VN - Ren'Py - Friends in Need [S1 v0.85c] [NeonGhosts]

So, where to start..

I played this game like 2 years ago for first time. didn't like the story because well, the story is kinda bad, the thing that i really liked was the prospect of

money = power , over people

you could play as a really rapist-asshole or a lovey dovey retard, your choice.

What i really liked about that thing, is that i as a player connected with a lot of characters ( exploited women) , giving them the stick and sometimes the carrot. yk what i mean.

as the episodes progressed, i really didnt care about new Li's , like the 2 recepcionists at the hotel, i dont give a fuck about them tbh, i loved the russian girl and brittani. what a two women... really beautiful the two of them, and their story

my point is, that even if the story is bad, as the game progresses the events that occur feel organic and makes you immersed in the plot even if the plot is being an ego asshole and rapist ( in my gameplay)

now, why the 1* ???

this dev reached episode 13- or 12 i dont really remember the last episode he made...
i dont know what happened but this dev started to do things in the game that does not make sense and is really annoying, like introducing new women in episode 1 , situations that arent really important like the rape in the boat with that brazil chik, and a explanation of the crypro shit that no one asked for,

the point is, this dev stoped developing the game and started to re-do shit, changing totally the renders and how nikki looked like , changing the interpersonal feelings that I as a player felt with the characters, now we have a prettier nikki, but less realistic, the niki from before was a real beauty, with the nerd and weird look, when you rape her, it feels realistic, now it looks superficial

you cannot do that to a game, and if that wasn't enough, he deleted the previous game and we cannot replay the original game until the last chapter he made,

the 1* is because i want this dev to stop petting his belly full of money from make this succesful game, and that he starts to continue developing the story, this dev is planning to re-do all chapters, because in episode 1remake, we have characters we didn't, and if they disapear in chapter 4 (normal) it wouldn't make sense, so this dev is planning to stay 4 years remaking the same thing he did, just for milk suscribers,


wake up , people

3.5

Reasons? Story elements do not stick and author is trying heavily to direct your actions. + lack of sound and animations.

My main grind is story and characters (in it for the story)

Story:
It's a kinetic like novel though you are almost always given 3 choices: Be a friend, be a lover and be an ass.
Worst of all? MC is always somewhat an ass or a pervert (creep) which doesn't resonate with friend or a lover route.

Next point? Author is shipping MC with Nicki and it's painfully obvious.
You can never remove her and whats worse MC is always somewhat romantically fond of her despite your choices.
As a guy who is the same age range (having same age range friends) i feel like author kinda doesn't understand something about people that are over 30.
His fixation and friend zoning thing is mostly problem for people under the age of 25. After that most guys wise up or kinda don't WASTE their time.

Next point about MC being somewhat relatable and at the same time completely missing the point. Don't know how to describe it perfectly but i was at the same mental state as MC when i was younger and it feels like author took a template and added bonus content that doesn't stick good.

Lastly lack of ability to refuse certain idiotic choices.
Philanthropy and charity doesn't mean you agree to every BS or take every insult to chest.
Especially S1 v0.85 Risa rouping you in. From start to finish of that interaction i was angry. I wanted OUT of her grasp at every chance. My last boiling point was when i learned who she is (when you stopped with the car).
NOPE, fuck it, GTFO you POS. My thoughts at the moment, yet you go forward.
I.e. Make your anchor plot points less obvious OR make them seem less artificial i.e. as if he had no choice.

Renders:
Quite pleasing to the eye. Weirdly every girl was somewhat pleasing to the eye.
My only problem? MC - Dude looks like he is 40+ years, working doom hours (11-12 per day 6-7 days a week). But to my understanding he is at most 30-35.
Even when placed in comparison with other males (who are older) he looks like an older man. Gets pretty weird when someone calls you a "kid" or a "young man".

