VN - Ren'Py - Artemis [v0.6.1b] [digi.B]

TL;DR Look, this is a "great personal accomplishment of a game" for the dev, who is cleary incredibly talented in many ways. It is not, however, a "great game" for everyone playing it. With more emotional maturity, life experience, and mentoring/coaching/studying to improve creative writing, I'm confident digi.B can become an S-tier content maker that would be rivaled by few.

(To the dev: I hope you take this review as constructive criticism, not as a personal attack. There is plenty of praise for the game in other reviews. Another praising review won't show you anything you don't already know. Hopefully there is something of value to you in the below...)

Renders are gorgeous, especially in later chapters after digi.B improved their vision, which I'm very happy to hear! Truly A+ models, which I would rate 5/5. The scenes are more like 4/5 with some places a bit too bare or weird furniture etc, but I understand there's a cost associated with having more assets (though it gets in the way of immersion a bit)

The porn is probably 2/5. There is very little of it. The little that exists feels childish, generally lifeless and over quickly. It feels like it was 100% written from a young male's perspective, and one without significant experience in how to please women. There's more about sex than just plowing hard and I'm not sure the women here are ever really *pleased* with the sex. Lots of women don't even cum with penetration, and those that do, generally require a good amount of "ambience" or preliminaries to do so. Women are way more emotional than men when it comes to sex, and that's lacking here.

The plot is the weakest point of the VN. I'm sorry but NONE of the story makes any sense. I love the premise of Artemis (the android) as a concept, but people can't be inventing AGI left and right in high school, while also being the daughter of Tony Stark himself with a side-hustle as the female reincarnation of Tiesto. It's too much. See https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InexplicablyAwesome

Any of those 3 is too much, to be honest. You'd need to pick 1 and tone it down significantly for it to be anywhere near realistic.

It feels quaint and middle school-y to write all these literally incredible (as in "impossible to believe") plot points that ultimately create no tension in the story. Look up the concept of "deus ex machina" in storytelling. It's a very unhelpful trope. More mature viewers will struggle to willingly suspend disbelief. See https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief

And then the dialogue itself is too lengthy. See https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLawOfConservationOfDetail -- as someone else said, if the plot is about AI and robots and high stakes corporate competition / espionage, why do we even need a sorority house? What service does it to do the main plot? None. It's hard to argue they're there for eye candy since there's hardly any porn there other than some nudes.

*Because* the dialogue is lengthy, "nothing that happens matter" and then viewers don't really care about the story anymore. If on minute 2 5 sorority girls were watching the MC have his cock sucked and that had zero repercussions, why does it matter that his cock was sucked? Stuff that happens on the plot needs to have *impact*. That's why Andor is great and Ahsoka is terrible (See this video for a much better explanation and please bear through the slow first 10 mins as it will surely be illuminating to hear the full thing)

Finally, more controversially, the MC is waaaaay too weak minded. Dude sobs for half of the story, has nude girls literally throwing themselves at him and all he does it feel bad and sad and masturbate. People read stories to feel related to inspiring characters that show development, growth, maturity and overcoming great odds. The only real "great odds" here are whether he can get over getting fucked over, but I swear any guy that was fucked over and found himself living with Kindra, with several sorority girlfriends, and didn't have to worry about money would be banging the shit out of all of them and having a proper blast. I appreciate this is hard for some younger people to accept these days to believe in because they were so thoroughly indoctrinated by media and schools into becoming a pushover male because the world hates men now, but trust me, that is NOT what healthy-minded people want from you.

Long story short, please take some time to work on the creative writing. This could be a GREAT VN if it had more polish around the writing. Overall a really comendable project -- very people could have pulled this off. I just mourn the fact that it could be easily 10x better with a better story and script.

Some further reading:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArbitrarySkepticism

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuperIntelligence

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OneManIndustrialRevolution

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ReedRichardsIsUseless

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OmnidisciplinaryScientist

Holistically one of the better games. However, there are some logical errors that keep from giving a story driven game such as this 5 stars, as well as gameplay decisions that are not user friendly. I was tempted to leave 3 stars, but the production quality and effort from the developer is too good to get rated that low.

The biggest problem IMO is that large aspects of the story just do not make any sense, and it takes you out of the story for how unbelievable it is. For instance, most of the characters live in a sorority house while they simultaneously own and operate a publicly traded company. One of said characters is mentioned as being 27 - what are they doing hanging out in a sorority house? I also do not get why every single character in the story is an Einstein level genius.

