The Zach issue comes from Nyx's change of plans from her original story. Zach was setting up what was meant to be an amicable meeting between MC and Ethan, so it was never planned to be a betrayal. However because Nyx decided to cut the option of teaming up with Ethan and corrupting Erynn it automatically became MC going against Ethan and therefore it becomes a betrayal from Zach.
You may have a point here, if you became Ethan's friend there wouldn't be a forced fight with Zach... still the decision to ditch the corruption storyline was taken a long time ago and Nyx kept going with the story until things got to a point Zach betrays you no matter what choices you made...
Since people play this game multiple times(me included) it's easy to see that the illusion of choice breaking there.
Lots of people watched the scene at first and thought, maybe if i wasn't going for Valeria or played nicer with him he would side with me, but no...
To sum up a lot of us could understand his motivations if Zach only did that if you were undercutting him with Valeria, but since it happens all the time... it makes him a even worst more unlikeable character.
I could see that causing intense jealousy for Zach, but what I found so nasty was how ALL the girls treat Zach during the game. The "lick/kiss your own hand" kind of thing. It's a party drinking game.....I know that scene probably wont offend the typical f95 player because they gobble up this kind of "cut other guys down to ensure mc success", but I found it way too mean-spirited.
The girls are absolutely nasty to him, making no secrets they don't want him there...
Even before the truth or dare scene there's a photo by the pool scene where all the girls happily pose around the MC but then leave when it's time to take a picture with Zach...
I know this symbolizes how he's striking out with the girls... but damn, can't the girls at least pretend they don't hate him and wish he wasn't there instead of being unnecessarily nasty.
As far as i know, most girls at least fake it a little bit instead of openly being mean to a guy they dislike(You could've kept the meaness limited to Elena, i think it makes sense with how she is, not with the others).
This has long been a discussion, just like most male devs treat their female characters as slot machines, Nyx seems to often make men evil and stupid and just not care for them... like she can't relate at all.
At least now we have John who is a good dude.
dude, why would you? her signature move in bed is the corpse...
she lays there and lets you do all the work!
It's normal that girls that aren't super experienced(she broke up with her boyfriend after one time it seems) aren't super active in bed.
But we can hope that she's "teachable" that's the dream right? A girl with preferences you helped mold!!!!
Yes, I know the original version of Nikki and Alex, as well as the corruption of Erynn...Okay, now I'm going to be biased, I love all three characters, so if the original version had remained, I wouldn't have a beautiful girlfriend Nikki, who might be pregnant...I wouldn't be nice to Alex, who probably has the most content in the game...And wouldn't it be lovable and cute Erynn who I chase on her solo journey...So I'm very happy about that and of course that's just me...Surely she would be a nice and cute girl instead if the old version would have remained, but we know that it is never the players, but the authors, who decide what to implement...And that is fine...And are the changes worrying? Forget it, because they were just plans... The finished version is here and everyone has to accept it, whether they like it or not...
While Alexis and Nikki would be gone(and one of them burried), Erynn would still have a romance path, of course with people being how they are she'd probably get even nastier comments and be judged by how she acts on the path where you are trying to break her rather then when you are nice to her lol.
I just think that in shelving the corruption route Nyx created a story that is kinda "Meh", she's being forced into being arm candy for old guys, it sucks for her, but it's innofensive to players, it won't "damage her" for most... there's a sextape(grabbed against her will) with her but most importantly she never took a ride on our arch nemesis Ethan.
By ditching the corruption we ended up with a very safe storyline that is fairly boring and an annoyance, i just want to solve it already, don't care how... so i can progress the Erynn route.
Nyx has a written story that is completed and planned. Plans change. Renders don't work out. Assets aren't available. Soundtrack licenses can't be secured. Scenes flesh out differently when playing paths. It is difficult for a seasoned author to write a linear story that consumers are accustomed to reading. It is an entirely different beast to write a story where you have to accommodate player choices, multiple paths, and multiple endings. Being inflexible as an artist is just as dangerous as not knowing and understanding what is being created.
This VN has already reached further, achieved more, and gone on longer than most VNs on this forum. Sure, it has many moments where things don't quite match up or align perfectly. I have read better stories, but they are much shorter and have fewer characters. I have seen better renders but most of those stories are incomplete, have been reworked, and have little to no growth or updates. I don't see Nyx walking away from this story without completing it. Changes are inevitable. And, compared with the earliest ideas Nyx had for this story, I am significantly happier knowing she has made those changes.
That won't stop people speculating on what could've been or could this have been done better(and i don't think people should get defensive towards this criticism either, if it's not your thing just go for the next topic)...
The fact that it's a well documented fact that there were so many changes to the original plans just gives people an easy target for speculation on why things turned out in a certain way.
