VN - Ren'Py - Hillside [v0.15.1] [DarkBlue]

There is no sexual content so that's minus one star from the start. First, a good story doesn't have to include tons of drama. All of the girls are either victims of sexual assault or some other kind of abuse like blackmailing and bullying with MC seeming to have some of his own mental issues from his past. Next, one of the main propellers of the plot is the miscommunication between Charlotte and MC. This, I believe is a cheap trick used similarly in soap operas to extend the plot as much as possible. The last downside of the game I should mention is Emma. She's unbelievably childish, sheltered and naive that it's off-putting, her behavior is similar to a behavior of a toddler. This game actually deserves two and a half stars, no more and no less but since that's not possible, 3 stars is the next most appropriate rating. All of the pros of this game comes from the quality of the renders, girls are gorgeous especially Kaylah.

I recently saw the game but am glad I saw it. It was clear from the start that the developer put a good effort into his game.
The story is good and deep with some mysteries. The characters and the drawing are also very good.
Although there is no sex yet but I am enjoying the game and the story.
VERY RECOMMENDED.

review after v.0.8

I usually don't give 5 stars (tbh this game is more of a 4-star rating), but i really enjoy this game despite the many flaws i'm going to mention later, and i think more people should play the game and support the dev.

Other reviews have already mention the basic plot of the game so let's get straight to the pros and cons list

Pros
- beautiful renders and models
- a lot of content
- really interesting storyline and excellent writing
- not many models which means you won't need some insane walkthrough to play every outcome
- It's a different story and not again an 18-years old who makes it his life mission to bang his family and the entire town that is the norme nowadays
- the girls are getting along and there's no unbased animosity between them. Sure there's some jealousy here and there, but nothing too much.
- frequent updates

Cons
- The game follows the cliche of naive young sister, dynamic older sister, reluctant mother and slutty aunt, that we see in so many games
- Emma is too childish. There's a difference being shy or introvert or inexperienced, but here she's supposed to be an adult, but she acts completely like a 10-years old. She wants morning hugs from her mommy, they tickle her, she blushes at any form of intimacy, etc. I hope dev will finally stop this and start making her act according her age. There's a good opportunity here after what happened with Zak to prove that's she's ready to show to people that she's not a child and people should stop treating her like one.
- the transition of some scenes is a little rough. e.g. you see two characters interact and next render could be a week later without any warning.
- no music (i don't mind that much but i can understand why it would bother some people)
- There're only a few intimate scenes so far, which wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't already a v0.8. It should have at least a few sex scenes by now.
- I'm not a fan of how this game depicts abusive behaviours. It's very out in the open when in reality, most of those would happen behind closed doors. A famous person wouldn't just grab a famous model in the middle of a party and try to rape her when there're so many people around. Even if this game tries to point out that the way Hillside works, it allows these behaviours, realistically it's not believable. I think dev should try to handle this things better and not have the obvious "haha, i'm an evil dude with power so i'm gonna do anything i want without any consequences". I would prefer if the bad guys would use their power and connections to bring a girl in a difficult situation (e.g. either you let me fuck you or we release you from contract and find another girl to replace you) rather than their muscles. And maybe Charlotte in order to provide for her daughers agreed to some of them, but hates herself for that and tries to warn Kaylah to not take the same road.
- i find it a bit weird that with all the technology and money they have, they still watch movies in dvd-players or Emma only has one pair of running shoes. Small details but still...
- MC is a mystery. We don't really know a lot about the guy and so far he's just following orders or trying not to be offensive. I think it's about time to find out about his past, his personality traits, what he likes, etc.

I might add stuff in future updates, but overall you can see why i think this game is more on the 4-star rating but nevertheless, i enjoyed playing this game and i can't wait for more.

Fantastic game! In short:
A game with stunning characters who have different, well pointed out and complex personalities and great looks and are not the cliche, standard harem characters that jump onto you right away. The renders are beautiful. The story, while not taking you too much away from itself beeing an adult game, takes you in and is very exciting. You connect with the characters and everything feels realistic (there is also jealousy - something you rarely find in adult games). The english is actually really good and the whole concept is working very well. Great build-up so far, without blue-balling. I am really looking forward for the sexual content coming and how the story progresses.

Easily one of the best games on this site!

In detail:

PRO's:

• Great Story and balance - the story is really exciting, while not beeing to extensive and all over the place. There is no grind and placeholders to distract from the fact that the game is an adult game. That leads to the next point:
• No blue-balling - while there is a huge build-up with two of the main characters the protagonist gets some action with the third main character.
• Focus and character dev. - the games focuses on three main LI's - a perfect number to stay detailed in character development and on the other hand have three very different characters to fall for. The three of them are very different in behavior, looks and personality. I think this is one of the greatest strengths of this game. There is also a variety of side characters who are sexy and interesting and fit the story. One more thing I want to add here is that the clothing of the characters is breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful!!
• Beautiful renders - while not doing soemething over the top and beeing too exaggerative (games with such graphics never make any progress) the standard of the game is very high. The models are hand-made and each one is a stand alone. Only the protagonist could have got a bit more attention.
• Realism and setting - the premise of the story - falling in love with a famous actress who is acting like an ice queen almost not reachable gets me personally totally excited. I find absolutely no joy in all those harem games around here, where every LI jumps on you in no time. The LI's are also jealous of another and I am really looking forward how those conflicts are solved.
• Development and updates - the updates have a very good pace and are full of content (maybe not always in terms of sexual content - but the game is still in the build up). The dev's of this game give me reason to believe that the game becomes finished once.
• Sexual content and scenes - very good so far. Beautiful details, beliveable physics and good content. There could be a bit more content though. The main content with the two other LI's is yet to come - I hope the dev's find a good balance between story progression and sexual content. It could definitly shift more in favor of sexual content, especially later in the game.

