VN - Ren'Py - Completed - Acting Lessons [v1.0.2] [DrPinkCake]

This review is based on version 0.7 extra

I approached this game with mixed feelings due to the cheating tag, which is not really my thing, but I decided to give it a go nonetheless.
I never expected that a porn game - slash - visual novel would grip me so much and have such an impact on me.

STORY

The plot is well balanced and fleshed out with bittersweet moments and great humor. Though I downloaded this games for the titties, I just could not get enough of Liam's antics. To me, the sex scenes were just an extra and yet I couldn't stop myself from clicking on the next dialog frame untile I reached the end of the version. The storyline flows smoothly and keeps you interested all the way.

CHARACTERS

The cast of characters is great. They have their own personalities expressed in their style, action and words. None sounds (reads) or looke fake or forced.

VISUALS

The renders are good, even those that are still in HD. In some sex scenes the "connection point" is quite dark, but this might be just my monitor disbehaving. The animations, though simple, play smoothly.

MUSIC

The music really ties well with the whole story and never sounds out of place, adding instead flavour to the interactions between the character

GUI

I really like the chapter subdivision. The stat screen between each chapter (and the reminder to save) give you a plethora of replay options without resorting to scumming. Many the times that after seen the stat screen I went back to try different options to see the different results.

Result:
This is a high quality game / visual novel. While I downloaded it for the porn, I ended up playing for the gripping story. I gladly give it a 5 stars rating and can't wait to see the continuation.

Love hate this game. Score is based on Developer taking it from a real good game to a WTF. In release 6 no way of trying to save both or die trying. In release 7 not being able to formulate a valid episode with anything.

I loved the first 5 chapters, but what happened afterwards? I do not want to give any spoilers, so I am just asking: Why did the story collapse? What is the main goal now? In my opinion there is no more reason given to continue playing this game.

Excellent storytelling. Immersive story with choices that actually feel like they make a difference. Good renders and animations. Looking forward to the final chapters being released. Also look forward to what DrPinkCake releases in the future.

Started out good, then story took a sociopathic turn which destroyed what the story built up to that point, chapter 1-5 are a four or a five out of a five rating, but 6 and 7 are a 1, so avg i give it a 3/5

Edit, im chaning this to a 2/5 because the last chapters are just drama, no sex at all in latest updates unless you count the "holy" path and you never cheated

This is my review of the game Acting Lessons final version:

1 – Graphics: Great renders so far. The art design is really incredible and all characters have nice proportions, mainly the female characters with a realistic body that in adult games seems rare. I took 0.5 points because some animations look bad positioned or glitches (clothes inside of the body).

2 – Gameplay: Gameplay simple, but efficient. This game uses decisions to define the destiny of the characters, some of them is easy, but some of them are hard, like at the end of chapter 6. The hints system is good, but it needs a points system too to avoid questions like: where’s the walkthrough?

3 – Script: Man. One of the best scripts and if realize that is an adult game, this is a gem. Tone realistic, Characters well developed with various layers and the twist at the final the chapter 7, it left me surprised and amazed. Some players disagree with dark destiny that developer chosen, but it always was the premise from the game and I never saw the plot like a beautiful fairy tale or a harem story type.

4 – Sex scenes: Perfect amount, because the focus this game is the story not an endless fap time session and each scene is just to spice up the narrative, nothing more and I took 0.5 because the animations that I mentioned before

Final: This game is a masterpiece and I really loved my experience in playing it. Some players didn’t like it’s because they didn’t understand the premise or they expected a triangle romance, but the developer didn’t want and he forced the player to choose one of the girls

If I had written this review 2 months ago, it would have earned a much higher rating, perhaps even 5 stars. Now however, I hate to admit that this has sunk from one of my favourite VNs, to barely above "meh" territory.
The first 4-5 chapters were nicely done. We had interesting characters introduced, good humour and an interesting story. These chapters were light-hearted, but had enough drama in them to keep the story from being dull.

Then the last 2 chapters rolls around, and suddenly tries to make the story Romeo & Juliet 2.0, with even more drama sprinkled on top. The story used to feel real, in that we had mostly good times, but enough bad elements involved, that it never felt perfect. Most people can probably relate to this feeling.
Now we are just bombarded with tragedies, drama, confusing plots and weird character development.

It honestly feels like the dev suddenly watched Game of thrones a bit too much, and decided it was necessary to kill off a couple of characters and add a bit more controversy to the story, which is not what was needing IMO.
The game was already leading up to a dramatic enough ending with Liam's character arch, and plenty enough excitement could have been made from that angle alone. No need to make every aspect of the ending depressing.

Still giving an above average rating, since I still enjoy the first many chapters, but the last 2 chapters sadly ended up making the story worse in my eyes.


Edit*

The game have reached its final release, so I thought it would only be fair to update the review to match this.

The final chapter somehow manages to salvage most of the things that were done poorly in the last couple of chapters and manages to give a satisfying ending to the game.
I will add an extra star to the rating, given that I did not think it would be possible for me to feel satisfied once I reached the end, but was proven wrong (even if the ending is still bittersweet), and the story is wrapped up fairly nicely.

I am actually happy to have been proven wrong about my fears of how the game was shaping up. Good on you, DrPinkCake.

