VN - Ren'Py - Completed - Shining Song Starnova [Love in space]

This is a western VN focusing on Japanese idols and culture, that has partial Japanese voice acting, and it doesn't feel that different from a "normal" long Japanese VN. Emulating Japanese VN's and their tropes is not a problem, but in my opinion this title is already at a level where they can try to do something different, and lose the training wheels. With that said, if you consider the origin, and production values, what's accomplished here is fairly impressive.

Positive:
- Meta commentary -It's more like personal insights (writer) regarding the working tropes of Japanese entertainment. Not much of a plus unless you are familiar with a number of references, but I like it, it's an "outsider's look" on things.
- It's very entertaining - This is something you read casually, and it's instantly rewarding. Pick some underdogs, put some obstacles on the way, add unexpected twists, finish with a happy ending. It's a formula that has been working for a while now, and this title capitalizes on that.
- Idols are rare in VN's - Strangely enough, there aren't that many VN's featuring idols primarily, and a number of them are focused on the H-scenes, not the plot, so Shining Song Starnova is one of the most unique things you can read in the medium, if you want to combine idol characters and a glimpse of how their world works.

Neutral:
- Mediocre to average (partial) Japanese voice acting - Not really complaining (the VN takes place in Japan), but it seemed like a good opportunity to have English V.A. Western VN's should adapt to their reality.

Negative:
- 7 Heroines - It's too much ambition, not enough running time, and resorting to extreme or illogical plot devices to cover the difference. With 4 or 5 heroines, and a support cast on all routes (traditional model), character depth, group interactions, route quality, romance, and even story structure would have been delivered at a higher level. The VN suffers for it.

Score: Shining Song Starnova is a 7/10 and a good VN, not different in quality from hundreds of Japanese VN's already translated to English. If you ever wondered what was up with Japanese idols, or how the "Showbiz world" works in general, this could be an entertaining time.

(H-scenes are short, but they have animations. There's some extra 18+, if you clear all routes)

Most idol games/themes feature girls that just want to invigorate the world with optimism through their song. Add in a pinch of cringe and you make an idol game all complete. This is one of those games where I played it for the hentai, but stayed for the story. It is clear that the writer of this story did a lot of research into how the idol industry even works. Whereas most idols in other games media show only the positive side of the industry, this game seeks to add a really good balance of optimism and realism. Each of the girls represents an anime trope but every one of them has their own deep seated problems and issues that the MC needs to resolve. Through each of these issues, we can see the ugliness of the idol world; an industry created on to serve the shallowness and whims of a male audience. Due to that, it makes for an awesome read. As for the hentai scenes, they are basically your average vanilla scene from any other hentai game. Overall, a very fun adventure.

2/5 below average

I found it to much of a eroge when it came time for the Gals routes, found the story to basic to make up for it and the characters kind of meh most so during their routes.

The common Route is ok, think could have used a little more development with MC which would have helped the routes, but otherwise it alright.

The graphics and all that are pretty good if that matters more to you than up the rating a bit, to me I just found the gals too quick to jump on the "meme" of wanting MC D and below average overall story+characters.
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[Note not minusing points from this next bit just stating it]

Don't see them or this at all like Sunrider just because some of them have the appearance of some of them and who its made by. (other then the yandere thott she accurate decent dedication I suppose, but easiest most obvious to do).

I'm not that fond of VNs, I couldn't care less about idols shenannigans, and this got me interested, not only that but left a great impression. The paths you take with each character are quite unique, it varies from silly comedy to drama in a good way, and for the most part being really entertaining. It has great characters, even some of the side ones leave quite a mark I would recommend this to anyone, that has time for a long read or want some juicy CGs.
That's all folks, hope you have a good read and a nice day

A very enjoyable game that have routes that make sense. The decisions that you make impact the gameplay and the characters are mostly well written. This game is enjoyable and has replay potential. I would recommend this game to others if they enjoy this genre.

If you haven't played these guys before you already know they have a very dark edge.

This time they totally dropped game play elements to create a VN with only a few choices to be made.

