In Acting Lessons, the characters and story are at a minimum, as good as any B grade TV show. It is a good story and for me anyway, the characters are likeable. I played it all in one evening. Loved the bitter-sweet ending. A tear or two of joy how the story was presented. And for all that, I have never played it again. It was special and good.
When I saw that this VN was written by the same person that did Acting Lessons. That decided it. I love this VN and have several path saves.
Same thing for me, I only played Dreams of Desire as an AVN when I first touched Acting Lessons, didn't know what to expect really but I was sucked in the drama of AL (especially Melissa, just wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be fine), didn't care about the sex scenes at all, that's where I understood the magic of well-written AVN.
Didn't expect what would happen at all, hit me like a ton of bricks...
Never played it again, don't need to, the shock created a memory that'll last. Game is quietly sitting in my AVN directory, forever untouched.
That's why I don't believe DPC when he says he doesn't want BaDIK to be as dark as AL. Drama, especially the twisted/uncomfortable type, creates shock value, which in turn creates memories. You remember those twists, you remember the feelings, especially when it's well-written and well-rendered. I don't expect another Leah, but I wouldn't be surprised either.
Fall is the season of depression/suicide, after all, especially november, which comes right after Halloween... let's say I can't wait to see what will happen Ep10-11-12 already.