Biniku no Kaori feels like watching a crappy show, and being unable to stop. It's not a guilty pleasure in the truest sense of the expression though, because VNs are niche entertainment. If that were to change however, this title would be a good target for derogatory assertions regarding scenario, and an example of what not to do when trying to achieve quality. Returning to the crappy show: It's pretty entertaining, and guess what VNs are? That is another (or the main, once affectation is gone) form of value they can possess. It's bad, but it's good.
Positive:
- It's an entertaining VN - The bad endings are mostly silly, but the puzzlement they generate is accompanied by reader interest. The real bad ending is exceedingly funny, especially if you are used to NTR. It's not parody (probably), and yet it feels like it; The protagonist's ambivalence as a cool guy with a girlfriend, who also reacts as a virgin to all the tropes is amusing; Saya (heroine) becoming likable, after opening with "emo teen", overly rational, and self-deprecation, is an interesting accomplishment (she is a 2D girl, wasn't that hard); The sociopath girlfriend and her "red flags", would have kept anyone on their toes, if the bad endings stopped screaming she is no good; The villain POV as an after story, is a nice touch...
I wouldn't go as far as "glued to your seat", but engaging sounds about right.
Negative:
- Calling it an idiotic VN (on multiple occasions) is objective. It doesn't make it bad however, it plays to its strengths. Let's have one proper complaint: Plot threads that go nowhere. There's a number of devices where you can't use the word "hole", because they barely "digged", and release date is not an excuse for that.
Score: 6/10. If we are talking value, there's more than enough here. It went unmentioned above, but the H-scenes, and household (3D) exploration are also good points. The "Netorare part" is so dumb, that even people who don't like the tag might be able to overlook it. Personally, the problem is a structured line of thinking. Belief and sense could be thrown out the window, just keep the ludicrous register organized and connected, the score would be much higher if that was the case. At any rate, this is still recommended because it's entertaining and unique.
Positive:
- It's an entertaining VN - The bad endings are mostly silly, but the puzzlement they generate is accompanied by reader interest. The real bad ending is exceedingly funny, especially if you are used to NTR. It's not parody (probably), and yet it feels like it; The protagonist's ambivalence as a cool guy with a girlfriend, who also reacts as a virgin to all the tropes is amusing; Saya (heroine) becoming likable, after opening with "emo teen", overly rational, and self-deprecation, is an interesting accomplishment (she is a 2D girl, wasn't that hard); The sociopath girlfriend and her "red flags", would have kept anyone on their toes, if the bad endings stopped screaming she is no good; The villain POV as an after story, is a nice touch...
I wouldn't go as far as "glued to your seat", but engaging sounds about right.
Negative:
- Calling it an idiotic VN (on multiple occasions) is objective. It doesn't make it bad however, it plays to its strengths. Let's have one proper complaint: Plot threads that go nowhere. There's a number of devices where you can't use the word "hole", because they barely "digged", and release date is not an excuse for that.
Score: 6/10. If we are talking value, there's more than enough here. It went unmentioned above, but the H-scenes, and household (3D) exploration are also good points. The "Netorare part" is so dumb, that even people who don't like the tag might be able to overlook it. Personally, the problem is a structured line of thinking. Belief and sense could be thrown out the window, just keep the ludicrous register organized and connected, the score would be much higher if that was the case. At any rate, this is still recommended because it's entertaining and unique.