Let me open this review by saying I'm extremely biased. Little Busters changed me, it set my life on a course I never would've expected and allowed me to meet so many fantastic people, it shaped who I am as a person, and became part of who I am. I'll always remember one day I was in Tokyo wearing my Little Busters jumper and a salaryman excitedly shook my hand and did the muscle dance with me. This is a work which affects people on a deep and personal level. This is not an objective review, it's just the musings of one of those people it impacted. I'm writing this review based on the old fan translation of the game.

Little Busters sets up with a very humble presentation. A bunch of childhood friends in high school do a bunch of wacky stuff together to pass their time, a clique full of such unique energy that the rest of the student body can't possibly ignore them, many drawn to them and wanting to join in. The game is full of silly minigames that will keep you coming back and complement the story nicely; I've spent many hours chilling out with the batting practice, it's the perfect stress relief. It's hilarious and heartwarming watching their circle grow and the scale of the shenanigans increase, it takes me back to an idyllic representation of youth, where I could just laugh with my friends every day without a care.

But please, don't mistake Little Busters for a comedy series. Little Busters is a story about youth, and the process of growing up, and it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that come with that process. It's about finding one's own identity, clashing with the identites of others, and finding a way to live. Each character in the story feels very much a real person, and they all have their own crises to deal with in their process of growing up. The writing is beautiful, and you'll find yourself hitting the screenshot button every other minute. Its positive representation of mental health issues and its atypically feminine male lead are particularly praiseworthy.

But that's not all, Little Busters is filled with intrigue thanks to an overarching mystery that gradually presents itself throughout the various character routes, culminating in the most incredible final route of any visual novel I've read. And then there's the EX routes which are available in English for the very first time!

If you open the game and you find the characters and dialogue very annoying, maybe Little Busters isn't for you. But if you find it charming and funny, stick with it, because you're only going to fall deeper and deeper in love with all the cast. Little Busters is one of my favourite works of fiction ever, and if even just a few new people come to experience it through this release, then I'd be very happy.

If you love beautifully written stories featuring a wide cast of immensely lovable characters, then I hope you'll give this wonderful visual novel a chance.

There's also a secret ending about the school getting taken over by muscle mania, that's a thing.