VN - Ren'Py - Eternum [v0.8.5 Public] [Caribdis]

Started playing this because I was horny and got totally hooked on the story. The sex scenes were phenomenal and the writing was amazing. And hilarious. I actually found myself playing more for the story than the sex scenes. Which doesn't say anything negative about the scenes, but more speaks to the story

It weren't but a few days ago I played through the developers previous title, Once in a Lifetime. And I liked it a good deal despite some minor issues.

I'm pleased to say that those issues aren't issues here in the follow-up. Heck by my reckoning the game is a straight up improvement across the board.

Everything from the writing, to the renders, the models, the animations - even the music choices. And I usually mute the music in like 95% of these games, but nothing here sounded out of place or overly grating.

I couldn't recommend Eternum more and I wait with bated breath for the next update - especially since the last one ended on a dang good cliff-hanger!

Be me:

- Support and play Caribdis last game, slavering for each update worse than a heroine addicted dog. Finally finish said game. Swear not to replay it for at least a year.
- Immediately start a new playthrough the next day.
-Run out of tissues.
-Play the first chapter of Eternum.
-Run out of tissues again.
- State longingly at Caribdis Subscribstar page growing increasingly frustrated.
-Cry.
- Learn my lesson and stop visiting Subscribstar to remove temptation.
-Swear to support BUT NOT PLAY game until it is finished.
-Buy more tissues. Wait. Wait. Wait some more.
- Observe that the game has reached .7 and rationalize that I could simply play a little, at a moderate pace and thus stay behind Caribdis' development pace so I never run out of content, arriving at the ending at the EXACT moment it is ready to be released.
- Download game.
-Start playing.
- Wake up two days later and realized I have skipped work and binged the entire thing... And am out of tissues.
- Cry.

In all seriousness, Caribdis is one of those rare developers that elevates the entire genre. His command of the narrative has only deepened in this sophomore offering, and he's more effective than ever in painting with all the colors of human emotion.

Because of the nature of the game (it's porn, in case you didn't know) many authors are constrained, unable to conveu emotion or imprint themes and philosophic questions on their players. Eternum is the exceptions. The characters have real heart and (to the limit that can be expected in an harem game) real agency. Moreover, Caribdis is one of those few artists with enough talent to truly evoke a response in his work. The tense moments are thrilling. The scary scenes, frightening and of course the lascivious truly titillating.

I'd be lying if I said the man didn't have quirks and foibles, but it truly would be like complaining about the improperly folded napkin at a Michelin star restaurant, and especially noticable when all the other eateries are burger king....

In short, the graphics are excellent and he has a great command of them.
The writing cute, funny and often witty.
The story and lore are gripping.
The sex out of this fucking world.

This isn't the game you ask yourself if you should play. You need to play it.

This isn't the game you ask if you should support. You must support it.

This is the game that's so fucking good, you wonder if you can tell you IRL friends about, just so you can have more people to gush over it.

Five stars, no regrets.

Eternum is one of the highest rated games on this site, and for good reason. The world-building is extensive; the humor is scintillating; the sex scenes are some of the most intense and passionate that I've ever seen - it is an all-round masterpiece and in contention for the best AVN if the quality of the future chapters are on par with what we have so far (as of 0.7).

Caribdis has a unique way of using the visual medium to build tension or make a gag. Unlike most AVNs that are only comprise shot-reverse shots of people talking, Eternum sports creative uses of zooms, transitions and camera movements to make you feel like you're watching a movie rather than just playing a game.

This is a harem game, though you are given the option of closing romantic routes that still preserve their friendships. As is the case with most harem games, you must suspend your disbelief that 7 (and counting...) gorgeous women are in love with you, though Caribdis' writing makes that easy.

It has to be said that the game focuses predominantly on the story, so there's only about 3-5 sex scenes per chapter - this is not meant to be criticism, just a warning for people looking for something purely lascivious to goon to. Nonetheless, if you enjoy the story aspects of AVN and forming connections with the characters, you won't be disappointed by the sex.

Ultimately, this is the game I'm most excited for to finish. The only criticism I have of it is that it was the third AVN I played, so it set my expectations astronomically high.

You really can't find a more promising VN game out there. The graphics and animations are amazing, the characters diverse and really hot. The game is actually damn funny, I usually don't laugh over jokes in games like these, but here the dramatic shots just take it to another level. And the best part, the story. It's actually a great written story with twists and hidden meanings that you would expect from good movies, not just some barebones background story that you could summarize in 2 sentences.

Overall this deserves to be The VN game.

(update 0.7)

By all means one of the best VNs out there, in terms of visual presentation, audio engineering, worldbuilding, and writing. The story and characters are compelling, and make me long for a world where virtual reality gets this good. It reminds me of a book I read as a kid, The Web: 2027, which takes place in a similar future. I would not be shocked at all if Caribdis has read it.

