Amazing Grace seems like more of the same, with its hyper-cute heroines, high school setting, and well worn supernatural premise, but that's not the case at all. If you consider parameters like characters depth, main themes, route quality, and mystery, it will become readily apparent that this a VN with a clear desire to deliver something different. That doesn't mean the execution of said difference is completely praiseworthy, but the mindset behind Amazing Grace is more than enough to separate it from a multitude of traditional VNs.
Positive:
- Mystery - It's sheer quantity. 2 big mysteries, and at least 10 interrogations (amnesia, graffiti, drugs, principal, technology used...), that will persist for a very long time, and are difficult to solve. Again, connections, clues, coherence, and misdirection, might not be the strongest assets here, but the author bothered with explanations for just about anything. If you like mistery VN's, and coming up with theories, this should work.
- Themes - VNs have a very limited range of broad themes, if we simplify things: It's the power of friendship/love; The "If i try my best, things will work out"; Overcoming difficulty (loss, grief); And a general "how to be happy". Amazing grace also has some of this, but brings interesting ideas to the table: What is art, what is beauty, "how much" world does a human need, knowing things for a fact and truth, may not be synonyms, stuff like that. It's a breath of fresh air.
- Everything's connected - Not in a mindblowing way, in competent fashion. If someone mentions a painting, references the bible, or denotes some strange idiossincracy in the worldbuilding, it's gonna lead somewhere later down the line, and that adds value to the VN. Talent, brilliancy? Not so much. Hard work and method? Definitely
Neutral:
- Wasted potential - To summarize it Amazing Grace is lacking in subjective/complex content. If there's an apple (eden), it's a literal apple. If there's time travel, time leaping is allowed; If a painting depicts a dream, the associated character talks about her dreams. Uninspired.
Negative:
- Annoying structure (it's not bad, it's illogical when you think "time loops"); Convenient, and ludicrous plot devices (out of thin air even, the closer you get to the end); Translation is unfortunate (meanings, comedy, personalities, setting particulars, Japanese idiosyncrasies...); Keeping up with all the mysteries (quantity) requires too much from the reader, for little payout.
Score: Amazing grace is an 8/10, and a very good VN. If you like mystery, and prefer to stay away from conventional, this is a great recommendation, and there's a lot to like here. Personally, this is a solid VN, but also disappointing. Reaching top tier with a few tweaks, seemed like a possibility.
(H-scenes are more of the same, some of the above mentioned quality didn't reach them. They aren't much incentive to read this.)
Positive:
- Mystery - It's sheer quantity. 2 big mysteries, and at least 10 interrogations (amnesia, graffiti, drugs, principal, technology used...), that will persist for a very long time, and are difficult to solve. Again, connections, clues, coherence, and misdirection, might not be the strongest assets here, but the author bothered with explanations for just about anything. If you like mistery VN's, and coming up with theories, this should work.
- Themes - VNs have a very limited range of broad themes, if we simplify things: It's the power of friendship/love; The "If i try my best, things will work out"; Overcoming difficulty (loss, grief); And a general "how to be happy". Amazing grace also has some of this, but brings interesting ideas to the table: What is art, what is beauty, "how much" world does a human need, knowing things for a fact and truth, may not be synonyms, stuff like that. It's a breath of fresh air.
- Everything's connected - Not in a mindblowing way, in competent fashion. If someone mentions a painting, references the bible, or denotes some strange idiossincracy in the worldbuilding, it's gonna lead somewhere later down the line, and that adds value to the VN. Talent, brilliancy? Not so much. Hard work and method? Definitely
Neutral:
- Wasted potential - To summarize it Amazing Grace is lacking in subjective/complex content. If there's an apple (eden), it's a literal apple. If there's time travel, time leaping is allowed; If a painting depicts a dream, the associated character talks about her dreams. Uninspired.
Negative:
- Annoying structure (it's not bad, it's illogical when you think "time loops"); Convenient, and ludicrous plot devices (out of thin air even, the closer you get to the end); Translation is unfortunate (meanings, comedy, personalities, setting particulars, Japanese idiosyncrasies...); Keeping up with all the mysteries (quantity) requires too much from the reader, for little payout.
Score: Amazing grace is an 8/10, and a very good VN. If you like mystery, and prefer to stay away from conventional, this is a great recommendation, and there's a lot to like here. Personally, this is a solid VN, but also disappointing. Reaching top tier with a few tweaks, seemed like a possibility.
(H-scenes are more of the same, some of the above mentioned quality didn't reach them. They aren't much incentive to read this.)
