Now that the game is inching to the finish line, and that I've played all the routes, I feel conflicted on whether I like or dislike this game. It feels like it's one of those games where there's good, but also disappointment.
As with most adult games I play, the two key factors of the game for me are the story and the characters (i.e.: the relationship with the MC). So let's start with the story first. What is the story of this game? Obviously it's about becoming a rock star. We get this by having MC starting with Jacob, then recruiting Lisa and later on Jade to finally form the band, then followed up with a few gigs at clubs (and presumably making it big after catching the eye of a more established band). There's nothing wrong per se with it. We got the introduction, the main, the conclusion. But it's disappointing that the plot feels like it's just there. There is an attempt to create conflict by adding the bad guys (the other band), but the plot for the conflict was reasonably weak, and the climax (bang bang shot) felt forced.
To be fair, sometimes weird things like that are actually realistic that it happens IRL where some conflict just escalated out of nowhere for no good reason. But for for the purpose of telling a story in a video game, it just felt flat.
So what about the characters? Similar to the story, there's nothing really wrong per se, but they didn't feel quite right. Each character is well written. Each character has their own (mini) plot and characteristics that they looked great individually. As in, if each of them have their own Tinder profile, we'd be looking at multiple unique characters between them. Lisa is different than Selina who is different than Jane who is not the same as Anna, etc.
However, I feel like all that effort into creating unique characters is somewhat wasted with the lacklustre portrayal of their relationships with the MC. Unlike the band storyline where there's intro, main, and conclusion, the relationships skipped the introduction. There's no build up to the relationship. Every girl would start liking the MC from the get go that it felt really weird. Other than Selina who had an ok explanation as to why they met how they met, everyone else's felt a bit cheap.
- You just got hired to work at the club, so you peeked at your boss' boss masturbating, then you got caught peeking by your boss, and suddenly you just kissed her?
- Your sister's best friend suddenly just ok with you peeking up her skirt, then followed up with taking off her shirt for a massage, and next time around yeah fine she'd show you her tits.
- Your ex girlfriend just randomly showed up and stayed at your place. Not just that, randomly giving blowjob while you're asleep too.
- Your band's vocalist just joined the band not too long ago. Suddenly let's go skinny dipping at the beach, and sure let's fuck outdoors too.
- If you didn't go with your band's vocalist, hey you get a blowjob from the coffee shop girl too!
And so on with pretty much every girl in the game (except Julia, and there's still chance for Karen, right?). Maybe it's just me, but the relationships just don't feel satisfying.
Overall, I still think the game is good, but it's probably one near the top (if not the top itself) for the game with the biggest missed opportunity. I feel like this is currently a 7 out of 10 game that could've been 11 out of 10.