Animations :
Well they are lacking. Not much and somewhat robotic meaning that fluidity is not present much. Not to mention at most 1 per girl (Nicki is special )

Overall :
Not a bad VN but get's this weird feeling that you are playing as a boomer-liberal who sits on blue sky.
He is "good" but beneath is a creep. As once i heard a perfect description of modern liberals: They virtue signal and/or are open minded but beneath all that facade they hide the most creeps among them.

P.S. The tranny issue here made me confused. A girl likes to think she is a boy (he). Okay being called a she during sex but wants to be called a he outside of intimacy. Looks like a she with all the female organs.
I'm now even more convinced that trans issue is just a mental problem or even illness like Body dysmorphic disorder.
Hell if i looked like a woman and people would perceive me as a woman i would not give a damn if they pronounced me as "She".
Why hyperfixate on this on this thing? Does it even matter how people call you? My only gripe is if my name was Daniel and strangers would call me Dan. Why? One is for general public whilst the other is more intimate (for friends and family). The other problem would be if i look like a normal guy but someone calls me Daniele. That means just mockery, but if it was inside joke among friends? Yeah i will answer to Daniele, i don't give a fuck.

The setting of the story is very interesting and unusual. For once, the feeling of the MC clearly transpires his actions. There are numerous LI but as far as I played (0.85c] there is a clear distinction between the side chicks and the main girls, and it appears the MI are not so numerous. I'm not sure if there is potential of drama for the "get it all" players, but I'd say if there is, no problem because it's well written, and if there isn't, it feels right in the story flow.
The LI are very diverse, and each main LI has her own rythm. For some characters, nothing really happened yet, for others, the choices are very important almost since start.
So it's a 4 stars, which may very well become a 5 one when it's more completed and most yet unfinished work is done.

Very good game even though it was apparently toned down a bit by the dev.
It still has a few kinkier things to offer and allows you to make good guy/bad guy choices.
The girls are all nice to look at and the amount of sex scenes is satisfactory for a porn game.
The amount of choices you can make is also good, but be prepared for a few tucks at your heartstrings when you take the bad guy road with certain girls. The dev does a good job of making you feel the girls disappointment (which everyone knows is much worse than straight anger) when there were a few good guy choices before.

I really enjoy the game. The building character is really good, it's kinda slowburn but not boring because the writing so good and interesting, well except the Chen family they all literally almost gone from the story lmao. All choice is matter u can choose to a be good guy or the bad guy and again the bad guy get all the best fetish/kink in the game.
The graphics kinda old(?) not the best, the animation kinda meh too but again the story help it all. A lot of interesting LI u can choose whatever u want, whatever ur fetish/kink are. For me Viola, Mason, Brittany are the best.
And last the game has a high value of Replayability.

i like the premise and overall story. The characters are nicely written and likable. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So whoever wants a good + corrupt path game, then they can go for it it has nice animations too in some scenes.

Waiting to see more in the future.

The dev went summery saggy and is remaking the game from scratch, quite a shame since it had a pretty sweet plot going on and the girls are very nice to look at and talk with, but oh well, at least this isn't turning into a fad and better games come out every year.

Quality graphics, quality scenes, compelling stories and relationships due to good writing, decent dialogues and artwork that meshes well with the emotions being conveyed. Also the choices in this game seems more meaningful and less straightforward than in most games.

Honestly the main issue I have with the game isn't the overall quality it's the fact that when the game was remade the dev choose to tone done soke elements of the g games darker content now I personally suspect it's partly in order to get the game on Steam in the future. Now if thst is the case I get it but at the same time I refuse to support it as it is just censoring content. With age play being cut to a number of other things. I think it should still be in place in a patch rather than darker content slowly removed.

The writing quality in this game is very good. Choices have weight and the characters make you want to help them. The graphics however are pretty bad, which is a real shame. It uses the default RenPy UI and has no sound at all, and there are basically no animations. This game has a lot of potential, and hopefully future updates give this game the polish it deserves.

The game is very enjoyable. The characters story are decent. The choices are good and the rework has added some great extra elements. The LI's are varied enough to have something for most people the choice to do a darker playthrough gives replayability.

