Highway Blossoms: Next Exit

Well what can I say Highway Blossoms will always be one of my favorites. The way the devs are able to get the feelings of the characters across is something I rarely get to enjoy. You also get to see the ups and downs of the relationship between Amber and Marina, rather than everything being perfect all the time. Its nice to see their anxieties and jealousy, it makes this so much more real. I also have to say that the Voice Acting is amazing as always. English Voice Acting in VNs is rare as it is, but here it is also just really good and the Voice Actors really are able to get the feelings across pretty good. I also really love the art in both the backgrounds and the sprites. Plus the Music always fits nicely. Storywise this is also a nice addition, but it really is just some additional extra content rather than like a real sequel or anything. If you liked the main game and want to see more of the characters however than I can easily recommend checking this out. Only slight sad part is that there is no extra adult content in this dlc :c and only one kissing scene. Check out my Curator Page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/34401214/

Good God i Have been waiting a while for this. I binged the whole thing and all the points of views in less than 4-5 hours of time and it did not disappoint at all. The brilliantly written and voiced characters are just like the base game as before. Spending more time with Cassi was nice but the main point of focus is on the relationships between the 3 stooges (Tess,Joseph,Mariah) and the 2 love birds (Amber,Marina). If there is anything specific to praise. The conversation which Tess and Joseph have about being happy is the best conversation in the DLC. Overall I can certainly say it was MORE than worth it and I Hope to god this encourages them to make a Proper sequel and or more DLC in the future. (Just hope it doesn't take another 2 years before then, but a man can dream) Abetery Score that means absolutely nothing 9/10 (Because nothing is perfect)

This is merely a review of the Next Exit expansion content. The base game content is reviewed [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/Ceaseless_Duality/recommended/451760/] here [/url]. [u]Information[/u] [list][*] About 3 hours long. [*] Covers relationship problems between Amber and Marina. Addresses Tess's depression and Mariah's secret worries. [*] Gives all the characters full names. [*] Read from different perspectives: Amber, Marina, & Mariah's group. [*] Cassi (candy shop lady) returns with a larger part. [*] Several CGs added.[/list] I liked it! Very emotional and well-written. It's definitely a nice addition to the base game. I feel like $10 is a bit much, but that might be because the CGs are just that damn good. Art isn't cheap.

The writing is on about the same level as the original story, but it tends to hit different because the focus is less on Amber and more on everyone else this time. Amber's arc of personal development hasn't concluded yet, but this time around we get more of a glimpse into the perspectives of people like Marina and Tess who were a bit more opaque before. The expansion of Cassi's character is a welcome addition and helps the narrative flow in new directions (The original cast of five characters was a teensy bit anemic, even if it was used very well). Music, expressive sprites, and beautiful CGs are still used to great effect to set the tone and help you dive into the plot. Given the shorter length the DLC's story, I'd actually say you get a higher density of unique and interesting moments overall. It is a *little* buggy and unpolished, however; there are more typos than in the original story, and I encountered at least one instance of the game failing to retrieve a scene (this was pretty easily remedied, however). None of it is really deal-breaking, though, and I'd still give the DLC high marks when taken all together. Of course, if you liked Highway Blossoms, you'll probably already be interested in playing Next Exit; still, for those of you who for whatever reason are on the fence, I can personally say that I recommend checking it out. It's more of what you love while still being fresh enough to feel like a worthy new installment to the story.