CON's:

• Protagonist - could have got a tad more attention. But he's alright.
• Big premise - the game is great so far, has a beautifully detailed build-up and a variety of different characters. I really hope that the dev's can keep this level of detail and do not rush the game or the sexual content. For that I would highly recommend to not add more characters and stay focused on those already implemented.
• No gallery - just that.

After all, this game is an easy 5-star game and I can totally recommend the game to anyone and especially to those who have enough of all the harem games that are just all the same.

Wish the best of luck to the devs, a big thank you and keep on the beautiful work!!

Great renders

Not so great story, though good grammar and sentence structure

Characters are nice but it stops as far as apperance since personality wise and acts are not so great either.


The slow burn is no problem at all but wish the plot would at least move faster.

This is not a 5 star game. I understand the love for the beautiful renders, but the rest of this game is less than good. Outside the flawless images, this game has a story problem and a serious character problem.

I'll start with the story. We're supposed to believe that a top model that is deathly afraid of and hates men, is still in the modelling industry. An industry where the majority of photographers, agents, and designers are MEN. We're supposed to believe this frigid woman is somehow still in an industry that in this game's world is filled with rapists, molesters, and other slime. She somehow manages to keep her profession when she's assaulted multiple times?! I will leave the story there, because it's unbelievable to say the least.

Now, the characters. None of them outside the youngest daughter are likable. I cannot count how many times I wanted a third option to be presented so the MC could completely avoid the other women in the game. The MC is treated like trash no matter what he does, is looked down upon, distrusted for doing his job, and everything he says or does is misconstrued by his employer. A woman, so unlikable, that I would have left that job on day one. Yet, we're supposed to develop a relationship with this shrew?!

The renders are 5 out of 5. Some of the best I've ever seen in a Ren'Py game. The rest of this game though? Average at best.

Edited for .9: I had this rated as a 3/5 due to the renders. I decided to check in after a few updates to see if the characters have gotten believable at least, but instead found it's even more unrealistic. There is no way this game is even worth a 3 at this point. The renders are beautiful, but honestly do yourself a favor and just look at them if you want. Unless, you're a masochist, this story is going to anger you almost at every turn. It's honestly amazing how frustrating it is.

The rating speaks for itself. Hillside is in the upper echelon of VN games on the site with its above average renders and story telling. There is a very limited amount of sexual content but given the premise of the plot, it is entirely understandable and all the more realistic.

Charlotte feels well overprotective and holds an established distrust of men in general given her past experiences, both of which are well warranted given Emma is studying in the same industry and at a rather naive age. This has led to Emma living a sheltered life, unaware of the bullying that can run rampant in society. Charlotte struggles with knowing that she needs to have a stronger sense of safety for her and Emma while knowing that she likely needs to have someone watch over them, even if it goes against every bone in her body.

All of this also plays into the very solemn truth that this shit does get pulled quite often irl but just doesnt get documented and I'm sure a situation of this relevance has occurred before on some scale.

Hillside is easily one of the most realistic and well made games the site has to offer. The best games on the site aren't the ones with the most sexual content. Of course animations/renders goes without saying in determining the visual quality of a game...but those that can balance both the sexual content and plot driven events fluidly and invoke some thought/emotion while we play it are truly what ties it all together

0.14
This story is amazing
i know it's slow but i don't mind
Its one of this games where you don't need sex to make a game good
It reminds me alot of another game , where having sex with one of the main cast takes long . But you have a great story that would just be ruined by forced sex scenes
But when that moment comes the sex scenes just doesn't feel forced
No bugs
haven't played with sound

Character, character, character: all sorts of narrative flaws are forgivable, if the Dev creates a believable character that players care about.

I believe in Charlotte Lloyd: her strengths, her vulnerabilities, her fully rounded self. Thank you, Dev, for making her.

The MC means well and he has done nothing but be supportive and helpful (particularly as I am playing him); she does not believe in his good intentions. Given her experiences, that distrust is entirely understandable. In other words, she is true to herself. I love that: it reflects the way people actually behave.

How do strangers, with different life experiences and all sorts of reasons to distrust other people become genuine friends... or even a family? How does fear and skepticism transmute, slowly, into love and respect?

The fact that this porn game has caused me to ask myself these questions means that it has already succeeded, as far as I'm concerned.

