VN - Ren'Py - COTE: Red Sonata [v0.18.3] [steinercode]

Despite giving this game 4 stars, it actually deserves only 3.5 stars. It may seem like a bad rating, but considering we are talking about a 2D AVN based on an anime, it is a high rating. Even the mere fact that I am reviewing this game and not others should be praise enough.

That's why I only will talk about the flaws it has, like between each scene there is an interruption giving an illusion of a freeroam which is totally unnecessary, you just go to sleep and check the note next to the computer before leaving and that's it, you can go to the empty beach or the store... I suppose the Dev plans to make some a kind of sandbox or freeroam but as I said, it's something totally unnecessary, or like the chess mini-game, although I still see more sense in that one.

But the fact that the Dev wants to include elements of free roam is totally unnecessary, especially when the narrative is interesting. The Devs who use free roam or sandbox are often hiding their poor writing skills, but this Dev doesn't need to, at least not in that aspect. What he should improve on as a writer is how to naturally include sex scenes because some feel so forced to the point that the characters act as if they aren't themselves.
For the sake of this promising AVN, I hope the Dev reads me, please remove all the freeroam crap and focus on making a good AVN with a good story and different routes... and for the love of Jesus Christ put a harem path, even if it's hard to achieve... But that's the only thing this game needs to succeed, because if it starts filling it with sandbox/freeroam crap it will end up being just another cliché anime game with scenes made by AI without anything really interesting, "one more IA porn game without soul" and I don't think this AVN deserves to end up falling into that.

I mean the setting is just perfect for smth like that If you know the Anime/Manga, you will like it. The way the game works is a bit tricky at the beginning and some quests just seems irrelevant for some reason. The "sexy scenes" are good, but could be longer and more diverse. Overall this could be huge in the future!

I really thought it to be boring and as much as i played the choices didn't really changed the outcome much but damn this game was fun , as someone who read the ln this was a fun way to pass the time , the art is good but it ls a mix of ai and hand drawings so it will prob depend person to person

The game looks good. Unfortunately I couldn't make it past 5 minutes. The transition scenes are painfully slow. If you want to play this, be prepared to watch unskippable animations of the rain for 5 minutes.

The day cycle is also annoying. Every night you need to shut off the lights, go to bed, draw a circle on the screen, click confirm, wake up, go to your computer, click a post it note, return to the main room, and then you can finally start the day. Literally none of that is necessary.

The story centers around a mysterious protagonist who finds themselves entangled with enigmatic and alluring characters, each with their own hidden agendas and desires. The game's strength lies in its ability to weave an engaging plot that keeps players invested while exploring complex themes of power, temptation, and identity.

Graphically, COTE: Red Sonata is striking, with a mature art style that enhances the sensual and immersive experience. The game features interactive elements that allow for a personalized experience, ensuring that players can tailor their journey through the dark, romantic landscape.

While COTE: Red Sonata is undoubtedly bold in its approach, it's important for potential players to be aware of its explicit content. For those interested in a game that pushes boundaries and explores adult themes with sophistication, Steinercode's creation offers a unique and provocative adventure.

Overall, COTE: Red Sonata stands out for its combination of narrative depth, artistic quality, and mature content, making it a noteworthy entry in the NSFW genre for those seeking an adult-oriented gaming experience.

Tho personally, I like the first version model of the mc more... quite catching dont judge the book by it's cover...now he's just Ayanokoji 2.0 but lesser in knowledge and critical thinking.

I want to preface this with saying I have not watched or read the source material but after playing this it makes me want to check it out.
Firstly this game looks beautiful and looks super official so much so I thought some art was taken from the series. And the h scenes which there are 3 of them looks pretty good and are animated.
I would also like to add without going in to too much detail the plot starts off as your regular highschool theme h game but at the end of the prologue shows some mystery elements.
If I had to say a weakness of the game is that you probably would get more if you watched the series(but it is very easy for anyone to enjoy and honestly adds to the mystery of things if you did watch it). And it's only in it's early phases.
I can't wait to see more of what this series has to offer and for future updates.

(I'm never watch the COTE)

3/5 decent game, I recommend trying it out.

This game is decent. It is still under development and short. The most experience we get from this game is reading a unique story that is not based on the actual anime, with some choices we can make. Some systems are interesting but still seem pointless right now like money systems, phone, and laptop we can interact with but little things we can do about it, so it is basically a simple Visual Novel game right now.

The story in this game has 2 feelings the first one is chilling and relaxed simulating how it feels to be a character involved in the anime and it great, and the other is a serious story from this game which is not whole of it, still have to look more in future update. But overall this game's story is enjoyable, it's decent.

Another very impressive part of this game is art, we can see it created by AI but instead only AI art, it mixes AI and actual artwork and it turns about pretty well, it doesn't make players distract from AI art and makes the players be more focused on the story. Even tho there are a few art that are still broken by AI-generated, so would be better if in the future all broken art gets fix.

This is personal but I do like the feeling of being a clueless main character in this game and having time with cute girl, rather than have back story so in the middle and late part of this game talking about main character's back story made it a bit boring for me.

I'm thrilled that you appreciate the concept and unique design. Adding more tags will undoubtedly make it easier for users to find what they're looking for, while a gallery feature could provide a visually engaging way to explore the content. I'm excited about the potential for these enhancements to elevate the user experience even further. But one thing is missing right now. A deep story/thoughts. It feels like a rush story.

As an avid fan of COTE, I couldn't help but share my thoughts on this review even if it the game doesn't have much content yet.
Anyways having experienced the light novels, anime, and manga, I have high expectations for this first COTE porn game. Although the content is limited to a prologue, i find it a bit too short and it can be completed in less than 10 minutes for fast readers like myself, or 15 minutes for slower readers.
Now, let's dive into the review.

Firstly, I must express my disappointment with the main character's design. COTE is known for its exceptional character designs, with each important character feeling unique and attractive. However, the protagonist we play as in this game is simply a bland character, resembling the default anime characters we've seen countless times. In fact, he appears even more unremarkable than faceless hentai protagonists.
Despite the first-person perspective, I believe the developer could have put more effort into creating a visually distinctive main character.

Moving on to the narrative, it loosely follows the anime and other sources, but since we are experiencing it from a new character's perspective, it is likely to take its own unique path. However, due to the limited content in this version, there isn't much to elaborate on.
The biggest issue with this game is the main character's incessant chatter. In the beginning, he rambles on about random quotes and topics, which, although fitting the COTE vibe, becomes monotonous. My advice to the developer would be to reduce the excessive dialogue, especially since most of the gameplay involves the character talking to himself. It felt like a waste of time reading through it, so this aspect definitely needs improvement.
Now, onto the art. Initially, I was skeptical about playing the game due to the AI tag, as games with AI-generated art tend to be lackluster or uninteresting. Fortunately, the developer uses AI to enhance the quality of the drawings rather than relying solely on it, which is a positive aspect.
With only four-five choices available in the game, most interactions involve the main character being either rude or kind, and I preferred the former as it added depth to the character.
After playing the game, I question why the developer released it prematurely, as most of it consists of the main character's ramblings and brief interactions with Horikita Kei and Ayanokoji. It doesn't feel like the main character is truly integrated into the school environment, as he simply enters the class, talks to one person, and then exits, having interacted with only three characters from the show.

The introduction of this game lacks depth, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world and characters. The pacing is rushed, making it difficult to follow the storyline without prior knowledge from the show or light novel. Despite its flaws, there is potential for improvement, especially in expanding the prologue to create a more immersive experience.
My current rating stands at 2 out of 5, but this may change with future updates.