[h1]The Adorkable Lesbians Return to Vegas…[/h1] but it is honestly Tess’ plotline that is the star of this DLC, and is in the top of my visual novels list because of it. I will go further into that when I discuss the different story and character elements bellow. Overall, much like the main game, it is a treat for those that like adorable romance stories with great music, cute anime characters with fitting voices and over the top expressions, and love to have those things combined in a relaxing linear format. This time you get to follow from the perspectives of multiple beloved characters from the first game, rather than just the protagonist all throughout. The game does have some interaction in letting you experience few sections from either Amber or Marina’s perspective… but just pick Marina. Because there aren’t really any “game” elements, most of the review will be in spoiler tags, as I will go into characters, story, and themes. [h2]The not quite so good Elements[/h2] [spoiler]First of all the [b]“chose Amber or Marina” choices[/b]. Setting aside the fact that it is most likely done for replay value, and just leads to you skipping through the game to see the stuff you missed the first time, it feels weird to have that stuff in a game with a set outcome, no influence on the story, and you through the majority of it switch back and forth anyway. It isn’t like you are in doubt about any of the characters motivations or where they miscommunicate. It literally just means there ends up being a worse option to pick, like with the first choice, Marina is clearly the better option and sadly the one I didn’t chose the first time, since hers gives the most foreshadowing and it makes a joke with the trio make sense, since you kinda miss the setup otherwise… [/spoiler] [spoiler][b]Amber and Marina’s plotline.[/b] I am not saying it was bad, because they are still cute and adorkable and all, and they act very much in character… In fact, they have had some positive growth from the first game, but why did we have to add some pseudo-jealousy stuff in there. It doesn’t go full love triangle, but close enough… the underlining theme of treating your girlfriend like an equal, and being afraid to ask for respect due to fears of driving the other away are both good themes, but with a third character caught in the middle. It just made me dread any section with Cassi in it, which is a shame because she’s a kind and well-meaning character, even if a bit boring, but I just disliked how Amber and Marina acted around her. And I was way more invested in Tess’ conflict, so basically just ended up being like GO MEET UP WITH TESS! DITCH AMBER, LET HER BE CRAPPY GIRLFRIEND OF THE MONTH AND GO HANG OUT WITH THE POOR GIRL![/spoiler] [h2]And the parts that deserve warm Mare Bear hugs[/h2] [spoiler][b]Tess[/b]… just… yeah, her entire plotline, and struggles through this story was damn good. There’s a lot of stories about being sad, and that it is okay to feel sad. But how about when you just feel broken inside? Not because of an event or any singular trauma you’ve experienced, but you just have too much trouble relating to certain people, or you never feel what you are supposed to feel when you feel it? Even to the point when you are unsure if you are at all capable of feeling the emotions in the way you are supposed to? She’s such a weird kid, and I find her to be incredibly relatable about her. And I was happy about every moment that I got with her, and the conclusion was satisfying and warm in its own way. ‘Next Exit’ on its own would probably be my favorite visual novel of all time if this was the main plot and Amber and Marina’s were exchanged for some filler fluff.[/spoiler] [spoiler][b]Our cuties have grown[/b] Obviously they still have their personalities, which leads to the same character strengths and weaknesses, from the first game, but they have toned them down just slightly to keep them in their adorable range. So Marina is still overly positive, excitable, and warm, but it comes off as less… oblivious than it did with forgiving someone instantly for chopping up her brother’s car. And if anything, she feels more like a warm child-like young adult or playful mamma bear type, who just happens to have a massive sweet tooth. If anything it kinda feels like Amber is the one that needs to do some growing up, because she doesn’t know how to treat her girlfriend like an equal, but compared to what she did near the climax of the first one, she doesn’t have her head nearly as far up her own… well, she’s working on her issues and not being so much a self-hating cynic.[/spoiler] [spoiler]Keeping up the high quality of beautiful background, fun dialogue, and adorkable over the top expressions at appropriate times keeps a journey full of emotions, from the joy, the cuteness, the creepiness, to the sadness on behalf of what poor Tess.[/spoiler]

