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

A story of friendship (Liam is awesome) and love.
A story about how life can hit hard sometimes. Really hard.
A beautiful and bittersweet story.
It feels good as much as it hurts to have completed this amazing game.

I originally posted this to the wrong thread.

Late to the party...I didn't realize this game had been out so long...not sure how I missed it.

All I can say is for an adult game, the last chapter was pretty effing dark. I appreciated it and I'll have to play it through and go after someone else next time through.

Some additional thoughts. You have a few choices early on that determine your character's qualities. For example, if you choose to work out you're athletic (which means you'll win in volleyball and kick Peter's ass). If you choose going to meet people you're charismatic and women will be more interested in you. If you choose reading books, it means you're well-read (though I'm not sure of what that does in the game).

There are 9 (yes 9) different endings.

Megan - She's very sweet but rather boring character. I'd describe her as milquetoast. Since the game is centered on her I played through to try and make her the ending on my first run through. She's probably too sweet if I'm being honest. There's no real character growth with her.

Melissa - She was more interesting character, conflicted, and had some real issues, so her character growth has some impact. While the last chapter is still dark, it's a better ending overall.

Rena - I haven't played through trying to get Rena yet. Rena is an interesting character. I'll update this when I play through for the Rena ending.

Overall, one of the better games I've played. DrPinkCake's writing is pretty good. This game had characters with more heart. Liam was probably one of the best buddy characters I've seen in an adult game. Underneath all the craziness...is a buddy that has your back. Most of us can relate.

Becoming a DIK is fun but it's still about getting laid. This game has stakes and the characters felt more real. Most of these games don't have stakes (other than sex). The last couple I can recall are PhillyGames "Depraved Awakening" and Tora games "Redemption for Jessika." Sadly, Tlaero has retired (NOT retired, YES). She was is an excellent writer of erotic games.

I wish there were more of these types of games that had actual stakes...where you could care about the characters rather than just getting laid. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the beautiful renders and sex scenes...but if you're playing a game, it's better if it's interesting and there's some character development.

As so many have said before, I hate you DrPinkCake!! You worked your way into a masterpiece episode by episode and then ripped our souls out!

Things I loved:
Liam
Megan
Melissa
Megan + Melissa + MC Happily ever after(before X)
Liam + Rena option
Crazy humor and night at the Inferno

Things I hated:
OMGWHY!!!! (Self Explanatory)

I'm torn about whether I like the story after two items above. While I feel it was well written and presented, it's horribly dark and probably a direct callback to the robbery in the beginning of the game. Poor MC can't catch a break. Liam + Rena helps lighten things a bit though.

I just finish the game and posting here isn't my thing but...

For fucks sake.. I came here for a porn game and end up with a tear in my eye and a smile in my face..

The art and sex-scenes are great and all but that fucking story bro.. It hits hard. I never though I was going to be so invested in a story in this kind of games. 10/10.

btw Liam best bro ever.

Very few games have touched me the way this game has. Very few games accomplish this delicate blend of eroticism and emotionalism.

This game is not just wank material, but nor is it just a story. This game absolutely deserves the title of "Visual Novel", as the writing is beyond compare. Few games have made me both laugh out loud and cry genuine tears of sorrow.

If you have any interest in Visual Novels, you need to check it out.

Very good quality renders, good quality & fairly realistic sex animations, and a well written story with charactes I ended up caring for...came for the porn stayed for the story (as I have seen others say), TLDL at end of review.

I am new to this site and these types of games, this is my 1st post and 1st review so I hope that I can be informative enough in this review; I found Acting Lessons very engaging and hard to put down (I play on Android). Most decisions you make as the MC in the early and mid game (Episodes 1 to 3 and most decisions in 4) have very little effect on the end, but some decisions will change the options available, change the dialogue for future scenes, and include/remove some scenes entirely.

