Others - Goodbye Eternity [v0.9.1] [RNGeusEX]

I don't comment much but you see when I trully enchanted by a game I can't keep quiet about it.
Nice artwork, animations kinda slow I suppose its technical. I don't even need to tell you about sound effects so great. Total 9/10 Quality work.
Thank you for your time devs trully, you made good game.

I want to rate this game higher, but I really can't bring myself to do that...

Pros:
+ The art is god-tier; one character is very different from the other, not just a simple reskin of clothes and hair like some other adult VN games
+ Minigames are nice, the game is not very grindy at all; I enjoy the hunt for money in random places
+ Dev is based for posting this in the Zone themselves
+ Some interesting characters; though others are decent-at-best

Cons:
- The story: it does a poor job of rewriting some delinquent and unfortunate MC's world when the players haven't even met the MC's original personality in the first place. We know of their sad past with some characters from spoons-of-info that come out of nowhere and into convenient scenarios, like: "introducing X, oh yea btw the MC met X from a drug den since X had to make ends meet. MC just remembered that, but now that we know, let's change the future" or smth. It's full of plot convenience and a very repetitive style just for the sake of implementing incredibly dark and sad backgrounds/alternate timelines for the characters. Normally, suspension-of-disbelief would be the go-to since it's a hentai game ffs, but for a narrative that is supposed to be taken seriously...it just doesn't work.

Overall, I think that 3 or 3.5 would be good for this game. The interesting side characters (like the trainer and the nerd) and the art are dragged down by subpar writing. If you're playing it for the art, then I would absolutely recommend playing it. I feel that the game's plot has been given love and time by whoever wrote it (which is a huge plus in general creative writing, not just in adult VNs), but the trope-heavy anime cliches just aren't doing it for me.

It's honestly really good. Basically everything about it is. My only gripe is that I feel like recent updates haven't included very much content. I played it at version 0.5 for the first time, and came back after probably a year(?), now we are at 0.7 and I feel like very little was added. Also Noriko's path is still not there? I feel like she should be one of the first ones that had been implemented considering her involvement with just about everything.

Yet, non-the-less, the game is quite good. Among the best. It makes you want a tomboy girlfriend xD. So much can be added/done with this game, it's crazy.

What I'm primarily afraid of, is that v1.0 is drawing near, and with the amount of content added between 0.5-0.7, it makes me worried for how much content will be in the final version of the game, or if it will fall short. The way the game is now, it feels like it could have a huge amount of content, and right now it feels like maybe 20%-30% is ingame. But if the game is finished development at v1.0, then it will likely feel as if it drastically fell short of it's potential. So here is hoping this is one of those games that go past v1.0, and it doesn't represent the games completion. (unless of course they add a boat load of content between 0.7 and 1.0. Who knows.)

PS: Their Patreon page indicates " Mini-games - 70+ locations to visit - 70+ characters" as planned features. So far, from what I played, which I think was everything, there is zero minigames, and maybe 20 characters in total? (most of which currently have little-to-no routes available, and instead are just apart of the currently implemented ones) and like 10-15ish locations?(Unless their talking about each room in a house being a location) So I'm gonna assume v1.0 doesn't represent the games completion. Instead, I think it just represents how many routes are in the game currently. So 0.7 meaning 7 routes available, 1.0 is 10 routes. If I'm correct in assuming it's been 2yrs in development, then that means each route takes 3months on average to develop. If we assume a third(23) of the 70+ planned characters will have routes available, and the assumption they will have at-least 2 routes per character (as they wouldn't be called routes if there wasn't more then one option), then that means there would be a total of 46 routes equaling a total of 138 months of development time. Meaning at their current rate it will take them almost 12 years to develop the game. So I guess I'll see ya guys in a decade to play the rest of the game. oof lol. (not to mention if your a patreon for that entire time, thats like $1000 USD. I may have to take a few breaks from my pledge xD) ((PPS: This is all speculation, hopefully the game is out way sooner then that, and the quality is consistent as the game is really good, a lot better then most games))

Version played : v0.7

This is a pretty high quality novel, when it comes to writing, visuals, even audio (there's some light sfx here and there even).

The reason It's not 5/5 is twofold : It's been about 2 years in development and it seems like there's much more to come, so it will probably take quite a while. And the second one is that, at least so far, sandbox elements feel superfluous at best and pointlessly grindy at worst - not once did I actually need any of the grindable stats, it was all unavoidable plot progression.

But it is a really high-quality product and I definitely recommend it.

The Visual Novels on this site that I have played are Usually Very Bland to me. But this one really surprised me. I didn't skip the Text like I usually do with these sorts of games. The story was very engaging from what I have played so far, And I am looking forward to the Next update.

This game is a gem. Choices are fun and every route opens up so many different outcomes. The art is very good and it has gotten way better overtime. I absolutely recommend it, it's very much worth your time.

