Does anyone here play visual novels? They're also known as eroge, but I don't look at things like that (I go for the All Ages versions).

If you're unfamiliar with what a visual novel is, they are basically adventure games with a heavy emphasis on text and story. Typically, there's hardly actual gameplay aside from decision points where you take the character's story from one path to another. A game with many decision points can become very complex, with every decision affecting the protagonist's ultimate outcome. Of course, you can always save and go back to make different choices.

The reason they are also called eroge is because a number of these games come with nudity for entertainment, though these scenes don't necessarily add to the story. It's because of this that visual novels have a somewhat negative rep, but like I said, there are all ages versions of some great visual novels out there. You can find out more about these games on Wikipedia or browsing around vndb.org.

I've played a couple of these, like Planetarian and Kanon. There are very few times visual novels with official English translations, but there are many fan translations of popular games if you look around.

Hrm, I think I know what you're talking about. The only one I've played was Radical Dreamers, which was actually very fun and interesting! I think I should like to play more of these sorts of games, but like you said, there just aren't many English language translations. It also seems (at least to me) like a majority of the games are sort of romance novels, and I'm not really into that sort of thing, you know?

But I would play them. I actually sort of like reading more than playing RPGs these days, because I hate grinding, so that would be perfect for me.

The only one I've seen is called Katawa Shoujo, and I only know about it because of a stream site I watch was playing it.  Wasn't really my style of game, but it was interesting none the less.

I didn't watch too much of it but It takes place in a high school for disabled people. The main character (the one you play) had a heart problem, and there was a mute girl, a blind girl and so on. I know you can romance one of the female characters, but am not sure if the story is entirely based around that. There was an option to turn off the adult scenes in the menu, so thats always good. Can't really recommend it since I havn't really played it.

This style of game, eroge I guess its called, could be fun. I just want a game that has a better setting than a disabillity high school... so if any one knows some good ones let me know :p . It would be awesome if you got to choose fighting as some of the options.

smotpoker86 : I've played that one myself and i have to say although it's a tad short it's an amazing play for those that like a romance-y sort of VN.

plus there's the feature to turn off the eroge scenes which i'm not sure most VN have the option to do.

I've played one of those. It was a DVD visual novel. I forgot the full name of it- Dragon-something. It was an adventure type game and anything hentai. A young knight or whatever had to defeat an evil lord. It was a decent game. It even had more than one ending, but I don't know if I got them all.

I haven't actually played any visual novels lately. The last I was involved in one was when I was checking out a LP of "Hatoful Boyfriend". That one - about dating photo-realistic pigeons - might interest you guys.

big fat cat :  There is something that makes it even more interesting; that fact that its creation was master-minded by 4chan.  The fact that its respectful towards its subject matter and a very emotional experience , while being created by the infamous 4chan, is astounding.  In a way I think 4chan restored my faith in humanity through this.

KiddoCabbuses : You have my attention.

Linking the TVTropes page because I'm lazying

Here's where you can purchase the full version of the game.

I  can't locate those old LPs atm, but they're surely around somewhere...

I don't if you heard of it, (of you may know for its popularity) but ever played the Phoenix Wright series and its spinoffs. They are all Visual Novels, that also makes the Touhou Phoenix Wright game a Visual Novel too. Those are the few Family friendly Visual Novels I know of.

Aside from the ds ones I've only tried 2, ever17 (mystery and sci-fi genre) which is also from the creators of 999: nine hours nine persons nine doors for the ds they also have remember11 which didn't really caught my interest compared to those 2. The other one i tried is saya no uta, its a story about a guy with agnosia.. He got into an accident but managed to survive except his operation created a form of agnosia, causing his senses to become "warped". He perceives the world as a hellish nightmare with a black sky and buildings covered in pulsating flesh, where all the streets and building interiors are splattered with blood, giant organs and cartilage. Ordinary people appear to him as grotesque, giant grub-like monsters with a hideous stench, and even food that he used to like now tastes utterly disgusting.
despite the popularity of fate, tsukihime, higurashi series I've never tried them yet.

I'm currently playing Clannad and Kanon, both without adult content and have English translations. Both of them I still haven't completed yet, or close to completing. Clannad surprisingly needs more than 50 hours of playing to complete., which means a boat load of reading. Kanon on the other hand is much shorter.  

I have played The Walking Dead visual novel.  It was pretty good, but I'm not sure if it is the kind of visual novel you are talking about.  It starts to sway away from the novel part though.  The cut scenes in MGS Peace Walker were like that though, and I thought they were very neat.  I'm thinking about playing some more of them.  Can anyone PM me some suggestions?

I've had this Visual Novel 3 years ago and it's still entertaining at some point. The difference is that it's in a game style like a dating simulator with many different endings and turn outs.

Brass Restoration

Game Information:
Summary: The main character, Takiguchi Ryo, is a genius percussionist in high school who had a bright future ahead of him.
But he loses his left arm in an accident.
The accident causes him to throw away his dream to become a percussionist like his father, and he loses all hope in life.
Ryo tries to abandon music, but the girls around him encourage him to take up music once again.
Will he be able to find hope in his life and a passion for music in spite of his handicap…?

System: PC

Developer: Twincle Drop

Release Date: 2004/07

Here's a link to the Website and hope that you enjoy it
http://web.archive.org/web/20100824125438/http://yandere.gray7.com/?p=64