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

This was the first VN I played.. well, except Katawa Shoujo way back in the day, but that doesn't count, because just like Kelly in high school, it was everybody's first; in a time I didn't even know what a porn game was. But I digress. Acting Lessons is like playing a really good soap opera, not the cheesy Mexicans imported ones. It has everything in here: loads of drama, romance, comedy, friendship, plot twists, obstacles to overcome.. pain.. lots of pain.
Now, my second VN was Melody, another one that I deeply loved for a different reason actually, now by the time I finished playing Melody I was thrilled! "Are all these games like this?! What the hell took me so long to get into this?! What game next will blow my mind?" Then reality hit, not all these games are like that, so I've learned. I had beginners luck, I guess.
Now, Action Lessons is not short of its problems though. The game is way too rushed; the connections the character try to display on screen don't really have the time to set up properly, giving you a feeling of detachment.. it all feels like a really good showcase of the Dev ability for another game. Except for the friendship of the MC with his best friend, although over the top at times, that was well made.. maybe a bit too much, so much so, that since I didn't read anything about the game before playing, I thought, for a good chunk of the game, it was a coming out of the closet story.
TL;DR, the game is a great, you'll should play it.. you probably already did, the game is freaking popular, for the right reason.

This game is a god damn rollercoaster of feels. I came here for sexy times and got one of the best visual novels Ive ever played. I fucking teared up too.
I recommend this game for everyone that likes good written storys and doesnt mind that he plays this for the feels and not for the fapps.
Holy hell, I love Liam, he is the best friend that everybody needs in his life.

This game is really really good and I recommend playing it all the way through. I wouldn't play this game for its nudity though because it really isn't focused on that nor is it really done well anyway. There aren't a lot of h-scenes considering how long the game is. The animations are bland and they really are not that great. But!!!! the story makes up for that and keeps you hooked anyway.

The only thing I would say if you are just starting is that you really need to anchor down in the beginning. The game starts really slow and it will make you want to drop it. When games or tv shows are slow I tend to drop them unless I know they are gonna get better. Trust this one really picks up if you give it time.

Overall, a wonderful game that I highly recommend. The only reason I am only giving this four instead of five is due to the shoehorned choice introduced at the end. I neither want to spoil or write a lengthy, rambling review so I will stay concise. The story has an interesting twist, but shoves a particular "choice" in a cliche and frustrating way. This is only made even worse by the excellent writing and characterization prior to this. I completely understand the presence of this, but to say there are 22 endings, but no matter what the player does, they are forever reduced to this one immutable forced plot point/direction. A new game after completing it once and doing everything unde4r the sun doesn't seem to ever change this. The refusal to have even added 1 out of 22 possible endings without this confounds me. So after still rambling, this one point is really the only negative of this game (other than some poor animation), just a massively frustrating and confusing one to have no matter what.

Yet, despite this it is still a good game and highly recommended. So close to being one of the best on this site.

Positive Points:
+The story is simply amazing
+Different path/ending
+3D model
+Liam the real bro

Neutral Points:
*A bit more of sex scene would have been better

Negative Points:
-Animation

Conclusion:
Just for the story Acting Lessons deserve 5/5 stars. The game give you so much feel and emotion that it's a real pleasure to progress and replay the game to get all the ending. Finally a game with a real sidekick that is a bro and not an asshole, you're happy de build your relation with him and get reward for it. The only negative point is the poor quality of the animation but the scene are still pretty good. One of the best adult game I've played, I totally recommand it and the other game from DrPinkCake : Being a Dik.

Test done on version 1.0.2 (Complete game)

Best game i’ve played so far. From start to finish the game had me so hooked and invested I wasn’t thinking about routes and unlocking the lewd scenes anymore. 11/10 Might not be able to touch it a while after my first play through. Kudos to DPC for this masterpiece

Excellent game packed with humor and a dark twist. The story is good and the characters are fun to get to know. Can't say too much not to spoil the fun. Try it, you won't regret the time invested, for sure.

