Melody must have been one of the first adult VNs I've played - and I still remember how amazed I was back then.
Now, as time has passed and I've seen my fair share of adult games / VNs, that amazement has pretty much vanished.
Melody is still a good looking, well crafted and - most importantly - completed VN (which is a feat of its own), but other than that it's not that special in my opinion.
The characters are quite bland and interchangeable, the girls not really up my alley (especially the main girl Melody looks like an oversized doll with fake boobs).
However, the worst thing about Melody is the writing.
While the setting is unique and the dev uses proper English, dialogue and story are drawn-out and tiresome.
After revisiting Melody, I can't think of a single moment of excitement, a feeling of "I cannot wait to see where this is going" - quite on the contrary:
Everything about Melody is just way too predictable - the story, the relationships, heck... even the sex.
Talk - hug - kiss - grope - masturbate - sex. Rinse & repeat.
On top of that the relationship (point) mechanics don't make too much sense.
You already kissed Melody before and she liked it?
Too bad - the next time you meet her she expects you to hug her in order to like it.
Or you meet her friend Fi and dare to give her a friendly hug in front of Melody?
She's going to hate you for it.
No, you have to kiss her friend - then she's fine with it.
So, yeah - without a walkthrough you are pretty much screwed (and I haven't even mentioned the "fun" music theory quizzes yet).
Funnily enough even on an "I'm doing everything to piss her off" playthrough you still end up "screwing" Melody while technically being on the relationship status "stranger".
Ultimately, it doesn't make too much sense - just like the characters.
Melody is characterised as a decent girl, but at one point and out of thin air she simply decides to ride around town topless. Go figure.
Now, as time has passed and I've seen my fair share of adult games / VNs, that amazement has pretty much vanished.
Melody is still a good looking, well crafted and - most importantly - completed VN (which is a feat of its own), but other than that it's not that special in my opinion.
The characters are quite bland and interchangeable, the girls not really up my alley (especially the main girl Melody looks like an oversized doll with fake boobs).
However, the worst thing about Melody is the writing.
While the setting is unique and the dev uses proper English, dialogue and story are drawn-out and tiresome.
After revisiting Melody, I can't think of a single moment of excitement, a feeling of "I cannot wait to see where this is going" - quite on the contrary:
Everything about Melody is just way too predictable - the story, the relationships, heck... even the sex.
Talk - hug - kiss - grope - masturbate - sex. Rinse & repeat.
On top of that the relationship (point) mechanics don't make too much sense.
You already kissed Melody before and she liked it?
Too bad - the next time you meet her she expects you to hug her in order to like it.
Or you meet her friend Fi and dare to give her a friendly hug in front of Melody?
She's going to hate you for it.
No, you have to kiss her friend - then she's fine with it.
So, yeah - without a walkthrough you are pretty much screwed (and I haven't even mentioned the "fun" music theory quizzes yet).
Funnily enough even on an "I'm doing everything to piss her off" playthrough you still end up "screwing" Melody while technically being on the relationship status "stranger".
Ultimately, it doesn't make too much sense - just like the characters.
Melody is characterised as a decent girl, but at one point and out of thin air she simply decides to ride around town topless. Go figure.