Low-Key a Masterpiece with All the Feels
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Well, NeonGhosts absolutely cooked with this one. "Friends in Need" isn't just a visual novel; it’s an absolute banger with some seriously real and mature storytelling. I’m reviewing the [Ch.1-7 v0.73] build here, and even though it's still early, this game has a deep emotional core and a story that’s anything but basic.

The writing is, without a doubt, the game's greatest strength. The way it puts together the lives of these friends is so seamless, showing all their struggles and wins in a way that feels totally legit. The main story revolves around this one dude who's straight-up broke, and then got rich through some crypto shit. He then starts being the white (or BAD..your decision) knight for his hood. Everyone's got their own thing going on, from the supportive but kind of messed-up childhood friend to the super sweet neighbor and the hustler professional. The game is fire at showing how all their individual dramas connect, creating this rich mix of loyalty, jealousy, and surprising new friendships. These characters aren't just generic types; they feel like real people you could actually know, complete with their own flaws and desires. The conversations are so natural, they pull you right into their world and make you genuinely care about what’s going to happen next. The narrative explores some heavy stuff like loyalty, cruelty, forgiveness, and just growing as a person, but it does it with a nuance that feels refreshing and authentic.

What really makes "Friends in Need" stand out is how much your choices actually matter. Unlike tons of other visual novels, the decisions you make feel significant and have a real impact on the relationships and where the whole story is headed. There aren’t any easy answers, and a lot of the time you’re faced with some tough calls that make you think hard about the consequences for everybody. It creates this super immersive experience where you aren't just watching, you're a crucial part of the whole drama.

The art style is also a major highlight. The character sprites are beautifully drawn and so expressive, perfectly capturing every emotion. The backgrounds are detailed and set the mood so well, making the world feel legit and believable. And the music just hits different, fitting the story so perfectly and enhancing every emotional moment without ever feeling extra.

If you’re into visual novels with actual substance and soul, you gotta check out "Friends in Need [Ch.1-7 v0.73]". It’s a game that will make you laugh, make you think, and might even make you tear up a bit. I'm honestly so ready for the next chapter. It's hella recommended.

==========FRIENDS IN NEED==========
Zac rating: 4.6 out of 5
Setting, Theme: City, Corruption
Last Played: 2024

Length: 4
Originality: 5
Images: 4
Story: 5
Game Play: 4
Pace: 4
Characters: 5
Kink: 5
HOT!: 5

So I’ve played a lot of AVNs over the years (easily over a thousand hours at this point), and Friends in Need has really surprised me—in a good way.
Story:
The story is actually pretty original, which is rare these days. It doesn’t feel like a recycled plot, and the way the characters interact and develop makes it really easy to get invested. I was hooked from early on and wanted to keep going just to see where things would lead.
Visuals:
The renders are seriously impressive. High quality, great lighting, and the models look amazing. It’s clear that the dev put a lot of time and care into making the game look this good. Easily some of the best visuals I’ve seen in a while.
Lewd content:
Now this is where the game really shines. The lewd scenes are top-tier—super hot, well-paced, and not just thrown in randomly. Out of all the AVNs I’ve played, this one has some of the best scenes I’ve come across. They feel natural and are really well done.
All in all, this one caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting much when I started it, but it quickly climbed up into my favorites. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into story-driven AVNs with great visuals and spicy content.

OMG is MC a sad sack of pure fucking misery.
> He invested all his savings into an obvious crypto scam, because .... he's retarded?
> He worked for two years with a girl that he loves without ever confessing, because .... he's mute?
> He encouraged her to go out with another guy, because .... he's a cuck?
> He can't stand up for himself, because .... he's a limp-dicked wimp?
> Crypto scam eventually went "to the moon", and made MC filthy rich because .... porn logic?
> He ignored Nicki's calls, because .... he's an asshole?
> Why does he have to deal with her boyfriend's debt?
> Why can't she just break up and move in with MC?
> Why did he just give her money and let her go?
> Why did she not come back?
> Why did she whore herself out instead to pay someone else's debt?
> First 10-year time skip that made MC look like a boomer wasn't enough, we totally needed another one that made MC even older and turned Nicki from a cute girl into an ugly scank with bloated lips, huge chin and a bad haircut. Why not a final 20-year timeskip so that we can see erectile dysfunction ugly bastard MC getting it on with saggy tits grandmas?


