(Review as of v0.75)
(Game is considered abandoned as of this review 11-18-2024; still worth playing)
(Played with Incest Patch + Walkthrough Mod)
How Long To Beat: 5+ hours
A comedy game that actually manages to be funny!
Above the Clouds takes the basic formula of a choice-based VN and subverts many of the tropes with humor while still delivering on the promises of an adult game. Gameplay is mostly kinetic, with choices determining lewd scenes and jokes. No sandbox. No (major) relationship point system. No inventory. Just straight up story.
Premise: MC is in an purgatory-type place, recounting to an angelic being, Helen, the events that lead him to this afterlife(?). This includes, but is not limited to: seducing his mother and two sisters, his family moving to a boring town called Pittsville, seducing various residents of the town, his father becoming involved in a crime conspiracy, a global conspiracy that involves world destruction.
Most of the tropes above are recognizable. If you've played enough VN's, you're probably bored of them by now. Thankfully the game tells this story with legitimately good jokes and eschewing all of the boring parts of the story.
Unfortunately, the last hour or two of the game starts to focus too much on these ridiculous plot lines, taking a global conspiracy of world destruction a little too seriously. It's ironic that the game was abandoned as soon as it takes this turn towards the "serious".
To illustrate the point, early in the game, whenever the MC is prompted to get involved in a tropey "the end of the world" plot, it's subverted by MC who is focused on getting to the next lewd act. I was disappointed when the game finally focused in on these as a serious plotline rather than continuing to dismiss it outright.
A majority of the character models are attractive, sexy, and unique. There isn't a lot of cross-pollination of character features, except that the developer likes redheads. Well so do I!
The game takes pride in it's sound design. Every scene has sound effects, music and sound gags to add to the jokes. Many of the sequences are animated and often played for humor.
The comedy ranges from sight gags, animation jokes, call-backs (sometimes to such insignificant details that are genuinely surprising), absurdity, and some parody. The comedy is consistent with the characters, so while many of them are silly (for point of references of similar humor: Spongebob, classic Looney Tunes, classic Simpsons, Adventure Time), very few are monkeycheese LOL random.
Every lewd scene is animated and has sexual sound effects, although many of the animations are basic, such as missionary sex scenes where the focal point is penetration. Many of them I wish would have had more camera angles.
Let's run through the various love interests in the game. Because its abandoned, I think it's fair to spoil what lewd scenes are available to each character, so that a prospective player isn't disappointed.
Helen: An angelic supernatural being who serves as co-narrator, guiding MC through his story. She becomes infatuated by MC. Lewd scenes go all the way to vaginal and anal sex.
Hannah: The "cute" younger sister. Immature, goofy, conspiratorial, silly, instigator, agent of chaos. A lot of the game's humor comes from Hannah. I'm personally not the biggest fan of her face. I was happy to see a character with soft puffy cheeks, but she's probably the weakest link on the attractive scale. The few times you see her nude do make up for it. You only see her naked and can get a handjob from her late in the game.
Lucy: The older sister. Plays a little hard to get, is dismissive of her siblings, but is never a full-blown tsundere. She's just as playful and goofy as Hannah, and has some of the best jokes in the game. She's very sexy and connects most with MC. Lewd scenes go all the way to vaginal sex.
Evelyn: MC's silver-haired MILFy mom. Has the least characterization of the LI's. Bored housewife, feels dejected by husband, finds her son's advances problematic but is just too horny to say no. (The carpet does not match the drapes.) Furthest lewd scene is handjob and blowjob in late game. I think she's very sexy.
Ember: Lucy's boss. Owns a bar/restaurant/night club. A bit of a dom and a tease, comes off as sinister but just seems nice but mischievous. Wants to see MC bang his family and anyone else. Most of her lewd scenes are teasing, but does give MC a blowjob.
Mia: Alt girl. A cute sub looking for her dommy daddy. Likes it rough. Lewd scenes esclate to outdoor vaginal sex.
Nicole: Teacher/Principal who's brain has been broken by roleplay. Married, but anything that happens during roleplay isn't cheating. Lewd scenes are full vaginal sex (with optional Ember watching!)
Tim's Mom (I can't remember her name): Redhead MILF with magical titty love powers. Loves MC for being her loser son's best friend. Lewd scenes go to full vaginal sex, but it's played as a gag. Actual lewd scene involves topless grinding on MC's cock. An absolute GOAT MILF, model-wise, although not utilized nearly enough for how high quality she is.
Millie: Bad-ass assassin, a twin, trying to save the world but is on everyone's shit list for trying to kill MC. Don't mention her small boobs or she will try to kill you. Lewd scenes get to full vaginal sex.
The cast of characters are all sexy and enjoyable. While some are more fully developed than others, I liked them all.
Overall, this game is worth a play even though it's abandoned. Maybe the dev will get back to it. Like all abandoned games, the limitations on lewd scenes with your favorite characters are disappointing. Because the game doesn't take the plot seriously for the majority of the run-time, it's a breezy playthrough with good pacing.