Listen, I wanted to like this game, especially because I paid $8 on it. But I didn't. I am convinced all the positive reviews didn't actually play the game, and the first one that appears as I am typing this received the product for free but convinces everyone else to pay "for everything." Note: I am a woman, who loves women, and find the relationship between Amber and Marina not to be healthy in the slightest. The pros: - I do find that expanding on Tess' depression that was apparent in the original game was interesting - Having Marina have more of a voice was wonderful as I was sick of listening to Amber's shit - Cassi is a cool character The cons: - Despite having some Marina insight, it is pretty focused on Amber's voice still, unless we are in the sections that talk about "The Trio" (Joe, Mariah, and Tess). - There were SO MANY TYPOS AND MISTAKES. The original game had them too, but it was much more apparent in this DLC. - The worst offender for a mistake was when it was supposed to be Marina's POV, and then after one minute, they switch to Amber's POV without acknowledging it was her POV. - A minor offender, but an annoying one: The Rainforest Cafe is not in the MGM Casino anymore. - Amber is borderline abusive to Marina, wondering why she gave money to her family and talks to them? Like girl. - The fight that happens, the whole buildup, it lasted 5 minutes. I don't like people fighting but they made this a much bigger deal with lackluster results. - The creators didn't seem to know how to end things or expand on stuff because every storyline seemed to end flatly. Another negative review (the only one at the time of this one) mentioned something similar. - Marina's inner thoughts just kept ragging on Amber yet she says she loves her. Like girl, that isn't love. Comparing her to the shitty Mariah means you need to RUN. - Mariah's viewpoint was terrible and I am not just saying that as an avid Mariah hater. Also, Mariah needs to be in jail and the only reason she's not is because of white privilege. - Amber was so fucking stupid and didn't learn from her mistakes. - Amber clearly wants to bone the other girl, Cassi. Marina kept saying that she wasn't upset about Cassi but she clearly was. - The game ends thinking we should support this relationship but we really, really shouldn't. I kind of thought this at the end of the original game after Amber lied about orgasming but I thought things would be different in this game. Nope, they really aren't. Overall, don't waste your time unless this game is like, $3 and you have nothing else to do.

[h1]While they did an most perfect job on the original story, they somehow made this one even better~[/h1] [b]Some minor spoilers in this review, proceed at your own risk!!![/b] [h1]So what's this story about then?[/h1] In this dlc, Highway Blossoms: Next Exit, Amber and Marina travels back to Las Vegas to visit an Alien themed convention and meet up with Tess, Joe and Mariah for a special occassion. They'll also happen to encounter Cassi again and new problems puts Ambers and Marinas relationship on thin ice. Instead of just reading from Ambers perspective you'll also get to read from Marina (Oh goodness, her thinking is just way too cute!) and the trio and at certain points you can choose to read it from either Ambers or Marina perspective, even more reason to read the story twice, wooo! There'll also be a lot more focus on the trio to get to know them better and about their problems, with a mostly stronger focus on Tess (omigosh she's just so so very adorable, SO ADORABLE!!!) making her much less of just a background character then before. [h1]So what does little me think of this?[/h1] It's perfect, simply breathtakingly amazing, there's not a single word, part or scene of the story that I don't love nor recommend. I found it very wonderful to be able to read it from the other characters perspective too, gives you a whole new way to see everything at. Having a bigger and deeper focus on every one was a giant plus as well, Tess really deserved some more screen time and some CGs of her own. Now you can easily see just how cute she really is! The new CGs are beyond gorgeous with an amazing depth of details, they really outdid themself at that! More cute and fun expressions for every one made it even better too. Amber with a :3 expression and Marina's math scenes is a sight to behold. The perfect balance between fun, tear dropping and sweet scenes was as great as always, you get to see Marinas and Ambers love blossom even better and there's even some touching moment among the Trio too, now that's so wonderful! [hr][/hr] If you actually read all that you can surely guess just how much I recommend this dlc by now. I give it a full score, not a single thing to mark as negative nor not recommend. Buy it, even without a sale you won't regret it, it's a must to read. 💜 [spoiler]The Marina and Tess scenes is just the cutest ever, it's dangerously cute!!! 💜💜💜💜💜[/spoiler]

Next Exit does the best thing a sequel can do: it uses the ideas, characters, and relationships from the original work as a starting point to tell a different story, without sacrificing what was good about the original. In this case, it builds on the fun yet believable cast of characters while keeping things grounded in a very authentic American setting, and it asks, "what happens next?" The answers it finds are worth reading. Without spoiling, the subject matter is pretty serious, and I began to get worried that it would become painful to read, but thankfully the story balances out those bits with some silly fun, and keeps things short and sweet, so it never quite reaches that point. The art and music are still charming and the overall presentation is more polished than ever. A job well done and an inspiration!

I was looking forward to this DLC. It was in my top 3 awaited releases for the year. I couldn't wait to return to this world. Why, then, did I only finish the DLC today? Two words: Tonal Shift. The majority of the DLC focuses on a character outside of the OTP, and the focus is both heavy, and tonally jarring if one is expecting the same feel-good experience of the original story. The first few times I sat down to marathon this, I was looking for that feel-good experience. Not finding it, I put it back down. Then it hit me... I was expecting the writers to stagnate: to deliver more of the same. To offer little-to-no character development. To keep our girls happily bouncing along like nothing ever changes. Instead, they've taken the opportunity to actually write something meaningful. To push the characters forward. To bring even more life to this universe. I'm thankful the writers care as much about this world as I do...and I'm definitely here for wherever they go next.

