Thinking about how to write reviews and impressions of visual novels.

Introduction

Up until now, I've written articles introducing and reviewing various games on this blog.
Compared to when I first started blogging, I've gradually become more accustomed to writing, and the format has started to solidify.

However, even now, I still find it difficult to write reviews and impressions of visual novels.
I think the reason lies in the characteristics of the visual novel genre.

Novel games are primarily about reading text, and unlike RPGs, they don't involve combat or character development.
Therefore, when I try to write a review, it inevitably ends up focusing on the content of the story.
Delving into the details of the story is a bit of a high hurdle for me, which is probably why I find it difficult.

Although I found it difficult at first, I've gradually figured out a way to make writing easier.
This time, I'd like to summarize and introduce that method.
I hope this can serve as an example of how to write reviews for visual novels for those who find it difficult or intimidating.

I always learn a lot about writing style from reviewers who regularly post their impressions of visual novels.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.

The difference between the terms "impressions" and "reviews"

This is a bit of a digression from the main topic, but I'd like to first explain the difference between the terms "impressions" and "reviews" used on this blog.
I used to think of "impressions" as subjective opinions and "reviews" as objective opinions.
However, after doing some research and thinking about it, I came to realize that this way of thinking was a little off.

My current thinking is,Impressions = "Subjective monologues not directed at anyone in particular," while reviews = "Introducing something to a third party, incorporating subjective opinions."That's how I see it.
My idea is that both fall under the category of subjective opinion.

It's impossible to talk about games completely free of subjectivity, and this classification isn't something I came up with myself, but it was a way of thinking that made sense to me.
Therefore, articles on this blog labeled as "impressions/reviews" can be understood as what is generally called a review (a subjective introduction).

By the wayAt the level of "criticism," it means "communicating an objective evaluation to a third party."It seems that's the case.
How can you convey an objective evaluation? By making your own evaluation criteria public to the reader.
By defining your own evaluation criteria and using the same defined standard, you can compare works relatively.
While there may be questions about the validity of the measuring stick, if the same publicly available measuring stick is used, objectivity can be maintained within that framework.

Most of the articles I write on this blog are just impressions and introductions (reviews), and I don't offer any critical analysis.
Being a critic seems like a tough job, so for now, I want to focus on enjoying the game as a player and spreading that enjoyment to others.
I feel that it's more enjoyable to adapt my own measuring stick to suit the artwork, rather than always using the same one.

I've written at length about the differences between impressions and reviews (and criticism).
I think it might be easier to write if you keep in mind whether what you're writing is an impression, a review, or a critique.

How to write a spoiler-free review

When writing reviews of visual novels, I find it difficult to completely avoid spoilers.
As mentioned earlier, in visual novels, the gameplay largely overlaps with the story.
Therefore, mentioning the story's content would likely lead to spoilers.

That being said, simply explaining the configuration and environment settings features of a visual novel would be largely meaningless.
People who go to the trouble of searching for and reading reviews of visual novels are probably interested in playing them if they seem interesting, and are likely seeking encouragement to take the plunge.
Therefore, rather than completely eliminating spoilers, I think it's okay to mention some of the early developments to a certain extent.

Where it starts to get interesting, what kind of interesting it is, which characters are the highlights, and how much to write about is entirely up to the reviewer.
However, in stories that involve narrative tricks or plot twists, including them can sometimes diminish the enjoyment, so drawing the line is difficult.

I think it's okay to include these elements.

How to write a review that contains spoilers

Now, since reviews that include spoilers can be written relatively freely, I think it's easier because there are no restrictions.
However, be sure to include a disclaimer at the beginning stating "Spoilers Ahead."

It's quite common to find yourself unsure of what to write when you're told you can write whatever you want.
At first, I didn't really know how to write it either.

However, as I continued writing, I realized that there were certain items that were easier to write about once I consciously focused on them.
I might be the only one who thinks this, but I'd like to share a few things.

I will write about a scene that left a lasting impression on me.

If you've decided to write a review of a work, there must be some scene that stuck with you.
There were probably many different scenes, such as moments that moved you, moments that made you laugh, moments that were exciting, moments that were frightening, and moments that made you feel anger or sadness.
If you fully experience and honestly write about the emotions that arose in that moment, I believe those emotions will be conveyed to the reader.
This is a relatively easy point to write about.
I think it's best to start by writing something simple, and then add details later.

Write your impressions of the characters.

Let's write about the characters that left the biggest impression on you.
If you try to write about everyone, it will be difficult to write about characters who didn't leave much of an impression, so I think it's fine to start by just writing about the people who made the biggest impression on you.
If a character leaves a strong impression, then their moments to shine are also likely to be memorable.

When you write about your favorite and least favorite characters, you'll likely recall many scenes from those stories.
When writing your review, I think it's easier to start from here.

Think about the theme of the work and write

It's quite challenging, but thinking about the theme of the work might be a good approach.
At this point, it might be considered more of an "analysis" than just an opinion.
However, I believe that considering the theme of the work will lead to a deeper understanding of it.

A theme is the "subject matter," something that the artist depicts through their work.
It's not a "concept," which is a method for expressing a theme, nor is it a "message" that conveys the author's thoughts.
You need to confront both yourself and the artwork, understanding what is depicted in the piece and what aspects of it move you emotionally.

Ultimately, I think it's fine to express "This is how I interpreted the theme of this work," as long as you're not forcing that interpretation on others.
However, if you're going to analyze it, it will be quite a challenging task, as you'll need to gather evidence for your theory from within the work itself.
Unless it's a work that requires deep analysis, I think you'll enjoy it more if you read it casually.

An interesting visual novel game should always have a theme.
When explaining to others why something is interesting, I think that if you also consider the theme, you can convey your message more persuasively.

Also, rereading while thinking about the theme can lead to new discoveries.
It does require a certain amount of energy, but for me, if it's a work I like, it strangely doesn't feel like a chore.
If you can write this much, I think that passion will come across to the reader.

In conclusion

I've listed various ways to write reviews and impressions.
The reason I recommend writing down all these thoughts and impressions is because I believe it will help you enjoy the work even more.
As your ability to enjoy things increases, you'll find yourself discovering more and more works that you find interesting.

I think it's fine to start with just a brief impression.
Even if others express the same opinion in their writings, what you feel is unique to you in the whole world.
Even just a short message or a single word, or even just a tweet, can be enjoyable when you write something and get a response.