My Girlfriend Archive

My Thoughts on My Girlfriend Archive

Okay, so "My Girlfriend Archive" is... an interesting experience. Going in, the title and cover art definitely give off a certain vibe – one that leans heavily into the harem genre. But after diving in, I quickly realized that this novel is much more than meets the eye. In fact, it's a bit of a bait-and-switch.

First Impressions

My initial reaction was a bit mixed. The synopsis is vague, almost to the point of being unhelpful. It's hard to get a solid grasp on what the story is actually about from the description alone. I thought it was going to be a system novel with dating elements, but it turns out to be more focused on solving mysteries.

What Works Well

The core concept of the "girlfriend archive" itself is actually pretty clever. Instead of a typical dating sim, the "girlfriends" are essentially cases or missions that the protagonist has to solve. He uses a save/load system to gather clues and make deductions, which adds a unique layer to the story. The save/load mechanic is fun, and the cases are intriguing enough to keep me reading. The reward system is also interesting, allowing the protagonist to retain his rewards even when he reloads to an earlier save point.

Areas of Concern

The translation quality is a significant hurdle. Some sentences are so poorly translated that they become difficult to decipher, which can be frustrating. It really pulls you out of the story and forces you to focus on untangling the language instead of enjoying the plot. Also, if you're going into this expecting a harem, prepare to be disappointed. The protagonist resets his relationships after each case, so there's no real progression on that front.

Final Verdict

"My Girlfriend Archive" is a bit of a mixed bag. The mystery elements and the save/load mechanic are genuinely interesting, but the translation issues and the misleading title hold it back. If you're willing to overlook the translation and you're more interested in a mystery with supernatural elements than a harem, then it might be worth checking out. Otherwise, proceed with caution. I'd give it a tentative 3/5 stars.