Easy recommendation. If you liked Tess from the main story then you'll definitely enjoy this one. It's well worth it. More wholesome moments are always welcome! Poor Tess 💜

Next Exit is a great story that expands on characters you already know, and it will probably make you fall in love with them (or fall even more in love with them than you already were). It does take place entirely in Las Vegas so it won't make you feel like you're on a roadtrip the way the base game does, but Vegas is a lot of fun so it's cool. Also, there wasn't any adult content this time around, but there IS adorable fluff. Absolutely loved the new artwork. Shifting perspectives was a nice change, as well. Still no dialogue options or alternate endings so not much replayability. If you finished and enjoyed the base game, then overall I'd say do not pass up this DLC. 8/10

I'll always be skeptical when it comes to sequels. Will it ever be able to match up with something as powerfully entertaining as the original adventures of Amber and Marina? The DLC, of course, focuses on Vegas and although we reunite with the RV, it spends most of its time hauled up, so if anything is missing it's the road trip experience. It's definitely not as long and involved as the original, finishing it up in maybe 4 hours. The ability to read from different perspectives doesn't change the story much at all since it quickly switches back to the main storyline. Not sure if that did much to enhance the overall experience but the concept would be a good one if the writers took more advantage of it. I get LV and all its tawdry glory. My family has been traveling there over the years since I was little and even lived there for several years. I saw it as a tourist destination and a place to live. It was fun in both aspects, so I was excited to see what they could do with it. To be honest, if it wasn't a UFO convention and the reference to a specific hotel or two, this really could have taken place anywhere. However, they kept the original characters very well in sync with the personalities you've come to know. I do wish they'd let Joe put down his arm(s) and open his eyes for once since all the other toons aren't frozen in a weird position. That gets old. Otherwise, everything is beautifully drawn just like the original. I believe the theme, if there is one, is the different aspects of maturity that you get to explore with the MC, the Trio and you touch upon it with Cassi. There are some poignant moments to be had for those of us who have this concept well in hand. It's like watching some friends grow up. I see the potential for a lot of future content using different cities as individual stories. If they're as well crafted as this one, I will continue to read. Definitely worth the price.

So at some point between me playing the original game, they removed the rest stop scene(although it is still in the extra content) So to make up for it, they put [spoiler] Tess in a bouncy castle [/spoiler] [spoiler] I feel like crying right now [/spoiler]

Waited Four years for a sequel/DLC, and this was just perfection. Just like the original one before this DLC it just as good and nothing has change in the slightest.

short after story set about a month after the events of the base story, short sweet and still amazing i really hope they contunie to write more highway blossoms content cause i love amber and marina so much i just want to see them happy together also A+ on tess and joe what a great part of the story

The best way to continue an already stellar experience! There were so many amazing themes and writing at play here that I'm more tempted to call this Highway Blossoms 2 because of how full and how important the experience is. HB knocked it out of the park once again with amazing production value and stellar looking CGs. It was so awesome to see a game that I first played years ago feel "grown up" and dealing with more serious and poignant issues, and Next Exit handles it with finesse. In my opinion, Next Exit is absolutely a necessity to get the full experience of the game - you're only getting half of the experience with the base game. When I finished HB I said that it was debatably the best virtual novel on Steam - now there's no question in my mind, this is the strongest Virtual Novel on Steam, no contest. Can't wait to explore the developer's other works! I know for a fact I wont be disappointed. Thank you for the outstanding experience <3

Next Exit tackles the aspect of love stories that is so often ignored. The honeymoon is over, and now our heroes have to come to terms with the daily, stressful, hard work of really loving someone. This gives us a different emotional experience than the main game, but it's an experience that is absolutely worth having. Also, we get to spend some time learning about the Trio and there is some great storytelling going on there too. Also also, the writing here is maybe even better than the main game, which surprised me. The tension is tenser, the feels are feelsier, and the jokes are funnier. Seriously, the comedic elements here are gold. Just go play it. If you liked the main game, you'll like this. It's the best kind of DLC: true to the original story while still providing a unique and fulfilling new experience.