There are some polishing issues like spelling mistakes (especially in the newer chapters) but they are relatively uncommon and its not a major issue. The phone feature is missing the stats for several of the characters. The mini games are not that bad if you choose to play them, but I do not like that you must play the mini games to get certain outcomes.. The game itself is a good mix where its heavy on VN with some sandbox thrown in.

The hidden object aspect is terrible. It is not clear that in any given scene you may need to click a small object, like a hat, in order to get scenes unlocked full chapters later.

Overall its well written, some of the characters are very well written, but for most of the characters it lacks sense. The majority of the characters are first introduced as flirty and sexualized ( ) and yet they quickly do a 180 into relatively prudish characters, a couple of whom expect exclusivity from the MC even though they are not dating the character nor have even kissed the MC.

The main plot is advancing at a great pace, what is worrisome is the pace of development in the MC's relations with others. There are simply too many LI in this game for their paths to get flushed out in a meaningful way while retaining the production quality the developer is going for. We are now 3 years into the story, and only a couple of the LI have a relationship with the MC that is recognizably different from when the story started, no matter the choices a player makes. Not a good omen for paths getting completed.

With all of that said, it is definitely worth playing. The writing is good overall, it has an interesting plot, and the graphics are good. The MC is also not a raging asshole which is refreshing. The amount of content that is out relative to how long its been in development is acceptable on the lower end, I would guess there is about 6-8 hours of unique content.

My gosh, what a story. This story quickly shot up to my #1 spot with the Chapter 5 update. The story is main story is a slow builder but the character building that is done in the mean-time is very well done and keeps you hooked. I especially enjoy the depth of the Sci-Fi aspects put into the story and the well placed references.

The animations are also very smooth and I especially love the extra level of detail with the mid conversation animations which make conversations feel much more alive and is a very nice touch.

Anxiously awaiting all the remaining updates!

Coooo... <3

I eagerly await the next update, good lord I don't think I've ever been this invested in a VN. The writing is great, the characters are unique and enjoyable, I even find myself feeling annoyed when interacting with Cassie. All in all; fantastic game.

Maybe 4.5 is a suitable score, but there is no option, I hope the update speed is faster, the science fiction elements set in the story are very suitable for my type, and I hope to make a happy reunion line in the later stage

I love this game. Despite what Digi.B says about the renders, though they are blurry/lower quality early on, it's still better than many and as you move on better than most.

Beyond that, Digi.B writes very snappy, natural-sounding dialog, with excellent humor. The characters and premise are believable. Even having multiple LI's is believable, at least thus far a bit into Chapter 4, for me.

I do have a complaint that started late Chapter 3 right before the transition to Chapter 4. I'll spoiler it, though, and anyone not in Chapter 4 yet, just don't look.

Anyhow. Five Stars. In my top 3. My issues are likely my own fault and a problem with me or my tastes, not the devs.

Loved it! I took my sweet time before starting this one. Honestly should have given it a go a long time ago! It was awesome. Great pacing. Full of humor. Characters are great. Most girls are interesting in their own way. Try it, you'll love it!

This VN really took me by suprise by its brilliant writing (comedy and story). Lewd scenes are hot af, but is somewhat lacking in quantity at the moment.

I look forward to future chapters, but damn did I have a great time playing this.

This game had a rough start, but Chapter 5 is approaching the peak of the art form. Projects like Artemis are what make indie AVNs great.

I won't lie to you - despite the file size, the first four chapters don't look great on my 27" monitor (I'm sure it's probably fine on a tablet, or maybe even a laptop). Unfortunately it's not just in the one or two scenes that the disclaimer in the beginning of the game calls out. A lot of the texture detail got wiped out - everything just looks a bit 2D, washed out, and artificial, skin and hair especially.

I don't know if it was an overly-aggressive external compression technique or something done within Daz because of hardware limitations, but in any case, it's fixed now. Chapter 5 looks gorgeous. Hopefully the same improvements can be drip-fed to earlier scenes as time goes on, without completely halting the development of new content to accomplish it.

Perhaps the best indicator of Artemis' potential is the dev's demonstrated ability to listen to reasonable community feedback. On single-dev indie projects, there's a balance to strike. Sure, having a huge team of people all constantly checking each other's work can avoid major pitfalls, but it can also stifle unique and creative storytelling that not everyone is going to enjoy. That's the biggest part of why I love indie projects. The pitfall of single devs is when it's clear that they won't listen to anyone but themselves, have been looking at something most people would find weird every day for 3-6 months, have convinced themselves it's normal, and won't listen to the people who say it's weird - that's when it becomes a problem. Notably, an entire game just had to be remastered because of a supposed "rogue morph" causing the characters' eyes to look huge and weird across an entire year or more of development. Not a problem here.

