I think it also helps that there's a mild social element to it too. Like if I see a friend update some comments on a game, we can talk about it further. ESPECIALLY if friends' interests or timing aligns with your own. Like I was playing Yakuza 5 at the same time as DarkLink978, so we ended up talking about it a lot

Two weeks for AINI isn't bad. I wanna say AITSF took me about 2 months, but that was just doing 1 stream/week for 9 weeks. So ultimately it was just like a week and a half of actual gameplay days.

Well, I'm on the prologue of Summer Pockets now with about a month left. I think this should be plenty doable, especially since I'm just doing 1 route each for now. (Both games are getting enhanced versions soon so...) Thank you for the words of encouragement.

Have you gotten around to starting Paranormasight? I really want to return to it ASAP, but--as you can imagine--other reads are taking priority atm

You didn't have a monitor stand?? Your poor neck...

You said it. This year has been absolutely absurd for games; from the biggest budget AAAs down to the most niche titles, EVERYONE is eating good this year.

Like, God, man I didn't even realize Leaf's "White Album" from 1998 JUST got a remake this month, and it's the first time that game has ever been in English. Then not even a few short weeks later, we get the return of the biggest AAA mech franchise. I couldn't be happier.

> in like 20 hours, you can finish [AA3]

Yeah that seems to be the consensus. About 21 hours on HLTB~ As for JRPGs, I totally get it. For as much as I love the genre, I don’t think I could play as many as I do without Backloggery. Not only does it act as a place to keep myself accountable for finishing games that I want to, but the notes and comments sections for each game helps out TREMENDOUSLY.

>I played the trilogy in the summer of ‘20

Good lord. That’s quite a bit of reading and puzzle solving for just 3 months I can’t really talk though. I’m trying to get through both Air and Summer Pockets this summer…

>you’re the second person that recommends me [Paranormasight]

For damn good reason too. It is a love letter to classic ADV games. I think as a fellow VN/ADV fan, you’ll absolutely love it.

>I heard Disco Elyisum is also crazy good, but nothing can beat good ol' Higurashi, it's a classic for a reason.

And now that I’ve finished Watanagashi, my love for the series is just growing by the day

>in my case I only own a desktop computer and a DSi/2DS

Does that mean you do most of your VN reading at a desk? Your poor back…

>I remember I quit the game after the fifth star I think? So it's crystal clear that I'll have to restart

Yeah, I can’t imagine you’d get a lot out of the game only playing the last two stars. Sounds like you’ve got a lot to look forward to this year and beyond, eh?

Oh yeah, no rush at all on my end. It's certainly high priority on my reading list once I'm done with my 2023 goals list. That's 7 VNs/ADVs long currently, so it certainly won't be any time soon. Just enough time that coming back to AA3 will give me that AA spark again once I'm able to start.

Regarding AI, have you played the Zero Escape games? I finished AItSF and wanted to jump right into AINI, but then there was that infamous Famitsu interview where Uchikoshi basically left the idea of ZE and AI sharing a world up to interpretation. So now I want to be well-equipped if connections ever do come up in his future works.

Ohhhh, absolutely prioritize Paranormasight if you haven't picked it up yet. I haven't finished all the routes yet, but it is INCREDIBLE for being an in-house, budget Square Enix release. Praying for more in the future.

It's kinda funny; shortly after posting that last comment, a friend of mine changed her annual recommendation from Disco Elysium to Higurashi Ch. 2. And yep, it's still incredible. Still a slow burn, but the payoffs are well worth it.

With regards to time, I totally agree. If it wasn't for the Switch and Steam Deck, there's no chance in hell I'd be reading this much. Being able to read before bed or while traveling is--no pun intended--a game changer.

You started a DECADE ago? Oh my. Are you thinking about doing a total restart, or will you try to pick up from where you left off?

Gave it a little more time after finishing to sit on it, and I *think* I ended up liking it more than the original? Maybe?

Yeah, some IRLs are also saying that 3 goes crazy and they want me to play it soon. Not sure when I'll have time since I intend to read 3 other VNs/ADVs this summer, but we'll see.

In my region (USA) it's about $30 which doesn't seem too bad. Especially with how heavily Capcom tends to discount their digital games. There's also a $30 Japanese import that--thankfully--has English on the cartridge. I went with that one, so it should be here shortly.

Maaaan, you bringing up Umineko makes me wanna get back into reading Higurashi. I took a short break after Onikakushi which ended up snowballing into reading several other VNs. Oh, and if you do end up trying Mario RPG, I'm curious to hear your thoughts. I adore that game, and I'm thinking about doing a refresher playthrough before the remake.

I sure am! I’m wrapping up the final cross examination of the final case this morning. It’s been pretty fun so far; no real gripes aside from the movement in Case 3 being kinda grating.

It could’ve just been down to how I was feeling that day, but I feel like moving to specific locations in Case 3 was substantially more annoying than anything else I’ve played so far. But that’s all it was, just some turbulence in an otherwise fine case.

I’m looking forward to both AA3 later this year and Ghost Trick later this month. Are you picking up the latter?