VN - Ren'Py - Eternum [v0.8.0] [Caribdis]

First review here, but the game is so great I have to come back to give it a 5 star.
The animations are stunning, the characters are interesting. I even read the plot for once, rarely ever do that.
Can't wait for the next update!

Can't believe I haven't already rated this. The animations, characters, story, EVERYTHING is just fantastic about this game. It's well worth a play at this point, the hype is deserved, it's one of the few games where I check in on the progress every few days.

As well, Caribdis is one of the few developers I trust to deliver quality content, consistently, and on time. I've been supporting them on Patreon since Once in a Lifetime and I highly recommend supporting them if you can because they're one of the few devs that truly deserve it.

Excellent game, amazing story, great graphics.
GOAT Visual Novel imo.
Alexandra and Nancy are the best imo. Only flaw is dearth of material.
Maybe increase the lvl of protag and make him a bit overpowered.

This game is amazing!

I really don't know what to say here. Because it's a real game that tells a real story. It's not just the typical boring excuse to not watch but play porn. In fact, there are some kinky scenes in here, but that's clearly not the focus of the game.

And for me, that's perfect. I really like these games that are actual playable games. On the technical side, I guess they scrape every bit out of the Renpy engine that's possible:

• The pictures are super crisp and in modern screen resolutions. (I guess 2k?! Maybe bigger.)
• The game has this kind of music and sound that you don't wanna deactivate before you click on "Start new game" (like I usually do).
• There are animations and cut sequences. And they are placed carefully.
• I'm not sure if RenPy, which is basically a python framework, can use shaders or if they tricked it in with video/gifs but these tiny effects here and there look good.
• The main menu is designed, the text boxes are designed, even the fonts are handpicked. It really looks stylish.

If the team behind this game wants more on the technical side, they probably need to use a full game engine like Godot or Unreal Engine.

From the subjective view:

• The girls' boobs are too big for my taste. Having 5 girls all with bombshell pounders is neither sexy nor realistic.
• Most, if not all, renders have interesting angles. It's never boring to look at them.
• The story is clearly inspired by novels like "Survival Quest" or books like "Ready Player One". And I like it! No world (server) feels like an asset pack.
• The same counts for clothing, weapons, etc. All look unique and made especially for this game.
• The plot... well it's exciting and fun to read. I really wanna know what will happen next, what's in that box, who's this, is she coming back... Like it should be with each game, but never is. So that's a big plus here.
• And finally, as mentioned before: this is an adult game. Not to confuse with a porn game. If you're here to fap, you'll probably have a hard time.

One of the best games I've played, and I have played a lot. The writing is top notch, the humour is incredible, the models are *chef's kiss*...such a good game. My favourite girl is whichever one is central to the story at any given point, they're all wonderful. Hats off to Caribdis.

If I had any complaints they would be the focus on enormous breasts (although the models are still gorgeous and there are some with smaller boobs so it's not all giant busts) and the MC's enormous cock (although unlike most big prick games the huge sausage is handled well in the story and isn't just there because...I dunno, why do mose MC's have horse dicks?), but these are just general complaints I have about a lot of games. I guess I just like my characters more realistic, which I recognize is a ridiculous thing to say considering, you know, these are porn games -- realism isn't really what this is all about.

Simply amazing. Caribdis has done it again. I have played their previous game Once in a lifetime and enjoyed it a lot. This game takes most of the positives of that game and makes them even better.

World Building/Setting [5/5]

The world building and the setting is simply amazing, sure it may not feel very unique if you have consumed sci-fi in other media (movies, novels, tv shows) with portal themes. But the fact that it's being done here in VN form makes me very excited. Even if you hate everything else about this game, the amazing world building and visuals alone make up for it. It's that good.

Visuals [5/5]

The renders are great and so too are the animations, extremely detailed, crisp and high quality. Some of the best I have seen in this site.

Sex Scenes [4/5]

The game does not have that much lewd content yet. But it's still pretty early and I am hoping as the relationships in the harem progress it will ramp up. But what's there is quite good, if somewhat vanilla in terms of kinks.

