STEINS;GATE Reviews

This is just so cinematic. One of the greatest Visual Novel series ever. I've been watching the whole anime series over and over, but when I first play the game, it just hit different. Highly recommend to also play Steins;Gate 0 and the other games from the series.

If you're reading this review and you never read Steins;Gate and you don't know what is about, let me tell you that I envy you, because I would like to erase my mind to experience it for the first time again. This is probably the best VN ever created. If you love time travel stories you're gonna love it. The first half is a bit slow-paced, but it's necessary to introduce you the setting and all of the amazingly written characters. I highly recommend to play this version instead of the Elite one because the art style is WAY better. I also recommend to install the CoZ patch for a better translation and experience in general. The OST will live rent free in your mind. Don't trust anyone who tell you to not play S;G, it's probably someone from the Organization that doesn't want you to know the truth. Don't waste any more time, just buy it and enjoy this journey. El. Psy. Kongroo.

Mad scientist gaslit me into believing i'm fake and that my world doesn't exist. 11/10 would stein my gate again

Yes I sunk 60+ hours into this game that I didn't need to, surpassing my time in Octopath Traveler II in like a week. Yes I don't regret it. Yes this game is good, and if it isn't it, will be in a few chapters. Yes, this is the best visual novel I've played so far. Play this game, you won't regret it.

Everything that needs to be said about Steins;Gate already has been, long before I ever played it. READ IT NOW

Beautiful Art, Unbearable Everything Else I really wanted to like STEINS;GATE. I'd heard so many good things about it over the years and finally picked it up to play on my Steam Deck. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it, no matter how hard I tried. My biggest issue is with the characters, especially the protagonist. I found him incredibly unlikable, and his "mad scientist" persona was more grating than charming. The rest of the cast felt like a collection of goofy, one-dimensional anime tropes that I couldn't connect with or find interesting. This leads to the story, which for me, just meandered without any real hook. The plot felt silly and failed to grab my attention. It got to the point where I was skipping through dialogue because reading it felt like a chore. I kept waiting for that moment where it would all click, but it never came. The one saving grace is the artwork, which is absolutely beautiful. The character portraits and backgrounds are fantastic, and it's a shame the story and characters didn't live up to the same standard. Maybe this game is for you, but it wasn't for me. If you're not a fan of over-the-top anime humor and characters, you might struggle with this one too.

Waaaaay too long. Could have been shortened by at least 50% without losing content (maybe it would even gain some coherence). I'm a fan of slow-burn narratives, but the constant time leaping and cliche characters didnt work for me, The story is interesting - but not THAT interesting to justify a word count equivalent to 3 books. Good humor tho. Only buy this if you're willing to spend a lot of time on it.

Read this for the first time back in middle school. Re-read it few years later. I must say in love. Gave me a totally different experience. The settings, the humor, the character, the BGM, everything was the same, yet I've come to understand and love them more. Really recommend this game for those who want to be emotionally saved.

An amazing visual novel with one of the best paracausal stories ever written. I can't really say more without spoiling it, but trust me when I say that this has been one of the most enjoyable, and emotionally gut-wrenching VNs out there. I cried a lot while playing through this.

[h1] [u] || Wailing Throes of a Mad Scientist || [/u] [/h1] *opens phone* It's me. So... you've already heard by now that I had just gotten through this game. Yeah. [b] STEINS;GATE. [/b] Hm? How was it? What do I think of it? Slow down with questions alright? *sigh* Look I'll be honest, this game really took me by surprise in more ways than one. I'm not just talking about the bonkers story or the unique artstyle. The game has a pretty likable cast of characters too, more than I had initially thought especially after the first few hours where they are basically introduced as a group of losers. Well... they are still losers even after the game ends but still... they're some of the most likable losers I've seen in a game in a hot while. What? You want to know more of my thoughts? Ok, ok. Lemme find a cool spot first... preferrably one where the organization won't be able to track me. [h2] "Do you know what Kerr Black Holes are?" [/h2] What's with the weird question you say? Oh my friend how ignorant you are. This question has everything to do with the game. It is one of the many keys to solve this game's big mysteries. How does the answer fit into the bigger picture? Well I'm not exactly going to outright tell you now when you haven't even played the game yet. All I'm getting at is that this game will spend a huge chunk of it's earlier hours getting you acquainted with its oddly colorful cast of losers all the while throwing seemingly weird questions and situations at your face, not really elaborating completely on them. And then when your guard's down and your smiling alongside the characters... *BAM* ...you are suddenly hit with back-to-back punches straight to the gut (metaphorically). Again and again. It felt like I was in some kind of time loop. The character you play as, his name's Okabe by the way, who started out as a weirdo who would very often laugh like a Kid's TV supervillain out in public and would spout nonsensical fantasies when talking to other people is suddenly hit with the horrifying reality of a dire situation. Although quite cruel, I find the development of his character to be the most... alluring part of the game. Seeing his childish persona break as he tries to overcome every obstacle to reach the end goal. How he has to make hard decisions that almost always result in the sacrifice of the happiness or even the lives of his closest friends. Witnessing the changes this man goes through made the journey much more heartfelt and reaching the goal more rewarding. [h2] "The other guys are pretty cool too." [/h2] Frankly, Okabe's struggles wouldn't be nearly as engaging if the characters he saves or fights against weren't as interesting. You have Mayuri who may have a brain a size of a walnut but makes up for it with her infectious kindness and caring attitude. Okabe's trusty right hand man the Supah Hacka Daru whose heart is just as big as his body weight, and his p**n addiction too probably. AND. You can't not talk about the sweet and scheming Makise Kurisu whose chemistry with Okabe is easily the second best part of the game. The constant back and forth between them not only make for some great comedic moments but they also are what drives a lot of the story forward at times. And if you play your cards right, Okabe and Kurisu may end up as more than just mad scientist and trusty assistant. Obviously there are more great characters besides those that I have mentioned but just like the great music and the wider plot, I will keep those a secret for you to find out yourself. Perhaps that is all that I will say. For now. Hopefully, seeing me talk about this game this much answers your earlier question on my enjoyment of it. All my praise aside, I couldn't remember exactly how or why I even played it in the first place. For one strange reason or another, those facts have become but a fog in my mind. However, despite my confusion I still believe in one thing... [h1][b] "ME PLAYING THIS GAME WAS THE CHOICE OF STEINS GATE!!! MUAHAHAHA!!!" [/b][/h1] Drats! I became too absorbed and let my presence be known to the organization! At the very least I managed to get across most of the things I wanted to say to you. Don't let my ramblings go to waste in your decision of finally playing this game for the first time. Not to worry. We are sure to meet again. Whether on this world line... or another. [b] El. Psy. Kongroo. [/b] *closes phone*