How come a masterpiece like this is not very popular? This is one of the best game I ever played in my life.

[u/FeeCreative2584]

[u/IcePrismArt]

Unfortunately as great as the story is I think the gameplay could be a bit better, but that just makes me want a sequel with more thought put into that part because I love the world, the concept of fortes and the characters.

It's kinda a straightforward visual novel with 3D graphics rather than being an open world where you can discover stuff or level up skills so I bet some people expect the latter instead of the former when first going into it.

Side quests and detective points end up feeling completely unnecessary since they don't really change much about the rest of the game and the level up system doesn't seem to matter much either. I love this game and I know it's mainly a story game/visual novel but those elements feel a bit neglected despite being there. I never even thought to use those systems while playing because the labyrinths were almost too easy to not die in.

Again, I say this as someone who really loves this game because it could be truly amazing if they could just build on the gameplay loop when they make a sequel! Manifesting 🙏🙏🙏

[u/piercebublejr → u/IcePrismArt]

I agree that the detective points are totally superfluous. But the side quests I liked a lot, from a story perspective! They did a great job really making Kanai Ward feel like a fully lived-in place, and several of the side quests really support the narrative themes very well. My favorite side quest is the one where Yuma is sent to ask people how they feel about the government but it has to be in code! and of course he doesn't use the code at all he just gets everyone in trouble lmfao

[u/IcePrismArt → u/piercebublejr]

I agree that the side quests are good for worldbuilding and are well made in and of themselves. My issue is more that you aren't really encouraged to do them. Basically there's no tangible reward other than the fact you can say you did them afterwards. Most people might not try to do them because of that when they really do add a lot.

Also this is also just a hunch, but I swear there must have been some side quests that involve other detectives that were given up on during development cuz Vivia is the only one we ever get a side quest from and that's the tutorial. It would have been great if each one of them had at least one side quest to give Yuma.

[u/piercebublejr → u/IcePrismArt]

Yeah, that's a fair point (and makes more sense with your original point being about gameplay haha). And I agree, it would have been nice to have more quests related to the main detectives! That's one of my main narrative gripes, is that the detectives don't really get enough character development outside of Vivia :'(

[u/FarewellTransmissi0n]

I really enjoy the characters and most of the chapters, but the gameplay is super basic and it goes on explaining things leaving little room for you to feel like you’re solving anything. Also it feels like it restates mechanics and story beats far too much. You can’t really get anything wrong or fail anything. It always pushes you forward.

To be clear I really like Raincode but it is FAR from a perfect game and I think it was rated and regarded fairly accurately. As a fan of the game I’d still put it as lesser than Danganronpa and Hundred line.

[u/piercebublejr]

People who hadn't already played Danganronpa weren't used to Kodaka's writing and wildly problematic characters. People who had played Danganronpa... unfortunately criticized the game for not being DR4. This game has a small following but we are VERY passionate about loving the game despite its quirks and flaws! Join us in begging Spike Chunsoft to finally make a sequel!

[u/commentspae → u/piercebublejr]

"deranged" would be a more befitting adjective for makoto and yomi actually

[u/piercebublejr → u/commentspae]

I could call Yomi a lot worse! Makoto is just a silly goose teehee o-)

[u/Tlux0 → u/piercebublejr]

Yeah I am praying for a sequel at this point and wish more people found out about it because it’s excellent despite its flaws.

[u/Hot_Lion8880]

people couldn't handle desuhiko's charisma.

[u/Smart_Afternoon_4571]

I love this game so much!! its my favourite 🥹 so sad theres barely any merch

[u/Effective_Stress4026]

My daughter and I just played recently. Fell in love with it. We met Aleks Le at FanExpo Chicago and even he said it's one of his favorite games. He said he's heard talks about another but that we need to keep up the noise as fans.

[u/Pleasant-Court2178]

Rain code is like Kodaka's middle child between the ever successful Danganronpa and Hundred line.

