Version 1.0
Dating Game: Sasha is a short story dating simulator completed at release. As such, it will be reviewed as a short game instead of being compared to a novel with room for complex stories, character development and multiple sex scenes.
In that regard, Sasha surpassed my expectations with its length (2 hours canonical run through and 2.5 hours including two minor branches), the realism of Sasha as a character, the dating dynamics as well as the quality of the eventual lewd scenes.
It also has a few notable areas for improvement and more importantly this isn't a game for everyone for reasons elaborated below.
Story
There isn't a main plot per se as the entire game takes place on a single night detailing MC's date with Sasha. Having said that, the overall experience gets a thumbs up as a realistic dating simulator - this can be a good or bad thing depending on how you see it.
The positive is the experience feels genuine, i.e. you get all the goods and bads of a blind date. Sasha is an unknown whom you will be engaging in idle banter for most of the night getting to know her and vice versa. There's no story, no action, no bombastic truth revealed, just two strangers sussing out each other like how a real first date would look like.
The negative side of it is there's only one LI, Sasha, and because she is built realistically and doesn't follow any trope in AVN, some aspects of her physical looks, background and character are bound to piss some players off inadvertently.
And this game REALLY is about getting acquainted with Sasha, so expect lots of "boring" stuff like her hobbies, where she likes to travel, what food she likes / dislikes, her personal values, what she's looking for in a date, her job, her aspirations etc.
Game Mechanics
Visual novel with choices that affects love points, but this is an area where improvements can be made.
For a start, there are too many choices to the point of being disruptive. Choices pop up every minute of dialogue or so and it gets irritating after a while. The game can achieve its goals easily with half the number of choices.
Secondly, I feel many choices should be equal and open-ended i.e. allow players to choose how they want to take the conversation without being judgemental. The way it's wired now has most choices affecting love points, so players are forced to select a "correct" choice that either adds points or avoids deduction.
I don't see why topics like where I travelled to, what food I like or what topics to initiate conversation on has to affect love points. It's random and forceful without purpose. Choices should only affect points on fundamental things related to character, world view, lewdness and expectations.
Thirdly, it would help if the consequence of a choice is more closely tied to what transpired earlier. For e.g. during idle chatter Sasha could have dropped some clues and then when a consequential choice pops up, players have some basis to select the right one instead of the random trial and error now.
Last but not least, choices can affect whether the date continues but should not limit sexual positions or where you can cum later on. It's frustrating to play all the way only to end up unable to do a blowjob, engage in missionary sex or cum on her face. All this because of where you stared earlier or whether you indicated you like to lead or be led in a relationship.
The game does not allow you to change your choice in a roll back, so players are forced to save / load every time. Again, I don't see the point of this except to add more clicks and frustrate players.
It would also be cool if there is an option to disable love point change indicators as some players might prefer the mystery of simulating a date, but this is predicated on only having important choices affecting points and also some connection between the "correct" choice and what you have learnt about your date so far. The Interim Domain does this quite well, so that could be a useful reference.
Background / Character Renders
Both background and characters are built with HS2, but I'm impressed by the fact that mods and shaders were used skilfully to upgrade the quality of the renders to be comparable to some of the good HS2 games in development now.
As most of the scenes take place in dark areas (restaurant, club, beach), the ambience is well done with effective post processing on lighting and shadows. It would have been a disaster if the developer had simply used out of the box default HS2 assets.
Sasha's model is ok - a realistic design for HS with neither mega tits and butts nor tropey looks like loli, bimbo, tattooed slut etc.
Character Development
Again, the operative word here is realism. Sasha comes across idiosyncratic like many ladies on a date - cheerful, fun to be with, self-centred, occasionally narcissistic, wanting equality and be pampered at the same time, sometimes logical sometimes emotive etc.
Some may find the whole dating ritual tedious and not worth the effort - after all many play an adult game to escape reality and fulfil a fantasy, if the LI does not appeal at first sight and there is no real story either, some folks will find this beating about the bush tiring when all they want is a nice story or a quick fap.
Sex Scenes
I wasn't expecting too much for a short story, but happy to report the sex here is as good as they come in a HS game, notwithstanding the need to pick the right choice to unlock positions and acts. There is nothing too kinky here, but the overall portrayal from dirty talk, foreplay, actual sex to post bliss is deeply erotic and fulfilling.
Lots of animations with different deeds and positions at different angles that should appeal to most players' preference in one way or another. Suitable moaning sound effects are an added mood enabler as well. Personally, I think the cowgirl and anal scenes were seriously hot.
BGM and Sound Effects
BGMs are ok and do their job and most of the sound effects are used during sex scenes.
Conclusion
Sasha accomplishes what it sets out to do - a realistic compact dating simulator that is completed on release. No dragging out, no soliciting for support, no remakes, no delays.
It's a hit or miss game. If you don't like Sasha physically or character wise, there is no option to reject other than to delete. If you don't mind going through the pains and fun of blind dating and deal with a LI that might or might not meet all your expectations and experience high quality sex scenes in the process, then give this a go. You won't regret.
I hope the developer continues to develop new games along similar lines as he clearly has both writing and technical talents for it.