Plot and Writing [4/5]

So far there really isn't much of a coherent overarching plot apart from a very typical Isekai'd into a game world type story. But the writing, pacing and the events so far look very strong. The Dev is still pretty on point with their humour, but this game somewhat lacks that quirky charm that I really enjoyed in their previous one.

Character Development [3/5]

And here we come to the weakest part of the game. This is not the dev 's fault. Harem in any media by definition will always have extremely weak characters and development and this VN is no different. This VN like any other harem ticks all the major character archetypes and that's it. There is no depth to almost any of the characters and since there are so many of them we don't get to know them all that well either. They might as well be holding placards with captions like bitchy model, cute nerd, sporty girl, big boobed beauty, badass bitch etc. Well at least they are hot

Overall [5/5]

Despite all the weak points this game still gets a 5/5 from me because it's extremely ambitious. The dev has shown they can finish games properly so they are trustowrthy. The world and the visuals are stunning and good enough to already push this to one of the best games in here.

Hopefully we get improvements in plot, I am already not very hopeful for character development considering that this is a harem game.

Goly fucking shit! This is peak plot design my god. Though the lack of sexual content is kind of a downside for me but still the plot makes up for all of it. The plot is just that good. The levelling system needs an explanation though but that can be done in future updates. Still this is amazing the character designs, the plot to the h-scenes.

Eternum v0.4

If you've played and enjoyed Caribdis previous game you might as well stop reading and start downloading.

While returning to your childhood town after many years isn't an original start point for a VN, Eternum hooks you fast and early with an otherwise interesting separate premise , for which the game is named, and the promise of a deeper plot.

The characters are gorgeous. Though I can nitpick at the hair looking a bit off at times. I am worried about character bloat as there are quite a few LIs, which is a good selling point for the game. Usually not so good a point for development however. This can be seen in character development feeling a bit rushed. However I could not choose a girl I'd be willing to remove for that sake. They all nice.

The game could be improved with MC and LIs more naturally finding an interest in each other; MC has a tendency to be too wordy in his praise for a girl which in turn leads to affection from the LI. I only bother pointing this out because I think Caribids has the writing gumption to improve on it.

The humor is great and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat; the end of a patch is like a (dick)slap in the face.

The sex scenes are toasty, but can come a bit out of the blue which leaves them feeling a bit cheap. Not the best when you're like me who also enjoy the emotional attachment. The sexual dialogue is hot though it leans heavily into MCs massive womb invader; some originality here could elevate it further.

I know I may seem a bit critical, I tend to be about things I really like. I seriously suggest giving this game a try and supporting Caribdis if you can.
Luna and Annie best girls btw

Honestly one of the best VN games. Best part is that this game would be great even without good renders/animations and all the sex scenes.
Simply: characters, story and dialogues are great.
There are some really good funny moments.

Also with this world building there are endless possibilities how to expand.
Cannot wait when this masterpiece will be finished.
For now 10/10 must play game.

PS: Nova is just best

I have no clue why I didn't play this before. Guess I didn't find the pictures appealing enough. After playing I've changed my mind.. Graphics are better than I expected, but moreover the story and pretty much everything in this game is awesome. Would totally recommend.

First I was not fond of the anime related cg but it grew on me later. Girls are fleshed out and all have distinct characters. The plot is so cool and captivating. As of v0.4, it lacks a bit on sexual scene department but will make up for itlater, i believe. It still worth a play without scenes, just play it for the plot and scenes are bonus kinda game.

It is obviously to find the huge improvement compare to the previous game not only on graph quality, girl's model but also the story, the build of character which is the most importent key to make us love all the girls in game.

Nancy is the best milf ever! She knows what she wants, she gets what she wants without having to be pushed to do it! I love her!
Even though it's only version 0.4 now, I'm already enjoying it a lot more than the last game. Starting with the appearance and the characters. And to the plot development, the pace of the narrative, the nightmares that add to the suspense, and the gradual development of the local plot into a more global one. Nice work, bro!

If I wrote something wrong, I'm sorry. I wrote it through the DeepL Translate

The story of this AVN is the best of all time. The humour is really funny and the girls are just amazing. But the plot is the best part of this, the imagination that Caribdis has, is just on another level.

