this is the first part of my review of Clannad.  I'm simply giving an overview and there are no spoilers in this post (most likely the next though).  Alright here is part one of my Clannad review. The parts will be released across a few weeks (as I'm not done playing the game yet)

Clannad is a Beautiful Masterpiece (a review of Key's most famous work)

Now, what is Clannad?

Clannad is a Visual Novel by Key released in 2004.  The story follows cynical high schooler, Tomoya Okazaki.  At the beginning we learn that that he doesn't take his studies seriously and hates his everyday life; His father is an alcoholic, His mom died in a car crash, and he hates the town where he lives. But that all changes one day when he meets meek and quiet girl, Nagisa when walking to school and then everything changes for him.  

Clannad has many branching paths, allowing you to meet and woo all the girls from the starfish loving girl, Fuko; to the protective older sister with a pet boar(what???), Kyou.   Clannad allows you, the player, to make choices to help or harm the girls in question.  Clannad also has an anime but I feel like the VN is better.

The Characters of Our Story

Nagisa Furukawa

Nagisa Furukawa is a young frail girl, one year older than our protagonist.  She is shy, and has low self-esteem (me too).  Her route is you helping her to bring back the drama club.  She also has a affiliation with anpan and "The Big Dango Family", a cartoon about a large family of dangos.  

Kyou Fujibayashi

Kyou Fujibayashi is the twin sister of Ryou.  She is aggressive and protective of her sister.  She is very responsible and has a quick fuse, often throwing books at Tomoya and Sunohara(we'll get to him).  In her route we find her growing closer to Tomoya.  She also has a pet boar named Botan.

Kotomi Ichinose

Kotomi Ichinose

Kotomi Ichinose is a talented yet silent girl.  She prefers to spend her time in the library, studying than going to classes at the school.  She is very intelligent but doesn't have great social skills which often have her end up talking about strange things.  Her route follows meeting her in the library and becoming great friends with her.  She also enjoying plays the violin although she isn't very good at it.

Tomoyo Sakagumi

Tomoyo Sakagumi is a transfer student who got extremely popular due to her confronting a biker gang at the beginning of the VN.  She often has rumors made up about her such as being part of a gang or carrying a metal bat everywhere.  She also has great fighting skills (which we see with her personal punching bag, Sunohara).  In her route you help her become part of the student council.  She also has her own side-game (Tomoyo, a wonderful life).

Fuko Ibuki

Fuko Ibuki is a strange girl who loves carving wooden starfish.  She also goes into a trance-like state when thinking about Starfish which Tomoyo abuses of course.  Her route follows you helping her and her sister.  

Yohei Sunohara 

Yohei Sunohara is our protagonist best friend.  He can be annoying, perverted, and a slob; but there are moments that show he truly cares for the people loves.  (Note: that doesn't change that I still hate him)

Now that you know the characters and the plot.  Let's move on to the routes..

coming soon...