A nice DLC, adding more expressions to each character, more smooth transitions and most importantly: A good story. Aside from the obvious recommendations, I think everyone who liked the main story should play this mainly because it draws out each of the characters, which allows for some really heartfelt moments that may resonate with some people for good or bad reasons [spoiler]Joe and Tess heart-to-heart particularly[/spoiler], maybe not, but at least you would have played a great VN.

DLC for Highway Blossoms, Next Exit continues the story of Amber and Marina. (As well as a B-plot with Tess and her siblings.) If you enjoyed the base game, then this DLC is absolutely worth picking up. We get more into the relationship between Amber and Marina, which is going a little rocky. They are two college-age women who have never been in love before and are struggling to adapt. There’s about 3 hours of story here, with voice acting from the original cast, which is good value. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with these characters and I will definitely be buying more visual novels from this studio in the future.

Whilst feeling not as fully fleshed out as the base game, still a worthy addition to it and had me smiling and laughing throughout the entirety of it whilst touching on some really harsh topics with Tess to flesh out her character more

Honestly, if Amber and Marina ever get into a poly relationship, Cassi would be the best/worse decision. Cassi is such a sweet character, but she ultimately served as the breaking point between the two main girls. It was obvious Marina was jealous, but Amber definitely deserved the yelling cuz yeesh. The scene with Joe and Tess was sweet. I really like Tess's story and Joe deserves more screen time. Overall, Cassi is my favorite. Best girl. There were a lot of typos. And I love how Amber's and Marina's relationship grew, but gosh they can both be annoying at times.

I haven't touched Highway Blossoms probably since it came out in 2016-2017. After playing a bunch more VNs in the meantime, and finally buying this DLC, and getting to play it like a year+ later, this is a decent supplemental addition to one of my favorite (E)VNs, period. No porn this time, which is fine. If you bought Highway Blossoms, but didn't enjoy the story (for some reason), I don't think this DLC would change your mind, but if you did, definitely pick this up after finishing the base game.

[h1]The Fact of the Matta[/h1] This expansion provides a worthy follow-up to the original story: Where Amber and Marina are going to go from here in their relationship, elaborating on the backstories of 'The Trio', and giving a latecomer in the first story some time to shine in the DLC. If you love the cast, this purchase is a no-brainer. === My additional and scattered thoughts are far less refined, but here goes. Spoilers probably, but I tend to speak broadly. I was really surprised by the depth of Tess' story, to the point that I think it wouldn't be wrong to call this Tess' DLC. In the midst of drama and interpersonal conflict we kinda expect to crop up in VNs like this, Tess' arc is so sincere and raw in portraying her fears and deep sadness that I found myself a lot more invested in her growth as a character than anybody else. Perhaps it's just personal experience lining up with Tess' story, or perhaps the whole concept of this DLC really was to facilitate Tess' growth as a character that she was unable to get in the base game. I can imagine some people probably getting sick of Amber's blockheaded-ness. If that was something you didn't like in the first story, you'll have to be prepared to witness it again. To me, as annoying as it is seeing Amber make bad choices, including those she should've already learnt to not do already, that's kinda the point of her arc in the DLC. People don't change overnight, it takes commitment. Make no mistake here: the narrative isn't making excuses for her. Amber suffers for her missteps, and it establishes that if she doesn't keep to her promises things just won't last between her and Marina. Marina too, has her moments, but while Amber is just stubborn, Marina's contributions to her own problems stem from an understandable desire to not cause upset, but often at the detriment to her own wellbeing. She starts spinning so many plates at once, instead of laying them out on the table, that she turns into a brittle mess of a person that can't take the slightest bump anymore. She certainly didn't help herself by letting a wildly irrational thought settle in her mind about Cassi. And at last I get to mention Cassi. I kinda felt robbed that she got so little screentime in the base story, so I was very excited to see she would appear in the DLC. Putting aside her unknowing role of love rival in Marina's eyes, Cassi is just a ray of sunshine looking for a break in the clouds. Her character development here feels like it was what she was supposed to get in the base game, but was cut out since, well, the climax of the actual plot was taking center stage by the time she was introduced. It might not have been a thought for all I know, but the backstory and development she receives now feels natural, and its conclusion, much like in Tess' story, doesn't wave a magic wand and make everything better. It reiterates a very common theme throughout the entirety of Highway Blossoms: life's journey is not all paved roads and fine weather, it takes real work and time to get to where you want to be. I didn't even mention the extra backstory on Joe and Mariah, but I've said enough. One last thing, all of Tess' CG's are excellent. If you ever needed convincing that Tess is a precious cinnamon roll look no further than here.

