Muv-Luv/YMMV

Sumika's cuteness is a miracle of the universe.

This page contains the various subjective tropes and audience reactions pertaining to Muv-Luv, a series of popular Visual Novels from age.

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• Alternate Character Interpretation: Is the existence and identity of the Takeru we see in Final Extra really the same one as that of the one we stuck with in Unlimited and Alternative, or did the latter cease to exist after 00-Sumika dies? The members of the English-speaking fandom holds either the former or the latter position. In favor of the former: he slips into deja-vu in both FE and Altered Fable. In favor of the latter: one of the game's emphases is that a person's memories and experiences make up his identity; he describes his eventual fate in the Extra branch (that of gradually-merging with that branch's Takeru) as effectively ceasing to exist.
• Contested Sequel:
  • Alternative was one for Japanese fans at the time of its release, partly due to the three-year Schedule Slip and the fans building up expectations. People who were expecting a light, multi-heroine ending dating sim in the vein of Sakura Wars ended up getting a dark, powerfully-written linear Utsuge with a death count on par with Victory Gundam. The unexpected Gorn and Naughty Tentacles caused an outcry, and there were reports of fans dropping the game after Marimo's grisly death. Eventually however Alternative became the most well-regarded installment of the trilogy, ranking consistently either at the top (or just below it) of both Japanese and Western Visual Novel ratings. See It Gets Better below.
  • Deny all you want âge, that bit at the end of Alternative certainly looked like it connected to Altered Fable. Or maybe Yashiro just cried cause it was the wrong world, eh? She obviously didn't know, she just spontaneously started crying, and recognizing people she didn't know!
• Counterpart Comparison: Takeru, to Rika of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, except that the only time he manages to retain memories and experience clearly was on the last jump into Alternative. Sumika in Unlimited/Alternative, to Hanyuu, as well.
• Crowning Moment of Heartwarming: Each of the heroines' routes in Extra and Unlimited has at least one. In Alternative, Yuuhi (the Grand Shogun) consoling Chizuru, who had just lost her father the Prime Minister in the coup d'etat.
• Crowning Music of Awesome: JAM Project provided the openings and insert songs for Muv-Luv Alternative. From the soundtrack comes various live orchestral pieces such as Hijiri Anze's "Flame of Life" and Hikaru Nanase's "Meiya".
  • The OP for Extra is pretty awesome too, albeit in a more typical-sounding "moe VN opening" sort of way.
  • War Preparation
• Ear Worm: "TACHIAGARE KEDAKAKU MAE SADAME WO UKETA SENSHI YOOOO!" and "WOHOOOAH! WOHOOOAH! WOHOOOOOOOOAH!"
  • From the first game, "Aaaa-na-ta no hitomi gaaaaa, utsushidasu miii-raiiii~"
• Ensemble Darkhorse: Haruko Kashiwagi, the sixth player in Chizuru's lacrosse team in Extra, appears to be one, considering that âge released the fandisk Haruko Maniax with her taking center-stage.^[1]
• Even Better Sequel
• Genius Bonus: Too many to count. One particular example: history-savvy readers will recall that Operation Cherry Blossom (Operation Ouka) shares its name with the Japanese purpose-built kamikaze aircraft Ouka - apt name for a suicide mission in the Original Hive.
• It Gets Better: Alternative is widely considered by many to be one of the most awesome Visual Novels in all existence. However, one of the major complaints of people who play it are that a) It is necessary to play through the far less awesome first two installments of the series and that b) Alternative, even after it starts, does not have the decency to become anything more than a rehash of Unlimited until 20 hours in.
• High Octane Nightmare Fuel/Nausea Fuel: Marimo's HEADCHOMP. Especially since it occurs as a Mood Whiplash.
  • This troper has taken to calling MLA, Murphy's Cat: What Happens When Everything Bad That Could Happen, Did Happen, At The Worst Time.
• Just Here For Alternative - see It Gets Better above.
• Memetic Mutation:
  • "Is Alternative here yet?"^[2] A common cry by Japanese fans during the three year wait between Unlimited and Alternative.
  • HEADCHOMP and variants thereof.
  • The successive Gut Punches, especially in the latter half of Alternative, has led to the saying "You can't spell RAGE without AGE!"
  • Posting ;_;> or ;_;7 ^[3] is common whenever "Flame of Life", "Meiya" "For You Who Departs" or "Farewell", among others, play.
• Narm: "THEY'RE HUMAN... BRAIIIIIIINNNNSSS!!!"

1. ↑ She also has the most H-scenes out of any Muv-Luv heroine, whether main or supporting.
2. ↑ "Oruta mada~?" in Japanese
3. ↑ Emoticons depicting someone saluting while tearing up