So this is not one of those games you should seek out for a quick fap. Those games can be great, too. This is something more special.

What I like most about the game is that it evokes my emotions. I care for and want to protect the love interests and want to build lasting relationships. Normally, I play my first walkthrough in every game as a manwhore to see all content, but in Hillside I just couldn't bear to hurt any of the characters.
Maybe that makes me a White Knight, but I really enjoy playing the protector role which I haven't seen many other games do without being creepy. The emotional investment makes Hillside my favourite game and the first I support on patreon.

This game is amazing!

It's very slow in the develop of the emotions, and that makes it great. This is not your usual quick fap session, is an emotional journey with a tough mc (but extremely respectful toward women) and a cast of beautiful women with their own issues. You'll be emotionally attached to them

Give this a try, you won't regret it

Great game with really nice story and natural looking models. Nice fluent story too. There is also a funny aspect in their behavior, which i like. I would also like to add that this developer deserves a lot more credit becouse he is one of few that actually trying to release update once a month. So thank you and well done.

I gave this game today a try and I was positive surprised by it. The story goes slowly forward and the plot is really nice and natural. By the many choices the player have, you can infulence the story a lot. It is more romantic then a fap game, but anyway very good. The graphic and the girls are really nice and unique. I will keep an eye on this game. Looking forward to see many more updates... 5 of 5 stars so far.

The writing is excellent. There's a lot of mystery and suspense, that makes you want to read more. Besides that, the story is deep enough that you can start drawing conclusions on things that happen, which is always interesting.

Characters are multidimensional, which is the best part of the game. They act differently, have their own motivations, and are interesting to learn about. Looking forward to more!

amazing story!

just played the 1st scenarios (have not even finished it) and feel like buying a plane ticket get some freaking napalm on a plane and do a few pleasure cruises over Hollywood!

that is how much the story can get under your skin and evoke the most primal instincts

From what I've seen, this game is incredibly underrated! It has a genuine compelling story, characters with real depth, a competent MC who's brain resides in his head instead of his dick...It's great. Really hoping to see further exploration of Emma's daddy issues in the future, but at this point I'm in it for the story, not just the lewds <3

How do you know when a game is good? For starters, for it to have 7 updates and 0 sex scenes, yet still have close to 5*.

First things first, the story is brilliant. It plays to the hero wannabe in every guy. You get drawn more and more into the story and forget that it's even a lewd game. Not that it having no scenes at all helps.

Although there are dark parts here and there, it's still a pretty wholesome story, the characters are lovable and the MC surprisingly isn't a sex-crazed pervert we've come to succumb to playing as in majority of the games.

The renders are amazing, the girls in the game looks stunning, but since there aren't scenes yet, I can't say anything about those.

If there's anything to say, it would be the way MC and Lucy got together. It was sudden and pretty shallow in my opinion, that could also kill some of the potential of this game.

I personally dislike too many branches in the story andlock outs. At the moment, it's not looking exceptionally promising in terms how the routes are playing out.

But all in all, definitely a game to try out and keep on your radar, which I will be doing. I hope the updates won't take too long, because the story is absolutely killing me right now.

Great beginning of a beautiful story! Gorgeous renders and characters , I really like the development of the story. However, so far there are only a few animations and no sex scenes yet (in my playthrough). Anyhow, it still is really worth the support (or at least a try )...

One of the best stories on the site.

It is not for you, if you just want a quick fap.

But if you want an interesting and exciting story, then this is for you.
This is one of the few games, where I have read all the dialogue, and not just spammed spacebar through some parts.

Was very disappointed when it ended, and I want more. Can't wait for the next update, to jump back in.

Hope this doesn't update too slowly!

Everything in this universe needs to be balanced...and this game clearly breaks any kind of rule there is regarding this. The game ties a 10 tonne anchor to your feet and tosses you into a sea of misery made up of tears of every female character in this game and expects you to come on top. The game makes you clean the messes so frequently made by stupid decisions of the women from this game that you can easily change the name of this game to " THE FIXER".

The game focuses heavily on the glittering lifestyle of hollywood / modelling industry and the dark side of it...and according to the Dev, every women/girl is either a helpless victim or a cheap slut & every man is dirty disgusting prick. And obviously, we are here as the MC, The knight in shining armor ready to swoop in and save every female character out of their despair. The game also suffers from the lack of neutral characters.; Characters that tend to lighten the mood a bit from the dark storyline. Someone who is not actually a dick or a slut.The game features many conflicting actions & questionable decisions which make no sense.

The renders are quite good. The game pace / character progression is very slow and therefore don't expect any sex scenes / animations as of version 0.7. The writing good and story plot is good too, but feels like a one way ticket to hell. The characters are super likable.

This was my brutally honest opinion about this game & Despite all the negative remarks above I still gave it a 5 star rating . the game may feel unrealistic and stupid at times, but it manages to create a setting that tend to test your dependability, responsibility and how good a person you are. This game plays on your emotional level. There is very little middle ground, You will either HATE it or like it very much and fortunately it was the latter for me. Despite their otherworldly problems, I'm ready for the next update ready to fight whoever comes near my girls.