VN - Ren'Py - Completed - Follow the Leader [v1.0] [SuperWriter]

One of the worst AVN games out there. The amount of sex scenes is so little and the rendering of the girls is atrocious compared to the creator's ability in other games. Midway through the game, the developer decided to give one of the girls a haircut fit for an unhinged Karen. It almost seem as if the developer has no direction/experimenting with a different kind of take in creating an AVN.
The only reason why the rating for this game is pumped up is because it's one of the few games out there where the MC is black, period. The only 1 star I gave to this review is because of the half-decent effort in making a game with a black protagonist.

A straightforward and short vanilla experience. Pacing is on the slower side. I liked the three girls' personality but the story and the MC's characterization could've been more compelling. Sex scenes are a bit sparse. There aren't too many significant choices. Overall, a fine to decent playthrough that you won't hate and probably won't remember much of after a week.

Rating are pretty inflated here, so I'll give this a 4 star review. It's a decent game, with a decent story, and decent characters (as well as some evil ones), and morally significant choices. I certainly don't regret playing it, but it wasn't especially rewarding either.
The writing isn’t bad, but it isn’t… compelling. I can’t put my finger on why. It's not full of typos, or terrible dialogue, or unfunny jokes, but it just doesn't have the draw that the writing of the best games has; for all of the game, aside from the climax, I never felt hooked or anything. Instead, I was looking forward to it ending.
sex scenes: maybe 6/10. A bit short, and some unappealing camera angles (and, as pretty much always, not enough first person POV for my taste.) They got me aroused, but they didn't go beyond that.

There are some problems too:
Being nice forces you into a relationship with Eight, but not Nine and Ten.

There’s a thing about not using guns in medium-quarters combat that makes NO sense: “To use any firearms, you have to get up close and very personal.” It’s not like you magically teleport on top of them. There’s a closing period, in which firearms are great ways to kill someone. That rankles me.

Overall, it's a decent game. It's better than a substantial majority of games, but it isn't in the top tier.

It's not the longest VN I've ever played, but the story is good. Pretty much par for the course with SuperWriter. There are a few points where the story strains credulity, but it's not so much to take away a star for. Other games can be far worse at this, so the dev definitely earns a W.

I am curious about one thing, I've noticed it in a couple of scenes and it's nagging at me: Why does the MC have a gemstone--either diamond or zirconia--stud earring? He's been an indentured servant for 20 of his 25 years, surely he isn't getting one on his own fully aware the baron might not appreciate that look on his servant. Additionally, I can't imagine the baron thought, "You know, I think my servant would look better with an earring. Guard, pierce the lad's ear."

The graphics are pretty standard faire for SuperWriter's games. No complaints.

The animations I've seen thus far have been smooth and of a good quality.

I also appreciate SW giving multiple angles for all of the animated scenes. Not a fan of the menu interface for changing angles in those scenes, however. When switching angles, optimally, the menu buttons would be hidden for at least one click so the user can watch the scene play; a click later would return you to the menu to choose a new angle or finish the scene. Unfortunately, most of the animated scenes do not do this. Hitting a button changes the angle, but the menu buttons never disappear and they take up a lot of screen real estate while hiding the scene in the background.

Music is there. It isn't the same track on repeat, though it's also not a jukebox so it isn't shuffling. Music is specific to where you are in the game's script. I don't have any issue with any of the music included, so... good.

The modified interface is a nice touch, but the eye-scorching sunshine yellow gets pretty awful to look at after a while. I'm pretty save-happy, and I love saving the game at decisions... so naturally, I look at the UI more often than most. I get it, you have a theme... but that UI? Suboptimal colorway.

There is a built-in walkthrough, but access requires either a code issued to patrons or requires the user to find a way to set the appropriate variable to "true". A mod will do the trick if you're in a pinch. Don't expect you'll just go scanning the script for the unlock code, the only thing you'll find is a checksum value. Better to just flip the value for the variable that activates the walkthrough. After all, why lockpick the ignition when you can just hotwire the car?

To this point, I'm giving this five stars. That may change as I proceed. I'll update this either as I move along (if I find anything particularly egregious) or after I reach the end.

Follow the Leader is pretty enjoyable for me. Sure it has its does comes with a couple of downsides, but even with them, its good enough for me to want to finish the game. Story itself is actually pretty decent, albeit it being a little on the shorter side. LIs look great, and I just really like Ten. Character growth is great as well, and I really enjoy seeing the change in Eight. H scenes are also very good, with downside being that there's just too little scenes. There are some other interactions with side characters that I really liked as well, such as when Anoushka is attacking the two guards. It'll be more memorable if there were a little more interactions with the side characters. Now the scenes where the camera zooms in on the faces though, that is really creepy and I didn't really like it. I'd really like to give it 4 stars, but there are just far too little H scenes, along with the short playtime.

Pros:
-Great renders and animations
-Lovely characters with great character growth
-H scenes are great, albeit too little
-Nice music

Cons:
-Pretty short on content
-Not much choices
-Way too little H scenes
-Some creepy zoomed in scenes on the faces
-Ending feels rushed

Wow. Been playing for a long time, just finished (last release no choices, it was an epilogue.) Amazing game. Great story, hot renders and really good sex scenes. Can't think of anything negative about it. Great job.

I... wow. I don't even know what to say...
I thought the guy that said there were 10 sex scenes in the game was joking. He was not. The gallery only has 9 in fact. There is exactly 1 scene with Eight (the other in the gallery that's in her folder is not actually with her) 4 scenes with Ten, 2 scenes with Nine and 1... 1 scene with all three girls together. 10 scenes in a game that started development in 2021. If it was possible to give less than 1 star I would.

Visually the game looks good... if it was made in 2017. Nowadays with games like Desert Stalker and Radiant grabbing the spotlight - the 5 angles per scene and 1-2 very short animation loops - it's nothing to write home about. The 3 girls are nice but nothing special you haven't seen before.

The story is the worst part of the whole thing. Convoluted, baiting people with 3 clone-girls created to be sex-slaves - but uses every single opportunity to be as woke as possible. I don't mind black MC, but the amount of "are you ok if I touch your naked shoulder?" is worse than on a first date between two high-schoolers.
Also the Dev isn't lying that there is absolutely no dom/sub moments, not even a hint of it in the whole game about sex-slave clones. Let that sink in...

Overall SuperWriter once again lives up to his legend!
This game might be sexy to a 50yo mom looking for the next thing after she finished all of her romance novels - but anyone else stay away or you will be sorely disappointed.

This is how it would look like if Disney tried to make an 'edgy' game. The story is trite, sweet and sticky, without any sort of tension. They skirt a bit of controversy with the slave thing, but of course, it's all resolved early so they can go and love their strong male savior.

This story is so formulaic that it's actually annoying.

Given the plastic, creepy, expressionless smile the girls have plastered on their features, I am sure they wonder as well how they did end up in this 'game'.

Pass on it... or don't. You will have forgotten you played it a week from now anyway.

Story 9/10 enjoyable story kind of slow burn but
Connection btwn mc and lis felt genuine

Art 10/10 great renders and animations

Lis 10/10 loved all lis especially 8 and 10

Ending 8/10 not a god tier ending but decent enough

Content 7/10
Five to 6 hrs of gameplay and choices

I hope he improves making renders and better endings in
Next game

That's all peace

Review of v0.13

Follow the Leader isn't a game with much substance. It feels shorter than it is, it's pretty enough to look at, the plot is fine but not amazing, the characters feel a bit flat even though the game really wants you to connect with them, the sex scenes leave a lot to be desired. The mc is black, which is very unusual in AVNs, so there's that I guess. It's 3.5 stars for me, but I'm rounding up because I had a positive experience overall.

This game as a visual novel is decent. Not many choices, but the ones you make tend to matter. Where this game fails for me is as a porn game. In the entire game with thousands of lines of dialog, there are a total of 10 erotic scenes. After not seeing any for about 20 minutes, I ended up fastfowarding through minutes of dialogue at full renpy skip speed just to reach someone unclothed. If you want an ok visual novel it may be for you, but as far as porn games, this isn't worth your time.

This is highly underrated. The cover page may lead you to think it's just raunchy (which I admit I thought going into it), but it's actually very well written and deserves more attention. Each character has their own personality.

The thing I like the most, is that the author uses the "but therefore" style of writing in various parts which is VERY rare in not just VN's but fiction in general, but is extremely powerful. I won't spoil anything, but there are times when things "go wrong" which is fantastic and forces not only the player, but the characters to make choices that they may not otherwise do under normal circumstances. I'm a definitely a fan.

I really enjoyed this. The premise is quite unique and the writing compliments it. As protagonists go, however, this one is a bit characterless and undefined. You have three cloned women, who all have very strong and distinctive personalities and then you have a slightly wishy-washy protagonist.
A minor gripe, but I hope he evolves as the game develops.
The girls are carrying this game so far and their diverse personalities and interactions are the focal point. Born as adults, the girls are very young and naive, but as clones they seem to have accelerated learning skills.
The baron is your atypical fat, cruel, narcissistic dictator type bad guy who created the girls for his own twisted personal pleasure. He tries to shoot Eight for her insubordination, the protagonist, who was being released from the baron's captivity the following day, intervenes, saves the girls lives, only to be put on the Baron's execution list. The girls free him and they escape the mansion... fugitives on the run.
It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds... Anoushka, the Russian, one-eyed, female version of Rambo is a character to behold! She's gorgeous and deadly...and possibly psychotic, but in a good way. If more memorable characters like that enter the fray, then this game could definitely elevate itself to a 5 star level.

I was really enjoying the game!!
The MC is nice, we have the beautiful ginger, curvy ebony and cute asian and then.... the cute Eight gets that haircut... now I guess she'll get tats and starts her solo music career...

It's a dumb reason but that was enough to quite the game.
Nice renders tho!

Forgot to review this on 0.10. It's very good. Characters are very good and the story is good and interesting. The sex scenes are very good. I just love the heroines and can't wait to see more of them. There's a good amount of content here already and i just love the relationships between the main characters and the progression of having a harem and deepening that connection.

Edit: Saw an earlier review calling this woke? It's not woke at all. You literally have a harem, which is the most least woke thing you can do.

In the beginning there is some dialogue that shows you your place in the world, such as that you are basically a servant to a guy that has harems, and he's an asshole. Then you quickly escape from that life, stealing three of his wives who he hasn't had sex with yet, and they become your own harem. That's awesome.

Because of the role your character had in the beginning, you do start low initially in regards to strength of personality, but through the story your personality and character grows in strength. Both from your own choices/experiences, and your women helping you, and you helping them. That's part of why i really like this visual novel, and i want to keep seeing more of it.

The personalities of the women are well-defined and likeable. Maybe the bitchy one isn't at first, but she does eventually become likeable, for me anyway. A critique of the novel i have is that the lore is a bit weak, but it has a lot of potential. If it's explored and thought out, then i will enjoy getting to explore more of it. The story isn't great but it is interesting, and i think we are still quite early into the story, so there's a lot more to go yet and improve on. I look forward to seeing more of the heroines and the development of the MC and the story.

Started playing & wasn't too sure, didn't like one of the female characters, at all.
Subsequently discovered she's a tsundere & felt a little dumb.
But I found the story captivating, so continued.
Really glad that I did.
Good story, good characters with a decent amount of depth, entertaining & very attractive.
Few errors in punctuation, grammar & English, but not enough to detract from the enjoyment.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this, highly recommended.

v0.10

This dev mostly does vanilla & cookie cutter stuff.
With Follow the Leader, i guess dev wanted to expand on his creative side and focus more on storytelling.

Unfortunately, its like a fish out of water. The game currently feels kinda bland and average in the quality of the narrative, romances, interactions & character development.

I feel he did better in his previous 2 games Picture perfect & Secret Summer, its more of his forte.
That said, im still open to him branching out of his comfort zone and looking forward how he'd turn this around, its still early in development.

this game is "if CNN decided to make a porn game, The Game" game.
I lowkey expected some dumb dialogue like "infamous hacker known as 4Chan" at some parts
I can see how woke the dev is and i also can see how its gonna bite them in the ass and turn their "politically correct mobs" to themselves with this game. While trying to cater to them.

-Renders are 3/5 nothing to write home about.
-Dialogue 1/5 Cringe at its best.
-Story 2/5 lame ass C listed movie script.
-Characters 2/5 generic ass "muh diversity", unnatural, forced identities.
started playing as v0.8.
Checked comments and saw somebody mentioning dev changed MC's race. I can see why.
Overall its a virtue signalling pos. If you have time to waste, dont waste on this.

FtL is well done and impresses above all with a creative story idea and with relationships that have enough emotional weight that you want to explore them.

What I like very much is that Follow the Leader is an "explained" harem game. By that I mean it is not taken for granted, nor is it an expression of any fantasies of grandeur, but there is lore that explains why it makes sense in this context.
On the technical level, this VN is upper average with good but not outstanding renders, so I give five stars mainly for the storytelling, surprising twists that are well staged and a coherent arc of tension.
All the ingredients for a good gaming experience are there. What is perhaps missing here and there are smaller conflicts beyond the main plot. Sometimes the interaction within the group of refugees is too smooth, considering the extreme emotional and physical strains everyone is exposed to. When the VN starts there is a certain level of tension, especially because of Eights attitude, but this is resolved rather quickly and from that point on the relationships are very secure and unthreatened, which is nice for everyone involved but makes for mediocre drama.
Still, the time I spent with FtL was entertaining and while I haven't really found emotional access to this developer's stories in the past (maybe it was because of their slice of life character, fantasy seems to suit him better) I find Follow the Leader to be the first VN that I enjoyed from start to finish. (v0.8)

Very enjoyable game so far. The looks are really good and the renders are great. The women look really good even tho it kinda feels like the dev tried hard to satisfy everyones taste in women with the three women you get to be with. But besides the goatee of the MC which looks absolutely hideous btw the characters in this game do look beautiful.
The Story is pretty good with the challenges you have to face on your journey and has a good mix of action happening and moments to calm down. I really enjoy the pace in which the story is progressing and the pace in which the MC develops a relationship to the Lis. Its good that every relationship has its own pace and is connected to the character of the women.
The choices are mainly focused on relationship points and it would be great to have more choices that influence how the story is progressing. I always enjoy Vns where the choices influence how you behave or how you develop certain skills which isnt the case here but the choices still let you feel like you are involved in the outcome of the story so its alright imo.

Overall i can say this is a top-tier VN even tho its has no music or sound but i guess a lot of perople dont really care about that. Im excited to see where this will go and i hope to see the Dev getting back to Sun Breed after this is finished.