All 5/6 initial character are broken at start with a certain defensive personality and each has an arc where they mend or the shatter horribly. I recommend following entire arcs and not to give up because the two most annoying characters transformations are really well done. The game doesn't hold back covering issues in child entertainment (obsessive parents, burn out, exploitation, sexual and physical abuse and excessive competition.) as well as social issues of domestic violence, mental health and neglect. The evolution,or devolution of MC in each arc is a little more subtle but still well done. I actually ended up hating the MC in most paths, he rejects returning girls feelings as doesn't want to exploit them but in most paths it is his greed that pushes girls into trigger events with either totally inappropriate jobs or so busy making money and deals neglects to look after them even the path he makes it super big all the resources spent on making more money and nothing on protecting girls, even the Evil Golden Calf does much more to protect assets.
They introduced animated H scenes to repertoire this game and more H content but still deep in game before you get there. THe writing for H scenes though is still abysmal. I still love the old school simplistic anime style and they capture emotions and moods well.

As usual if you just want porn or a feelgood light story these guys are not for you. On other hand if you love a well written story with deep characters that leave you reflecting on world this is a must read.

I'm going to give it an average score because it really is a great read.

Every single character from the main girls in Starnova to the secondary characters in Quasar and even the minor characters in the fans are all pretty well done.

It's easy enough to play all routes without repeating anything, there is an obvious point where the individual girls routes branch and that's when you pick the center.

Here's where the cracks formed for me. Drama is usually found in these games, it sets the scene for the ending. The good endings redeem it all and the bad endings are usually pretty grim.

Then you have Shining Song Starnova levels of drama. It left the realm of entertaining and jumped straight into the ground of utterly depressing. There is no two ways about it, it's a fucking grim game.

The common route is fantastic, it's when it branches and you see just how grim it can get. You have kids being molested, child abuse, domestic abuse, rape, murder, suicide, kidnapping and those are wayyy before the endings. The bad endings are some of the most horrible things i've seen in a game.

I'll give you a few examples so obvious spoilers ahead.

First is Julie, she's the blonde. She tries to make the producer jealous, she knows he's interested but he refuses to act so she tries to force the issue by seducing someone from a male idol band. The problem there is she has an insane fan that takes offense to that and he attempts to murder her. In her bad ending he succeeds. I just want it known that i've only done her bad route. I fucking hated her personality in her route so dead was best. She turns into such a basic bitch.

Now Nemu the pink haired girl. From the start something is off, she has yandere mood swings but it turns out far worse. She inherited a mental health condition from her mother that sends her crazy at certain times usually when her jealousy spikes. In her bad ending she carves her step mother to pieces and names the cleaver she did it with while smiling.

Aki, the red head with twin tails. When she was 12 her old producer tried to rape her but she escaped. Her mother then beat the shit out of her for not letting him do it to further her career. Her mother remains friends with the pedo that tried to rape her daughter.

Last one i'll spoil is Mariya. She was part of Quasar, the top idol group Starnova compete against, and when she was kicked out the girls forced her to strip naked and eat human feces. Yes, she was stripped and forced to eat shit.

The happy endings do not justify the levels of drama. No one comes out of this happy just varying degrees of mentally scarred if they survive at all.

Do not mistake this for a cutesy story based on the art, it isn't anywhere close.

This isn't a happy tale of fame and fortune it's a grim dark look into the seedy underbelly of idol fame and the lengths people will go to.

It's a fantastic read but I kept the score average because I do believe they went way too far with some of the drama. They could have toned it down and still made the same point.

Edited - I just played Julies good ending. That is the absolute worst "good" ending i've ever seen. Lazy at best. It can't even be called a good ending, it cuts off without any closure of any form. It's that bad it forced me to drop a whole star.

I have honestly never seen an ending that bad.

Fortunately Julie seems to have the worst of it, the rest of the girls certainly redeemed the game in that regard.

I really wish I could score this higher because it really is enjoyable in a lot of places but I still stand by my opinion they overdid some of the drama to ludicrous amounts.

I would suggest trying it out yourselves though.