This is a pretty popular novel, it even has an anime that did well(I think). Thus, it’s almost kind of meaningless to write a short review of it and just head to the complaints. However, how long can it take?
The novel can be summarized with just mentioning chaos theory. If you like sci-fi material, this is for you. This is also for you if you like anything pertaining psychology. Aside from those, it’s still a good read, it might even be an intro to other sci-fi novels.
The story has a pretty decently sized cast, meaning it didn’t go overboard on the amount of characters it has but still has quite an array of different members.
However, the story centers around three characters: Okabe/Kyouma, Kurisu, Mayuri. The rest of the characters are there to either develop Okabe, or to explain a few story elements which would otherwise be plot-holes, while still being more than one dimensional characters(mostly).
There’s only two routes, one with multiple endings. The one with multiple endings end depending on how Okabe develops. Is he willing to be God, to ignore the plights of others to fulfill his own goal, or will he see the importance of a specific individual and give up on what he set out to do.
My favorite ending is Suzuha’s, mainly because nitro+ can really do that type of literature well.
I find Faris quite annoying most of the time, and you might too. However, she becomes much more likable and relatable when it’s her time in the novel.
Daru can be a hit and miss for some people. Taking aside personality and such to let the reader have their own opinion on him, I felt it was too forced in compared to some other characters. For the most part, the characters are lively and charming due to not being forced or limited into a specific personality trait. In a sense, you can consider him a character that develops the story(which is true, the story breaks without him). I guess you can think of it as even if he’s a mega perv, his intelligence is what offsets it, just as how tsunderes work.
Not sure who my favorite character, but I believe that’s actually a good thing, it means a lot of characters have been done well. Maybe it’s Mayuri.
I can relate to Mr Braun though, and he was one of my favorites.
I give Steins;Gate an A+, it would’ve been an S aside from a few points that’ll be part of the complaints section. Probably the novel I read that was the closest of being an S without becoming one.
Complaints
I have a few complaints, they’re almost nitpicking. And they’re full of spoilers so don’t read it if you’re going to whine about it, lol.
A) While using text messages as a way for interaction was interesting, around 90% of them are useless aside from humor’s sake.
Ab)While we’re at it, not having an option to read what Okabe is going to write after selecting an option, or an option to cancel and try another option is pretty ass, sometimes it goes to another scenario than I thought it would. However, when you go back in time and the cast has no idea what you’re talking about since the matters he’s discussing no longer exists in that timeline was well done.
B) Defining conclusion(true end) was apparent since the creation of the time machine. However, I don’t actually see this negatively, possibly as I put myself into a different point of view. The point was never to secretly reveal the twist, but rather see how Okabe reacts and what actions he will do after the twist happens to him. This is also what I believe for the intro section of the novel with Kurisu coming back to life, they weren’t trying to hide the plot devices from us to begin with. It’s like accusing a parody horro film of not being scary.
C) Faris ending makes no sense to me. Okabe and Mayuri were childhood friends, and Faris’s dad died after that. Thus his death or lack thereof does not change that type of history, therefore Okabe’s relationship to Mayuri wouldn’t be affected.
In the end, none of the conjectures even matter as if the life of her father would actually constitute that change, then it would have been done in the first place. Keeping him alive shouldn’t change anything, it’d be just as it is like Ruka’s ending. So while I liked her section, the ending wasn’t well thought out. With nothing changed, Mayuri will die just the same.
Cb) 4 degrees is too much of stereotypical villain(it doesn’t help he’s boring as hell), I just wanted to skip his sections. Might be the most boring villain I’ve read from Nitro+.
D) (I’m not so sure on this one)Ruka’s ending, while making much more sense than Faris, has a logic flaw. Okabe and Kurisu would still be captured by Moeka’s group. But Ruka is super sweet that I don’t care if I’m right or wrong. ﾍ(=￣∇￣)ﾉ
Mainly a Visual Novel Blog now 