I never had a game story just f****** powerful ok the sex things are all good they ok but it was the story that really caught me because my main focus when I play the game was the main girl you meet and her friend and pretty much both of them fall in love with you and you fall in love with both of them but then later on you got to make a real jacked up decision and then his best friend has cancer I don't want thing the game was pretty good the story was extremely good excellent job pinkcake

After finishing the game, I have to say that except the last episode and it's really really odd discoveries, the story was almost perfect. Characters were well-written and hot.
One of the most notable things about the game was the black guy. Unlike most games, this black character was a real friend, and not a cheating bastard who bangs every girl in the story.

Man I swear I just wanted to fap, but I found myself attached to my ingame bestfriend, and I got so much feels for the story. Wanted to save both megan and melissa tho. I'd rate this an honest 9/10 cuz I just wanted to save both my girlfriends

One of a kind story. Not the average erotic game you can just get away with a hard on. I was so curious every moment how it's going to end, and the ending was not what I expected.
Exceptional story line. Looking forward for more stories from the author. Love their work.

Very good, immersive, sad experience. Started out not terribly impressive, but has some really heavy development. Not something you want to play for a happy wank. Truly excellent game, but will (probably) make you sad. Like many good works of art, actually.

For real! Highly recommended! This is so good. I just can't believe....in the end what a tragic story I hope being a dik doesn't end up like this....I can't get over it. I freaking love that one too. Anyway I will wait for more DrPinkCake to release some another good game, just like this one.

Amazing writing, characters, and story. I'm not ashamed to admit it made me cry the hardest I've cried in probably 5 years. I don't know if I have the strength to do more than one playthrough. Without spoilers, the game punishes the player really hard emotionally for trying a harem route. Tons of endings with meaningful decisions.

I saw this game recommended all over this site and thought I would give it a shot. I will say I was not disappointed in any way, this has one of the most well crafted stories I have ever played. It is heart warming and heart wrenching, I smiled and I cried and it left me thinking about what happened for a week after. I would highly recommend playing this but would also caution that if you are going through a rough point in life you may want to save this one to play later.

Don't read much about the game before playing. It's very easy to eat an unwanted spoiler. Believe me I did, people don't care much.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Just finished it. I liked it a lot don't get me wrong. There's not many games here where I actually read all the subtitles. It's just not the kind of game you expect to play in this genre, or at least not what I am used to. Even with that, one of the most complex stories I have seen here. It's just overly dramatic. Like it just bases the attraction of the story by basically shocking you with a bunch of unexpected sad things. Sometimes one after another which can get a bit ridiculous. Being used to the generic games here where you are just a chad fucking all that moves, this was very different and unexpected. As others have said, you definitely don't expect to play a game here that makes you so damn guilty of the slightest cheat. Like in order for it to have a happy ending, you have to reject a lot of the opportunities and that's weird in these kind of games.
It's different. It's good. It's one of the best novels here. A MUST PLAY.

Second time I review this game... Well, it's kind of a year since I've played it and wanted to give it another try just to see if I still feel the same emotion than the first times...
Definately it's a big yes.. Ok, games are evolving, renders too, animations either but it's like seeing an old good movie from the 60's... When the content, the story is there, nothing can beat it... And yes I'm still crying at the end...
This is for me by far one, if not THE, best story telling here... Everything seems so real... You're not playing a game, you live a story.
So, of course, Being a DIK push the technical part further, but never forget where you come from. Mr Dr Pinkcake you're a story teller for sure. Maybe the best one to be find here. Even if you will carry on producing amazing games, as you're actually doing with Being a Dik, Acting Lessons is your legacy and it will never be forgotten... Thks soooo much

Strong writing, more a novel than an adult game. Warning for people who are going through hard phases in their lives or struggle with mental health not to play this is appropriate. Liam alone makes this game worth playing.

This is a contender for best erotic visual novel of all time. Huge variety of paths, realistic consequences... sometimes quite dark, but nothing risked nothing gained. Really beautiful renders and animations, good pacing with plenty of early side sex while you pursue the more challenging girlfriend experience. Love when there is a clearly articulated "exclusive" point that feels natural, so you are not blindsided by "I thought we were exclusive". I laughed, cried and ... well you know. Well done!

interesting game with a great story and some nice twists, not a huge fan of the ending scenes though, they sort of feel like they can drag on and make it feel like you are just skipping through if you are going for the other endings. 7.5/10