TLDR:
Shimobashira Workshop's Enishia is preceded by Ambrosia and Magical Girl Celesphonia, of which Celesphonia is better in most regards. Still, with my assumption Enishia is a "testing ground" for future games, it rates a high 3/5 to me and may hit a low 4/5 once I complete it.
Do note I'm still playing through and am only a few hours in, but thought I'd lay the groundwork for a final review. I will be updating this review once I finish playing.
Longer version:
Shimobashira continues what I appreciate in giving player freedom for how gameplay and lewd events will occur (with some exceptions). At the moment I'm having no problem playing a "mostly pure" playthrough, which I like for my first-playthroughs to then follow up with gallery runs.
The basic story of Enishia is passable for an H-game. I do feel that the city itself can be confusing and it feels like the devs had the same thought due to the teleporters all over the place.
Enishia comes across as a little more airheaded (in a negative way) of the goings-on, especially lewd ones, and I've come across options where even though (in my playthrough) she hasn't done anything lewd of her consent, an option will come to engage in lewd activity like it's a normal idea to come to for a pure virgin. There's some disconnect compared to Ambrosia's "must do it for the church" and Celesphonia's "forced into situations by the demons, slowly getting lewder" with Enishia's corruption.
That being said, like those games, Enishia's buildup to H-scenes and work with the RPG-M engine to deliver some animation is as good as ever. Enishia is also a step up and different enough from previous Shimobashira MCs. Overall, good H-character.
A big conflict in the reviews for this game is the dice-roll RPG system. I like parts of it, but I think the worst part is that it often disrespects the player's time with lots of extra clicking and waiting for dicerolls and movements. Additionally, at least in my playthrough so far, enemies don't try any H-actions on the party, probably because Shimobashira made the "create your party" system. That's a big step down from how fluid, fast, and well-done Celeshonia's combat and dungeon system performed. I think it can work, but needs much more refinement.
There is also far too much RNG. RNG of dice rolls, RNG of loot, RNG tables within battles. In Celesphonia I really felt like I never had issues getting to gear I wanted or how fights were going to go. In Enishia I am truly looking at a brick wall when it comes to how I'll approach ever getting specific gear without wasting loads of time, and at the current point in my playthrough I might not bother at all.
Overall, it rests at a high 3/5. I would say it's worth a play but falls about even with Ambrosia and much below Celesphonia for me.
Shimobashira Workshop's Enishia is preceded by Ambrosia and Magical Girl Celesphonia, of which Celesphonia is better in most regards. Still, with my assumption Enishia is a "testing ground" for future games, it rates a high 3/5 to me and may hit a low 4/5 once I complete it.
Do note I'm still playing through and am only a few hours in, but thought I'd lay the groundwork for a final review. I will be updating this review once I finish playing.
Longer version:
Shimobashira continues what I appreciate in giving player freedom for how gameplay and lewd events will occur (with some exceptions). At the moment I'm having no problem playing a "mostly pure" playthrough, which I like for my first-playthroughs to then follow up with gallery runs.
The basic story of Enishia is passable for an H-game. I do feel that the city itself can be confusing and it feels like the devs had the same thought due to the teleporters all over the place.
Enishia comes across as a little more airheaded (in a negative way) of the goings-on, especially lewd ones, and I've come across options where even though (in my playthrough) she hasn't done anything lewd of her consent, an option will come to engage in lewd activity like it's a normal idea to come to for a pure virgin. There's some disconnect compared to Ambrosia's "must do it for the church" and Celesphonia's "forced into situations by the demons, slowly getting lewder" with Enishia's corruption.
That being said, like those games, Enishia's buildup to H-scenes and work with the RPG-M engine to deliver some animation is as good as ever. Enishia is also a step up and different enough from previous Shimobashira MCs. Overall, good H-character.
A big conflict in the reviews for this game is the dice-roll RPG system. I like parts of it, but I think the worst part is that it often disrespects the player's time with lots of extra clicking and waiting for dicerolls and movements. Additionally, at least in my playthrough so far, enemies don't try any H-actions on the party, probably because Shimobashira made the "create your party" system. That's a big step down from how fluid, fast, and well-done Celeshonia's combat and dungeon system performed. I think it can work, but needs much more refinement.
There is also far too much RNG. RNG of dice rolls, RNG of loot, RNG tables within battles. In Celesphonia I really felt like I never had issues getting to gear I wanted or how fights were going to go. In Enishia I am truly looking at a brick wall when it comes to how I'll approach ever getting specific gear without wasting loads of time, and at the current point in my playthrough I might not bother at all.
Overall, it rests at a high 3/5. I would say it's worth a play but falls about even with Ambrosia and much below Celesphonia for me.