Raging Loop commits every writing sin VNs are so often guilty of, but still manages to be more entertaining than most.
The premise is explained from the start, so you're led to expect a real-life 'Mafia' (the party game) situation. But things aren't what they seem--and I don't mean the twists in the plot.
Unfortunately the writers opted to slap a thick layer of supernatural BS to the murder mystery--i.e. magic, gods, time travel--has it all. Problem is that kinda stuff has no place in a game of Mafia (except maybe time travel, in a way).
Mafia is a game with rules, which ostensibly exist in Raging Loop's world. The rules mean people's actions have a degree of logical connection between cause/effect. But the existence of supernatural elements undermines those rules, effectively making the ties to the real-life game, ostensibly a major selling point of the VN, moot.
The story is more about magic, gods & time travel than it is about a fun/deadly game of mystery-solving. Some elements of the game are represented, but the knowledge that every rule can go out the window at any time makes it less fun, and the time travel greatly reduces the sense of stakes.
On the other hand, once you know what to expect, and what not to expect, you still get a fairly interesting setting (albeit cliché), good characters, good VA and a premise which still carries some intrigue, albeit not in relation to the 'game'. Also, the dialogue takes many detours into comedy which seem inappropriate, but the general absurdity of the situation makes it feel not-too out of place, and I liked the jokes anyway.
The premise is explained from the start, so you're led to expect a real-life 'Mafia' (the party game) situation. But things aren't what they seem--and I don't mean the twists in the plot.
Unfortunately the writers opted to slap a thick layer of supernatural BS to the murder mystery--i.e. magic, gods, time travel--has it all. Problem is that kinda stuff has no place in a game of Mafia (except maybe time travel, in a way).
Mafia is a game with rules, which ostensibly exist in Raging Loop's world. The rules mean people's actions have a degree of logical connection between cause/effect. But the existence of supernatural elements undermines those rules, effectively making the ties to the real-life game, ostensibly a major selling point of the VN, moot.
The story is more about magic, gods & time travel than it is about a fun/deadly game of mystery-solving. Some elements of the game are represented, but the knowledge that every rule can go out the window at any time makes it less fun, and the time travel greatly reduces the sense of stakes.
On the other hand, once you know what to expect, and what not to expect, you still get a fairly interesting setting (albeit cliché), good characters, good VA and a premise which still carries some intrigue, albeit not in relation to the 'game'. Also, the dialogue takes many detours into comedy which seem inappropriate, but the general absurdity of the situation makes it feel not-too out of place, and I liked the jokes anyway.