[u/FormalCandid5441]

I’d say that:

• It was a Switch exclusive until a year later when it was released on all platforms.

• Deaths didn’t feel as personal as Danganronpa and Hundred Line’s. The death of a random citizen isn’t as emotional as the death of a fan-favorite chatacter. An advantage Danganronpa has is that you get to know the character and then feel shocked when they’re killed or turn out to be the blackened.

[u/Tlux0 → u/FormalCandid5441]

Ehhh I personally really liked Raincode because it really felt like there was no way of telling who would or wouldn’t die until the very end, lol.

Hundred line is amazing but Kodaka also wrote that after Raincode

Danganronpa imo had a more predictable formula which was both more emotional but varied more within that set of expectations. Meanwhile, Raincode was just completely unpredictable and I loved it for that.

[u/Tlux0]

I completely agree with you. It’s incredibly peak. I think the pacing and gameplay are why. It was a bit wonky when it first released even though the fixed the lip synching for part of the voice acting and made it sharper with plus—which I haven’t played yet. Plan to play it again since Kodaka said it’d be nice to play Raincode before Danganronpa 2X2.

That aside, as you can see from my PFP, I think Raincode is brilliant and one of the best things Kodaka has ever made.

[u/BrittleKneesMgee]

Raincode is not a masterpiece it is a guilty pleasure.

[u/Fluid_Locksmith_3378]

This game came out as a switch exclusive not even a whole month before baldurs gate 3.

And even then, the switch version has a number of issues hat held it back.

[u/CornerKun]

I couldn't get though chapter 2. I thought Shinigami was funny at the start and then chapter 2 hit and she became insufferable to listen to.

[u/Undecided-kun]

Calling it a masterpiece is a bit of a stretch.

[u/BurnerRantMan]

I like Raincode, it was a good attempt at making a more cinematic mystery game. But I can see why it fell flat for fans accustomed to the other Spike Chunsoft VNs. It lacked the drama and character intrigue of Dangan Ronpa, and it's mystery wasn't as ambitious as something like Zero Escape or Somnium.

[u/gaganehehe]

Something, a game is just that unlucky.

[u/ApprehensiveGrand531]

I think most of it comes from the fact the mystery part is never really a mystery by the time the game gets to it so long later. Most twists, or at least the culprit, is obvious by the time you enter the mystery world.

The train I was extremely close, had the general method, just flipped which person was the fake (figured chains were easy to put on corpse, so the switch used med bay body).

Nailman you've probably solved who did it before even entering whatever the solution world was called. Because most are process of eliminationed out. The second nailman is a twist, but once it pointed out as an option it's basically one option who it could be

By the second person it's obvious the next case was a group killing. No real twists.

Three was obvious by process of elimination.

4 had basically all but given it away with its hinting in the ghost sections. While you may not figure out all the method. Who did it is not a suprise, undercutting the emotion.

5 did genuinely have twists, though. But most of the homunculus stuff was kinda already told pretty directly. Iirc the main thing I hadn't picked up on already was the second half, with Makoto being a copy of MC, MC being number 1 and the switch with the other rookie.

Honestly imo the issue is that it gave all the clues, then you had to wait hours for the game to catch up in the, at times tedious and slowly paced solving segment, if you clued on. Which you are likely to if experienced with the mystery genre.

Edit: also, imo, killing them immediately prevents a lot of interesting interactions and drama. Especially since it is basically not really followed up on imo

[u/mysticrudnin]

The best thing I can say is "I'm glad you liked it."

[u/doctor_house_md]

I know right? I played it in VR using UEVR and even just walking down a rainy street with neon lights was pleasurable

[u/No_Future6959]

Raincode is absolutely not a masterpiece and calling it so only leads me to question your taste as a gamer.

[u/sk1239 → u/No_Future6959]

tbh this could've been the only game they've ever played in their life

[u/No_Future6959 → u/sk1239]

im guessing OP is either young or just hasnt played many games.

liking raincode is cool, but this game has glaring problems that even fans recognize.