort of became a drag after. As for the RO's I'm not big on any. I liked the noblewoman RO we travel with in the begining who inherits the estate from her dead husband but that's probably the last time we see her lol.

 

[xeroxo]

WHAAAAAATTT I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I pick up merry crisis because it's an interactive novel AN. INTERACTIVE. NOVEL.
Sorry for being so petty lmao. But an IF relies on the reader's imagination more than VNs. So if I can imagine Qiu having a bowl cut, then I will imagine Qiu having a bowl cut throughout my playthrough. VNs won't let me do that because they have character arts. And not to mention the limited character creation.
Ah, but after reading through their Tumblr it seems they're planning to release Merry Crisis in both forms. So it's all good I guess .
But while we're on this topic, I just want to say. I wish more authors can embrace interactive novel as just interactive novel. Stop making them into what they aren't meant to be.
If they want to create an eerie and tense aura, I wish they actually implement it in their writing instead of adding fade in text and eerie musics.
I wish they actually write a combat scene instead of some turn based rpg game (yes, looking at you The Ultimate Magic Student. At least author gave us an auto-battle option, but with less exp :"" )
Resource management shouldn't just be "I obtain X items" and "I have X items in my inventory". I just feel burned out having to read all that and have to constantly check my inventory . Make it immersive! Like a story should be.

It's a game? Not a novel? I feel like you're interpreting the term 'interactive fiction' too literally. The Night Market, for example, is an interactive novel; the author herself says that. Stuff like zombie exodus and games on chooseyourstory are meant to be games/cyoa though. There are IFs that are more gamelike in play and others that are more to tell a story, so maybe you should just avoid the more gamelike ones

 

[xeroxo]

It's a game? Not a novel? I feel like you're interpreting the term 'interactive fiction' too literally. The Night Market, for example, is an interactive novel; the author herself says that. Stuff like zombie exodus and games on chooseyourstory are meant to be games/cyoa though. There are IFs that are more gamelike in play and others that are more to tell a story, so maybe you should just avoid the more gamelike ones

unless I'm mistaken and merry crisis is actually an interactive novel, in which case, pretend i didn't type the above

 

[Foulwarden]

Ah, but after reading through their Tumblr it seems they're planning to release Merry Crisis in both forms. So it's all good I guess .

Oh well, I’m glad that the author kept the IF version instead of replacing it with a VN, at least (YES, yes the bar is that low )

 

[LK5]

There are IFs that are more gamelike in play and others that are more to tell a story, so maybe you should just avoid the more gamelike ones

In my opinion, such games should have mouldable protagonists, and you can decide which route to take or how to react in certain situations. Some IFs such as Market Night, AtoC, The King's Hound, etc. They write a linear story, taking away the fun of using your "skills" or choosing your behaviour towards certain characters. Why don't they write a book and publish it? It's easier than dealing with criticism, because their way of writing is for a book, not for interactive fiction.

One of the reasons I like The Golden Rose/Mind Blind is because I can choose the MC's personality and skills, and then the mistakes and decisions I make have an impact on the plot.

Maybe I'm wrong (or am I stating the obvious?), I admit I'm no expert on games, but I can tell when what I'm playing is boring and bland

(Please don't kill me for this comment, I'm too shy to reply again )

 

[Vamp-kun]

In my opinion, such games should have mouldable protagonists, and you can decide which route to take or how to react in certain situations. Some IFs such as Market Night, AtoC, The King's Hound, etc. They write a linear story, taking away the fun of using your "skills" or choosing your behaviour towards certain characters. Why don't they write a book and publish it? It's easier than dealing with criticism, because their way of writing is for a book, not for interactive fiction.

One of the reasons I like The Golden Rose/Mind Blind is because I can choose the MC's personality and skills, and then the mistakes and decisions I make have an impact on the plot.

Maybe I'm wrong (or am I stating the obvious?), I admit I'm no expert on games, but I can tell when what I'm playing is boring and bland

(Please don't kill me for this comment, I'm too shy to reply again )

THOU HAVE SPOKEN AFOUL OF NIGHT MARKET, ATOC, THE KING'S HOUND, etc!!!

 

[Foulwarden]

THOU HAVE SPOKEN AFOUL OF NIGHT MARKET, ATOC, THE KING'S HOUND, etc!!!

She has spoken the truth and nothing but the truth, Ser Vamp!

Leave her beeee and
go kill a liar peasant!

 

[LosLorento]

WHAAAAAATTT I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I pick up merry crisis because it's an interactive novel AN. INTERACTIVE. NOVEL.
Sorry for being so petty lmao. But an IF relies on the reader's imagination more than VNs. So if I can imagine Qiu having a bowl cut, then I will imagine Qiu having a bowl cut throughout my playthrough. VNs won't let me do that because they have character arts. And not to mention the limited character creation.

