National Park Girls - Episode 3: Daughter of Zion DLC

I have read many visual novels in my lifetime and I got to say that this one has to be my favorite one at the time of this review.

When I opened steam this morning and saw this, my heart leapt out of my chest. I didn't even know it was releasing soon, and I bought it as soon as I saw it. It is now mid to late afternoon. I just finished it in one go. This day, this story have been so full of emotions, my poor pillow has had a bit of a workout. >_> I am a huge fan of Studio Coattails, and in this instalment their writing only keeps improving. I wasn't sure about National Park Girls to begin with, but coming straight from Highway Blossoms, with how excellent it was, I couldn't help it, and was hooked by half way through episode 1. Now, I just finished a complete emotional roller coaster thanks to these characters I have come to love. Their writing certainly feels different, just a little, but I think it comes down to improvement on the writers' behalf, and development on the characters'. I felt happy, sad, sarcastic, wistful, and downright sad the whole way along with them. [spoiler] When I read the form Yellowstone stuck in Teddy I broke, and it took at least 15 minutes for me to stop crying enough to see the screen, and the tears were on and off from there. [/spoiler] I am not the best at reviews like this, let alone concise ones, and I'm kind of nervous about posting this but I just want to say; If you're a fan of the game(/series? however this would be called), buy this... but maybe set aside some time when you play it, because you may well end up binging it... and make sure to have the tissues on hand. As for anyone curious about the series, try out episode 1 (the base game) if you want, and if you enjoy it, buy both these episodes. It's worth it. Lastly, I want to say thank you to the devs. I have loved all your games so far, and I still have some others to play/read yet. Highway Blossoms was my first, and I bought Next Exit the day it came out, however I haven't played it yet because I want to wait and share it with my girlfriend. Next I played this, up until episode 2 at the time, and adored it, and have listened to the soundtrack many times over. Finally now, once again, you have delivered such an amazing experience with Daughter of Zion. I am so grateful for all the amazing stories and feelings and experiences you all have given us fans, and I for one can't wait to see what comes next. Thank you. (edit: sorry, I'm brain dead, I forgot that while coattails worked with elan on highway blossoms, Heart of the Woods was elan alone, sorry for the mix up >__< )

Episode 3 is another emotional journey with the best (and only) park girls and Eve the grumpy/relatable ranger. It's really the best episode till now with amazing artworks, nice music, convincing voice acting and a satisfying/tearful story about memories, forgetting, desperation and change mixed with cuteness and humor. If you liked Episode 1/2 you definitely will get your moneys worth and if the devs can keep up the established standard, well then there is probably much more to come in the future and I'm positive that Studio Coattails won't dissapoint.

It's adorable, it's cute, and it may be the best of the episodes so far, so my recommendation is definitely buy it if you enjoyed the first two. The voices are still good, the emotions for the most part on point with the characters, and the story tugs at the right heartstrings yet leaves the readers/viewers hopeful. (I am still not a fan of the fireside chats at the end though. I find them more dull than charming.) [h1]It’s okay to be sad and miss what you had.[/h1] As we join our lovely park girls and their adorable misadventures, it certainly feels like they are coming more into their own and we really get to know them. The grumpiness of Yosemite and Eve are once more dialed back a few notches, and Eve only goes too far in my opinion once, which is quickly dialed back to the point where it almost causes whiplash. But the rest of the episode and the tone is a perfect blend of cute and… soft beautiful sadness… The themes of this story are changes and the sadness that can come from it, the desperation of wanting to cling onto something that is slipping between your fingers… Which is why it feels sad, the loss of something old, a state or person you can never get back, especially as the memories of them start to fade away bit by bit is something we all have to deal with sooner or later, but that doesn’t make it any bit easier. You must accept the changes however and move on or it will consume you eventually… the episode did a good job depicting this within the little world they have set up. Having sections from Yosemite’s perspective works very well. Adorable-Gay Watch: [spoiler]Side note, for those waiting for Yosemite and Eve to go super gay fluff story… there are only minor hints of their romance in this episode. “No wonder X likes you” and them having a minor incident when touching each other’s hands and bickering about the feel of the other one… Still fully convinced they’ll be making out come the final episode.[/spoiler]