Each one comes apropos of nothing, and they feel so scattershot that it’s difficult to get a good appreciation of them. The side stories are much less substantial. They don’t get too heavy, or delve deep into any drama, they just tie up any remaining loose ends and give each route a more satisfying conclusion while granting us one last chance to bask in the quirky dynamics of each relationship. They each last around an hour and a half to two hours, and provide exactly what you want out of an after story. The other after stories are quite good as well. Moreover, Yuuji’s feelings often mirrored my own, as he was being welcomed back by this cast I love so much after spending so much time away. These interactions were hilarious and heavily reminiscent of the common route goodness I enjoyed so much from the first game. Its story opens on a homecoming of sorts, with Yuuji meeting with each of the game’s characters after spending a good amount of time away. Almost mirroring my experiences with Fruit, my favorite was the Makina after story, and I ended up pretty happy with my decision to play it first. They each consist of a couple hours of additional slice-of-life goodness and some very light story elements. The after stories are largely what you expect out of a fandisc. It adds so much texture to the narrative, and by the end of Yuuji’s odyssey, you can really see how he turned out the way he did, with both his strengths and his flaws.īeyond the main “grand route,” there are also after stories for all five main heroines and a few dozen very short side stories. The sequences they spend together are all so charming, and really bring to light one of the writer Fujisaki’s biggest strengths believable and gradual character growth. Asako is loud, brash, and impulsive, and somehow ends up becoming Yuuji’s adoptive parent. Asako was a legendary figure in the Grisaia mythos, and finally being able to witness these fabled interactions with Yuuji is really quite satisfying. The good news is that it seems some of them may return for the next entry in the series.Īnd of course the most important new character is one we’ve already heard plenty about, Yuuji’s master Asako. Even within the confines of the main route, their time is unfortunately short. These characters are all incredibly endearing and lovable, and it makes you wish there was more time in the spotlight for them. Yuuji’s old crew “The Bushdogs” make their debut in hilarious fashion. The colorful cast of new characters Labyrinth introduces contribute greatly to this experience. Despite already knowing the general details from the previous game, I found myself regularly surprised at exactly how some things turned out, keeping me engaged the whole way through.
Yuuji’s past was never portrayed as a simple one, but the reality is even more complex and tragic than we were lead to believe. As Labyrinth fills in the details, what emerges is a story with much more depth and emotional heft than I ever expected. What’s made clear pretty quickly is that we really only knew the broad strokes. Fruit already touched on Yuuji’s troubled childhood, the death of his parents, his eventual master rescuing and bringing him to a military school in America, and so on. This framing device isn’t always the most eloquent, but it serves its purpose.Īt first glance, you expect this to be a story you already know all the twists and turns for.
The labyrinth of grisaia vndb series#
Instead of pushing the story forward, Labyrinth’s main route is one long series of flashback sequences detailing Yuuji’s sordid past, framed within both a promotion interview at his “company,” and the discovery and restoration of some shredded documents the girls discovered at the Mihama dorm. The Labyrinth of Grisaia is not quite the follow-up many may have been expecting, however. Yet regardless of whether or not you feel a sequel is necessary, writer Fujisaki Ryuuta is not yet finished telling the story of Kazami Yuuji and the five girls of Mihama High.
All five fully independent stories in Fruit already felt complete to me, like there was nothing left to add. But when I thought about what I wanted out of a sequel, I struggled to come up with anything. With its charming cast, hilarious banter, and moving character moments, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. The Fruit of Grisaia is probably my second favorite VN ever. Spoiler warning: This review will contain mild spoilers for the previous game in the series, The Fruit of Grisaia/Grisaia no Kajitsu.
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