*Firstly, I apologize for the lenghty text which seemed like a rant and if this post will offend anyone (pretty darn sure it will
). It is not targeted at anyone but it just the general feeling I have upon reading most of the posts in this thread.
*Edit: When I say you below, it meant and referring mainly to the you as the player and not you as the reader.
Now, I am really confused. Am really playing the same game here? Although, I have to admit that I didn't explored all possibilities and aspects of the game in the entirety but at least I am pretty sure that when I played the game, I as the player
made all the active choices for the MC. All the female and male NPCs (as the name implies Non-Playable Character) just
react to your choices/decisions. You, the player has the oversight of the game narrative. I don't really understand the blame and vitriol against the NPCs while they just doing their part,
reacting.
I have a strong affinity that the game basically reflect upon
your choice/decision (as the player), "what would you do?", "will you cheat?", "do you take responsibility?", "will you help her/him?", "will you forgive him/her?", "will you take advantage/corrupt?", "will you be an accomplice/a perverteer?" etc. rather than about passing judgement and shifting the blame unto others (the NPCs).
In a nutshell, I think it is really NOT about which female NPC LIs is the best and who is the worst, it is more about (but not limited to) getting to KNOW each one of them, accepting their weaknesses, having compromises, making it work out together, basically how to deal with them individually (as opposed to all at once). Even the MC has his own flaws (although I am pretty sure most of the players are flawless).
So far, at least the NPCs reacting premise is spot on as I remembered playing different routes where I ignored certain female NPC LI and she basically fades away, play no part anymore going forward. I treat each individual route individually and I don't combined all routes into one giant narrative, just like I can't start yesterday all over again.
Please, stop this hatred against the NPCs. #FreeGuy. Obiously, you all are entitled to voice your opinions and I am not preventing that. Just hear me out, what I think is that you probably missed out the fact that this game is about how the MC deals with the NPCs, one at a time and NOT about the NPCs themselve.
To illustrate this (as demonstration purpose, don't take this literally as I might not used the politically correct term for each role mentioned forth, I don't want to start another debacle on what role on what route, I guess it up to you to interpret and play out the role itself), you play a certain role on each route (possibly same role perhaps on multiple routes), douchebag if you are on both Alexis and Layla route, 'white knight in shining armour' on the Erynn path, 'no-drama lover' on the Alexis path etc.
I guess the best still is to play all the routes and the best way to do it is by not projecting yourself and imposing yourself on the MC. To get the best outcome for the route is to make the best decisions for the MC for that route.
Nonetheless, I have to admit that in its current (work-in-progress) form, the MC does have his hands tied up on some occasions i.e. it seems like the player choice don't matter, and some NPCs reactions seems odds, unreasonable or does not make sense, but hey Nyx can writes whatever she wants and I am just enjoying her labor of love, every pixel of it.
However, it is really interesting to play the version (if anyone kind enough to caringly share) where NPCs make their own decisions and MC will just have to react. That sounds kinda fun.