I mean visual novels are also choice-based interactive fiction/novels. They just have more bells and whistles.

There are also quite a few indie VNs that offer a similar level of character creation as text-based IF too such as GBPatch's Our Life series, Hanako Games Magical Diary series, or the free VN from Underbliss; Ebonlight. Just to name a few.

The only type of VN that aren't interactive are kinetic novels which are just traditional novels that have been adapted to the visual novel style and have zero choices.

 

[BiscuitB]

And Shepherds of Haven is moving to Twine.
Idk, I think this game might actually do better with a more visual format.
This said, I saw someone praise it today on HG reddit and I just... don't get it lol. So, in the spirit of this thread:
- each chapter jumping locations means the game is simultaneously too much and yet not enough to really flesh out every story arc
- it keeps throwing characters at me, but past the beginning crew, I have trouble even remembering the names of the new guys
- speaking of characters, they seem to lack depth and are pretty tropey? Maybe because there are so many of them...

I tend to agree, it feels like Shepherd of Haven is really meant to be a video game it comes off as one or very much a visual novel. I do enjoy it but it's like the author wanted to go one way with the story but either doesn't have the funding to go that route. It reads video game, trying to be a fictional story.

 

[Re336]

I mean visual novels are also choice-based interactive fiction/novels. They just have more bells and whistles.

There are also quite a few indie VNs that offer a similar level of character creation as text-based IF too such as GBPatch's Our Life series, Hanako Games Magical Diary series, or the free VN from Underbliss; Ebonlight. Just to name a few.

The only type of VN that aren't interactive are kinetic novels which are just traditional novels that have been adapted to the visual novel style and have zero choices.

They don't offer the same experience as interactive novels to me. I'm not opposed to playing VNs, but compared to interactive novels, I need a lot more boxes to be ticked just to play a VN. Be it the art style, character creation options, story, etc etc. I'm just picky I guess haha.
Interactive novels won't have a lot of these problems because I can just imagine what kind of art style I would like to use as I imagine the story. And character creation won't matter much because I can just imagine how my character look in my head. It's not like every page they remind me what kind of hairstyle I'm rocking, what kind of clothes I'm wearing. I can just imagine it. VN won't let me have the same freedom

 

[Re336]

It's a game? Not a novel? I feel like you're interpreting the term 'interactive fiction' too literally. The Night Market, for example, is an interactive novel; the author herself says that. Stuff like zombie exodus and games on chooseyourstory are meant to be games/cyoa though. There are IFs that are more gamelike in play and others that are more to tell a story, so maybe you should just avoid the more gamelike ones

Yeah, they're games. But I feel like stuffs like turn based combat, dungeon crawling, and resource management need pictures to make it engaging. Because reading about what stuffs I have in my inventory isn't a fun experience especially when I have a lot of them. It feels like I'm reading an excel spreadsheet instead of playing interactive novel.
It feels like they're trying to be video games instead of interactive novels and I can feel it when I play those kind of IFs

 

[Vamp-kun]

Interactive novels won't have a lot of these problems because I can just imagine what kind of art style I would like to use as I imagine the story. And character creation won't matter much because I can just imagine how my character look in my head. It's not like every page they remind me what kind of hairstyle I'm rocking, what kind of clothes I'm wearing. I can just imagine it. VN won't let me have the same freedom

I have that peculiar thing about visual novels as well. However, I tend to do it in CYOA interactive novels that have already written extensive lines about a RO's appearance.

Take Wayhaven Chronicles for example. Adam/Ava doesn't have red hair.
In my mind, the ultimate tsundere paranormal romance romantic interest usually has red hair.
So I don't care how many special stories and artwork get released that show Adam/Ava as a blondie, mine is a ginger.
Always™***.

Similarly goes Farah.
My first CYOA novel romance interest has a similar sounding name to Pharah of Overwatch?
Then she looks just like her, and my MC is tapping only that, thank you very much!
No special artworks needed!


***"Always" and any special or suggested usage of the word is trademarked from Harry Potter and Warner Brothers, any unauthorized usage of said word will get the offender to court. If you think you can use it freely, you may join the list like all others in the courtroom.

 

[Foulwarden]

I don't care how many special stories and artwork get released that show Adam/Ava as a blondie, mine is a ginger.
Always™***.

Similarly goes Farah.
My first CYOA novel romance interest has a similar sounding name to Pharah of Overwatch?
Then she looks just like her, and my MC is tapping only that, thank you very much!
No special artworks needed!

