Crystalline

Crystalline is a bit of an odd one.  It's a visual novel which feels like playing Tales of Symphonia or a similar RPG crossed with reading a romance novel.  In a lot of the visual novels I've played, the action is limited to a handle of locations because it's about relating to people rather than questing.  While this one is about relating to people, it's also about a journey.  And, as I said, a romance novel.  You can wingman for the beta couple (which I enjoyed) as well as having your viewpoint character pursue (or not) one romance option.  This lead to a problem for me; I didn't like the one romance option.  I am not a fan of the blonde, blue-eyed cliche.  I have a weakness for bitches, which is not a word I would use for non-fictional women, but does sum-up what I mean.  Strong, powerful women, who take no shit from anyone and go after their own dreams, like Vera Oberlin (of Monster Prom) or Kim Kaswell (of Drop Dead Diva, a TV show) or even Scarlet O'Hara.  Nice, boring, mousey women just aren't my type, which does not gel with what this game is offering. 

I also did not like that the game kept accusing my character of being a paedophile over an 18-year-old girl, especially when it's about non-optional dialogue.  Sure, okay, my party are under the impression that the 18-year-old is much younger and will not react well to any implied romance with her, so I'll avoid any of those options, if the game gives me that choice, which it doesn't always.

The game has eight multiple endings, which is nice.  To be honest, after playing for 13 hours and seeing six of them, I have lost interest.  This is largely because the true ending - adequately romancing the heroine and passing the mini-games - was far too easy to get.  I'm okay with the easy mini-games - though it got a bit boring on my second run through - but I was actively trying to choose the worst romance options.  I disrespected her boundaries, acted like a pervy creep, showed hentai to the youngest member of the group, and hit on other women in front of her, and she still considered me her one true love.  What is wrong with this woman?  I didn't like her to start with, and this just dropped any respect I had for her down to the floor.  And since romance is the largest part of the gameplay, that's where my enjoyment ran out.  I don't regret buying the game (£3.74) or playing it, and I might even play it again someday and try for endings E and F.  That said, my opinion on the game is a solid 'meh'.

Oh, and what is with those jiggle-physics?  Sure, boobs lol, but it really just made the game lag annoyingly.   And did every single female character need to jiggle?  Was that really necessary?