Very good premise. Believable Harem concept, relatively interesting universe.
The game is currently not very developed and has only one choice in the first two updates, with only one path choice implemented. The game does not do a very good job of acknowledging your choice on the unimplemented path; I selected the path because I preferred the two characters on it in appearance and personality. However even after telling the game through my choice I prefer those two, I only end up with one of them in my group.
This is kind of reflective of the big problems with the game at this point. You're forced into accepting two women into your four women harem with no input. Further, you character decides he likes these two women more than the others early on and with no input from the player. Why? The beauty of a game you're stuck in a game show with a ton of women is surely that you can pick which ones you like and at least try to convince them to join your harem? Even when the narrative expressly indicates this is going on, as two groups meet and are allowed to exchange characters, you're not permitted any choice as a player. You're completely stuck with women the game decides you find attractive and also find you attractive.
This game would work much better if more women were open to pick, the balance of women in your group decided challenge outcomes, you had to actually convince women to like you, through a points system, with different women respecting different behaviour. It would also allow greater strategy. Why am I not even allowed to try to convince a character I think looks attractive and physically fit to join me? Instead I'm stuck with a party assigned by the game.
Ok, I get you're trying to reduce the amount of choice early on, but then just write in universe that the game show already assigned the teams and start from there. The in universe writing and game mechanics don't align, which is frustrating. In universe, MC chooses his harem, but the player himself has no influence on it (the only decision that is provided in the game in this respect also has counterintuitive impacts).
Further, creating a points system would allow real choice and consequence, as well as divergent play styles. Why are we forced to go through the game as a generically nice guy who doesn't want to exploit the situation? Surely that is but one of at least two approaches that could be taken, and in a fantasy game, surely the approach people might not feel they could take in the real world is one that deserves portrayal?
The addition of "abilities" is lazy writing. Allow the negative outcomes these characters are forced into our party to prevent to be avoided by clever gameplay instead. It would be much more satisfying. Plus then we wouldn't be stuck with an unlikeable character who is plot essential (not talking about Emma, who is one of the better characters).
Other issues arise from the fact the game is overly wordy and takes too long to get to the point at times. But the biggest current issue is the lack of choice, and the fact the affection of women is totally unearned. Creating a points based system with at least some dialogue choices would go a long way here, even if you want to keep genuine branching limited (although in a game like this you need a lot of branching, imo).
Giving 4 stars for now because the premise is good, some of the characterization is good, and the dev is releasing updates at a good pace. I get the sense there is a desire to add more choice later. Hope this can occur without choices being added that all lead to "dead ends" if it isn't consistent with the Dev's "nice MC+2 main girls route".
The game is currently not very developed and has only one choice in the first two updates, with only one path choice implemented. The game does not do a very good job of acknowledging your choice on the unimplemented path; I selected the path because I preferred the two characters on it in appearance and personality. However even after telling the game through my choice I prefer those two, I only end up with one of them in my group.
This is kind of reflective of the big problems with the game at this point. You're forced into accepting two women into your four women harem with no input. Further, you character decides he likes these two women more than the others early on and with no input from the player. Why? The beauty of a game you're stuck in a game show with a ton of women is surely that you can pick which ones you like and at least try to convince them to join your harem? Even when the narrative expressly indicates this is going on, as two groups meet and are allowed to exchange characters, you're not permitted any choice as a player. You're completely stuck with women the game decides you find attractive and also find you attractive.
This game would work much better if more women were open to pick, the balance of women in your group decided challenge outcomes, you had to actually convince women to like you, through a points system, with different women respecting different behaviour. It would also allow greater strategy. Why am I not even allowed to try to convince a character I think looks attractive and physically fit to join me? Instead I'm stuck with a party assigned by the game.
Ok, I get you're trying to reduce the amount of choice early on, but then just write in universe that the game show already assigned the teams and start from there. The in universe writing and game mechanics don't align, which is frustrating. In universe, MC chooses his harem, but the player himself has no influence on it (the only decision that is provided in the game in this respect also has counterintuitive impacts).
Further, creating a points system would allow real choice and consequence, as well as divergent play styles. Why are we forced to go through the game as a generically nice guy who doesn't want to exploit the situation? Surely that is but one of at least two approaches that could be taken, and in a fantasy game, surely the approach people might not feel they could take in the real world is one that deserves portrayal?
The addition of "abilities" is lazy writing. Allow the negative outcomes these characters are forced into our party to prevent to be avoided by clever gameplay instead. It would be much more satisfying. Plus then we wouldn't be stuck with an unlikeable character who is plot essential (not talking about Emma, who is one of the better characters).
Other issues arise from the fact the game is overly wordy and takes too long to get to the point at times. But the biggest current issue is the lack of choice, and the fact the affection of women is totally unearned. Creating a points based system with at least some dialogue choices would go a long way here, even if you want to keep genuine branching limited (although in a game like this you need a lot of branching, imo).
Giving 4 stars for now because the premise is good, some of the characterization is good, and the dev is releasing updates at a good pace. I get the sense there is a desire to add more choice later. Hope this can occur without choices being added that all lead to "dead ends" if it isn't consistent with the Dev's "nice MC+2 main girls route".
