This review is based off the common route of this version and a previous read of the original version. This review will be updated to reflect only this version when I finish it. Expect an update within a week at longest.

To get it out of the way immediately in case you don't want to read the full review: I'd recommend Love, Elections, and Chocolate (Koichoco) to readers who want some comedy with a hefty dose of slice of life drama. This is not a feel good moege, it's a dramatic story. If you go into this knowing that then I think you'll enjoy it. I fully believe most of the disappointment from people who have or will read this is expecting it to be like Aokana or a Yuzusoft game where it's cutesy moments first and foremost. If you're particularly sensitive to issues of bullying, then I'd avoid this as it is fairly prevalent throughout the story.

Common route is more comedy focused and relatively light on the drama, but the drama builds significantly as it goes into the character routes. The localization here is really good, better than most so far. It reads very well for an English speaker without sounding stilted and overly literal like many other translations are. The quality of life features from switching the engine to Unity are great.

I'll update the review later as I finish rereading this as it has been years since my original read. But the short version of the rest of the story is that a lot of dramatic things happen. Characters have their own motivations and sometimes they're not always healthy or positive motivations, but they're believable motivations, and that's part of what makes this story entertaining. You likely won't like all the characters by the end of reading this. Go into this knowing it's a dramatic story and you'll likely enjoy it.

(Please Hold the Pitch Forks!!! - Also Context: I own the Physical High Resolution Version that this edition is based on.)

As a sprite super-fan myself, who owns their latest works including "everlasting flowers", has over 160hrs+ in Aokana(believes it to be a Masterpiece), EXTRA 1/2 & now 60hrs+ in Koichoco otherwise known as Love Election & Chocolates.

Leaning this review negative was not taken lightly & I'm going to explain my conclusion on why, even if you are a seasoned VN Reader.. You might not want to add Koichocco to your backlog or prioritize it over other things.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1044620/Aokana__Four_Rhythms_Across_the_Blue/

I do however hold the view that Aokana is likely a Masterpiece & would easily recommend that instead.

Spoilers Will Be Properly Tagged - But Beware.


Native Touchscreen Support | ❌

- The Original Koichoco: High Resolution has Native Touchscreen Compatibility that worked on Steam Deck & for some reason NekoNyan has been disabling support for this in sprite VN's since EXTRA2, while minor I'm not exactly ecstatic to notice a missing feature, but that's not the only thing NN's stripped from this Edition of Love Election & Chocolates.

Controller Support | ❌

- Use Custom Community Layout | I recommend: "ℜ𝔢𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔡 | Love Election ∵ Layout: V1.01 | [Steam Deck]"

Proton Support | ⚠️ [Updated: 03/30/25]

- Proton Experimental Required | Proton 10.0(+) Recommended

- Compatibility Bugs: W̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶L̶a̶u̶n̶c̶h̶, Improper Windowing

- [JP]Koichoco: High Resolution works on Proton 9 Flawlessly, The Steam Edition of Koichoco however(as of NekoNyan's V1.00) w̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶l̶a̶u̶n̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶e̶ now launches, but still has Window Related Problems where upon boot the Window scaling is off regardless of initial Resolution / Window Mode.

I have a fix for this, so please defer to the comment section bellow for the solution


Steam Deck Approval | ✅




Koichoco is in my opinion Proto-Aokana, meaning that alot of what worked here, made its way into Aokana & what did not work w/Koichocco's Narrative helped bolster & reinforce the future plot of Four Rythmns Across The Blue.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3453698247

With this said.. Sprite has made a name for itself with it's Next-Tier Visual Presentation Style

• Native 4K Support - YES!!!
  
  
• Fitting / High Quality OST - Pretty hard to miss for any VN, but sprite has never disappointed here.
  
  
• Dynamic CGs - Depending of the Time/Date CGs Change; You see people visually experiencing life outside the Story's Main Bubble. Reacting to events, Fully drawn background characters + Faces/Expressions, Rarely are Background CGs Barren or Empty; All of this only helps to boost immersion & furthers the World Building.
  
  More Visual Novels need to take note here.
  
