Before Dawn Daybreak - NEW Black cyc game !!!!!!!!

Visual Novel Community Visual Novel Talk
#181

Ok, finished it half a day or so ago, and after thinking about it - easily the best eroge I’ve played so far, probably the best dark eroge ever made, and a fairly strong challenger for best eroge ever. It’s very similar to the original in many aspects, but it’s considerably darker, and the scenario is more complicated, philosophical and abtruse. There’s very little to fault on the production values - the art and music are of a high quality and all the voices match really well with the characters. The length is certainly sufficient (I’d say it’s at least 4-6 hours longer than the original). It’s not particularly long compared to MinDead Blood or EXTRAVAGANZA, but the length was just about right - none of the scenes felt too rushed or prolonged. The quality of the writing is even better than the first game, and the use of furigana and imposed readings is extremely effective at conveying the double meanings.

The story is really well thought out and it sheds a lot of light on the first game as well (MK2 is a true sequel, and there are a lot of connections between 1 that are shown but not stated or explained explicitly). It’s a very odd combination - at times it’s variously funny, tearful and depressing, but there’s always the same sort of ‘sarcastic’ gloom hanging over the whole scenario that the first game had. The philosophical elements are a lot stronger this time around, and Gumoruku(s) plays a much more important role in the storyline - perhaps the other big (non-spoiler) difference in the characters is that the daughters ‘hate’ each other a lot more. The loops are used much more effectively this time around and there are a lot more changes or extensions to scenes on subsequent playthroughs. There are a lot of very memorable scenes, particularly !!! and the whole of the final route.

Not everything ends up being explained clearly, and there’s a lot which I’m still piecing together - a lot of it’s very well thought out in examining the contrasts between the outside world and the mansion, particularly the origins of ‘Taro’ and ‘Shiro’ (the names given to the two main characters in the mansion). It’s still doing extremely well on EGS (top eroge, second overall after 10 votes, median 95, mean 91), which is a real surprise given that it’s very dark and contains a large number of yaoi/yaoiesque scenes. There are a few things I would have done differently or changed but that would verge too far into spoiler territory to post… Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words or something like that so…





#182

Basically clinches it for me, if the EGS ratings didn’t already - grabbing ASAP. Probably not going to end up PLAYING it ASAP but still - it looks like Black Cyc’s managed to improve on pure gold here. If they’ve actually made the best eroge ever it wouldn’t surprise at all.

If they have to stop making eroges, at least they picked the right one to finish on.

#183

Thanks for the summary. I’m placing an order this weekend, before some political law pops up. :slight_smile:

Nice to know the “old” BCyc is officially back… such a damn pity their return is cut short with the censorship bans - but at least they’re going out with style, if this indeed is the end. 8)

BTW… might be a spoiler in asking, and if it is, don’t answer: but is there anything in MK2 that connects it with the greater BCyc universe (MDB, Gore Screaming, Gun-Katana, etc)? Or is it still an seperate reality?

#184

As far as I can tell, there’s no connection.

Edit: There’s a CG in MK1 that has a plush toy of ‘K’ on Nanaka’s bed, but I think that’s just a reference to Black Cyc in general, not an indication of any meaningful connections between the games.

#185

Yea… BDD has a weird cameo like that too (which puts doubt into it being in the main setting). I suppose there’s no reason that ALL BCyc titles need to take place in the same universe. I was just kinda hoping it did though. :slight_smile:

Just got my copy in the mail today. Will be giving it a go this weekend. MK2 is now in the 82 point range, making it equal to EXTRAVAGANZA and MinDeaD BlooD in terms of cool factor… which of course is a good thing. :wink:

Kinda neat that the best rated Cyc title, is a yaoi one. :o

#186

Ah, I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on MK2 once you’ve finished it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Cyc will rehire the artist and writer to work on another title together, even if it’s for one of the other Cyc branches.

Off topic: MIO’s new game uses the dreaded chart-search system. :frowning:

#187

So before I get this, I need to know, do I need to play MK1 in order to understand this game’s story and enjoy it?

(screams like Carlton from the Fresh Prince)

#188

Not really. The begin of the game, “recaps” the key aspects and personalities of the characters involved, but it be like watching The Empire Strikes Back without having seen A New Hope. You’ll still be able to enjoy it, but would enjoy it more having seen the first title.

#189

Rather off topic but it’s not worth starting a new thread for. I played and quite enjoyed Banya Izumi’s Hajimetedoushi ~Bakappuru de ikou~ a while ago [inexpicably translated as ‘First-time lovers - Let’s go as stupid couples!’ on English dlsite - no wonder no-one’s bought it on there yet :P]. It’s a 100% single heroine moe game with no real story, but it does what it does very well - the moe level is rather extreme, and it’s quite a long game for the price.

