So my Review about 0.3 with a lot more mixed feeling than 0.25.
The most important thing: Smokeydots should stop with his deadlines, they did him more harm than good. Next time just go with the good ol' "when it's done" We got a version, that after three Hotfixes still got minor bugs (scene replay) and a gamebreaking bug (stuck with the cams so that I had to use the console) In hindsight, this version really needed some more days testing, I know he is on a vacation right now and this was the reason it all fell apart, but I think it would have been avoidable if you focus on your strength and not on the random things.
His strength is -in my opinion- the description and small details in a ruthless business and the realistic characters in it.
This time he wanted too much, there a lot of things going on but his two stars Izumi and Grace came short.
The fear storyline of these two feels so so rushed. Last update we got a lapdance from grace and a sideboob from Izumi.
Now there are sex scenes for Grace and a BJ from Izumi and I don't get it. Last time Grace was all about "no touching" now we tape her with Jack about the promotion and just like this, we can f*ck her in her a...
Why?
The same story with Izumi: We tape her in our office trying to steal something, so we get the BJ. For me, this is just an easy and generic way out of this situation. Just some standard blackmail. The maddening thing is, there are scenes in there which I think are genius. For example when Izumi confronts Grace or when Izumi asks you if Grace did the same thing (When you play with Izumis boobs).
I still think, that there should be a storyline like this: After your promotion, you offer Grace to tutor her if she is willing to do something for the MC. Grace declines because she is through with this BS after Jack. During your next team meeting, the MC praises the team and threatens Grace that her non-results will no longer be tolerated. After this Grace comes back to you and takes you up on the tutoring for BJ offer. During the next team meeting, the MC praises Grace for enormous improvements. Izumi gets suspicious and confronts Grace. During MCs next tutoring/BJ session Izumi walks into the office and is shocked. During your next one on one time with Izumi she asks you with teary eyes if this is really necessary to succeed.
This is the storyline I got from 0.25 and some parts of 0.3, so I'm really sad how this all had unfolded.
To the random parts: I don't know how I should feel about the whole Emily scenes. It's a nice bonus but the whole storyline (see a random chick on tv and decided to help her) feels just wonky. This is something you can build in a 0.9 or 1.0 at the moment I think there are other things to focus on.
The Bailey storyline is on its way but feels a little too vanilla. (I gave you the job, how about a little thanks? )
The Angela storyline is at the moment the most stable. Good build-up and I'm looking forward to the next updates.
I don't want to criticise him so much and maybe I had too high of an expectation, but I do really hope, that he reworks this part. I think it is a good thing, that he is this whole month on vacation, he will be more focused the next month.