Played Tokimeki Memorial 4 for the first time after digesting 2 for a year, and my first run was an interesting experience! I've probably only experienced like 1% of the game with it so it's more of a first impressions post, and I'll try to elaborate better sometime later.
I really like the writing in this game. It feels very mature in how it writes is characters, while 2 thrived in making its characters as bombastically different from each other in overexaggerated designs and personalities from the outset (which I love), 4 pushes you to just get to know them and learn what's special about each one.
I've only played a single run and even though I wasn't dating the poster girl, Maki Hoshikawa, she already feels like a friend I care about and want to see succeed at everything she's working hard to achieve. And I feel similar to the other few characters I got to meet in this run and I hope to get to know them even better going forward. And of course, Itsuki (girl in the pic) is a sweetheart sports girl that is kind of what I wish Nozomi Kiyokawa (my fav from 1) was written like!
It feels very much like playing a very good romantic slice of life anime from the late 2000s and the presentation also helps with that.
My biggest disappointment so far is the music, though of course it's me coming right from 1 and 2 that had the Konami Kukeiha Club at their prime in the 90s making over 100 tracks for each... the music in 4 wasn't as appealing to me and the lack of variety makes it sting more...
I've got opinions on the gameplay, good and bad, but I think I need more runs to understand and vocalize my thoughts better so I'll save it for now.
Anyways, gotta travel back home in 8 hours so off to sleep!