It's been over a year since I finished Summer '94 (the DLC), but I have recently found myself thinking back on my experience with this visual novel and remembered I'd always wanted to leave a review because of how meaningful it had been for me. Before I begin, however, I wish to leave a list of my favourite VNs here for reference, in case it might somehow explain my point of view: Fate/stay night, Fate/hollow ataraxia, ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two, Slay the Princess, of the Devil. I've generally enjoyed every VN I've ever read (to completion or otherwise) and I believe it's important to note that I'm not a hardcore VN consumer, although as a writer of fiction myself, I do find the medium wonderful and intend to definitely experience more VNs in the future!
I first started reading Love, Money, Rock'n'Roll (henceforth referred to as LMR) during my first year of doctoral studies and immediately fell in love with the beautiful background art and the sublime music that offered a window into a time I personally never lived through (I was born in 1996). I had always been interested in old rock'n'roll, but I had also been too lazy to actually research the genre on my own, so right away, I was glad LMR satisfied that small desire right off the bat. Next, I was surprised to discover how similar Nikolai (the protagonist) was to the high-school version of myself. He's an estranged musician in high-school who broods and muses about his family, his life in Japan as a foreigner, Japanese society and the ecosystem of his classroom and school, which is almost exactly how I would get lost into my own thoughts as a teenager. At the same time, Nikolai has a bit of a superiority complex, has heavy mood swings and does not have a clear direction in life. While some players might take issue with these aspects of his character, I appreciated them because, once again, he reminded me of myself. Abuse and lack of affection made me extremely bitter in high-school, so Nikolai was like looking at myself from an outside perspective, which helped me appreciate how far I've come as a person and revealed that some of those scars I can still feel to this day.
Nevertheless, the true highlights as far as characters are concerned are the four heroines, with Catherine and Ellie being equally my favourites. They're all very flawed characters, but that's what I like to see in fiction. I won't go into spoilers, but Himitsu is simultaneously the sweet girl next door and a yandere (I suppose violently possessive and territorial for those unfamiliar with the term), Catherine is stoic and rational, but also possessive and emotionally repressed, Ellie is laid-back and friendly while also being stubborn and self-isolating and Kagome is righteous, fair and logical, but naive and impulsive too. They're beautifully raw and messy and it was an absolute joy to see them act in their respective routes, especially when it came to them opening up to Nikolai and beginning to show affection. I've been through a few relationships and they all felt the same as the ones in this VN - a stew of good and bad that is a pain to make, but satisfying to consume. As for the plot, I would say that LMR is at its best when characters are interacting, especially the aforementioned girls with Nikolai or with each other. Nikolai's moments of lone reflection are a great window into his mind due to how informative and realistic they are for a teenage boy and I liked them a lot, but they do slow down the pacing, which I know can constitute a problem these days.
Lastly, there is a political conspiracy in the background involving the USSR and the USA, but it never amounts to anything significant by the end of most routes. As something largely happening in the background, I liked this plotline, but from a consistency standpoint, it is the weakest in the story (shoutouts to Irina, the KGB agent, though, she was smoking hot) and I can see it leaving people dissatisfied if they get invested in it. I was a bit disappointed myself, but ultimately, I valued my time with the girls way more. The DLC puts a greater emphasis on character drama and romance, which I view as a good choice, but I personally didn't really want new love interests, even though the good ending satisfies a niche that the base game doesn't. I couldn't get as attached to the new girls as the original four and I also found their designs weaker than the latter's, which soured the romance for me. However, the drama between them was good and the twist chef's kiss, though not entirely unpredictable.
My doctoral studies were a living nightmare for me and I often contemplated dropping out and even removing myself from this world for good, but LMR was a constant source of joy, excitement and cathartic melancholy, so I managed to push through. On the day of my thesis defense, I listened to nothing but One Day In the Limelight, as it represents the pinnacle of Ellie's ambition and achievements, which reflected the emotional state I was in and gave me courage to face the greatest undertaking of my academic journey head-on. Therefore, I can confidently say that LMR is one of the best VNs I've ever read and a constant inspiration for my writing career. I wish the translation were better (especially for Kagome's route), the plot structured a little tighter and the DLC had a different direction, but I still recommend it to anyone looking for a great aesthetic experience and a stormy teenage (love) life. Thank you, Soviet Games!