  
• Fluid Motion Sprites - It's the little things, the attention to detail that's not limited to just Static(Still) Character Sprites on-screen, but providing an additional path to stay engaged while actually visually stimulating you further as you read.
  
  (Example: Michiru's Sprite has done a zip'n dash to avoid characters getting close, like a cat)
  
  
  
  Negatives -:- The Chisato Problem
  
  The Plot is supposed to be essentially Love & Politics.
  
  For as simple as it seems, there are many things in the plot that may trigger a severe suspension of disbelief during the story, that will absolutely break your immersion.
  
  
• The Dark Forces at Play - Someone has been going around & killing children and we never / EVER figure out who or what, not even just MAYBE why.. Just when the attempt happens you must accept it & move on???
  
  
• Worst Girl Bleeding into every route - This is insanely problematic, as it degrades overall route quality.
  
  (For More - Visit "Worst Girl")
  
  
• Too Many Routes - There are 5 Heroines & that's more than average for VNs. That means someones route is being shafted, as the story has to accommodate for everyone's role in-regards to the Main Plot.. Which for the number of writers they had means the quality of the writing is going to be hurt in the process.
  
  
• Art Inconsistency - Aokana & everlasting flowers have great consistency across CGs, but there will be times in Koichoco where characters don't look relative to their sprites.. It's that jarring that it feels like you're not looking at the same character anymore, even with the 4K Edition; Love, Election & Chocolates definitely didn't age well in that regard.
  
  
• Eroge Quality - I don't want to get banned, just know that everything above effects the Eroge, it's far from the best Eroge made.
  
  
  Worst Girl
  
  https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3453755058
  
  Koichocco's Original(HD) release initially had a compelled Route to be experienced first, before even getting the option to try another Heroine's route & the effects of this scenario still permeate this VN's entire plot today. Even in the High Resolution Version where her route is not forced(but it is easy to get her first on blind play-through).
  
  Chisato's Route being forced initially was for symbolism, bc the way they wrote this VN.. her actions in other routes cannot be understood properly, as in-a way they were written to either, bolster her appeal or maintain natural consistency w/the forced route.
  
  With that said Chisato is ummm.. Actually Mentally Ill. She has Capgras Delusion or another form of Delusional Misidentification Syndrome, where she's actually imposing her Dead Brother's existence through Yuuki(MC), he understand it's not healthy & wants it to end, Chisato also Abuses Yuuki, treats MC like a dog on a leash, calls him her property, Assaults people other than the MC & has caused the downfall of the election in no less than 2 routes.
  
  W/that said Chisato is the Definition of Toxicity, the VN would be infinitely better without her in-it bc you cannot escape her no matter what route you read, she will invade & influence where she can.
  
  (EDIT: Yes, Chisato has Trauma, but that's not a justification for her deplorable antics)
  
  
  
  Koichoco's Value - End of Review
  
  I honestly don't believe even a seasoned reader could have a memorable or worthwhile time w/Love, Election & Chocolates. I especially think if you've never read a VN before, You should stay waaaay & aways from Koichocco.. As in-terms of writing & overall production combined?
  
  
  It's an Average Read, we're not breaking new ground or touching on a Universal Human experience & as such I don't think Koichoco is actually worth reading.
  
  (EDIT: W/O saying too much I think when you finish you'll regret that lost time, esp: Chasing All Routes)
  
  (And this is coming from someone who think Marco & The Galaxy Dragon has value as a VN, despite having one of the worst plots in-VN history)
  
  Love, Election & Chocolates is sprite's first fold into the world of Visual Novels & what was to come with Aokana & FILMIC NOVELS.
  
  The Value I see in Koichoco is merely to experience that history & maybe even study it, but I would never say this is a(n) absolute must read, as this story could easily put people off from Visual Novels as a whole due as it's not a good first impression & not in my opinion a "fun" time.
  
  And I would never want that, especially as a sprite fan.
  
  While Koichoco unfortunately isn't as fun or meaningful as other sprite tales.. That's ok, as long as you know that going into it.

honestly, koichoco just hits you different in a weird way, there's this sense of... i don't know, satisfaction..? its hard to describe this feeling till you experience it yourself. it's definitely one of the VN i'd recommend