Lagunavii
Well-Known Member
- Oct 11, 2023
- 1,864
- 1,903
A Perfect Marriage by Mr. Palmer Reviewed at Version 0.7.4b
Story - The story here is mixed. While some aspects work really well, others simply do not. On the whole, I believe the narrative is good. It is a nice slow burn, presenting a different take on the netorare genre. Not because, as is usually the case, the couple wants to, but because someone behind the scenes is pulling strings. Where this narrative really shines is in telling the same week from the different perspectives of the husband and the wife. It's cleverly done and illustrates the different influences causing their downfall. It's in Part 3, where the POVs converge and consequences arise, that things kind of fall apart, depending on your path.
Renders - The developer has really gone out of his way to make Anna, the FMC, gorgeous; she is simply stunning, and it is not surprising that many lust after and desire her. There are two other female characters, and compared to Anna, I would describe them as plain Janes. There is nothing striking about either of them. They are not unattractive by any means and are crafted to a good standard, but it is clear where the effort has been concentrated. Environments are few and far between, primarily set at the couple's house or their workplace. We do venture out to clubs and gyms, but these places lack character and often feel empty. Overall, I can't complain too much about the renders; they are all good.
Characters - Our two main characters here are shaped by the player. Primarily through our choices in Chapter 1, and to some degree by our subsequent choices following the fallout in Chapter 2 and beyond. Our MC can be a passive, jealous guy or a confident man proud of his wife's beauty - he remains absolutely naive throughout, though, and I question his choice of friends. The wife's character then evolves from that, though one could argue she is a bit hypocritical. The other supporting characters are all selfish and are really designed just to test our unfortunate couple. I do question the continued behaviour of the characters on some paths, but tension is necessary, I suppose.
Overall - This game only works on certain paths. While there is no doubt it is a slow burn on all of them, I have to question the motives of the characters on the Loyal path. There is simply no reason for some of them to behave as they do after being clearly rejected. Still, on the other paths, this is quite a clever game and offers a refreshing take on the unfaithful genre. While it may feel a bit over the top and asks you to suspend your disbelief at times, it is done well and adds a layer of mystery and intrigue that games of this genre often lack.
While this game is certainly not without its flaws, they are few and far between. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea, but any fan of this genre should at least give it a try. The brutality of our MC's downfall is brilliantly executed, and the poisoning of his wife against him adds to it and enhances its savagery. The game at this point is set up to go in any direction possible, and I'm here for the ride... I just wish it would pick up the pace a little.
Acceptable 7/10
Story - The story here is mixed. While some aspects work really well, others simply do not. On the whole, I believe the narrative is good. It is a nice slow burn, presenting a different take on the netorare genre. Not because, as is usually the case, the couple wants to, but because someone behind the scenes is pulling strings. Where this narrative really shines is in telling the same week from the different perspectives of the husband and the wife. It's cleverly done and illustrates the different influences causing their downfall. It's in Part 3, where the POVs converge and consequences arise, that things kind of fall apart, depending on your path.
Renders - The developer has really gone out of his way to make Anna, the FMC, gorgeous; she is simply stunning, and it is not surprising that many lust after and desire her. There are two other female characters, and compared to Anna, I would describe them as plain Janes. There is nothing striking about either of them. They are not unattractive by any means and are crafted to a good standard, but it is clear where the effort has been concentrated. Environments are few and far between, primarily set at the couple's house or their workplace. We do venture out to clubs and gyms, but these places lack character and often feel empty. Overall, I can't complain too much about the renders; they are all good.
Characters - Our two main characters here are shaped by the player. Primarily through our choices in Chapter 1, and to some degree by our subsequent choices following the fallout in Chapter 2 and beyond. Our MC can be a passive, jealous guy or a confident man proud of his wife's beauty - he remains absolutely naive throughout, though, and I question his choice of friends. The wife's character then evolves from that, though one could argue she is a bit hypocritical. The other supporting characters are all selfish and are really designed just to test our unfortunate couple. I do question the continued behaviour of the characters on some paths, but tension is necessary, I suppose.
Overall - This game only works on certain paths. While there is no doubt it is a slow burn on all of them, I have to question the motives of the characters on the Loyal path. There is simply no reason for some of them to behave as they do after being clearly rejected. Still, on the other paths, this is quite a clever game and offers a refreshing take on the unfaithful genre. While it may feel a bit over the top and asks you to suspend your disbelief at times, it is done well and adds a layer of mystery and intrigue that games of this genre often lack.
While this game is certainly not without its flaws, they are few and far between. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea, but any fan of this genre should at least give it a try. The brutality of our MC's downfall is brilliantly executed, and the poisoning of his wife against him adds to it and enhances its savagery. The game at this point is set up to go in any direction possible, and I'm here for the ride... I just wish it would pick up the pace a little.
Acceptable 7/10