Amazing DLC! I loved the base game but LOVED LOVED this one! All the character arcs were so well done and build off the base game so well. Tess's arc was my favorite and i've never seen a character I genuinely relate to more. I was crying during her route and it just felt so personal to me. One of the best written character's I've ever read! I won't spoil anything but you will not regret buying this dlc!

Next Exit is a fantastic follow up to the main game and, gotta say, maybe even better than it. The artwork is much crisper and I like the clean, soft tones of the new art style quite a lot. The story follows two main plots: one about Amber & Marina's maturing relationship and the other about Tess and her growing up to be an adult. Both of these storylines are handled exceptionally well and there were quite a few times when I saw challenges I myself faced in relationships reflected in the game. It was genuine, touching and heartwarming. Also, Mariah and Marina's back-and-forth at the auction was hilarious!

I played the DLC after finishing up the main game, and I must say the DLC did not disappoint (heck, it might be better than the main game tbh???) I really like the character development between everyone, as well as being able to read either Marina or Amber's point of view. I hope we'll get to see more adventures like this in the series!

Very cute! It does have some dramatic moments [spoiler]I cried[/spoiler] but its really sweet and I am glad we got some character development. If you are attached to the main game you will find this small side story enjoyable. It cost 9.99 and It made me happy that I was able to read it. Note: I did turn off the voice acting because I found it intolerable I did play the main game before it was added.

If you enjoyed the base game, this is extra content that seems to be mostly focused around the character development of Tess, with a small side story and drama from the other main characters. It's cute and worth the extra money if you want more Highway Blossoms. It also introduces a perspective selection in which I mostly proffered picking Marina over Amber. Marina's perspective fills you in on the story, but Amber's leaves you in the dark, which from their perspectives makes sense, but from the reader's perspective, it just left me confused. I would select Amber first, finish the perspective segment, then reload the last save and play through Marina's to get the full story. Also there's an addition of extra facial expressions which I didn't like at first coming right off the base game, but they grew on me and I didn't mind them by the end. It's worth the money to buy however and was very good.

I picked up this DLC within an hour of playing the base game, but only just finished it, but I can definitely say it's on par; if not better than the base game. The great writing returns, and while not as many memorable characters come up in this story, the funny and genuinely heartfelt emotional writing more than makes up for it. I am genuinely amazed by how authentically the writing team managed to portray a gay female relationship, with certain parts of this story and the original reminding me of my own relationship. It's a damn good expansion, and I genuinely hope Studio Coattails makes more expansions or even sequels to Highway Blossoms! Seriously, Studio Coattails if you're reading this, I will buy a new chapter of this story day fucking one, that's how much I loved this game!

This extra story is just [i]okay[/i]. It's nothing special, just a couple hours of extra story to get to know the characters a bit better. Get it if you think it would be worth it.