RECOMMENDED.
(Game is considered abandoned as of this review 11-18-2024; still worth playing)
(Played with Incest Patch + Walkthrough Mod)
How Long To Beat: 5+ hours
A comedy game that actually manages to be funny!
Above the Clouds takes the basic formula of a choice-based VN and subverts many of the tropes with humor while still delivering on the promises of an adult game. Gameplay is mostly kinetic, with choices determining lewd scenes and jokes. No sandbox. No (major) relationship point system. No inventory. Just straight up story.
Premise: MC is in an purgatory-type place, recounting to an angelic being, Helen, the events that lead him to this afterlife(?). This includes, but is not limited to: seducing his mother and two sisters, his family moving to a boring town called Pittsville, seducing various residents of the town, his father becoming involved in a crime conspiracy, a global conspiracy that involves world destruction.
Most of the tropes above are recognizable. If you've played enough VN's, you're probably bored of them by now. Thankfully the game tells this story with legitimately good jokes and eschewing all of the boring parts of the story.
Unfortunately, the last hour or two of the game starts to focus too much on these ridiculous plot lines, taking a global conspiracy of world destruction a little too seriously. It's ironic that the game was abandoned as soon as it takes this turn towards the "serious".
To illustrate the point, early in the game, whenever the MC is prompted to get involved in a tropey "the end of the world" plot, it's subverted by MC who is focused on getting to the next lewd act. I was disappointed when the game finally focused in on these as a serious plotline rather than continuing to dismiss it outright.
A majority of the character models are attractive, sexy, and unique. There isn't a lot of cross-pollination of character features, except that the developer likes redheads. Well so do I!
The game takes pride in it's sound design. Every scene has sound effects, music and sound gags to add to the jokes. Many of the sequences are animated and often played for humor.
The comedy ranges from sight gags, animation jokes, call-backs (sometimes to such insignificant details that are genuinely surprising), absurdity, and some parody. The comedy is consistent with the characters, so while many of them are silly (for point of references of similar humor: Spongebob, classic Looney Tunes, classic Simpsons, Adventure Time), very few are monkeycheese LOL random.
Every lewd scene is animated and has sexual sound effects, although many of the animations are basic, such as missionary sex scenes where the focal point is penetration. Many of them I wish would have had more camera angles.
Let's run through the various love interests in the game. Because its abandoned, I think it's fair to spoil what lewd scenes are available to each character, so that a prospective player isn't disappointed.
Helen: An angelic supernatural being who serves as co-narrator, guiding MC through his story. She becomes infatuated by MC. Lewd scenes go all the way to vaginal and anal sex.
Hannah: The "cute" younger sister. Immature, goofy, conspiratorial, silly, instigator, agent of chaos. A lot of the game's humor comes from Hannah. I'm personally not the biggest fan of her face. I was happy to see a character with soft puffy cheeks, but she's probably the weakest link on the attractive scale. The few times you see her nude do make up for it. You only see her naked and can get a handjob from her late in the game.
Lucy: The older sister. Plays a little hard to get, is dismissive of her siblings, but is never a full-blown tsundere. She's just as playful and goofy as Hannah, and has some of the best jokes in the game. She's very sexy and connects most with MC. Lewd scenes go all the way to vaginal sex.
Evelyn: MC's silver-haired MILFy mom. Has the least characterization of the LI's. Bored housewife, feels dejected by husband, finds her son's advances problematic but is just too horny to say no. (The carpet does not match the drapes.) Furthest lewd scene is handjob and blowjob in late game. I think she's very sexy.
Ember: Lucy's boss. Owns a bar/restaurant/night club. A bit of a dom and a tease, comes off as sinister but just seems nice but mischievous. Wants to see MC bang his family and anyone else. Most of her lewd scenes are teasing, but does give MC a blowjob.
Mia: Alt girl. A cute sub looking for her dommy daddy. Likes it rough. Lewd scenes esclate to outdoor vaginal sex.
Nicole: Teacher/Principal who's brain has been broken by roleplay. Married, but anything that happens during roleplay isn't cheating. Lewd scenes are full vaginal sex (with optional Ember watching!)
Tim's Mom (I can't remember her name): Redhead MILF with magical titty love powers. Loves MC for being her loser son's best friend. Lewd scenes go to full vaginal sex, but it's played as a gag. Actual lewd scene involves topless grinding on MC's cock. An absolute GOAT MILF, model-wise, although not utilized nearly enough for how high quality she is.
Millie: Bad-ass assassin, a twin, trying to save the world but is on everyone's shit list for trying to kill MC. Don't mention her small boobs or she will try to kill you. Lewd scenes get to full vaginal sex.
The cast of characters are all sexy and enjoyable. While some are more fully developed than others, I liked them all.
Overall, this game is worth a play even though it's abandoned. Maybe the dev will get back to it. Like all abandoned games, the limitations on lewd scenes with your favorite characters are disappointing. Because the game doesn't take the plot seriously for the majority of the run-time, it's a breezy playthrough with good pacing.
RECOMMENDED.