Oh yeah, btw:

• No music
• No sounds
• No animations
• Choices make no sense: MC casually goes from a spineless vegetable to a violent rapist in a blink of an eye.
• But even tho MC can be a knight in shining armour or a rapist, he somehow still aren't able to grow any balls.
• Some random slut from one night stand in Brazil that has 5 minutes of screen time is more attractive than a fucking main love interest.

This game's missing netorare tag, because it makes you feel like a cuck by trying to associate yourself with this protagonist. TBF, this isn't a terrible game, objectively speaking, like writing for sex scenes is pretty hot, even if technical implementation is of the lowest quality and some girls and relationships are pretty lovely/engaging. But unfortunately after the prologue I had to sit there with a shit taste in my mouth for the rest of the playthrough, so it made me a little less appreciative.

I did try this one already before the remake but completely forgot it, and seeing the overwhelming good reviews, I thought "it can't be bad, right ?"... Well, there certainly was something to it.

The whole game is about being a white knight. No point in turning around it, even by raping the Li you are still saving them whether they are thankful for it or not, so you are still a white knight. That's all there is, meaning that the game is basically full of Li's drama.
I'll just take the point with the main Li and her story in the chapter 1: She is the perfect woman that the loser of Mc is desperately in love with, have a useless boyfriend who's asking for her credit card every time he sees her, and need money because he is in debt and she must pay for it.
Simple facts and even though there is a whole lot I want to say about it, I'll keep it straight: how the hell must she pay for the boyfriend's debt? And why the hell should I care about someone who's digging its own hole again and again?
I think that is one of those moments that are hinting at the deep of the writing skill of the author. Should have be hinted there because all the others drama are nearly on that level. As it stands, there is only one girl who isn't creating troubles for herself.
The game being mainly about Li's drama, having the said Li being that bad is just completely killing it. The worse being that this one is supposed to be the main one so you just have to put with her all along whether you want it or not.

The second root problem comes with the pacing.
The chapter 2 was actually pretty fast-paced at the beginning with plenty off-screen. But from there on all that have begun didn't get any ending whatsoever. Even the main Li which had some kind of conclusion just keep at bringing new drama dumber than the previous one to keep being on-screen.
The worse here being that it is really sluggish. Take the bookstore at the chapter 3 (or 2), at the end of the 7 there is still no advancement, being focused on their family's matter, which does not have any actual advancement either. You have talks about the Mc's sister all along, and she is still isn't here nor did she even spoke by the end of this version, to the point that I think she is just an incest bait.
All that because it is either a new character that is introduced or that when you are finally with the said character you begin to concentrate at another one... Or because you spend time with the mess of a main girl.

Now, onto the good thing is that you can rape them. Not all, unfortunately, but you can avoid being just the nice guy. Problem here is that the main part is still with a nice Mc making it weird and that you still have to white knight them anyway, so I can't really count it completely as a plus, but it is still better than nothing.

All in all, it makes for a pretty poor game. You sure have some choices but nothing much interesting and being concentrated completely on the Li, having them being dumbass digging their graves doesn't help.
I do think that the dev is understanding that the drama itself isn't his strong since there is no sound. I thought it of a weird choice at the beginning but after some times, I was thankful that there was no music to tell me to feel sad about another of those "poor" girls.

Ch.1-7 v0.73

The story is about one of those implausible situations we all imagine when we're trying to fall asleep. There isn´t really any long term goal or antagonist in the story. Main thing is to help the women in money problems, while making sure MC is well "compensated". And not just pay the problems away, but make the women addicted to sugar from the daddy. So every woman has their own mini stories for the MC.
One thing that makes this game stand out is the conversation options and how every woman has multiple paths. One of those rare games where there are no "wrong choices".

