Review of Suzukuri Karin-chan
| Subject | Suzukuri Karin-chan |
| By | Helpfulness: 0 Vote: 7.5casualreader on 2022-08-13 |
| Review | I'll mainly focus my impressions on Hoshiyomi no Shintaku, as it's not as covered by other reviews. But first a few comments on the base game. At the end, there's also an extra section for character comparison with their Koihime counterparts. Game mechanics The game is split into a preparation phase and a battle phase. In preparation, you can adjust your units, make changes to your dungeon and use conversation points to talk to some characters, depending on if the conditions are met. In battle, the only action you can do is use character skills and these can affect the flow of the outcome. You get ranked by dungeon rating (which is affected by how fun and tough the dungeon is) and on whether the hoard was breached or not. Gameplay Tips (these aren't really spoilers, but just in case you don't want any tips at all, I'm putting a spoiler tag): - Follow the flow for recruiting and interacting with the characters. Getting characters might not only be necessary to progress in the story, but it's also best to have them so they can level up. - Always aim for S rank and choose the hardest battle you can win for more experience. - Gold is essential early on, but is pretty much useless endgame. It's more beneficial to invest first on other compass abilities. - Think well before spending breakthrough materials. These are the most scarce items endgame (at least for me). - If you want to see the dungeon level rewards, go to talk -> Kazuto's portrait. - The EX islands first few stages give compass items and breakthrough material. It's also a good source of experience, although it's more difficult than the other locations. Art I'm putting this section because they went as far as using the same artists as Koihime, while still keeping an uniqueness that differentiates from it, which is very appreciated. However, the number of variations in standing sprites makes story portions dull at times (they literally just have one for conversations and only face variations of it). Plot Luckily(?), there's not much of story in the game. In terms of plot, what you see is what you get, really. No big twists or grand moments involving several characters. This is actually the biggest weakness of the game and, with only the base game, I'd rate it 7/10. It's not the world setting that's a problem, as the games raises several interesting plot points, but just leaves them in the air, without conclusion (e.g. the conversation between two lords in the capital and Karin/Renfa's relationship). Hoshiyomi no Shintaku Let's start with new gameplay mechanics. Shanfu is added as a playable character. Just kidding, there's also a change in the rewards for dungeon level, to give you enough turns to finish the Hoshiyomi sections of the game. Now, onto what really matters, Hoshiyomi no Shintaku takes place in parallel to the base game story and introduces Touka, Aisha, Shion and Sui to the game. Mii and Shanfu are also added, but they are pretty much side characters. All new characters have their own endings. Speaking of endings, while the overall writing is better and the main plot of Hoshiyomi keeps you wondering, the endings are still pretty bland. One thing you might note is the change in behavior of some characters, like Keifa, Fuu, Shuuran and even a bit on Karin. You can read more on the Character Comparison section, if you'd like. The skits between the characters are lot more interesting here and the reactions closer to their Koihime counterparts. Not only it's not limited to one-on-one interactions, they are often more funny and go beyond just slice-of-life sections, sometimes even involving Kazuto and mentioning other characters. In comparison to the base game, there is a considerable increase in the number of references to Koihime, which do affect the enjoyment of some skits. Midari and Shippo/Tail also get some additional (amusing) scenes. They were good characters in the original game, so it's nice to see them having more screen time. You do need to be in a high level to complete Hoshiyomi, as some enemies by the end are level 99. Just like the entire game, however, it's not particularly hard. Overall Impressions Suzukuri Karin is a simple, but fun game, that takes Koihime characters and put them in a different setting. There's good potential here in exploring more of the characters, Sengoku Koihime or a merge of the ShinKoi and SenKoi. There isn't much in terms of story and the character endings are bland, but the writing improves in Hoshiyomi, which makes me raise it from a 7.0 to a 7.5 rating. ------------------------------------------------------------- Extra Section: Character Comparison to Koihime I'm putting this section in case you have completed the game already and might know whether the characters are the same as in Shin Koihime (I won't compare them to the original Koihime, as that's not the personality that was perpetuated). You may also be interested if you know Koihime, but would like to know how different they are here. Kazuto: Different. Every Kazuto from every Koihime has or develop their own traits, and this is one of the most competent and reliable versions. Karin: Different. While the main personality traits are there, in Koihime, Karin is a strict ruler and autocrat, who is burdened by responsibilities and is always busy. Suzukuri's Karin is the opposite: she doesn't care for power and has all the free time in the world. Fuu: Different. Fuu's main "skill", pretending to be asleep, is used as a reference only in the prologue, whereas it's a running joke in Koihime. She is also a lot more direct with her words and less illusive in Suzukuri and doesn't tease Kazuto as much (Hoshiyomi does bring that back, if only briefly). Karon: Same. Karon is a pretty simple character, and this doesn't change here, but she's more responsible and rational in Suzukuri (maybe because Ruurin isn't around). Keifa: Very different. WHAT KEIFA IS THIS?? is the reaction if you played Koihime. In Suzukuri, while she dislikes men, her attitude towards Kazuto is a lot less drastic and she actually goes from tsun to dere which is unthinkable in Koihime. Hoshiyomi brings back her traits, but doesn't change her ending. Shunran: Different. She is less violent and more level-headed than Koihime's Shunran, although in Hoshiyome she behaves much like her Koihime counterpart. Shuuran: Pretty much the same. Minmei: Pretty much the same, but not interacting with other characters much hurts her writing in Suzukuri. Shishun: Different. Shishun without her relationship with Renfa turns her into a rather generic character with a fetish in Suzukuri. Shao: Pretty much the same. Renfa: Different. Renfa is one of the characters with best development in the Koihime series, but in Suzukuri she is, well...eccentric at best (i.e. everything revolves on manga. Midari: Exclusive Suzukuri character. Shippo/Tail: Exclusive Suzukuri character. Touka (DLC): Astonishingly the same. Aisha (DLC): Astonishingly the same. Shion (DLC): Different. Shion's character in Koihime is built strongly on her being Riri's mother. On Suzukuri she...kind of still is? But is also, plainly put, a bit insane. Sui (DLC): Pretty much the same, but Koihime's Sui is a bit more stubborn and shy on romance. Shanfu (DLC): Pretty much the same, but Shanfu's character in Koihime is built around her ambition to fly. Suzukuri's Shanfu has a slightly different background, but not a particularly interesting one. Mii (DLC): Pretty much the same P.S. A bit of a rant, but why is Sei not in the game? Keifa, Shishun, Renfa and Shuuran (spoilers from Koihime to follow) are all characters who have a child in Koihime and the first three also have it in their endings. The only character with a child who is not in Suzukuri is Sei... |
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