I first tried this VN some time ago when episode 1 of chapter 1 released. Overall I thought it was great. Sadly I had to drop it in episode 2 though. Honestly from what little I played of it I hated it. Moon's build up was forced and rushed and literally killed all of my interest in her. The mom seems to have become a completely different character. Naomi's intro into the plot also felt forced and rushed. The track and field girl seems to be getting tossed aside which I'm also not a fan of. Lastly I think things in general are just getting to absurd for me and I don't like the direction the main story is going. Woulda preferred to keep all the scifi/fantasy stuff out of the VN and kept things more grounded-ish. It was a good run up to this point though. Anyways just wanted to toss my 2 cents out there now that I'm dropping the VN.
I understand that opinions can vary, but I believe some of the criticisms deserve to be viewed from a different perspective.
First, regarding Moon's character development: while her introduction may have seemed rushed to you at first, her story evolves more deeply as the chapters progress. Those who continue playing will see additional layers to her character that enrich her journey. It might just be a matter of giving the narrative more time to reach its full potential.
Regarding Naomi and the athletic girl, I understand your frustration, but it's common in games like this to cycle the focus between main and secondary characters. This doesn’t mean the athletic girl has been forgotten; it’s likely her time to shine will come in later chapters. Since you haven't played the other chapters, it’s hard to fully assess her development at this point.
As for the sci-fi/fantasy elements: this is a matter of personal taste. In my opinion, the author has managed to strike a good balance between realism and fantasy, creating something grounded while still exploring more fantastic themes in an engaging way. I don’t think he goes overboard but rather enhances the narrative with these elements.
Finally, it’s a shame you’ve decided to abandon the VN, especially since you haven’t even reached the halfway point of the story. It might be worth reconsidering in the future, especially if new chapters are released and the issues you raised are addressed. Sometimes, being patient with the development of the story can lead to very pleasant surprises.