A character arc spoiler - I read a blurb recently that Cassie was no longer going to be considered a LI based on community feedback, and felt relieved (I hadn't made it to her most recent scene yet). I could tell her storyline was reaching towards her being a morally gray, redeemable character, but it fell a bit short of this. It happens. You can't have 99% of a character's personality be the most absolutely unhinged, amoral, manipulative, deceitful, conniving, thieving sociopath, and then throw in one or two scenes that are supposed to humanize them without most people hating that character forever and never wanting anything positive to do with them. That's the healthy response to people like that - cutting them out. Cassie makes for a GREAT villain though, absolutely perfect, actually - a bad person, surrounded by other bad people, made even worse by being stuck in a corner and desperate, someone who the other bad people find out dug their own grave, so they put the screws to her even harder. Awesome fucking villain. One of the best I've ever actually seen in any media, given how personal the relationship between her and the MC is. I actually look forward to more interactions with her, including those that humanize her, I just don't think it would be cool for the MC to not learn from his past mistakes of getting involved with her. I'm sure the dev might have been disheartened at the feedback they got because it wasn't their original intention for her, but they listened to it, and the latest scenes with her are extremely satisfying. The dev didn't stubbornly cling on to their original vision and force the game's audience to sit through a redemption arc they found distasteful just so they could see all the content. It's unfortunate that the character was written into a hole, but it's a great hole, that's just how things go sometimes, and it all worked out perfectly. It's just fine that the first few chapters are spent hinting at an ambiguous willingness from the MC to let her back in. It's just fine if he doesn't want to go scorched earth with her based on their history. But it's also fine if he does, you know?

Apparently there's been other changes as well, but that and the visual improvements stand out the most to me, so all respect to the dev. It shows a level of professionalism, humility, maturity, and flexibility on the part of the dev that's extremely rare in projects like this.

I've got other minor complaints, like the MC looking weird and like he was the second character borrowed from a certain other game, this being the only Renpy game I've played that blocks the right click and escape keys from accessing the menu, some strange nipples floating around, some of the adult scenes so far being rather brusque and lacking any real eroticism (the most recent one is very good), the MC supposedly knowing about guns but confusing an H&K USP for a Beretta 92 when they look nothing alike (literally unplayable), and there's a conversation about grooming that's going to be had at some point (but lol it's a fictional robot and I'm sure it won't be intentional), but honestly if you can't look past minor stuff like that I don't know how you're supposed to enjoy games like this.

Because they're overwhelmed by the positives: Artemis (the character) is so fun, and so great. The animations, good god. The meme game goes a bit too hard sometimes (we'll bang, ok?) but is just right most other times (it goes in the SQUARE hole! such a fucking deep cut ). But most importantly, the characters are all reasonably acting and looking people who are only weird when they're doing a bit for the most part - which is just a godsend, especially on the part of the MC, who's just a normal, talented guy with his own goals, who deals with his baggage in a healthy way, has a quirky sense of humor, and who just wants to create cool things, be friends with people, and isn't looking to fuck people over or go behind their backs. Amazing. 10/10. I can't stress enough how much of a relief it is that people are just fucking normal in this game. Finally, while there might be a little too much money being thrown around, it's fine, and a welcome alternative to all the games where the characters are just scraping by. Doing things with money is fun, not every game has to staunchly reflect the crushing reality of most people's existence from 18-30+.

With unfinished projects, the potential is the most important consideration, and Artemis has it in bounds. I wish godspeed to @digi.B

As long as we get to fuck Kandace, that is. I've got a thing for older women who are well composed and put together, so I'll subtract a star if we can't. Just kidding! Maybe... but yeah, the character designs are just getting better and better.

This AVN is one of the best out there. The story is awsome, the characters are very well written, the plot so far is great as well, Sex animations are *mmuahh* beautiful (I was like "Woww man take a look at that BJ" hahah, the best I've seen so far), I liked the music as well, I woul've liked more minigames in the first chapters but that's just my personal preference. Artemis must be the cutest "girl" I've ever seen in AVNs.

Overall a magnificent experience. So far this is a 10/10.

This is one of the best VNs out there. It's rare that you see a developer that understands how to frame a shot and uses the rule of thirds. I see many well written VNs out there that have such shit framing and it's a total drag. Your lighting is excellent as well throughout. Animations are top notch and you can tell a lot of work gets put into the montages.