Love the art style and characters. If there's anything to improve on is probably by having repeatable quests. Not sure. Love the game as it is though. Keep up the good work. I'll be sure to support you

Positives: outstanding art and smooth animations. Aesthetically beautiful game all round including the UI. Even the backgrounds look great. It's an excellent depiction of classic anime character designs with the added benefit of uncensored art. The story is competent as well.

Negatives: the game is a bit linear at the moment. I'm also not a fan of how useless the MC is at times where you can do nothing about it (mostly when he gets beaten up). But other than that he's fine.

Overall: Goodbye Eternity can only go upwards as more content is added. The future prospects of this game is very healthy, because everything here is beautiful so far.

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Writing a new review on 22nd July 2024:

Unfortunately the game has taken a clear dip in quality.

The Version 0.9 Noriko Femdom route that was promised was not given. Or rather, the developer has intentionally sabotaged the femdom in the route and Noriko's disposition in it because that was their "vision".

I say intentionally because all you have to do is look at the beginning of Noriko's femdom route and compare the material to the new update that was enlisted on June 2024. It's night and day.

(Version 0.9) Noriko's Femdom Route objectively isn't femdom. No matter how much the developer stubbornly tries to pitch their angle at what femdom is.

Story is weaker than I remember, now that I think about it most of the MC's decisions do not make sense and complicates the challenges for no real reason.

Art is still beautiful and the animations are great, but I can't help but feel that the soul of the game has diminished with Noriko's weak routes - given how important a character she is I am disappointed at how her character has been handled.

I'm not a guy who usually writes reviews , but man this game is damn good . It has less content now but seeing the story so far and the various future prospects it can have is great .

ART : 8.5/10 - Very good art , for the characters . Though not the best (Compared to games which only focus on good art)

Story : 7/10 - Nice story , felt it was pretty basic . but seeing bits such as Macumba getting arrested , his best frnds sister situation and likely death of the tomgirl in his flash back . The Final story if executed in the same pace will be 9/10

Characters 8/10 : I just feel i need more of each characters content to come on a score for this but this is just my expectant score

Overall 9/10 : Overall the execution is very well done , I haven't enjoyed playing a visual novel like i did for this for a while , each aspect is done aiming for the best that we can see clearly in the game

The game is so good I pulled an all-nighter playing it despite feeling like shit because of Covid. The art is top-tier, the story is engaging, the characters are likable (save for the assholes you're meant to hate), and holy shit that MILF is hot as fuck!

PS: Macumba best bro

Pretty nice R18+ game with impact choices on your next outcome, great character design and the animation really smooth if only they add more details it will become more smooth and good

I hope this game will come out success and adding ENG and JP Voice Actors too.

Very nice game. Good plot, interesting characters, with a lot of room for improvement. Sex scenes are hot and very fluid. Can´t wait for new updates.

Only thing I don´t like is there are not so much to do in the main story, Dojo place, for example, is quite useless yet.

It has one of the best art and designs I've ever seen, I'll rate it so high even though it's lacking in content although it has a lot of potential
-art: 9/10 realistically proportioned bodies and beautiful use of color in locations
-story: 7/10 pretty simple, they need money
characters: 8/10 normal but well built although they are under development
-+18: 9/10 excellent scenes with animation and good scenes, more development is needed and the possibility of varying them but otherwise very good

Stunningly beautiful artwork, very sexy animations. I cannot wait for this game to be completed and more stuff to be added. I'm not normally a fan of japanese hentai-style games, but this one is a knockout!

One of the best games in this page in my opinion.

Whenever i find a game like this i always wonder the same thing: "How comes i didnt find this game earlier?!"

The premise is not new at all, i mean this kind of story has been seen in a lot of animes/manga, but the female characters are so freaking cute, the writting in the game is so fun and well done, and also the main character is a cool guy, very easy to like.

At the moment i am loving it and i wish the programmer best of luck.

One of the BEST porn games I've ever played animations were smooth and were pleasing to the eyes, the story and multiple choices were amazing and this game has some most likable and unlikable side characters in any porn game I've ever played and I wish I could I could give a higher rating to this game

It's... fine? Honestly besides the fantastic artwork, there's not a ton of merit to this one.

The writing is by far the weakest thing about the game. It's just a generic story about a guy dying and going back in time to fix his mistakes. All the characters are your standard tropes barring maybe Macumba and they're all pretty one-note. They each have a problem and MC has to fix it because apparently women can't ever fix their own problems and make the worst decisions. Obviously that isn't what the dev intended but when MC has to do EVERYTHING for them, lest they become whores or commit suicide, it... gets a little weird honestly.

It could've been a lot better if some person actually showed initiative to better their situation and helped out MC for reasons other than one time (which was a Yandere plot device). Maybe have a lesson that MC opening up to others allows him to actually be at his best to help others while being good for his own well-being? I mean part of the reason everything went to shit in his original life is because he just kept to himself all the time so it fits and it would also make the girls actually feel like they care about MC and aren't just completely useless.

