- Aug 12, 2017
- 150
- 277
This got way longer than I thought it was going to. TL;DR, the game has some issue and some really good points. Yes it's still being developed and I'm optimistic it will improve a lot, but that can't be used as a blanket excuse for its issues.
Played 0.02 awhile back, now I've played most of 0.03 (I think I just have a couple Tess scenes left, but it's really hard to tell). The threads reactions thus far seem quite accurate to me.
Biggest thing imo: DX mode is the worst idea ever. It's actually worse than just locking the entire game behind a paywall and never doing a timed release like every other dev on Patreon. The way DX mode is set up it actively tricks players into thinking the game has effectively no sexual content, and actively chases away potential fans, which are where potential patrons come from.
DX mode should, instead, lock extra features, such as the avatar viewer. The avatar viewer is the best new feature imo, though I will admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was on the computer in Alex's room. I love the feature, but recognize that it is the kind of thing that would be reasonably locked behind a bonus Patreon tier.
I would ask in exchange, however, that we have an unlimited number of save slots. In 0.02 I made a save before every sexy scene so I could go back and enjoy not just the cool avatar images, but also the fun story. Playing through 0.03 I ran out of save slots. I consider this unforgivable. I need either a scene replay feature, or unlimited save slots so I can have my own scene replay check points.
I think it is a very good thing the devs listened to the fans and scrapped the "watch other people fuck your family" story lines (at least for the incest patch). But I think the buying soda for your sister until she lets you cum on her is too grindy and makes very little sense. I'm fine with grinding for extras, but grinding should not lock basic story progression.
Another issue is the rather empty world. The main, and very valid, response is that the game is still in development. The issue is that this response foresees that the game is only meant to be played in its final form, which clearly is not the case. This game, like just about all other porn games on Patreon, are designed to be played in installments, and for each installment to be a more or less satisfying experience. When a lot of empty space is created wherein there is nothing to do, it creates a problem for playing that installment. This is why Renp'y games work so well for the format. Because it's very easy to create no more space than is actually being used, and to add any needed additional space only as needed. I admire the devs here for trying something different. But they need to adequately address the new challenges they've created for themselves, and right now I don't feel like they are doing so.
The mini-games, are absolutely horrendous. The paper-boy mini-game is absolutely infuriating. It controls like garbage and I honestly do not think there is any saving it. The crate moving puzzle games are just as bad. I like puzzle games, but these just feel very poorly designed. This again seems like an attempt mix things up for the genre, which I can't say is a bad idea by itself. But the way these are implemented loses sight of what brings being to the genre in the first place: the porn, the girls, and the story. Mini-games of the type used here mix very poorly with these core experiences that people are looking for. Exploring the town to uncover secrets on the other hand is not necessarily at odds with these key features. Exploration holds some interest in common to that of discovering a story. If the town had more to explore, a few random and respawning items to find, that would be a good more in my opinion. The shovel spots aren't bad in my opinion, and could be expanded into some reasonable exploration features.
Okay, I need to stop because this is already waaaaaay too long. If you read this whole rant I'm sorry to have subjected you to the contents of my brain.
Played 0.02 awhile back, now I've played most of 0.03 (I think I just have a couple Tess scenes left, but it's really hard to tell). The threads reactions thus far seem quite accurate to me.
Biggest thing imo: DX mode is the worst idea ever. It's actually worse than just locking the entire game behind a paywall and never doing a timed release like every other dev on Patreon. The way DX mode is set up it actively tricks players into thinking the game has effectively no sexual content, and actively chases away potential fans, which are where potential patrons come from.
DX mode should, instead, lock extra features, such as the avatar viewer. The avatar viewer is the best new feature imo, though I will admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was on the computer in Alex's room. I love the feature, but recognize that it is the kind of thing that would be reasonably locked behind a bonus Patreon tier.
I would ask in exchange, however, that we have an unlimited number of save slots. In 0.02 I made a save before every sexy scene so I could go back and enjoy not just the cool avatar images, but also the fun story. Playing through 0.03 I ran out of save slots. I consider this unforgivable. I need either a scene replay feature, or unlimited save slots so I can have my own scene replay check points.
I think it is a very good thing the devs listened to the fans and scrapped the "watch other people fuck your family" story lines (at least for the incest patch). But I think the buying soda for your sister until she lets you cum on her is too grindy and makes very little sense. I'm fine with grinding for extras, but grinding should not lock basic story progression.
Another issue is the rather empty world. The main, and very valid, response is that the game is still in development. The issue is that this response foresees that the game is only meant to be played in its final form, which clearly is not the case. This game, like just about all other porn games on Patreon, are designed to be played in installments, and for each installment to be a more or less satisfying experience. When a lot of empty space is created wherein there is nothing to do, it creates a problem for playing that installment. This is why Renp'y games work so well for the format. Because it's very easy to create no more space than is actually being used, and to add any needed additional space only as needed. I admire the devs here for trying something different. But they need to adequately address the new challenges they've created for themselves, and right now I don't feel like they are doing so.
The mini-games, are absolutely horrendous. The paper-boy mini-game is absolutely infuriating. It controls like garbage and I honestly do not think there is any saving it. The crate moving puzzle games are just as bad. I like puzzle games, but these just feel very poorly designed. This again seems like an attempt mix things up for the genre, which I can't say is a bad idea by itself. But the way these are implemented loses sight of what brings being to the genre in the first place: the porn, the girls, and the story. Mini-games of the type used here mix very poorly with these core experiences that people are looking for. Exploring the town to uncover secrets on the other hand is not necessarily at odds with these key features. Exploration holds some interest in common to that of discovering a story. If the town had more to explore, a few random and respawning items to find, that would be a good more in my opinion. The shovel spots aren't bad in my opinion, and could be expanded into some reasonable exploration features.
Okay, I need to stop because this is already waaaaaay too long. If you read this whole rant I'm sorry to have subjected you to the contents of my brain.
