I don't know who made the call: Atelier Sakura itself or the author Orob, but what could have been a proper erotic game appealing to the fans of genre, got turned into a moral friendly drama. For reasons unfathomable to me, someone in control decided that they would rather tie up a successful series than leave it for future continuations. To do so, apparently, their best way was to dumb down the IQ of the characters so they could justify the ending. [stares dissapointingly at Kenji] Either way, AS of the present relishes being a pioneer at putting out dumpster porn content i.e more pushing early sex, less setting up a proper story-line: something akin to present real life porn movies.
In my eyes the first game was the high point of the entire series. Granted the story was plain but nevertheless, it was decently narrated. The Netorase play was the focal point and had a good overall approach to the sex scenes. The fabrication factor combined with inaccurate reports by Marina were well balanced; a light tinge of cheating factor without crossing absurd lines. All good ingredients for a genre where things spiraling out of control isn't always an appealing end. The second game however, though a better story, was a meh. Garbage game engine aside, the story flow felt more reigned in. Like the author was bored/scared/wasn't ready to experiment with new content or at the very least work in tandem with the prequel. I couldn't help but feel that the abrupt ramping down of NTR elements in the second was a precursor groundwork for what was to come in the final game. And then finally, the tailspin that was the third... well, all I'm gonna say is that the sex factor was explicit and well done. Everything else? To each, their own but we all know how major sentiments flew around it.