Chaos;Head Noah was my first VN. Here are my thoughts.
At first, when I started playing Chaos;Head, I hated it so much I almost quit. I felt that it was really boring, because I'm used to RPG type games where there is more of a focus on gameplay and story combined, not endless amounts of text on a page. I actually got so far as to close the game and stand up to do something else, but I kept wondering about what these five words mean: "Whose eyes are those eyes."
So I decided to keep playing, and I'm so glad I did. Currently, I'm two endings away from finishing C;H NoAh, and it has been one hell of a ride. Half the time I had no idea what on earth was happening, and the other half I was theorizing about Shogun, DI-Swords, and Takumi's degenerate behavior.
Overall, I have found C;H to be a really deep dive into a story about mental illness, overcoming your own weaknesses, and dealing with how much pain and suffering there is in our world. I think this is best shown with the DI-Swords and delusions; turning emotions and thoughts into reality, visualizing how thoughts can affect others in an objective way.
( As a side note, I cried so much playing this game (〒﹏〒). Like why the hell am I crying over edgy teenagers playing deadly games of pretend fighting with science type magic swords?!)
As for the actual game mechanics, the delusions are such a strong point of the game. It's super fun trying to figure out how they foreshadow certain events, and sometimes, you get ones that are just... Hentai??? Wtf??? I didn't like the way you enter character routes, though. You have to predict what Nishijo Takumi would do, and with how... Interesting he is, that's pretty difficult. Taku, like, why the FUCK do you want to KISS YOUR SISTER ON THOSE INCESTUOUS SORORAL LIPS?!?!?!? EEEEWWWWWW!!!!
I really loved all the main cast, but I want to focus on one in particular: Nishijo Takumi. I know this will be a hot take, but I found Takumi to be a very good character (NOT A GOOD PERSON, INCEST IS HORRIFIC BEHAVIOR), but ultimately lacking in certain parts of the story. He's my favorite character, but I hate him so god damn much. He's annoying, but he's strangely compelling. He's a misogynistic asshole and way too horny for this planet, but he's also a kid who's struggling to find himself. I sympathize so much with just how lonely, hurt, and afraid Takumi feels. Probably because I've felt the same way (and still do to a lesser extent), but the difference between me and him is that I actually worked through my problems, and did my best to be kind to others throughout it all. Feeling bad about yourself shouldn't mean you're bad to others. This part of his character is never challenged by others, partially because he never speaks his mind, but partially because he protects himself with delusions. At the same time, he has some of the best writing in the game; The brief moments where Takumi realizes that he hates the person he's become are heart wrenching (and he proceeds to change nothing about himself ಠ_ಠ ). And a lot of the scenes where Taku builds up the main themes of the game (when he asks Nerdheart what he thinks of his creator, for example) become so much more impactful and profound after beating the game. In my mind, all these criticisms come to a head in ending A with that bs power up. And what's so sad is that Takumi's "I am... me!" arc of realizing that he can be more than a delusion, a person, was beautiful. But it was done so dirty because it was done at the wrong moment. That moment of self realization should've been the source of his DI-sword, born of every single emotion that is Takumi. A fitting way to raise his biorhythm and to thematically end his character arc.
To protect my sanity, I have blocked out the Nanami character route from my mind. Remember, there is no Nanami character route in Ba Sing Sei.
I'm really hopeful that the "Blue Skies" ending is good for Takumi, he really deserves the chance to be a better person. Also fuck that detective that I hate, he killed Detective Ban (and countless other people too). Sorry this turned into me just ranting about Takumi, but to be fair there is a lot to say about him.
Yes, the Science Adventure series is my new hyper fixation, and probably will be for the rest of time. I don't need saving btw, I'm exactly where I want to be. ( ꈍᴗꈍ)