The narrative of the story pushes you in a definitive direction (as stated at the opening of the game) that cannot be deviated from and most decisions do not change how the game story progresses for the most part, although there are some changes that your decisions effect. I think it would have been nice to have a menu to see what the relationship stats/points are with individual charters during game-play beyond the update screens at the end of each episode (there is a walkthrough that does help a lot with this but I recommend not using a walkthrough until you have played the game once or twice).

I am on my 3rd play through now; there are some fun and interesting choices and scenes that I did not see in my first two playthroughs because of different choices made, I think that multiple play-throughs are required to unlock all of the scenes in the gallery. It is difficult, at times, to know the affects of some of the decisions even with the hints on for the episodes and some decisions have a cumulative effect on future scenes.

The renders are very good quality with realistic lighting and a strong depth-of-field. The sex animations are also good quality with close to realistic movement. I like that there are multiple poses during the longer dialogue scenes and not just when a characters change expression because of a decision; characters have some small changes, like the mouth opening and closing like they are talking (not animations), during standard dialogue.

I would have liked to have a little more control over the positions during some of the sex scenes, many sex scenes do have a lot of control with some positions becoming available because of the attribute chosen at the beginning of the game and/or available based on the woman's option of you based on decisions you have made. I would have also liked to have some control of where to "finish" and some more emphasize on the women's climaxing or more climaxing in some scenes.

Overall, I think that I could play this VN a half dozen times and still enjoys it.

TLDR
Pros:

• Very good renders
• Good and fairly realistic animation (sex)
• Engaging and well written story...came for the porn stayed for the story
• Ended up caring for the characters
• Good replayability to explore many of the different decisions (needed to unlock scenes in the gallery)

Cons:

• Some sex scenes could be more interactive
• No control over where to finish (sex scenes)
• Kind of difficult to tell what impact your choices have, even with the hints on and the relationship status updates at the end of each episode .
• Although it is needed for the narrative of the story; most of the decisions you make have very little consequence and have little effect

I believe that if you like adult visual novals this is worth a play-through.

I hate you, Mr. Pinkcake, I hate you.

I hate you because you destroyed me when I got to the fire scene.
How can you think of making such a choice when not even the MC himself is able to choose? I never thought of writing a review, but the state I stayed in getting to that point in the game forces me to write this one. In no game I had stood 5 minutes looking at the screen trying to find which option to choose, trying to find out what previous wrong choice had triggered this situation. After those 5 minutes, I closed the game without choosing any option and without saving it. Later, I played again from one previously saved game and changing some options, but I always came to the damn fire. Finally, I chose one of the options. Everything that happens in the game after that choice justifies the fire, but can not overcome the state of my mind.

I think the explanation is quite simple. The game has a very well elaborated plot. It wraps around you to finally love the characters in such a way that this dam choice breaks your soul (at least in my case).
I never expected when playing in this type of games to feel what I felt playing that game for the first time. I hope that in BADIK this doesn't happen to me again. At the moment, none of the BADIK characters seem to me so close as Megan, Melissa and Liam.

Congratulations Mr. Pinkcake. You have made a masterpiece.

For those looking for a haren or just porn, look for it in another game.

Finally, I would like to make a suggestion to you Mr. Pinkcake: you should make a new version where include a third option in the tragic fire scene. The third option would be: "die with them."
I think a lot of the players would select it at this point in the game.

Thanks.

Awesome job, I really like this game as there is an emotional aspect to it and not just mindless humping. Favourite character for me is Melissa, just my personal preference but I like everything about her and few games were able to do that. The twist at the end was also great, which makes it not the typical AVN game.

I might be rating this more harshly than normal because I played the developer's other game and expected much better even from a past game, but I feel there were more poor choices made in designing the game than could be blamed just on experience.

The actions/consequences system was very negative; you get punished in game for making what are considered negative choices but also get punished for making what are considered good choices so instead of the carrot and stick approach it's the stick or another stick method. While that is the nature of many tragedies it didn't seem fitting here.

