UPDATE: Review of Dropout Saga 0.4.1 Alpha
after main review!
DropOut Saga v.0.2.0 Alpha Review
ALL REVIEWS BELOW ARE FOR THE OLD VERSION OF THE GAME. ALL UNAVOIDABLE CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED.
I had a lot of criticism early on. As a Harem/"Vanilla" fan I wasn't a fan of the content early in the game's development. HOWEVER, I'm quite happy that the Dev has been listening to feed back and trying to undo the mistakes present in the first iteration.
I played both v0.1.2 and the latest v0.2.0. In the first version their was some forced content with a "slut" character. In the newest version it's gone. Poof! The Dev didn't like the scene either and removed it.
I just played the new version and none of that bad stuff happens in the game. There is no longer any forced sex scenes and the girls are all cute. Nothing bad yet. So no forced BJ. I'd suggest if you had your reservations about the game you should give it another shot. I as previously stated the earlier version to this with forced content would have made me give it like a 2 star. Now, I'd give it 4 star for the content and another 0.5 stars for potential.
I've voiced my concerns to the Dev a little in DM's and they said that even if there ARE sharing/whoring scenes, they wouldn't be with characters that wouldn't make sense such as the main 4-5 girls or so. I'm pretty sure the game is FAR away from ANY scenes like that if at all. For example, 4 girls I know off the top of my head would NEVER do it. Confirmed by Dev 
(Content
NO LONGER PLANNED)
On the subject of the
Blackmail Corrutpion path,
even in that path you can choose to NEVER share the girls. It's mostly just a darker path where you can be more ruthless to the girls. (Edit: The Blackmail Path is now a Corruption Path)Just thought that you should know and give it a shot. The girls are cute and while it does have (Edit: LIGHT Sandbox elements) sandbox, there isn't any grind yet. If you don't know what to do, go into the office and ask your "other self".
I do want to give LazyBloodlines some big respect on this new version of the game. They really listened to feedback, especially my big block of text about En Tee Argh. They felt like they NEEDED certain scenes, so they tried to shoehorn it in, but now they are taking it organically without forcing anything. ALL my problems with the game have gone away. I'll amend my previous comment cause it was overly negative at the content AT THE TIME.
Quick summary of the story. You're a Mafia guy that after so many grueling years of ruthless servitude wants out. However, his boss isn't gonna make it easy. He now has to be a Headmaster at a prestigious school find "dirt" or make it on the influential benefactors of the school: Rich businessmen, mayors, politicians and others. The boss plans for you to corrupt the young women from the college. You can choose to be a nice guy and win their affect through care and understanding and push aside the evil MC in your head, or you can embrace the dark and force them to act as you wish.
The MC has had to deal with so much brutal murders and harrowing situations that inside himself he's developed a "devil on his shoulder" in the form of an alternate personality. However, this personality is a bit different to what you envision. It's not JUST a force that pushes you to bad, it's a force that sees no moral foibles in the way of progress. Rather than being abject stereotype, the Dev has shown him developing more into a "the ends justify the means" kind of person. A nice distinction that pushed my concerns out.
Dropout Saga 0.4.1 Alpha
So, a bit has happened since I last reviewed. We've been introduced to 2 new characters and the focus, at least for these 2 new updates since my last review, seems to be a more narrative direction. It progresses the main Mafia story with characters that might push the story in a meaningful way. For example, the past content relied more on the school, with short scenes from the girls. The recent updates have focused more on a narrative visual novel style approach.
The game is starting its transition into a more fluid Corruption/Romance game where decisions can be made in either direction. For example, you choose to me more merciful against a villain during a certain event, or you can choose to be cruel. Each of these things are there to add some more dark in the world without it affecting your girls in a negative way.
The two new characters Sophia and Ava are fantastic characters. Each have a archetype of characters but that come off a little more complex than they initially seem. Sophia is a bodacious confident woman, that through all her sex appeal really cares about the MC. A person from the past that can always calm the protagonist and turn him to the good side.
Ava is initially a simple shy character, but her character arc is definitely a VERY different introduction than most would expect. Having some kind radiosurgery is DEFINITELY a bit unorthadox. But she's sweet and has a strange affinity with the MC even though SHE might not know it herself. She's currently suffering a bit of amnesia. At least in this game it's a little more believeable than in most game/movies because of what MC has to do at the beginning. No spoilers here!
Overall, these narrative burst of MC handling some Mafia issues and the new girls have added a much more dedicated narrative influence that is welcome. The game has light Sandbox elements that don't do much yet, but will soon from my understanding. So I'm looking forward to more changes! From what the Dev has said we might be meeting a MILF character soon
