Developer: AGL Studios
Genre: Visual Novel
Reviewed version: 1.0
Censored: No
Patch Needed: No
OS: Windows
Language: English
My first reaction when playing Best Elf was a "Wow, it sure looks good", followed immediately by a "Wait a minute, shouldn't I play the prequel first?". Luckily for me, it's not necessary to play Faulty Apprentice first as long as you don't mind missing references to previous events since following the game's plot is still possible despite it taking place after the true ending of the prequel. It puts you in the shoes of the apprentice as he gets roped into being the judge of a contest between the high elf archer Eleanna and the dark elf Zariinna to determine who is the best elf of the two. That's it until stuff happens, and they are forced to put their little competition on hold to work together to save the day with your and the pervy wizard Durandal's help.
The plot is entertaining and lighthearted, though it also features some serious moments and character development to balance things out. It also has loads of dialogue choices to make that decide which character you romance at the end of the game, whether it's Eleanna, Zariinna, a new character introduced halfway into the story, or both elves at the same time. On the downside, it takes about two hours to beat the game on your first run, but it has enough replay value to spend twice as much time trying to unlock everything.
Visuals-wise, it's what you'd expect from a game made by AGL Studios: Beautiful character sprites full of details, vivid colors, and some touches here and there that make them look alive. The sex scenes are equally as good-looking, plus their smooth animation makes them very pleasing to the eyes.
Verdict: Fun
Best Elf is an enjoyable visual novel whose entertaining plot, pretty art, smooth animations, and high replayability compensate for its short length. Give it a shot if you're already a fan of Faulty Apprentice or you're into vanilla stories taking place in a high-fantasy setting.