3「STEINS;GATE」- Zeer's Correspondence

 Dear Reader,

A friend put me on this game and I am playing through it little by little, trying my damnedest to wrap my head around the concepts being put forth, because it is something— not exactly necessitating an erudite adequacy, but one that certainly requires a lot of consideration. This is a game of thinking, not because the mechanics are dependent on the reasoning ability of its player, but because the story and literature embedded within this visual novel is so enthralling, the player can do nothing but be compelled to meditate on its contents. Nothing has ever put me on in such a way; it is so uniquely positioned by being a visual novel to use immersion, by which I mean that the regular bound by paper is not able to take advantage of in its full capacity, in perhaps the best way I have read even after Fata Morgana. Yet, and perhaps a bit confusingly, I will still count this game the second to that tale of accursed make because there are certain issues with its plot. But those issues are nitpicks, it loses the better not because it suffers symptoms of flat trope usage; tiresome contrivance; or simply nonsensical structure, but for its tendency to dissonance on my own preferences. Things like scenes that very well achieve what is intended but not exactly in a way that I enjoyed, or characterizations that can become grating to me but are otherwise well written with respectable depth, otherwise nitpicks. Back to singing its praises though, this story progresses in what I will call 'an aloofly meticulous' manner, very early if you pay attention you will find the structure of each chapter, but then realize the genius of it and its applicability to the entire game and plot wholesale. First it entices with the promise of something interesting, be it a lead or citywide intrigue; second it drags this newly piqued interest out to the farthest degree to make you forget the minutiae, forcing the focus on the critical path; third and finally, it gives you the payoff to that which set you on this chase on the first place... but not without introducing a curveball, then it repeats the steps. What a gambit by the writer, mind you, for them to from what I can tell intentionally try to dispel interest in the player only to bring it full circle in the most satisfying— not for catharis but for curiosity— ways possible, genuinely daring and a unique approach. I mean this by the way, completely, I truly believe that the story is set up in a way to challenge the reader in the most bizarre manner. Morever and the final thing I wish to touch upon, none of the scenes are actually useless or filler, all of them mean something or introduce something that comes back later with a vengeance! I was seriously blindsided by the difficulties unintentionally brought on by on-the-surface throwaway slice of life scenes, it really happens, and when it does happen it makes everything worth it. Indeed, this is a special game and I am excited to complete it and see what is waiting for my virgin eyes, and whether disappointment or reinforcement, this is all most likely the choice of Stein's Gate. El Psy Kongroo.

Sincerely Yours,

Zeer