I HATE eroge – Eroge need more gameplay damn it!

Ok, don’t get me wrong. I like eroge but only certain kinds. Usually ones that are more on the tame side that are also more romantic than for *fap fap fap* tiem.

Anyway, that isn’t really what I wanna talk about. I’m no connoisseur when it comes to all the better eroge out there because to be honest the only ones I’ve really tried are those released by Augustsoft, Cross Channel and Nanatsuiro Drops which was my most recent try. They’re all pretty enjoyable, but you got to admit they’re all *click click click* than they are anything else. I think I would be more open to playing MORE eroge if they were more engaging and fun.

Now, I know there are some eroge out there that do try to have some kind of gameplay to “spice” stuff up. I’ve played a few (most by GIGA) but honestly it’s so stupid and simplistic. They don’t want you to try very hard at all because eroge, I guess, essentially is for *fap fap fap* tiem. Regardless, the added gameplay isn’t very fun at all because if you still don’t do something right you’re going to miss a flag and get a BAD END. Now, why can’t eroge learn a thing or two from renai/date sims? Now those games are fun.

I find myself playing Tokimeki Memorial 2 over more times than I do Yoake Mae yori Ruri Iro na and within good reason. Once you finish an eroge you know the story and it’s a done deal. There IS no replay value. With renai/date sims, sure I know Kotoko’s story like the back of my hand but there is that added element of more complex gameplay of picking date spots, working on stat points and what not that just makes replay never boring at least in my case.

Even a game like True Love Story which has the simplest gameplay I’ve seen in a renai/date sim has more replay value. You’re given 4 seasons and each season has different events with each girl so that adds more replay value with a given girl than all at once. Then there is True Love Story 2 which is a lot more complex than the first game because some events JUST seem like the stars need to align in a certain way to get an event. Kinda frustrating for a completionist like me who wants all the CGs. So there is replay value in these games because you can’t get everything all at once by just clicking on the right dialogue prompt.

There is no room for experimenting in eroge. You chose the wrong prompt and it’s game over. Even in a game like Comic Party (Dreamcast port), which had the most engaging and fun gameplay in a visual novel I’ve experienced, leaves no room for failure. Oh, you didn’t chose to make an anime related doujinshi as your first doujinshi? Well, you won’t meet Asahi on this playthrough then.

I’m just very frustrated with the very linear and set path eroge is. I want to be more interested in it but I can’t because it’s been the same damn thing. You’d think after all these years they would create something more fun and interesting but they seem to be all the same. At least from my experience. Other genres and series have evolved for the better (and worse) why does eroge refuse to change? Then again, I don’t really experiment since I don’t know what is out there. It is such a lot of work to wait for a game to (you know) and then install it to find it’s not what I’m looking for even though the artwork is appealing.

A lot of my most favorite date games come from the 90s and that seems to be the time when they were at their peek on the console. I’m sure there is a few I am totally aware of that are still out there. Have they been still releasing games with elements like Tokimeki Memorial even today? I haven’t kept up with it. I know there are games like Harvest Moon that still are being made on the console with dating elements and it’s still very fun. Why are the ones without teh pron more fun than the ones with it!?