I expect the idea was to break the mold of the porn games with happy endings and harems for those who wanted them, but the result was very disappointing.

The art wasn't bad (it is better in the new game, but that's to be expected) and as a more story driven game any shortcomings in art could be easily forgiven for a good story.

damn what a masterpiece game!
IDK how to reach after this game end. This story is really mature and complex than being a dik, I thought being a dik was a great game but acting lesson will always be the masterpiece VN I've ever played.

One of my favorites of all time. Great characters, amazing world building, plot that I actually care about, sexy girls in sexy scenes and good renders, overall an amazing experience. very good work! (*・∀-)☆

In terms of story this is by far the best game of this type that I've ever played. I believe it has high artistic value and that story could be used as a successful movie scenario if they'd limit the amount of porn.
Sex scenes are well made but they are secondary to the amazing plot. Came for porn, stayed for the feels.

Pros:

1. Plot
2. LIAM THE ULTIMATE BRO (except the tattoo ),
3. Girls,
4. Some animations,
5. Choices

Only one con:

1. Game can hit you like a truck if u care about the characters

This has been one of the best stories that i could have played, totally worth it.
The decisions you take really affect the progress of the game and not only from 1 character. If you are looking for a good game, give it a try.

Well, that's what you get from sorting by review rating descending.

Didn't actually intend to write more than that, but so are the rules...
7/5 story telling
5/5 choices
5/5 character development
5/5 visuals

Need to replay with other choices and check if there were dead ends or actually even more content I did not see yet.

Only the greatest love can bring the fiercest hatred, and oh how I hate you DrPinkCake.

I chose this game after playing what was available for "Being a DIK". That was an innovative game, and this was an earlier game by the same writer. Also, a completed game which was a fantastic bonus.

Right off the bat, I got a bit annoyed. Sure, it wasn't quite as well made as the later game, but that was expected. It didn't seem as innovative either, but oh how wrong I was. The biggest problem was that I did not get one choice that I really wanted.

Yeah, when I play through something a second time, I'll go for a harem and try to bang everything, but the first time I like to make real choices. Well, I got to turn down the crazy nurse which was fine, but the MC just fell too damn hard for one of the main supporting characters... a fucking Polyanna! UGH! I HATE Polyanna's! Lucky for me, her best friend was also available. A bit more slutty, but at least I could work with that and maybe mold her into something more romantic.

I did like that there was a platonic guy best friend that I'd get relationship points with as well, but for some damned reason I just couldn't get rid of that awful naive girl.

After a bunch of restarts, I thought I wouldn't play it at all until I took a look at a non-spoilery walkthrough. Wow... 21 endings? The main point though was seeing that at some point I had to choose between that stupid Polyanna and her hot friend... fuck it! I can do this!

It seemed odd that the relationship points (or lack of them) never seemed to totally damage a relationship. Instead, the main supporting cast (including the male friend) got "birthday cakes" at the end of each chapter, which I realized represented happiness. Little did I realize how much this would hurt later.

So my little Polyanna got almost no birthday cakes. I'm flirting with her other friends right in front of her and they are eating it up. Also, lots of hot sex. Awesome. Scew this bitch.

By the time the chapter with the choice is coming up, I've got to admit... I'm liking the Polyanna just a bit more. She's growing with the help of her slutty friend, and she's even influencing her slutty friend to be more open with her feelings which I was trying to do myself as well. The Polyanna is no longer a Polyanna, we're all together with the understanding that at some moment I will have to choose between the two, and suddenly I am actually hoping that there is some polyamorous outcome.

That's when I had to make the CHOICE.

Why did I capitalize that? It's because I'm not just choosing who to be with. It's bigger than that. It's so much bigger than that, I actually started to cry.

I walked away from my computer with that fucking choice on my screen.

It didn't help when I remembered that this game shows you exactly how happy you have made the characters.

