After playing the Shuffle! visual novel (which is, uh, a little less innocent than expected) I wasn't sure what to expect from the anime. What I got out of the anime that wasn't expressed in the visual novel was a much more intense and uncertain story line, which I enjoyed thoroughly. The first half starts out as you would expect any harem/comedy anime to start which brings a sense of undeniable comfort, however, the second half takes and unexpected twist (depending on whether you've played the novel and your definition of unexpected) and leaves you guessing, which is quite refreshing for an anime style that is normally so predictable.
The character progression is top notch and you really feel attached to them through the entire thing. While this is in no way an anime to rival Clannad or Kanon, for all the Key fans such as me anyway, in terms of character endearment, it by no means falls short. If you're looking for a mix of comedy, romance, and a little bit of strife and sadness, Shuffle! won't let you down.
That being said, I personally was a bit dissatisfied with the adaptation, but only because I had a set ending in my mind I think. Shuffle! is a very good love story and one I don't think you should pass up.