I only have one minor qualm, which is that the protagonist feels a little bit empty as a character. This is usually fine for porn VNs, but Eternal is much more than just a porn VN, and I think it does a bit of disservice to the story, and results in some dissonance with the other characters, who are very well fleshed out. I won't go into too much detail for spoiler reasons, but I personally think I would like to see the protagonist struggle a bit with his humanity, his feelings, and the fact that he's sleeping with a half dozen women and has not asked any of them if they are okay with it. Now, for an asterisk: I think it's possible this complaint will be unneeded in the future - particularly with the way update 0.7 ended. Regardless, this small quibble did not at all hinder my enjoyment of the story in the moment, and I am eager for the next update.

V0.7.0 hotfix

first off, this is not a VN as it has point and click elements which immediately exclude it from being a Novel. add choices but the moment we go freeroam it becomes a regular story-based game. site staff used to be good at moderating this.

i could mention art, writing blah blah blah but i think that has been pretty much covered so instead i am going to brain fart

i watched the film 'Ready Player One' and though i liked the idea and concept i felt that the story played out like a typical hollywood movie. at this point in my life i could, and probably many of you could also, write the screenplay with my eyes shut. there were no surprises. it all played out like many other movies and shows. guy gets the girl and happy ending. no risk, no edge, just cookie cutter.

Now we have eternum. target audience is adult. this means all the things the film barely glanced at of our human nature will get at least a bit more showcase. i have only gone a short way in to current content and i am already more entertained more than i was through a binge of recent movies and series.

only 3 body problem, the brother's sun and this good game have made me sit up and pay attention so far this year.
one has wit, one has another great concept and this one brings back to life my hope that another great concept has not gone to waste.
of the 3 i mention only this one had me engrossed enough to miss a boss fight in one of my regular games so thank you AND fuck you dev for that

there is nothing about this game not to like except maybe personal kinks. if it holds to it's current quality and delivers a great ending i will be back to add the last star, without hesitation.

love it

Amazing graphics with excellent animations.

This game continues to impress me as the story develops. I enjoyed the great humor, was really fun to play so far.
Love the world's building in Eternum.

(I leave a short review because numbers talk and all the positive things have already been said, after all this is the best AVN you can play for now).

One of the best ren'py game in the recent history. Stunning CGs, Wonderful plot and world setting . This game define the standard of r-20 visual novel . You can feel the passion that the dev have put in this project. This is the game that you must try for once. the only downside is that , updates took a long time to come out which is understandable giving the quality of the game that come out. Looking forward for the story and where it will take us.

the models and design of characters are the best. art and animations are impressively high quality. plot is intriguing and story progresses in each update. theres many hours of content and the game is well written. wish certain girls had more content at this point (not that theyre lacking so far) but sure to be rectified in further updates.

One of the best AVN games I've played. The writing is absolutely excellent. Humorous, interesting, and well-written, this game is definitely worth playing. The plot isn't revolutionary or anything, as it borrows concepts from a lot of popular media, but the execution and the way its woven together here is several steps above most of the games on this site. Played for the "plot" and stayed for the plot -- though don't get me wrong, the girls and the visuals are pretty awesome too. If I could give it more stars, I would. I only wish the updates came more frequently, but I understand it takes time to produce high-quality content like this.

TLDR: Play it, you won't regret it.

I was a bit skeptical at first to try this game because of it being a Honey Select game. Started playing at version 0.5, so there was already a solid amount of content for me to get into and get accustomed to the art style. BOY AM I GLAD I DECIDED TO GIVE THIS AVN A SHOT. I've fallen in love with the art being used here and think it's actually perfect for the whole setting and environment of this game.

The entire vibe and aura of this AVN is something to really enjoy. It's visually stunning and the ladies are all absolutely gorgeous. I can't tell you the number of times I've legit had goosebumps & chills at different parts of the game where the story or a specific scene really hits you. There's just no other AVN out there like this, truly one of a kind. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE and easily a top 3 AVN on the market and certainly may just be #1.

10/10

Great game
Came for the "plot" but stayed for the plot (not that the "plot" is bad)
The story is intricate and the characters whether it be the MC, the main girls or the side characters are interesting (Shoutout to my boy Chang)
The animations are top tier and they seem to still increase in quality update after update.

Eternum is undeniably captivating at first glance, but its allure fades all too quickly. One cannot overlook the glaring flaw of having only a single male character who objectifies women, which not only lacks authenticity but also detracts from the overall experience. The game desperately needs more than a repetitive harem concept to truly engage players. While the graphics are undeniably stunning, they alone cannot elevate it to a truly exceptional level. I will continue to thoroughly evaluate the game and adjust my review accordingly. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the game fails to resonate with women and instead alienates them with its introduction of a lone male protagonist and a shallow harem concept. The presence of just one male character who objectifies women is not only unrealistic but also discouraging. The game demands greater depth and substance beyond a tired harem concept

Yeah, yeah, another 5 star review for this game, more news at 11. Well, please bear with me for a moment, as I attempt to summerize why I think this is the best game on the website, and many others feel the same.

