Goro Goro Goro (Review on Nekopara Vol. 2)

Catgirls don't know the concept of polygamy or monogamy, neither with jealousy. Having multiple catgirls as your catpanion also doesn't break the law. At least that's what applies in Nekopara. Nekopara comes back with its second volume as sequel to the first volume. In this volume, Nekopara still come with the same element as its first volume: catgirl, maid costume, and of course the core of the game, harem.

Maid and catgirl? Sign me in.

This volume still has the same premise as its predecessor. Main character who is a baker have catgirl maid as his bakery staff and making a harem life with them as the member. Simple as that, don't care about how underage (according to human age) work or even social inequity here. Even though it has the same premise as first one, everyone still anticipate its coming (including me). While we had Chocola (CV. Himari) and Vanilla (CV. Nakamura Amu) as the plot major character in Vol. 1, the plot now focuses more on Coconut (CV. Tezuka Ryouko) and Azuki (CV. Naruse Mia). This is quite exciting for me because I like Coconut appearance-wise. By the way, we'll talking about R-18 version so expect some opinion on sex scene.

The plot is quite well-written in my opinion. Even though the drama is still strong on the sequel, I like the plot on this volume better than first volume. The depth of both Coconut and Azuki character is quite related to even our human life that make the drama an acceptable scene. But, it's too short that make me think it's like Pokemon series where the side character is the focus there but will be forgotten in the next episodes.

There's always a place for little sister.

While I think about how well they write the all-age route, I still think they need to rethink the pace on sex scene. Even in second volume, they still make the sex scene slow-paced. Coconut's sex scene is too slow, too much dialogue that even several dialogues literally made me yawn. I think otherwise for Azuki's, the pace on her scene is acceptable.

In accordance to the plot, character development is quite nice. Both Coconut and Azuki show a development on their character and it makes them more lovely. The development is quite fast as the story for them itself is too short, but it's enough for a short and moe-purpose kinetic novel like this. With Coconut and Azuki as plot character here, Chocola and Vanilla still make some purpose and by what I mean by purpose, it's masturbate-purpose. It's quite annoying story-wise to have unneeded scene when the main character isn't there and doesn't affect them. But, sex-scene is always acceptable in this kind of kinetic novel.

Ear cleaning routinely for undefiled cat ears

Sayori really did a good job on CG here. The artworks is simply beautiful, no complain from me. Both CG really swing your mood to the scene itself and have the meaning reach to me. Though, they still literally use the same background from Vol. 1. Also, praise the guy who made E-mote real. The E-mote animation on both common route and sex-scene is practically one of Nekopara specialty that make the them more lively in one way or another. Thank you technology!

Headpat is good for your catgirl's health!

Since there's practically no additional BGM other than new theme song for Vol. 2, it's quite disappointing. Not that it's bad as the BGM are already catchy and fit to their theme and scene, but new BGM for new work is nice. The theme song for Vol. 2 is catchy, as expected to light-theme kinetic novel as Nekopara.

As kinetic novel, Nekopara is quite niche product with a serious work on both its visually stunning art and funny moment on some occassion. But, plot-wise you could find another better kinetic novel than Nekopara. Honestly though, if you find yourself can't resist the combination of catgirls, maid, and harem with R-18 label, Nekopara is for you. Oh, I really expect some nice or even better work for Vol. 3.

BINGO!

Review on Idol Magical Girl Chiru Chiru Michiru.

Having different main character and with different premises like most spin-off, Idol Magical Girl Chiru Chiru Michiru is a spin-off of the famous trilogy Visual Novel, Grisaia series. Chiruchiru as the title say, is a magical girl show with an anime-like presentation with 13 episodes in total completely with both opening and ending song in each of the episode. Chiruchiru is quite nice as an intermezzo between Grisaia series as just Grisaia common route itself take more than 30 hours of your life.

Chiruchiru takes a story of Matsushima Michiru (CV. Mizuhashi Kaori) as a novice idol who strikes to be a Top Idol and sing in the same stage with her idol, Kazami Kazuki (CV. Tomonaga Akane). But, the destiny make her become a magical girl after her meeting with a talking-cat named Nyanmel (CV. Nazuka Kaori). As magical girl, she has to seal all the Seven Chaos and upon completing all of them, she can make a wish come true. But on her magical girl's journey, she knows the fact that Kazuki is magical girl too and has the same purpose to make her own wish come true.

Michiru as magical girl and Nyanmel.

Chiruchiru serves as humorous story, is completely different to depressingly and deep story-telling of its original, Grisaia. It's not a bad thing, rather I already say that it's a good thing as intermezzo. But, as the visual novel alone, Chiruchiru can't be included as VN with deep story. To be loyal to its genre, it made quite a good laugh for me as comedy work. Although, I think Grisaia no Kajitsu common route had made some number of good laugh for me too. The story itself is quite anime-like in some sense. Like how only first and several last episode that is quite relevant to the main story. Though, I have to admit narratively Chiruchiru has a good storytelling. Also some joke are made too silly for me that I have to cringe a little.

Bad joke is bad.

As main character, Michiru serves as comedic character. I think Michiru serves as comedic character in Chiruchiru version is indifferent to the Grisaia version, even more comedical in idiot way. Michiru serves as an idiotic character, even when the climatic event conclude. That's some dedication to genre there. Some of your favorite Grisaia character come back too, though most of their character has quite "improved" in order to fit in humorous story of Chiruchiru. Some of them are still have their good and lovely characters, but for the whole, it completely ruins the character in Grisaia. Oh, and I'm still quite surprised by a cameo they made for this series.

Yep, I was surprised.

Surprisingly, the same art style Grisaia used is back on Chiruchiru. I love it, Fumio and Watanabe Akio have always amazed me with their style, even in this spin-off work. A clean background, new outfit, and sprite for main cast are really refreshing. The animation work like its predecessor, even better in my opinion with several good animation is only used once or twice in the whole work. I appreciate the developer work that they still serious to merely a spin-off series.

Tank out of nowhere.

Despite having work great on art, it seems they don't really work that much towards music. The music mostly use the very same BGM from Grisaia with a little addition of new BGM and four new song (and its instrumental version). Not that BGM from Grisaia is bad, but after spending more than 50 hours of Grisaia make the music is boring. Even worse, they use several same BGM on most scene. It seems only art director work that much here. Even so, I'm taking a like to both its opening and ending song. It's catchy and really fit to the theme of the series.

It's not rare for spin-off to completely overwhelm the original work. But, it is sure not including Chiruchiru here. Again, Chiruchiru is still nice as a side story to Grisaia. With good artwork and even some cameo and reference from original work, I still think this is quite worth your time if you have read Grisaia. Though, I don't really recommend you to read this if you haven't read the original work.

Best girl.