I played through as me. I made the decisions like I was a person in the game. I consider myself to be a good guy, but that CHOICE made me hate myself.

The story takes a major turn right out of left field, and yet the clues were all right there. No, I never in a million years would have guessed how things turned out, but I cannot deny that this is how things would play out with what I had seen.

This is some of the best storytelling, and the best gameplay I have seen.

Just... don't fucking hurt me in "Being a DIK" DrPinkCake.

———————— └(・-・)┘ ————————

Well, where to start... the game is good, less than Being a DIK (from the same creator) but good all the same.

Visually, it's very clean, the characters are endearing enough to keep us aware of their destiny. The MC is well balanced, not too dumb, not too overpowering for this kind of story.

On the other hand, the point that made me put a 3 star and not a 4 (I would have put 3.5 if I could) is the script. Too melodramatic, not in the sense that it made me sad to the point of sulking the work but rather that it got me out of my suspension of disbelief. It bothered me a little bit because at the moment of the "half-playful ending" I was no longer in it and I didn't care a bit.

I recommend it all the same and since criticism is easier than practice, i would like to say thank you and bravo to DrPinkCake for its work.

Signed Jack Beauregard

It is a great game the plot plot that has is very good for my opinion; as the characters are developing through the story advances I like and not only that the characters have a good depth and none are alike, your decisions have a big impact on the game, I love the 100% recommended game.

Since I played Being a DIK, I was interested to know more about the work of DrPinkCake. Acting Lessons was the name that came up and so, I tried to see if it was as good as Being a DIK. To be frank, it's worth playing, but it's not for everyone, unfortunately, like his current project.
The story tells you about a guy who makes a lot of money in cryptocurrency, with a difficult background of his marriage. He meets a girl named Megan for the first time who works in a convenience store. You also have Liam, a guy (also a great bro) which unveils to be a great character and one of the greatest cons of this game.
My run of Acting Lessons was not the best one, but I manage to have a good ending for what happens in the last episodes, even if it was brutal in every way. I was interested in Rena at first, but eventually, I end up with Megan, which holds very dear in every aspect of the game. Melissa is another great character, which you toy around a bit on first, but turn something serious as you know her. Rena... on the other hand, was a disappointment, since I couldn't figure her that much as I wanted, due to my choices. There are other side characters, but these should be the ones that you got the best experience.
Although the characters are great, I feel like the story centers a bit too much on Megan, on where you can have a difficult time being a dick with her. The relationship you have with her can also determine many of your choices as you progress in the game.
As you progress on the story, you start to feel this is not your type of "fap material", but more as a VERY dramatic and realistic plot which can give you very different kind of emotions, such as sadness, joy, determination, and self-improvement for any obstacle you have on life. You start to think that maybe this is not your type of game, so it's better to just leave it, because you don't dare to go through, or you simply are disappointed to not jerk off all in your screen like you were 5 minutes ago. If you start to feel like that, just stop massacring yourself and go enjoy something else. If you manage to hold your blood pressure and seek beyond what's behind this, I can guarantee to you that Acting Lessons is gonna be a fulfilling and rollercoaster experience.

Also, a warning...

Game is good. Stop reading the reviews and just play the game before you accidentally run into a spoiler. It's one of those games where after you finish it, you get jealous of people who get to experience it for the first time. Rendering is great after first episode, but story is great throughout

I'd heard great things about this game so I thought I would give it a go. What I got was quite different from what I expected but my only previous DrPinkCake game was Being a DIK. I went in with no hints and didn't use a walkthrough, and ended up emotionally drained all the way to the final choice. The event with Liam was a punch to the gut, but I did not expect the soap opera reveal. Thank you DrPinkCake for a wonderful story and interesting characters. It had laughs, romance, sex, action, and tragedy. But I enjoyed every bit of it. I don't think I will play through it again though, as my choices may be tainted by knowing what's to come. It is a shame, as I would love to have a blind play through all over again.