(As of version 4.5.0)
First, off full disclosure: I am the English translator for this game. However, I have had no influence over the development or direction of the project. My role has purely been the translation of text. I am not compensated monetarily, and I’m essentially a volunteer. I’m writing this review in my own free time and from my own volition. I’m obviously biased in favour of the game, but I will try to be as objective as possible. Keep that in mind while reading.
I’ll keep the intro short. Big Brother: Another Story (BB:AS) is a remake of Big Brother (BB) by Dark Silver (DS). A sandbox/RPG that was abandoned due to violating Patreon’s rules. If you want full context, play that. But really, it isn’t necessary. Aleksey’s remake can stand on its own. This review is going to assume you have a basic understanding of the what the game is, and that you have an idea of the history surrounding it.
In my opinion, the most important component of adult games are the aesthetics. The art in BB:AS is fantastic. While the original game by DS also, had great art, Aleksey has managed to capture a similar level of graphical fidelity while exceeding it in terms of aesthetics and posing. Every render in BB:AS is entirely original. The art in Aleksey’s remake is a substantial improvement compared to BB, with multiple unique variations of poses and angles, compared to the static and sometimes uninspired renders by DS. Aleksey’s art is always designed with pleasing the viewer in mind. A great example is the approach the creators took to the punishment scenes. In these scenes, the girls of the household are spanked in front of the player. In DS’s original, the viewer only witnesses a static, side-on angle of the girls being spanked. While in the remake, the viewer is graced with a fresh perspective, being able to see the girls fully exposed while standing and a rear view while being spanked. This difference in posing makes Aleksey’s renders far more appealing to the eyes. While the art in BB:AS can match the fidelity of the original, some may be disappointed that is does not match DS current work in Glamour. DS has improved their art over time, and BB: AS’s art simply does not hold up in comparison at the present moment, but the difference is very minor. Even so, Aleksey’s renders are still among the highest quality in the 3DCG adult gaming space and are clearly produced by a talented artist. While they may fall slightly short in terms of fidelity compared to other top-tier creators, they still deserve their place among the best of them. Once you realize that it’s not all about graphical fidelity, but posing, angles, and positioning, it’s easy to realize that this is the work of a talented artist, and that examining the art solely based on rendering power, in this instance, is wholly superficial.
Many would argue that the appeal of the original BB was its NTR storyline. While this did set it apart from its competitors, the story is still full of tropes. The family with a missing father. The sexually repressed mother. The naïve younger sister. The bitchy older sister. And the horny, perverted protagonist. The story is still, nonsensical. For those expecting a compelling narrative should, for now, look elsewhere. What both versions of the game offer, however, is a compelling challenge against the resident antagonist, Eric. Eric moves into the protagonist’s home and, like the player, has the goal of corrupting the family. It is the players choice to either fight this villain and keep the family to themselves, or ally with him, and reap the potential benefits. It is still too early to tell what developments will occur in the story, but one thing has been made certain. Unlike the original story-line, Aleksey is committed to developing the NTR path with Eric, far more significantly than DS ever did. Players that are fans of NTR gameplay will greatly appreciate this.
This final segment will discuss gameplay, which is mostly unchanged from the original. The game has the player navigating between different rooms of the household on a time system to interact with or spy on the girls. The player must generate money to buy the girls gifts, which at first is done by helping around the house with chores. Once enough money is saved, the player can buy spy cameras and plant them in different rooms of the house. Revenue is generated by attracting viewers to your website where, like the player, strangers can spy on the girls. Progressing the storyline involves making money to buy the girls gifts and other items, while helping with house chores to keep them happy. The player will sometimes compete with Eric (on the war path) to be the first one to buy the girls gifts, such as a fancy dress, resulting in the winner gaining a large relationship boost. The player will spend most of their time working out how to progress the storyline, as finding the right triggers are dependent on talking to the right girl, at the right time, while she is also in a good mood. This can sometimes feel frustrating, and a walkthrough might be needed to reach a specific outcome. Luckily, the games quest descriptions (opportunities) clearly state when the player has reached the end of the available content in their current version.
For many players, the appeal of BB by DS was the high graphical fidelity and NTR elements. Aleksey’s remake delivers on both qualities with a much higher level of artistic flair. While the game is still early in development, it is shaping up to easily surpass the DS original.
Verdict: Highly Recommend