Story wise the game is very engaging and has been pretty low stakes so far. I imagine some drama is boiling up with the next couple of episodes. Artemis is way too cute and she must be protected. Though I'm sure she'll turn into a protector herself in the future judging by the rival corp stuff.

The only real complaint I have (and it's not really a big deal) is that I'm unsure how this games romance will play out. It starts off kind of let's be fuck buddies with everyone, but now it seems to be leading to something monogamous where you'll have to make some choices for your partner. Guess I'd enjoy a harem route but that may be unrealistic for this game.
Really great job. Will be supporting the devs with this one and look forward to future episodes.

The game is super cool with great story so far (with some dose of drama), bright characters, good humor. It looks a bit messy at the beginning due to dev had eyes issues of some sort, but later on the renders are top notch.
Really like it a lot and added into my List of favorite games. Waiting for more updates.

Spoilers ahead. Artemis is very cute in chapter 5.

the animations My eyes are blessed seeing the quality. Artemis felt like i was looking at an actual ai

I am gonna get a bit creative with this review

One of the main and best aspect of this game is, thanks to this update - Artemis.
Why you ask ? Well... It is because how she is portrayed and written as character, which is thanks to digi.B just phenomenal, realistic (as far as "alive" learning A.I. can be - which is a lot ).
Her personality and curiosity depicted in renders is cute, funny and beautiful = Well done.

Just take few of these lines below, which might not be saying much about her without context, though they can shed a bit of light on her personality.

-------ARTEMIS *cooing* sounds of approval.

"No bad words!" (She says intensely with red eyes)

More Artemis´s *cooing* sounds

Freezie!

(You can just imagine and feel the cuteness overload in it).


(Image credit to digi.B patreon)


The graphical aspect of this game is regal, even with what creator goes through in his live, this is something he can be very proud of, because all the places, setting, characters and technology and such are more than very well made.

Music is also great and fitting, and most certainly adding to the depth of the story it tells.

What I love most about this AVN is the topic/theme if you would like (and Artemis )... And that is the A.I. which "evolves into human", so to speak and her way and attempt to familiarize with our world. And lastly and generally the technological aspect of this AVN, which is once again by the way, very well executed.

The game is also very well polished and gramatically correct, which just puts a cherry on the top of perfection. And long, so you can immerse yourself in the story.


And even though my review is a bit subjective and rest is objective... With this AVN I just can not word it differently and/or without that part, as that is the one of the main aspects of what I like about it...




This AVN deserves fom me a review with thousands of words, and yet it wouldn´t describe how immensely I have enjoyed it...

So... You GO ENJOY it, because you WILL.

HAPPY ARTEMIS *cooing* noises

I ...... I do not have the proper vocabulary to express how much I love this game/story

it has it all, mystery, love, fear, sexy times, drama, emotion (and much more)

yeah I know i sound like a 'fanboi' writing that

anyway ... Digi has created a fantastic story, which brings un deep into the characters .... making us actually 'care' about them

is this perfect? nothing ever is, but this one is closer then 98.9% of all others on this site

I wish Digi nothing but the best and I look forward to more of this wonderful story

Best game played so far along with BAD.
A solid captivating story with the best main characters in a VN and incredibly beautiful scenes. It´s a solid 6/5.
Craving for the new updates and what´s yet to come!

I have tears of laughter streaming down my face at the min.. hold up let me compose myself

cough cough !!!!!

right !!! Hahahahahahahahahahaha

honestly this game man!! I came for the porn elements but I stayed for the humour..

Everything in this game I love.

I pretty much followed from the start , and it gets better and better . And kudos to the developer with everything that’s going on in their personal life ..

because you have a gem here and honestly I love a good laugh and tittys here and there are amazing too.

keep up the fantastic work

A great story, great render quality, interesting characters, not a one-dimensional MC.

Humor and the sheer amount of references to modern gaming and meme culture make this one truly stand out from the faceless mass of substandard porn-clickers out there.

great job, Digi.b!

Painfully average.

The VN has an interesting premise and a few interesting characters but that's it. Most of the cast is pretty forgettable and the interactions feel shallow as all hell.

Furthermore, there just isn't much porn in this porn VN. So you're left with a mediocre VN that doesn't have all that much to look at.

The update pacing has become horrible as is the case with every other Daz VN that gets too big.

Nice rendering, which improves as you progress, interesting characters, I have a weakness for Zelda, but Kindra is really endearing. The story is quite interesting, and I can't wait to finally meet Artemis. English is my 3rd language, but the dialogues are understandable, so a well-deserved 5 stars!