Writing does create emotions towards the women really well. Also evil path writing is natural and believable, but i have liked most of the women too much, to even check it. But options are always great.
Writing makes characters with their negative qualities so much more human and creates good excuse to dip in the evil path. But it also makes characters more vulnerable, so that you really wanna help them. You can easily see one character as "adorable dizzy beaty" or "slutty bimbo", up to the viewer. And those different views make the great conversation options so fun.

Visually game looks good. Most women are average or good looking, but there is one or two that make you really consider love path for them. Sex scenes have passion and feel natural. So even if graphics are not the best, sex scenes are better than many "mechanical porn scenes" or "bored teens humbing" we often see in AVNs. Writing creates emotions, and sex scenes really drive it home.

When a developer relies entirely on the success of his game revolving around a forced love interest, things can go well... or they can go horribly wrong, as is the case here.

Yes, because the protagonist of this game isn't actually the player, but the repulsive Nicki, a detestable character whom the main character is forced to endure, whether he wants to or not. And no, having freedom of choice isn't simply covering up this ordeal by saying «I'll treat her with kindness or I'll treat her with contempt». The freedom of choice that's truly meaningful is saying «I forgive you and you can be a part of my life again» or «Go to hell, I want nothing to do with you».

But, of course, the developer can't do that because, as we've already seen, the plot is sustained solely by the aforementioned presence: her traumas, her work for the foundation, her part-time nanny, her stalker boyfriend... He can't offer the option to get rid of Nicki because then the whole story collapses. In fact, he is so aware of this, that, thinking it was funny, he made a patch where you could reject the girl from the start, but the game would automatically end, insulting players who chose this route by insinuating that, if they weren't with Nicki, they were incels.

In short, my advice is to try the game, and if you're willing to forgive a girl who prostitutes herself with you to pay off her boyfriend's debts, disappears without a trace, and then crawls back to your door a while later because she's broke, then you'll like it, because you'll be spending a looooong time glued to her. If, on the other hand, you don't like having such an obnoxious love interest in your story, then delete the game, because there's no way to get rid of her, and it doesn't matter if you act like a white knight or a sadist, you're going to have her in your house whether you like it or not.

This is a very good game. The story is good, the characters are good, well written, relatable. If anything, they are too many of them and the story gets too fragmented. It gets to be one of those games where the MC can do more stuff in one day than what an hyperactive squirrel can do in a week.

The models are very enticing, hot and eye-catching. Even MC, for once, is a human being with features that are not stupid and patetic or barely put there or over-chad-dified.

The plot is starting to get very interesting.

So far it has been a good, worthy ride. Yet things seems to be changing for the worst.

The good, though provoking story is getting dumbed down and levelled (to lower levels) i guess to be digestible for a broader public on more remunerative platforms and constant, unecessary, reworks keep making your saves incompatible with the new releases.

At this point i must recommend not to waste time playing this game, unless a complete version gets out, and even then, if the story will still be any good.

The current state of art is way too unreliable to invest hours of your time.

Yoooooooooo, was not expecting some of the most emotional writing i've witnessed in an AVN, in a game where some of the alternate routes are just violent rape. The chapter 1 remake was absolutely insane, and while remakes are typically an awful idea I 100% support it in this case, as the original renders and animations aren't super hot and the story could be a lot tighter if more emphasis is placed on how good the emotional routes are.

Also the branching was pretty incredible, getting up to like 3 scenes playing out differently all with custom writing and animations in an encounter based on how you've established your relationship with them and what you choose during. One of the very few games where I thought a replay added to the experience rather than just being a way to stretch out playtime. It also avoided the pitfall of being black and white, as some characters just wouldn't engage with you where possible if you were an asshole to begin with, but you could get unique scenes and relationships if you stuck a middleground between GF experience and sex toy.
God speed OP, I just found this but if remake chapter 2 happens with same quality and not taking a whole year, I will 100% sub and donate.