Had to replay this after feeling nostalgic, and it still held up on a second playthrough of 100%ing the to-do list. Your dialogue and ideas are still hilarious and I still found myself gosling for a Reimu that doesn't exist. Just like the first time I played I was more than happy to sink hours into this game, ticking off tasks and immersing myself in the world and the characters. Such a great game.
One thing that I noticed only on my second playthrough was just how utterly depressing this game is, though. Maybe my outlook on life has changed but beneath the chaos and the laughs (which I already went into detail about how I liked it 2 years ago) was a story of heartache and struggle. So many of the characters are carefree and easygoing, but sometimes it seems less like they're chill and more like they stopped caring. Nina never had a childhood yet still did so much for Anon so she wants to get married to a reluctant but obligated Anon, Reimu fucking DIED(?) at the altar(??) based on the description of her wedding dress and could never be married, Ms. Lanza is jaded from being abandoned by her husband, Selen's... everything, Enna's home life, and something about Rosemi's reaction to Rosechu was also heartbreaking. It's all so fucking depressing. But the good kind... I think. I dunno, I just feel sad now. Definitely adds a layer beyond "haha funny sex" (which is also still good, mind you).
Then there's the implication of Anon being bullied when he was young and how he's now compensating for it, his fear of being left behind (with many of the girls VALIDATING that fear), and the overall "summer is over" theme that keeps haunting me at the end of every run. I think the fact that you're unlikely to write book 3 just adds to the sorrow of that last point in a fourth-wall-break kinda way. While I would really love a DLC to wrap things up since you did mention having some ideas written down, I get that it's unlikely. It's a strange kind of sadness, but one that arose from how attached I became to these characters. Sorry for the long paragraphs, but the underlying themes were something I never noticed on my first playthrough 2 years ago.
One thing I also noticed was the parallel between Anon and Ms. Lanza regarding their perception of promises. Anon was skeptical of Elira when she said she would still hang out with him even after graduation. However, he said the same thing to Ms. Lanza, telling her he would come for her after graduation, and she was also skeptical. Dunno if that was intentional but it was neat.
I think you have a real talent for VNs, especially the writing. I would more than happily pay money for something like Ninisanni Scenario 2, because it entertained me far more than many paid games I've played. I will watch your page very closely because as I said, I will play anything you put out. Hell, you could make a VN talking about that one time you took a shit and I'd still play it. I'd PAY to play it. Seriously, thank you for your work. You're good at this. Eagerly awaiting your next project.
P.S both "Ninisanni Scenario" and "Dullachan" don't return anything on itch.io's search function. Know why that is?
Viewing post in Ninisanni Scenario 2: The Harem End comments
>Your dialogue and ideas are still hilarious
Thanks aplenty. I know jokes are going to fly well when I'm on the sixth edit and I'm still laughing at them.
>I still found myself gosling for a Reimu that doesn't exist
This brings me back to when I was drafting the first one. When I got to Reimu I was unsure of how I was going to sell her in cast full of very strong and unique characters. I knew a straight man type would fit right into the goofballs, but I also knew it would require a couple extra scenes to properly characterize her charm. I'm happy she's a favorite, and am still surprised it turned out so well.
>Just like the first time I played I was more than happy to sink hours into this game, ticking off tasks and immersing myself in the world and the characters. Such a great game.
I just love to hear that.
>One thing that I noticed only on my second playthrough was just how utterly depressing this game is, though.
Funny, I only noticed this after release. I was going for sentimental, but upon rereads I noticed the same thing. Honestly, it's something I've been self-conscious about, since a lot of my recent drafts have depressing undertones. I think it's because I've been writing a lot of works that serve as chadacter studies, and delving into the internal motivation has a lot of navelgazing
Even so, I think the depressing undertone works for Ninisanni 2. There's grieving there, what with the Ninisanni cast irl. As well as the idea of graduating high school and totally losing that super fun group of friends.
>I think the fact that you're unlikely to write book 3 just adds to the sorrow of that last point in a fourth-wall-break kinda way.
Yeah.
I would like to write a third one... I can still write the characters. But I also think I can make you fall in love with characters in an original plot. I have so much other stories to tell. One day.
>P.S both "Ninisanni Scenario" and "Dullachan" don't return anything on itch.io's search function. Know why that is?
That's just itch.io search being bad/blacklisting. Adult games don't show up on no accounts/sfw accounts. The search is bad with specific wording. And also itch.io loves blacklisting game devs because the mods are monkeys.
>Eagerly awaiting your next project.
Check this out if you haven't already /blog/1021003/my-new-vn-scorpion-hill-is-out-but-not-on-itchio
And check back in a month a month or so, I'm nearing release for a new one.