If the girls feeling like one-dimensional excuses to make a porn game wasn't enough, every male character in the game besides Macumba is a complete piece of shit. It's... very weird seeing this because the dev obviously takes great care to adhere to Japanese culture but they're almost never this outwardly aggressive and scummy. It's not even explained why they're like this either, which makes the whole experience feel even more hollow. Give me a reason why they act like this. Make them at least redeemable in ONE way. Give the characters in general at least a little charm or appeal as characters. Give Yasuka at least one unappealing trait to make her feel like a person besides "doting milf with anime mom hair". Give Noriko some good qualities so she isn't just "bitchy abusive tsundere". Give Asami some trait other than "delicious brown tomboy with tanlines". Christ, even fan-favorite Macumba is too one-note.

The simple act of making the characters actually seem like people rather than cardboard cutouts would help IMMENSELY. Give me a reason to care about them. Let me get close to them and spend meaningful time with them. The game desperately needs more fluff scenes like playing games and chilling with Asami.

Hollow is actually the perfect way to describe this game. It has a beautiful surface in almost every way. Art is top tier, music is good, UI is nice, but at the end of the day, the meat of any Visual Novel is its writing. Yet, there's no meat here. There's no interesting characters, no intriguing plot, nor even a real lesson besides "take control of your life".

As a first draft this would've been understandable, but that's not what this is. The characters need heavy revision because they're all just cardboard cutouts to make MC look good or have sex with. It really is a shame that the writing can't keep up with the quality of every other aspect of the game.

If the dev actually manages to make the girls and MC more compelling going forward, I wouldn't be opposed to giving this four or even five stars. I actually like the game and am a sucker for a lot of the characters *cough*asamiandyasuka*cough*. It's just that I can't really care for them past "wow they're fucking hot and I really like their character archetypes", which doesn't really fly for this game because it's obvious you're supposed to care for the girls when all the focus is on them and their troubles.

Genuinely sad I couldn't give this a higher star rating. There's a lot of potential here still, it's just untapped. Keep this one on your radar.

Gameplay itself felt like pure filler between scenes. I'd rather if it were more back-to-back. Otherwise, the art is great and I like the characters. Clicking around everywhere is a bit annoying, and some scenes are a bit disappointing. I do miss old Natsume and Chiaki, especially now that Steam's out.

Such a shame...

Art is over the top. You can feel the hard work dev is putting in.

Story is anxiety fest. But in the end everything is a nothing burger.

MC is a spineless loser whom is turning his life around. But the progress has been so fucking slow, it kills your motivation to continue.

Nearly every character is a piece of shit. Some change their ways. Some keep being an eye sore.

Sandbox elements aren't a turnoff but there is not much sand here, YET.
So i would take my time before playing this again. Maybe nearing its end idk.

Story is all over the place. Shit happens sometimes so fast, with no explaination. And sometimes you expect something to happen but nothing changes.

Its been a while but the game is still on its early stage, so it makes you wander around aimlessly. It gets boring quite fast.

But lets see how this journey ends. Maybe next year.

Honestly this is a really solid package and well worth the time and admission price if you get it through Patreon. Good art, good writing, decent branching paths and pretty good characters (Macumba being obviously the best one) hell, even the MC has some personality going for him which is something really rare in hentai VNs. My only real criticisms would be that:

1.- The placements of the secret stashes are kinda arbitrary and nonsensical sometimes so trying to get them all quickly turns into you frustratingly clicking every pixel on your screen.
2.- The whole stats system is completely useless and honestly feels like wasted potential for some fallout-esque skill checks on dialogue and routes which would fit perfectly into this whole "you got one try so make the most of it" feel that the game is going for.
3.- There's no incentive to keep playing even a minute after you complete the main story (which, again, is pretty linear despite what the game tells you) money is completely useless with no shops or things like that to be seen, no unlockable scenes or even dialogue after the credits roll and even the cheats that you unlock after getting all the stashes feel pretty underwhelming.
4.- Gameplay gets a bit repetitive after a while, I know it's a VN but if you're gonna put some days in between story sections where you only go to work and skip the rest of the day (which I understand is done for the sake of pacing) I think it wouldn't hurt to add a bit of something there, I don't ask for any mini games or such since I'm well aware of the limitations of renpy as an engine but maybe some dialogue or little inconsequential scenes in the restaurant or with other characters in other places, just something that will keep monotony at bay.

But besides my somewhat petty grievances I think this game is good, specially considering it still is on it's v0.6 release and it's pretty hefty in terms of content for the first and second time around so I'm really excited to see the direction it goes next (specially looking forward to Natsume's and Chiaki's routes) so, kudos to you dev!