Zolnir wrote...
I'm tempted to touch the Muv Luv series. I have heard a tonne of positive reviews about it (though initially, mixed reactions from well known reviewers, in addition to a quite antiqued art style and seemingly stereotype characters - which put me off it until now), but I'll still like some final opinions. Of course, I want a SENIOR's opinion on Muv Luv; someone who has played at least 50 VNs to start. I really don't have much time to dwell on VNs lately so I'll like to reduce the amount of inferior VNs I read in the process of testing them...
As you said, there are a lot of really positive reviews about the Muv Luv Series so I'm pretty sure that you already know that it's not your usual Eroge. I'm just going to leave a very short summary (very amateurish btw) of each game since I would be writing a lot about how much I enjoyed the game (at least Muv Luv Alternative).
Muv Luv extra is basically your usual Eroge with comedy, romance, some issue to each heroine and then basically the end. It's nothing spectacular and man, the protagonist is very dense. This may even be a issue with some users. Even if you find Extra a bit bothersome, I personally highly recommend reading all routes because of Alternative since the experience will be a lot better.
Muv Luv Unlimited shows your same protagonist in another world. The setting is interesting but IMO, again it's nothing spectacular. You have your regular development with the characters but in a different way and you'll notice that something big is going on. However, you'll never get a detailed information. Also, read all routes like Extra. I actually thought that it was bothersome going for each route at the time I read it but it was worth it.
Muv Luv Alternative. Man, I don't even know where to begin. Going for some bad points, sometimes the pace is a little slow and you should be a little bothered reading some evnts. Believe me, you actually get lectured. However, I believe that this is also something important since you actually get some information so that you can better put yourself in the protagonist place and integrate better in all the events that occur. You'll see how the protagonist thinks in very occasions and his reaction to some developments in a detailed way. Depending on your tastes you may find interesting or not this kind of thing.
Besides that, I admit that I was incredibly glued to my computer reading Alternative lol The OST sets a great mood (and it's a very good OST) and the way the story is presented to us is totally great. Btw, beware of the utsuge tag. It's really strong in Alternative. Also, there are quite a few emotional events that may affect you or not (again, I recommend when reading Alternative to try to feel like the protagonist) but if you're enjoying the story you'll certainly like them.
Muv Luv Alternative surely deserves a very high spot in all the Visual Novels produced so far. And by God, please, read Muv Luv Extra and Unlimited before Alternative.
Nevertheless, Muv Luv Alternative is a highly rated Eroge in VNDB and EGS so you can be sure that it's something awesome. I even say that Muv Luv Alternative made me up my standards for Visual Novels lol