SNOW

Leo_Otaku · #1 2006-05-29, 23:03

I was wondering about this game. When the game came out I really loved the charcter designs. But I couldn't help but notice how it reminded me of Kanon. I can't seem to find any english information on this game.
Has anyone here played it?

AstCd2 · #2 2006-05-29, 23:14

∀゜)ﾉｼ

It's a fairly Key-ish title in terms of plot structure and writing style, although all-up, it's probably more like Air than Kanon.

Notably, former Key writer Suzumoto Yuuichi (Air's Summer scenario, Clannad's Kotomi scenario, Planetarian) is recorded as having claimed to have worked as a scenario assistant on it (albeit uncredited). Writers such as Kanon's Hisaya Naoki and Leaf's Chou-sensei were also rumoured to have authored some of the scenarios under an assumed name, though I don't believe this was ever proven.

The game was originally unvoiced, but after a DC, PS2 and PC-reverse port, it ended up with not only full voices for everyone but the protagonist, but a new scenario path for one of the more popular sub-characters (on the PS2 version).

The studio followed it up in 2004 with the universally panned 友達以上恋人未満, which represented a sharp departure from the original's style in being more of a ero-game than a naki-game. IIRC, Mebius also released a short Snow scenario for their fan disc, although this too was pretty much all ero.

Mebius's site is under renewal at the moment, but most of the technical information about the game can still be found here.

zalas · #3 2006-05-29, 23:57

I played SNOW for a little bit and didn't get to the cooler story parts. From what I have played, it seems that the comedy is a lot more blatant in this game than in games like AIR.

gp32 · #4 2006-05-30, 00:28

The most honest -- although not the kindest -- description I have ever heard of this game goes something along the lines of "imagine that the development team of SNOW planted a bug in the room where the staff of Key developed Kanon or AIR, except that bug only worked half the time, and even then the output was garbled. Then imagine that the development team of SNOW set out to try to make the same game with the information it was getting."

The problem with SNOW is that after a certain point in the game, it dumps the entire backstory on you at once. And while said backstory is nice -- it robs the endgame scenarios of any de Maupassant-style revelations that could have been. And unfortunately, those revelations are what drive games with plot structures like this ...

On the bright side, it has an extremely catchy ED. So catchy that I once did a piano-only reduction of it ...

#5 2006-05-30, 01:05

Well can't say much positive about the game, it was too long, too boring, and the main girl Sumino was too infantile lol... I mean she was lot more irritating than cute in her act. Her best pal Meiko was cool though, actually she was probably the only likable character there for me, no ero-ero with her though.

Carl · #6 2006-05-30, 01:56

Supposedly, a lot of the planning for AIR had already happened before Naoki-san left Key, so that explains a number of things.

I've never read Snow personally. I find Naoki-san to be too wordy (or kanjiy if you will) for my tastes, which makes for a headache inducing read. Kanon was likewise pretty terrible in places, which is why I don't read it very often.

zalas · #7 2006-05-30, 10:38

Yes, I do agree it has some nice music and theme songs. gp32, which song is the ED you are talking about? Yuki no Kanata or Futari no Ashiato? I thought Yuki no Kanata was more catchy and neat to jam to, whereas Futari no Ashiato was more epic sounding.

gp32 · #8 2006-05-30, 16:40

ふたりの足跡. Makes for a good solo piano arrangement, DJ W style.

Leo_Otaku · #9 2006-05-30, 17:29

So the game is actually that good then I guess. Would it be considered a KEY wannabe ina way? What exactly is the story anyway? Sorry with teh questions ^-^"

As for music I really like the Opening song. I haven't heard the ending yet.

AstCd2 · #10 2006-05-30, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_Otaku

So the game is actually that good then I guess.

It's not a bad game, though I'd agree with both of the points raised above. It's too long, and the distribution of plot is rather uneven.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_Otaku

Would it be considered a KEY wannabe ina way?

Yes, in the sense that all but one of the scenarios are lifted wholesale from either Kanon or Air. It's probably fair to say that they were going for the same results.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_Otaku

What exactly is the story anyway?

<ul>[*]Protagonist accepts an invitation to take up a live-in part time job at his cousin's hot spring inn in a remote country town where it snows all year round.[*]Protagonist runs into childhood friend, et al.[*]Hijinks ensure until the game decides you've selected a route, after which it invariably turns into a Key-esque tragedy about the protagonist and heroine's relationship in the face of unfavourable circumstances.[*]Through playing all of the scenarios in the set order, the player discovers the role each heroine plays in past events which led to the perennial snowfall over the town.