Norn9: Var Commons

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
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  1. Ogie
    Apr 26, 2016
    6
    I am not any special fan of otome novels, I like visual novels so that is why I just read even some otome novels. Norn9 was not my first otome experience and I have to say it is one of the worse otome novels. Graphic style and gameplay was quite OK for visual novel but what I do not like about Norn is really weak story. You spend most of time with waiting for some important event... itI am not any special fan of otome novels, I like visual novels so that is why I just read even some otome novels. Norn9 was not my first otome experience and I have to say it is one of the worse otome novels. Graphic style and gameplay was quite OK for visual novel but what I do not like about Norn is really weak story. You spend most of time with waiting for some important event... it take too long and when something finally happens... it is over very quickly... That pattern is same for every route. The game is mainly focused on romantic lighthearted cliche and has no good plot. This is definitely not how otome novel should work, I understand that this is mainly focused on girls (I am a guy) but for expamle Code: Realize did its job perfectly. There was amazing story which was supported with sweet romance. Norn9 is definitely romance > story and it is very likely that you will be bored. It is not absolutely bad, but could have been done way better.

    Graphic - 8
    Gameplay - 8
    Lasting Appeal - 4
    Execution - 4

    Overall - 6    … Expand
  2. llianya
    Apr 5, 2017
    2
    Suffice to say, I hated this game. And I also hate the fact that I played this because of the relatively high critic review and the lack of user reviews written for this game.

    To give myself a brief background, I do play otome games. Heck, I loved Code: Realize and I've played most if not all translated otoges on handhelds since Hakuoki. I've also played a handful of PC otoges. I can't    Suffice to say, I hated this game. And I also hate the fact that I played this because of the relatively high critic review and the lack of user reviews written for this game.

    To give myself a brief background, I do play otome games. Heck, I loved Code: Realize and I've played most if not all translated otoges on handhelds since Hakuoki. I've also played a handful of PC otoges. I can't say I like all of them but at least most otome games I've played had at least one route I liked (Saitou's for Hakuouki and Meoshi's for Sweet Fuse are just top of mind examples).

    Norn9 had left me feeling no love at all - not even for a single character - so much so that I got to finish half of the routes and just gave up because none of them were any good. I wanted to finish all of them just so I can understand the mystery surrounding the game and get answers to my questions about the plot but the cut and paste bland romance in every route with lackluster storytelling just bored me immensely.

    To add to that, the art wasn't even good for this genre. The characters noses were just so... flat and it kept on bothering me. Heck, some free-to-download otoges on PC had better character art than this game.

    Honestly, the only thing that was good about this was the unique beginning and the lovely coloring. So even if you're a fan of otome games, I really dissuade you from buying this game.    … Expand
  3. kikidarko
    Jul 15, 2017
    6
    I am a big fan of both otome games and visual novels alike, so the amount of romance a game has usually doesn't matter to me as long as it fits well with the storyline. In Norn9 Var Commons, however, I felt that it had too much romance, too quickly, and that left the story - which seemed very interesting having to do with time travel, strange powers, and an almost dictatorial worldwideI am a big fan of both otome games and visual novels alike, so the amount of romance a game has usually doesn't matter to me as long as it fits well with the storyline. In Norn9 Var Commons, however, I felt that it had too much romance, too quickly, and that left the story - which seemed very interesting having to do with time travel, strange powers, and an almost dictatorial worldwide organization - to be much less explored than it could have been.

    I wanted very much to love this game. First of all, the amount of characters overwhelmed me: 3 heroines to choose from, each getting a choice of three guys, for a total of 9 men/9 routes. The game even recommends the order you play them in, to an extent.

    The first time I played, the first half of the route started off very interesting to me, moved at an alright (maybe a little fast) pace romance-wise and a good pace story-wise, but suddenly, the heroine and her love interest were head-over-heels in love and it hit me out of nowhere. I actually thought I had missed a section! I didn't see how he could love her so fast (honestly her personality was a little dull, which may have been cute had they had a stronger more, ahem, positive history between them, or if she at least smiled more often or said something interesting once in a while!) although her falling for him seemed more natural to me, at least.

    Then, after they fall in love, it's one chapter away from the end of the story, and all that had happened so far was the tension between the two and a few mentions of the very interesting plot sans-romance. From that point, everything felt sloppy and rushed and unrealistic.

    It seemed to go about the same for each story line that I played: too long in the beginning while I waited for them to get together (or anything to happen with the plot), their love and the shattering new discovery or conflict occurring around the same time, rushed ending to finish it all off.

    Also, there were a lot of typos, but I understand that due to the rush to get the English version out they may have been passed over. Still, it added to the "sloppy and rushed" vibe I got from the game.

    I don't know if the sheer amount of characters and routes was what made this game lack or if it was just the focus on romance over the plot or if the routed were just too short, but it definitely felt like it could have been done better.

    For the price I bought it, which was half price, I think it's a nice enough game whose variety (and that Quest Mode) is what keeps me from giving it a simply bad review.

    I thought the art was nice, different from what I usually see which I like. Overall, good game, but definitely doesn't meet its expectations.    … Expand
  4. Spinoziano
    Aug 15, 2018
    9
    Proceeding with the game, the plot is very thrilling and absorbing. It is a mystery novel, even more than a romance novel, with a very long and original story. You have to gain all the endings to fully appreciate it. The only real flaw is the English translation, which is not good as it should be.

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Best PS Vita Game of 2015
29
#29 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2015
18
#18 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. RPG Fan
    Jan 9, 2017
    68
    Aside from the above-average graphics and music, this game is as run-of-the-mill as it gets. I'm all in favor of seeing more localizations of otome/"girl's side" games, but not if they're mind-numbing swill like Norn9: Var Commons.
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  2. Gaming Age
    Jan 28, 2016
    67
    Somewhere, deep down, it has an intriguing tale of super-powered teens trapped out of time…but all you're going to get out of it, most likely, is a nap.
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  3. Brash Games
    Jan 23, 2016
    80
    Norn9: Var Commons proves another fine entry into this most obscure of sub-genres and possibly the most approachable yet thanks to its unique setting and themes. This is still a romantic adventure at heart, but this time, there is plenty of sci-fi to go with all of the love and romance that the genre is famous for.
    Read full review
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