Ex Astris 02 [GxB][Light Sci-fi/Supernatural]

[Flowers from Nowhere]

This series rocks. The 1st chapter was a little slow to start with all the world setting exposition but this 2nd chapter doesn't seem to have that problem. The characters are fantastic. They all seem to have their own agendas and goals which makes them seem pretty real.

Great job! I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[filiaa]

I have played both chapters of Ex Astris a few monthes ago, and I really loved them. It was one of the first VN I played and it made me curious about the whole thing.

They are really interesting to read, the universe is well developped and intricate, though I had a hard time remembering all the countries names during the first chapter (after that, I realised that knowing about the two main countries was enough to enjoy the story, so it was better), but it is really enjoyable to see what you have done with politics and everything. I also like the characters, and especially the fact that the MC is not a common girl, a bit silly with nothing special, but a clever and emotionally complex woman.
The art is great, I really like the writing (English is not my mother language though, so I may not be the better judge on that specific point), the music and sound effects are good (If I remember well, a few transitions are a bit awkward, but I think its unavoidable since you can't predict exactly when the player will press the button to move to the next sentence).

I hope you will find the time and courage necessary to lead that story to its end, because I would really like to finish it. You did a really good job here, and I am looking forward to read the next chapter (Is that sentence gramatically correct?).

Good Bye and thank you for that fascinating game!

[trooper6]

Just finished Ex Astris 02!

Why just now? Because the semester is finished! And also, even though I should be working on an article due the end of the month, I'm sick, and when I'm sick rather than reading about the Holocaust in Belgium, I'd rather read this! So there we go!

So first things first: I'd give Ex Astris 02 an "A," so everything I say below should be taken with this in mind. I think this work is very, very good!

So, small nitpick, I caught a typo. There is text that reads: “After touching down in Sar-Quei, Xian’s capital, the trio were escorted through the eerily *quite*, yet spacious and clinically designed airport.”

The word *quite* should be *quiet* I'm guessing.

Next, a small question. The country Lanis is from, Loenn. Is it pronounced Lo-Enn? Two Syllables? Or is that oe an "ö" as in German? I read it in my mind as if it were an ö, but I bet it isn't.

Okay, Feedback time!!!!
The most important feedback I want to give is that the writing is superlative. There is such great detail and depth. The characters fee very real and the descriptions are very evocative. There are very few choices and the story is fairly linear. If there were a continuum between KN on one side and VN on the other, this work would trend towards the KN side. And...KNs are not my preferred genre...mainly because the writing often just isn't good enough to maintain interest without choices. HOWEVER, that is not the case in this work. The writing is so phenomenal that I am happy to just read it, even with its linearity. I also completely understand why it is linear...there are chapters coming and this thing has to be manageable! Anyway, the writing is amazing! A+

The atmospheric special effects are also very, very good. I loved especially the rain sounds and the sounds of being in an airplane.
The music was fine. It was a tad generic...but it was good.
The art is very well done. It is not my favored art style, as I prefer something less big-eyed/small-mouthed...but the artwork is so well done that I don't care about that either.
I really love the art design in general, the GUI is very nice.

What I basically want to say that I'm hooked on this story and I love it, despite the fact that I trend away from linear stories and cuter anime styles. I'm not the ideal audience, but it has hooked me anyway. So, this game is *that* good!

The one thing that I am skeptical about is the romance between Lanis and Ash. I am always a bit trepidatious about romances--because often I don't find them very romantic. But, the author is just so good that I trust the romance will win me over just as the art and the linearity has done.

This story passes the Bechdel test and that makes me very happy!

Oh! Last thing, I really enjoyed the programming of the transition of the sprites' facial expressions. Nicely done!

I can't wait for Chapter 3...I hope it comes soon! Also, I'll miss Manna!