Fantastic job! Story, graphics, and animations are awesome! I really enjoyed the real consequences for your actions, how you can play through with different personality traits that also effect those outcomes. There were so many times I was at a quandary of whether to be the man whore or to do what was right for a relationship I was trying to build. I also really enjoyed all the plot twists, that cliff hanger though! damn! Voice acting would be an awesome addition but bravo! Good job!

This game could easily have been 5 star. Really. Great Renders, Good side characters, some interesting love interests though the titular one is one of the most boring characters ever.

Then Chapter 6 happens and pretty much the 5 previous chapters don't matter.

A resounding F*** U from the dev. Next games from this guy will be "wait for it to be completed and MAYBE play".

Fool me once shame on me, you won't fool me twice.

What a game... I played many of the VN you will find here, in F95 Zone, but none approach this one. Well, many are very good, that for sure, but this game took my feelings, i was so so "IN THE GAME" during all the episodes. Dramas, laughs, hot moments, i enjoyed all. And be sure to have a very high feeling when you will play it.... And for one time we have a game who will be finished!!! PLay it, you can't regret!

Started off fantastic. Not the best thing i've read but well done with decent characters.

Then it happened, the drama barrage. I love a good drama as much as the next girl, I love my soaps and period dramas but they have one thing this VN doesn't, pacing.

We had 4 chapters of decent slice of life like romance build up and then 3 more chapters of drama on top of drama on top of drama and when you pile it on too thick it loses impact.

The problem now is the writer as backed himself into a corner. The only way of saving an ending that would work is to have this all be a movie and not actually happening. The reason for that is because of all the previous build and drama, no happy ending makes sense. It would require olympic levels of mental gymnastics to put together something that makes any sense at all now.

All that could have been saved with pacing and spreading it out a few more chapters to let one drama episode sink it.

What should have been great has been let down by being too dramatic too quickly and leaving any rational plot conclusion in doubt.

Such a well done VN with excellent plot and character development. Right up there with some of the other top VNs that I also enjoy. A good mix of story and H-scenes with many various choices to be made. I look forward to more from this developer and the next chapter in the series.

This is the first the first game on this site i'm giving a rating (i played a lot of them here), and heres why - i like the story, the characters, the humor, and what's most important for me, that theres really meaningful things in the story, not only "let's go there to have some fun", "let's rest there to rest after having fun" as in most games of this type i played. I'm writing this after playing 0.7.0 version, and this is the only game where i saw the main twist, and said "I did not see THAT coming! I hope there won't be any pianos in the bushes".

1 star for the quality of the renders, everything else has become tired, soapy mess. Episodes 1-4 were great, in 5 there were worrying signs and 6 and 7 are completely off the rails, and actually souring my appreciation of the previous episodes. Things happen 'for the sake of plot', not because of characters acting in-character (which is kind of ironic given the name of the game) and with seeming little-to-no internal consistency. My guess is the story somehow spiraled out of control for the author at some point, and that it is way to late to course-correct now.

5/5 writing
4.5/5 renders (for the new ones at least)
5/5 music/sound

I was absolutely stunned by the quality of this! Its got humor, heartbreak and lots and lots of pretty women. The storylines feel very fleshed out in my opinion, and its probably got the most interactive story of all the games I've tried.

I don't like to follow hype. Not for some kind of hipster bullshit, just that he often ends up in disappointment from a thing not measuring up to what it is sold for.

So I didn't give Acting Lessons a try for a long time. He saw the name pop here and there but just thought it was probably being oversold and moved on. Until this update, when I finally gave in and decided it was maybe worth a try.

Boy, was I wrong to download it. Cause now, I have to wait for the next episode... Seriously dude, I hate you for this. But thank you.

That's by a large gap the best game I found here. I like a lot of others narrative-deep game, but no other made me go up that high and low. Describing it would involve a lot of spoilers but I will limit to two comments:

First, before starting the game, Melissa was my favorite. After playing the game Melissa was my favorite. The plot was a bit against what I was aiming for, but in the end, it was really well managed and the story manages to be heart-warming and satisfying.

Second, Liam is the best bro ever. If the story hints what I think it hints in the lasts episodes... Well no spoiler...

This should be forbidden to take a story that high and that low. But damn, it was worth it.

Despite all the raving reviews, I brushed this game aside because vanilla sex and romance focused game just doesn't do anything for me. Boy was I wrong. I will say it now that this isn't a fapping game if you are desensitized like me and need some hardcore kinks to get off. What this game is... is an incredibly visceral and emotional story that will make you laugh, cry, and hope. All the characters are so fleshed out. They all have their weaknesses and problems to deal with. Through love and friendship they try to get through and give each other support. I might sound super cheesy, but the game really gives you all sorts of feels. It transcends the boundaries of game or porn and becomes something special. I recommend everyone give it a try.

Lots of different routes during the game that lead to different outcomes. Not always what we want of course but I have to admit... that 6th chapter ending it's a fu* nail in the coffin, took me completely by surprise. I actually tried all routes to see if I could avoid that... bad Dev
You have raised the bar towards the last 2 chapters, wish you all the luck in the world.
Thank you for this game.

This game is amazing! So real, so intense. Story wery well. And it's not a sexy game: there is a really good storyline behind him. Designs and animations are really good.
The story is original and multiple choices are ok

How is this not the most popular game listed,
it most definitely deserves it.
It's heads and tails better than any game I've had the pleasure of fapping to.

Characters + development 4.5/5
Animation 4/5
story 4/5
Liam ∞/5

But seriously where is chapter 7? I need more Liam in my life.