This got me hooked fast. Amazing design, sexy characters who all have their own unique design and styles, top tier animations and a solid story.
One of my favorites by far over the last few years of exploring and trying out all thats on here.
BTW, Alex is best girl.

Captivating story, great characters and well animated scenes. I am always looking for next update. There is just one small imperfection - the main plot of a story isnt original, but the game compensate for it very well with its execution.

This game may not have the deepest characters or the most original story, but Caribdis is an expert in creating entertaining and funny dialogues, as well as quite lovely characters, and an interesting story, it is a must play if you are a fan of avns and even more so if you are a fan of the harem genre

If I have to say something negative, it would be that I am more interested in what happens in the real world than what happens in Eternum but after all that is something personal to me, also that the girls (mostly) throw themselves very easily at you, and that they probably don't have a problem with you having a harem like in the previous caribdis game but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, the tone of the game is light hearted and the girls are different enough to make up for it, it's not like others Games of the same genre where everyone looks like a copy of the other or where there are so many girls that it gets annoying, it's well balanced in this game imo.

In short, a great game I recommend it, the only thing I hope is that the next Caribdis game does have a bit of the old good cest but that just personal taste

Caribdis has done it again, another visual novel I consider an absolute pleasure to read, eternum is brilliant so with entertaining writing and references, well chosen visuals, and gorgeous characters its definitely one of my favourites if not #1 of the numerous I've tried, while obviously there are valid criticisms to be made (such as how frustratingly horny some of the characters are, which is frankly a given of the medium sadly), the stories the dev(s) weave(s) are pretty easy to enjoy and grow attached to. While the MC always manages to look like a chav and always walks the fine line between dumb and abnormally intelligent I do find myself not only rooting for him but actually relating to him at times (which to clarify MCs don't manage to do often with me) A wonderful game that deserves all the support it receives and more

-WheatleyCrab

There are literally just 10 lewd scenes in total, music and ambient sound selection are lazy, and the models and renders in general are mid as hell. Characters with unreasonably big tits to the point they clip through objects / body parts / clothes, substantial visual noise in renders and animations with no reason, and generally just a mediocre game all around. Anyway, if you don't mind going hours without lewd scenes and just reading nonstop text simulator-style dialogue AND somehow enjoy the goofy-looking honey select renders and models, then yeah, this game is for you.

People of F95 zone,

This is a five star game. I'm not rating this based on future potential but on what is currently offered, and it is already a five star game as of version 0.4.

If this game was abandoned right now, right as I'm typing this review, what is left would still be worth 4,5-5 stars. That's how good this game is.

The renders are quality Honey Select. It's not mind-blowing visual prowess but the girls are very attractive and the backgrounds are detailed and crisply rendered. There are animations for steamy scenes and they look good, but won't knock you off your feet.


What DOES have a good chance of knocking you off your feet is the writing of Eternum. See, what sets Caribdis apart from other erotic VN writers is that Caribdis is a master of the pen. They are not writing lewdness for the sake of lewdness, but rather they pull you into a great adventure and sprinkle romance and hotness over it.

Two things that help pull this off are the sound design of this VN and the fact that the women are all fleshed out characters with their own hopes, dreams, motivations, and lives.

Caribdis is the only writer I know who uses sounds and good music for maximum storytelling effect, to this extent. I'd like to mention more of the plot and gush further about the quality of the writing in this game, but I feel like everything you don't already know about the plot would only spoil the experience for you.

I will say three things in conclusion:

1: this VN is Sword Art Online if SOA was a novel.....but with way better characters and if that sounds too good to be true... play for yourself and be convinced, like I got convinced.

2: I hope Caribdis will not get burned out or hurt any other way. Better to take your time and finish in a healthier state than to be forced to abandon a great piece of entertainment like this

3: Yes, I subscribed to Caribdis after playing this. Do you want my money too? Write entertaining stories like this that can make me feel other things than plain old horndoggeryness

4: All the girls are bae but Nova is bae before all bae's

5: I can't count.