Ugh, i posted an UPDATE to my original review of the main game that talked about the DLC...screw it il post it here too...face palm moment but whatever. This is regarding the DLC...if you haven't played the main game, don't read this part just yet. Just getting around after a couple months to playing the DLC and have to say that in many ways i found it unpleasant for personal reasons, but that's what made this continuation of the story frikin amazing and a testament to the writing behind it. For starters, i was already so invested in the relationship that formed between our protagonists. [spoiler]The tensions that nearly drew them apart in the original story[/spoiler] really solidified my interest and connection between the characters and that clearly carried over into the continuation. I really liked being able to read the story form different perspectives and even like going back to it afterwards to see the other side of that scene...really nice touch. A lot of the themes carried over, and honestly i felt this was a true continuation of the story with a bit of a time gap...thankfully that gap was not too long i believe as I think that would have broken the plot here a bit. The plot here though is where it shines because it introduced a new theme that honestly really hit close to home in a few different ways...brought back some unpleasant memories and emotions and I developed a much larger connection with a group of characters that I didn't have as much interest in originally...and I was originally intending on just going through the DLC in a single sitting cause I can just never put down a good read...but there was a point where my mental well being forced me to drop it for a bit for a break and only because it had me thinking back to some personal experiences, and I discovered a new angle to that time of my life. The way certain issues were described, i never once thought about feelings and emotions in that kind of way and it really added a lot of context to those moments I experienced myself. I have moved on from that time of my life, but as Joey said, [spoiler]those moments come and go, and your not always going to be okay[/spoiler]...but thankfully i have people in my life that surround themselves around me when i need them when im not okay and that is all i really ever needed...and im a better person today for it... Personal spiel aside...my rant was just mostly glorifying the writing and the emotion it drew out from myself, the reader. The music just made it all the better and the soundtrack is just something you can throw on in the background to listen and chill to. Amazing work all around. I've seen some reviews pretty much bashing the gameplay and voice work and whatever else. I have to say that didn't matter to me as much, but i felt like it did enhance the experience vs skewing it. personally i would say there are other VNs out there with much more polished gameplay, animations, and voice, but i believe what the devs did here was perfectly fine for me and all around this continues to be probably the best VN i have read so far. Thanks for this DLC and i really hope we haven't seen the last of Amber and Marina, the Trio, and this story.

As a fan of the original game, I want to be the first to say that this DLC improves upon it in almost every way. The presentation in particular stands out this time around--the new music sounds incredible, the new facial expressions and character movements are great, and the whole thing just oozes charm. The voice acting and story were also on point throughout too! I love see characters I've come to know work through their differences and try to become better people for each other. If Next Exit is any indication of what's to come from Studio Elan and Studio Coattails, then I'm really excited. If you enjoyed the original Highway Blossoms even a little, you owe it to yourself to pick this game up!

Absolutely loved it. I will say, the second one feels "different" and at first I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I loved the first one's feeling of exploration and sense of adventure. But here we dive deeper into the minds of the characters from the first one, and about a quarter of the way in I realized it was absolutely the best direction to take it in. When part 3 comes out, they've got my money already.

If you enjoyed the original game, you're gonna need to play this too. On top of giving us a nice story for our lovely duo, it expands upon the secondary cast, the trio of...uh, losers? as Mariah figures out her next get rich quick scheme, and Tess will make you sob uncontrollably for a large portion of the time you play. There are also a pretty good amount of art from this despite it being shorter than the main story. Just another hit from the wonderful devs who gives us great visual novels with a western feel. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing the traveling lesbians, and I hope to see even more!

A delightful sequel to an already beautiful game. I was disappointed that the characters pick up more or less where they left off after the base game, but the story offered here is touching. Parts of it feel like retreading explored territory, but I can't fault it too much when it leans into that as a theme. Do note that it's a bit on the shorter side, though.

An amazing continuation to the main story, with an extra soundtrack, professional voice acting and a story that leaves a thoughtful and endearing aftertaste. Really got my dopamine flowing.

Next Exit continues the story of Amber and Marina as they head back to Las Vegas at Marina's request to visit Tess for her birthday. Unlike the main game, this story is told from three different perspectives, Amber, Marina, and a nameless narrator covering the interactions between Mariah, Joe, and Tess. In two spots there is choice to advance the story from Amber's or Marina's perspective, but this is little more than a gimmick; as it encompasses no more than roughly 5 minutes of the entire story. There are two issues I have with this add-on; the first being that it makes it feel like this is a relationship doomed to fail; Marina's thoughts are often ones of resentment at being treated like a child and Amber's obliviousness to the fact that she constantly does it. In fairness, they *do* talk these issues out to apparent resolution, but its hard not to think there is a deep divide between the two. Secondly, the addition of Cassi, a fairly major character, feels unfinished and rushed. She ultimately serves as the catalyst for Marina to finally voice her frustrations with Amber, but that's really it; it seems like the writers weren't sure exactly what to do with her. The Tess story line has a similar problem; there's just this sense that nobody knew where to take the story so they ended it. Overall, I'm not convinced this add-on made the story better; I think it injected uncertainty into the romance between Amber and Marina, and that makes it a net negative. *There is no additional adult content with this add-on.

