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2021年10月14日

Real-time review (/incoherent rambling) of Clannad XD

WARNING - LOTS AND LOTS OF SPOILERS AHEAD. I know the game is really old but I’m sure there are others like me who waited years to play rofl

I'm playing Clannad with a route guide for the first time, and I thought it would be fun to dump out my thoughts as I go through the story for the first time! Those who already know the plot, feel free to laugh at my innocence (I’ve heard from my friends that it gets tragic, however the beginning routes are all very sweet for the most part! I can’t wait to get my heart broken I guess)


I got part-way through a blind run a while ago, but put it down for some reason, and couldn't remember a lot of details... So thought I would go straight to the 100% guide >:3
ALSO I'm playing this all in Japanese which is turning out to be really good practice~

My route progress:

  • Sagara Misae
  • Sakagami Tomoyo
  • Miyazawa Yukine
  • Fujibayashi twins in progress
  • Sunohara mei / yuuhei
  • Ichinose kotomi
  • Ibuki Fuko
  • Toshio koumura
  • Furokawa Nagisa
  • After Story

Sagara Misae

I was surprised that she was the first recommended route! Though it makes sense- because to get her ‘light’ (aka to fully complete her story) you actually need do her route and THEN do Tomoyo’s route after - so she needs to go earlier. I was also really surprised that her ending introduced a somewhat supernatural element to the series - up until now I had played a decent amount just by choosing blindly, and hadn’t had any clue that there was any magic at play, so to get hit with a sad wish-granting cat boyfriend was a bit of a shock! All jokes aside though I really felt for Misae-san, the sadness she must of felt waiting for the boy who was there with her all along I liked the way that Tomoya seems to be helping her maybe move on - to be herself for the present, instead of the past.

Route Highlights:

  • Teaching Misae how to wipe the floor with Sunohara
  • Needing to answer her question “why do you like me?” With three very specific things, only to find out later that you’re echoing what her missing boyfriend said to her
  • Super loyal cat companions

Least favorite part:

  • I got mad at sunohara for putting the kitty in a bag >:(

Sakagami Tomoyo

I LOVED this route so much!! Tomoyo’s character just resonated with me strongly - she’s straightforward, non-judgmental and will stick to her goals once she decides on something! It was also refreshing to see a more ‘passionate’ school romance route - instead of the whole ending being ‘you kiss once, HAPPY EVER AFTER!’ Which is a pretty common anime/vn trope. And I won’t lie - when they broke up, I was devistated, yelling at my screen “NO GUYS YOU CAN MAKE THIS WORK!!” But then to have her come back after she completes her dream, and say she missed you the whole time - I was so happy :’) (by the way, the Tomoyo/Tomoya name similarities are a lot easier to deal with in Kanji so I’m grateful for that at least haha)

Route Highlights:

  • Sunohara multi combo kick
  • A++ strong girl character!
  • Their characters seemed really suited for eachother, at least in my opinion!
  • Getting the light for Misae-san finally

Least favorite part:

  • I’m mad that the asshole teacher and rando student got their way and convinced them to break up. High school is rough man.

Miyazawa Yukine

I think Yukine is an absolute cinnamon roll ;w; but her route wasn’t quite as good as the two previous, at least in my opinion. I think her character story is really sweet, but I feel like because many of the characters didn’t have visuals, and she didn’t have much scene variation except inside that one library room, it felt slightly lacking compared to the other two. I also feel like Tomoya didn’t grow as much as he did on his other arcs as he does with Yukine, but I think it kind of makes sense - the choices you make to get to this route pretty much involve ignoring all the other plot events and just slacking off every day haha.

Route Highlights:

  • Sunohara getting a cute little “big bro” arc
  • Yukine’s voice acting is so calming omg I could just listen to her all day
  • Lap pillows are based

Least favorite part:

  • I wished I could see more of her supporting characters, but I mean - with how huge this game is, I can’t really fault the devs for it; you can’t add sprites for EVERYOne . It just kind of gave her a feeling that she was a ‘b-route’ character and she deserves more IMO

Fujibayashi Ryou

Ryou is.. technically a bad end ;A; You are supposed to end up dating her sister Kyo, and as her route progressed I could really tell (she won’t leave you two alone! Haha) But I really like Ryou - she reminds me of myself when I was in high school. And she likes tarot cards too so I HAVE to love her. Her blushing and shock every time you do anything romantic just warmed my lil heart I feel bad that she’s not a ‘fated’ route, as you don’t get her light, but I did hear that she’s supposed to be paired up with a character later? Let me see how that goes and I’ll form an opinion later XD

Route Highlights:

  • When she accidentally eats the rice that Tomoya had on his face, and then runs away in shame
  • Every time she made the ;///A///; face

Least favorite part:

  • How much Kyo butted into their relationship. I know its necessary for plot, to hint that Kyo is the “right” route, but yeah I would of loved to see her on her own more.
  • I feel sorry for Sunohara in this arc -, I much preferred it in Tomoyo’s arc where he was an important friend to the LI, but he was stuck in a toilet for most of this route, my poor dude.