It’s playable without 1, but you’ll miss out on the connections + differences between the two games, particularly in the second half of MK2 (loop 4 onwards), where certain events and characters unfold quite differently from the original. As Narg mentioned, the beginning of 2 is very similar to 1 in that it introduces you to all the characters, as initially Taro has no awareness about the events from 1.

#190

Double-post, but Black Cyc’s has announced a new work, ??? ???~ (read as [edit: Cthulhu] ~ Otome no Fureru, Tenshi no Yubisaki), with Itou Hiro (Mugen Kairou 1+2, R.U.R.U.R., Imitation Lover) in charge of planning. Fingers crossed that he’s also the sole writer for the game as was the case with MK2, as now that Izumi’s left, he’s far superior to all of the other Cyc writers.

I’ll be waiting for details of the plot and particularly the writer(s) before I consider it - I’ve got zero interest in tentacles, so for me it really hinges on how much of the project Itou Hiro is in charge of.

#191

2010… hmm… I was hoping for a second title in 2009. What does have me happy, is that BCyc isn’t throwing in the towel because of the EOCS rulings. The 2010 release, forces it to follow the new EOCS qualifications… that might explain why BCyc only has one title for 2009. Maybe it’s too dark and violent to pass the new censorship, and has to be rewritten or redrawn. :expressionless:

#192

It could be that they’re trying to stretch the 20% rule by making one really big game a year.

It’s too bad we’re going to have to wait a while to see more of the game, like what any of the characters look like. Still, we see a glimpse of a mass of tentacles could these belong to mushi, Non-Humans, another of Gore’s species (please?), or something new? Whichever itis, I’m very interested

#193

Just curious, but has anyone played MIO’s new game Souten no Kanata? I’m sure at least Narg would be interested as the game features twins (not sure if they’re winnable), and yes I know it’s non-ero.

#194

I’ve played the demo and quite liked it, so I’ll probably get it at some stage. For a mid-priced work (6800 pre-tax for the standard edition), the production values are rather high, the art’s rather good and the backgrounds are a lot more detailed than those for other Cyc games (although overall, I don’t think Souten no Kanata will be anywhere near the level of Black Cyc’s better eroges). There are quite possibly some better otome games out there, both all-ages and adult, but I think I’ll go for this first as I haven’t really played any games with an ancient Chinese setting yet.

#195

I became a cyc member a few minutes ago, thanks to google translation helping me :slight_smile:
Seems they accept Australian phone numbers/address’s, wasn’t expecting them to accept them written in English.

Dunno about ordering things though.

It’s not as…exciting as I expected it to be.

#196

It’s just an “order directly from us” deal: the club exclusives are still paid for. They send a newsletter too, but you get better rumors off 2chan (someone leaks info there). :expressionless:

I hear with the whole EOCS deal, BEye has considered selling non-rated titles directly off the Cyc Member site. It’s still just a rumor though… there’s never been an official announcement.

IMHO, not worth the time unless you REALLY have to own an exclusive release, or BEye considers releasing “uncut director versions” on their store.

#197

It will be interesting to see what they do with Cthulhu game. I pretty much anticipate that there’s going to be a very large amount of ero if they’re going to try and get under the 20% mark.

Like Ignosco I’m interested in seeing which other writers, if any, get involved, but this is pretty much a grab if it looks like it has a decent scenario.

#198

Hm, I’m guessing that either there are still behind the scenes discussions going on about the new regulations, or that this new work was started early enough to be able to avoid them - I can’t see Black Cyc making something like this. :stuck_out_tongue:

#199

I still think that game looks pretty fun. If XUSE puts it up for download I’ll play it for sure =p

#200

Vista editions of EXTRA and GSS are being released at full price, but come with the limited edition pre-order bonuses. I can’t speak for the GSS/Yami no Koe crossover, but EXTRA’s 'Wecome to AnzU! is only 10 minutes long, and definitely isn’t worth rebuying the game for.

Kurogane no Tsubasa ?THE ALCHEMIST’S STORY?, originally from the doujin circle RozenKrautz, is now being released via White Cyc. I’m a bit wary about this, as although the concept could be interesting, the staff on board aren’t particularly good, and RozenKrautz’s previous dl works don’t seem to be of a particularly high quality.

And the Magical Moerin trial was for me at best vaguely amusing, at worst boring and uninspired. (Incidentally, it probably wouldn’t be safe under the proposed new EOCS restrictions either (slave references/rape), although that might not be an issue for a members only product).

Edit: Oh, and Yami no Koe 2 + 3 are available this month on Game999 for… 999 yen. :stuck_out_tongue: