Friends in Need [v0.39] played through and immediately one of my top/favorite VNs, ever. Why? you ask...
+ The writing knows no peer, as far as VNs go.
We have a large cast of characters and they have similar backgrounds (similar in that they are characters in need), but the delivery is handled through different, realistic situations.
+ I love a variety of renders/models.
I'm not a fan of 90% of characters being big tit, big booty bodies with the only different being hair/eye color. Rather I love the realism of varity . These models are more ralistic and have a lot of different body shapes and sizes. I especially love the slim, petite, tight body of Gabby and how different her body is to a MILF like Madison.
+ MC is likeable in a way different from other VNs, simply for the fact that he's a philanthropist.
+ You do have a couple of different ways to react to the love interests: the 'kind' way and the 'rough' way.
-- My only complaint about the VN is you can be a total asshole if you choose at certain paths but the story will come back around to the main storyline to allow the story moves forward. In other words it seems the choices you make do make a difference...temporarily...but eventually don't matter as the story continues regardless of those choices.
-- One more minor complaint...the renders for Nikki in the opening scenes when she's on the couch talking with the MC are wrong.
Her face in half the stills, have her features distorted like an amusement park mirror. It's just bad rendering. But once I got past it, it didn't seem to happen again with any of the characters.
> A neutral point is some of the character backgrounds do feel borderline cliche. But there are other character background items that provide some variety, which helps mask any clicheness (such a word?) about them.
> I don't remember any animations. While not needed, it is a nice touch to add. But if it means time taken away from the story to produce a high effort but short animation, then forget it. Stills work fine.
> Dev seems to be trying to experiment with some kink stuff such as spanking and finger in the anus. Otherwise, 99% is vaginal sex, handjobs, or blowjobs.
+ I do appreciate the trans sex option of treating the he/she/them as a he or a she. Nice forward thinking on providing options.
+ The Brittani roleplay during the photoshoot is a great, fresh way to do a photo shoot in a VN. I cannot remember any other VN doing a photo shoot (many, many have them) that way before.
OVERALL:
Well worth checking out.
I hope the dev gets the support needed to continue this project.