Do you like the original Highway Blossoms? Then you MUST play this DLC. The story takes place a month later at the alien convention in Las Vegas. it's a bit more serious, as Amber and Marina discover that having a relationship is not just about loving, but also about compromising and empathizing with the other person. So their relationship is going through hard times. But don't worry, it's still about pure love, just like the original game. And that is exactly what I like about Next exit. The main pair and the Trio are deeper characters here. This is especially evident in the case of Tess and Joe, because in the original game they were just a weird girl and cool guy. But now we learn much more about them and their thoughts. The result is that I like them even more :) Next exit is just great. The authors kept the good things from the original game and added a new story, gave more space to one interesting character (Cassi) and revealed more of the characters thoughts. So as in my previous review, I would like to thank the authors very much for making this experience possible. PS I appreciate the references to [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/844660/Heart_of_the_Woods/]Heart of the Woods[/url] (lamp with three pigs, snake) and Tsoukalos :D

Okay, this DLC officially elevated Highway Blossoms up to my favourite VN. Must. Protect. Tess!

Doesn't hit as hard as the main game, emotionally, but it's a neat little addition, if you want more of it.

An excellent addition to an already good game. With more focus on the characters, we have a more emotional story that'll make you laugh and might even make you cry at times. Totally worth every dollar.

Great work that continues to excel in expanding the Highway Blossoms story in the same glorious way as before :) Also adds a great look inside the Trio and their shenanigans. i crid

7/10 Technically more impressive and a conscious attempt to flesh out the characters, but still suffers from the problem of a messy plot.

I liked that in this dlc Marina and Amber ended up having a more in-depth talk about their relationship problems (they did talk about it towards the end of the original game, but a bit too little for my taste). I also really loved that we could see more of the trio~

10/10 Legitimately some of the best writing I've experienced. Does a really solid job of continuing the narrative without destroying character dynamic to create plot

Pretty good but doesnt add much to the original story. Worth a run through but dont expect too much.

It was good to come back to this series with this. Seemed to end alil quicker than it was meant to but honestly I enjoyed it.

This DLC is as best as the original game, maybe even better cuz we can see from many perspectives. Other reviewers is better at it than me, so im gonna explain how I feel. Some of the detail may contains spoiler, pls skip mine cuz I dunno how to blacken the text. lol. . . . . . THEY ARE SO CUTE. THEY ARE SO CUTE. THEYARESOCUTE. The couple, the trio, Cassi, everyone in this story are so lively and they look so real. Especially Tess, a sad little girl who has an unhappy life which makes her mindset different from other kids and make her not fit in the communities. It is nostalgic to see her. I and many fellas here can relate to her, actually we all can relate to her cuz at some point of our life, we, the grown up, must have faced the same feeling as her, more than just one time. For someone who has screwed up their life, maybe im one of them, this story will make you realize how much support and help you gained from your surroundings. After finishing the VN, you may feel like to look back to your past and be grateful for your friends and family who are always by your side (although there is likely none for someone). This story makes you love them more, makes me love them more, and maybe you would give it a try for your life once more after this. For our couple, they already have a healthy relationship and which is gonna be healthier and healthier, if it always goes this way. Talking, understanding, solving each other problem, and seeing own bad points are very necessary for relationships. This DLC acknowledge this to me (Btw, I never have a lover, jeez). Lastly, to the respected developers, I expect to see more sequels which the trio holds the main role, and the couple hold the suppporting role. That would make this story perfect, I think. And you know what, I still have no idea what will happen to the characters when universities and school are open. One of the trio mentioned it, in the main story, that they dont have much time until universities are open. For the couple, I also cant guess if one or two of them is gonna enter a university. So I really expect something from the sequel (if there will be one). Thank you for reading my silly review. And more thank you, if one of the developer read this. I love your GREAT work.

This DLC live up to the original game, any fan should experience the continuation of Amber and Marina's roadtrip.

After being an idiot who had waited since midnight of Sep 25 (on GMT +7), it finally released at 2 AM of Sep 26. The whole new UI is good looking and even more accessibility. Why don't you try it yourself if you enjoyed the main story?