Thats why I like playing IFs, I can imagine Ava as a silver haired without the constant reminder (if it was a VN) that she isnt.

 

[blossom1]

Yeah, that's kind of what I was trying to say. You put it into words better than I did lol
And then there's the odd way some fans and even the author are treating Blade. Calling him a pathetic wet cat, weird marriage jokes (is marriage going to be a mandatory part of his romance ending or something?), all this stuff made it impossible for me to treat his character seriously

What made u think that? i never read anything abt a marriage but yeah its a bit odd sometimes. Like. no one takes him seriously (even though he's super intimidating and strict etc etc) but also no one takes anyone seriously in story its hard to remember its supposed to be a desperate fight against the demons? Like.Does anyone care about that? the mc forgot about [redacted] ? Everything is fine and the power of friendship wins the day i guess

I also dont like how youre supposed to be getting swordsmanship training from Blade just to be on his route like Why am i forced to it my mc doesn't even use swords?? Together with the way the mc suddenly has to feel protected™ and safe™ (written repeatedly) feels off in a misogynistic way to me since this is The straight route... and itd be cute once but its in Every Dayoff. okayyyy he will die for you. I get it. Can I say something back? No? ..okay... its a lot of tell dont show with the way you keep getting paragraphs about Blade's feelings..from side characters..and in their interactions He's not interested.... up to latest chapters. Girl Get uP (to be fair i think A from Wayhaven is worse when it comes to this)

Also...something that annoys me about the mc....its obvious that the story is written with a set novel character in mind imo..the text never really lets you go out of that humorous pov. Like even with more linear stories you get more varied mcs.. i was just really into this story before..sigh

 

[SasariRomanii]

Okay, heads up for Can't Save Your Love From Dying. The author really, really like to write shitty characters for some reason. And no, those characters won't change once you romance them they'll still be a prick. For. Some. Reason author's probably a sadist (≖_≖ )

Post by @untitledrockstar-if

💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 47 · S doesn't care about mc and R's relationship much and only brought it up to hurt mc in the hospital. This is for some reason the type of relationship I love. Not exactly enemies…

www.tumblr.com

 

[clover]

Okay, heads up for Can't Save Your Love From Dying. The author really, really like to write shitty characters for some reason. And no, those characters won't change once you romance them they'll still be a prick. For. Some. Reason author's probably a sadist (≖_≖ )

Post by @untitledrockstar-if

💬 0 🔁 0 ❤️ 47 · S doesn't care about mc and R's relationship much and only brought it up to hurt mc in the hospital. This is for some reason the type of relationship I love. Not exactly enemies…

www.tumblr.com

She writes incredible prose but she can't write good characters. The whole point of writing a character is giving them a character arc, growth and personality. The character is supposed to grow with the plot— it doesn't have to positive, they can get worse too but it can be boring if everyone and everything else is changing and the characters continue to be constant. Where's the character development babe.

 

[yitiaGH]

She writes incredible prose but she can't write good characters. The whole point of writing a character is giving them a character arc, growth and personality. The character is supposed to grow with the plot— it doesn't have to positive, they can get worse too but it can be boring if everyone and everything else is changing and the characters continue to be constant. Where's the character development babe.

I don’t really mind if an RO has moral flaws, but the R in CAN'T SAVE YOUR LOVE FROM DYING just feels like a boring, immature, arrogant teenager you’d find anywhere on an American street—there’s nothing really appealing about them. I feel like the author’s writing is average, and this IF gained so much attention within just a few days mainly because of the drama within the story and the drama surrounding the author. Maybe I’m being too mean

 

[Vamp-kun]

I don’t really mind if an RO has moral flaws, but the R in CAN'T SAVE YOUR LOVE FROM DYING just feels like a boring, immature, arrogant teenager you’d find anywhere on an American street—there’s nothing really appealing about them. I feel like the author’s writing is average, and this IF gained so much attention within just a few days mainly because of the drama within the story and the drama surrounding the author. Maybe I’m being too mean

Don't worry though, we'll get GTA VI before it gets released

 

[Gone_Dead]

Don't worry though, we'll get GTA VI before it gets released

Only to find out characters like that exist in the game itself.

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

I don’t really mind if an RO has moral flaws, but the R in CAN'T SAVE YOUR LOVE FROM DYING just feels like a boring, immature, arrogant teenager you’d find anywhere on an American street—there’s nothing really appealing about them. I feel like the author’s writing is average, and this IF gained so much attention within just a few days mainly because of the drama within the story and the drama surrounding the author. Maybe I’m being too mean

Honestly, they all feel like that, Even the MC. I know ***, drugs and rock n roll doesn't lend itself to maturity, but everyone there acts like what teenagers think being cool is.