Story:

The game takes place in a contemporary setting, though with 1 big difference. There’s a super advanced VR game called "Eternum", that has taken the world by storm. The creator of said game, “the Founder”, has come up with a hunt for 10 MacGuffins, and plans to make whoever finds them his successor. You quickly realize that Eternum is more than meets the eye, and the mysteries surrounding the game and its creator push the narrative forward.

While the plot itself isn’t the most interesting I’ve seen around here, the solid writing keeps it engaging constantly. The setting of a VR game with various servers that look and feel completely different, allows for several self-contained stories with tons of variety. There’s several moments of humor, action, and even horror-like tension. It’s a solid read, easy to lose yourself in.

Design:

Like the dev’s previous work, this game has my favorite approach to VN design, one that I feel is grossly underused. The game is very much a choice driven VN, where your actions have consequences. However, when it comes to handling the LIs, the game makes it very easy to pursue her if you want to. The game warns you whether she enjoyed your replies and tells you if you screw up beyond repair. It also never forces you to give up one girl for another. No need for guides, mods or gallery unlocks. You can boot up the update, play the game normally, and see every H-scene. It’s a game that respects my time and doesn’t expect me to play it over and over with a guide on my lap, just to see all the spicy scenes.

Visuals.

The dev’s previous work already had displayed major visual improvements during its development, but this one is on a whole different level. Once again, the variety of environments allowed by the setting shines through, with space stations, castles, medieval villages, pirate ships, modern day cities and so on. No other game in here comes close to the visual variety on display here. Everything is carefully crafted, and a setting used on a single update here looks better than main areas used all throughout other games.

The sex scenes look good from the start, but the last couple of updates have solidified this game as having some of the best on the site. The graphic quality already would have made them very good to begin with, but the stellar animation work really put the sex scenes here several steps above it’s peers (the guy that gave this a 1/5 a few reviews below, and said these were standard HS animations is either trolling, or has never played another HS game in his life). The way the girls’ bodies react to each thrust feels impactful, their asses jiggling, and even their surroundings react at times. The sex has a believable pacing, as opposed to many other games that do custom animations and end up making movements slow and robotic. On a technical level, this game is far beyond what you usually find out here.

However, since nothing is perfect, I do have an issue with the game’s art direction. An issue carried over from Once in a Lifetime, and that is the lack of body variety. All the main LIs are very slim, fair skinned, and 6/7 of them range from age 18 to 21. The one mature LI at 39 years old, barely looks older than her daughters, with her big tits perky like she’s in her teens. The one truly noticeable difference between their bodies being breast size.

The girls do look good, and I get that that’s just how the dev likes his women, and it’s a generally safe and well-liked archetype, but I feel like some variety is important in porn games. Have someone a little thicker, someone with a little darker skin or one that actually looks older. Hell, maybe give some tan to the swimmer girl. As it stands, all the girls kinda blend together. I hope that in the future, the dev can use more side girls as an opportunity to alleviate this.

Conclusion:

While I did finish that last section with a criticism, its ultimately a nitpick. The visuals, the writing, the animations are all top-notch. Unless you have specific kinks you’re looking for and find vanilla harems to be too boring, you should have a great time playing this game. Very easy recommendation from me.

One of the best worlds and stories on this website. I like a majority of the characters (really all of them). The world is a lot of fun. It balances low stakes slice of life with higher stakes life and death.

Generally speaking, the dialogue is good. It gets slow at certain points, but mostly I'm interested in all the text.

Really, my only complaint is that I wish the updates were faster, but the render quality makes that obviously impossible.

I know that each individual has their own tastes, but rating this game with 1 star its unbelievable.
Nice story, nice renders, nice characters and one of the best devs in AVN community equals to an outstanding VN.
Hope i can in the near future subscribe to Caribdis patreon. That's the minimum i can do to support him and his superb work.
Thanks Caribdis for OIAL and ETERNUM.
(Not native, sorry for my English)

Nice game from an established developer.

Firstly, it has impressive renders and animations. The developer has expanded on the assets thanks to their previous game.

While the story itself is not complex or groundbreaking, it serves well as a porn narrative. It holds itself together with occasional jokes thrown in.

The game introduces a cliffhanger with every update, which makes me inclined to wait for the entire game.

What I disliked the most is the lack of conflict and the excessive protectiveness towards the MC. Unfortunately, the target audience seems to be primarily focused on adult content.

Another issue is that decisions seem to have little impact.

Considering it's mainly a porn game, it's understandable if you're not expecting AAA.

Well. I played 0.7 and renders are form other world. This game have the best renders from all the games i ever played and I played many.
Story telling is very good and diffrent from other games.
You just MUST to try this game yourself.

Some of the best scenes in and NSFW game I've ever seen, and yet I still would play for the story alone. All the characters are unique within the story and fit well with each other, wich helps with the harem not feeling too unrelealistic, despite the lack of use of the typical plot devices like mental manipulaiton and the type. Some characters also possess special characteristics, wich shape their personalities and interactions in a compelling way.