Hey there!
I found this game a few weeks ago and decided to give it a try yesterday and while browsing the forum, i decided why not give my impressions. I am a blind run first play kinda guy with a 2nd play using a walkthrough to maximize the girl i want an ending with. Looking at the banner beforehand, i had decided i'd go for Jamie as the model looked nice, in middle pack i had Agavni and Malena, and in the not interested i had Emmeline.
I love that there seems to only have 4 main girls. Too many is always an issue in VN's. My prefered type of game is 5 or less LI's with single LI endings. Also, when there is too many LI's, the developers always end up bringing new ones later in the story and for me, after picking one early on to focus on, it kinda makes it that those late LI's will never be picked by me. Why would i play a no-one route for what can be multiple updates over the course of many years just in case someone may appear? Maybe after the game is completed and you know the story you can make a route for that girl, but before then, i makes no sense. I still play harem games too, but i prefer a game that focus on more developments between the MC and the LI as opposed to constant fuckfests where the MC's inevitably massively oversized magical dick have all the girls throw themselves at you on the first contact. Harems need more light-hearted stories and for me fit more in the anime type-ish VN's as usually they all try to include all the most common tropes, like the 28yr old bombshell model that is a shy virgin waiting for the MC.
Story: Actually interesting story that is more unique than the traditional VN. It is not often that you have a MC that is older than 23 and has a well established career. The military side of discorvering clues is also good. Why do u have a feeling that everyone is related and the dad is involved into a lot of those killings. I didn't like the part where you have to input a keyboard phrase in the investigation. It is way too restrictive and takes out of the experience. I would have preferred something like 4 choices and you pick one. Yes, people will reload to get the right answer, but they will already look for it anyways. For me, i "had" one right (after i looked) but it was wrong in game as i made a typo and it wasn't worded exactly as needed.
Characters:
Agavni: I started her mid pack with the banner, but going through the game, she didn't appeal to me and i will not have a route with her.
Jamie: I liked her and tried to get her, but it seems that whatever i do to be with her and please her, she cries and say to the guy at the movies i don't show any interest. Also i find she was acting a bit infantile so while i'm still going after her, she dropped to no2.
Emmeline: From the start she didn't appeal to me model wise. After meeting her in game, i only found her meh. Will stay friends but nothing more. Hope i can in future chapters put the scumbag from the wedding in jail for a long time. I went out of my way to her Agavni on her cold case, she can return the favor to help me with him.
Malena: Found her model mid at first, but meeting her was fun and i liked her personality. I'm not opposed to the girls that needs fixing, unless it takes 14 chapters of enduring being rejected or massive slow burn, then its too much. I dont want to play a fix it simulator for 5 years, but if the issues get touched then are included in the development without them being the main focus, i dont mind. She's the main girl i will pick for my WT run.
Others: I like that it's not just static and also develops the NPC's. Having the option for setting a double date was nice. Also, since it sems the MC was more or less a man whore with all the girls from his office, it adds worldbuilding to some scenes to have him interact, as long as it's not a constant reoccurance every chapter. Im also curious about the sister and the foundation as well as the guy in jail. I have speculations and i cant wait to see where those stories also go.
After i finished my run, i went and browsed the guide and found it surpriseing that the slightest wrong answer closes LI's paths. For me, it is way too restrictive and i agree with what i've read in this forum. One wrong choice should'nt close a path. Good answers should give points, and if you don't meet the points requirements, certain choices should be grayed so you can only pick the "friends" choices, making it more natural. As an example, i think it's not good design that the alsmost first choice of the game, looking or not at Emmeline closes her path right away. For her, i would have looking at her and liking kids each be 1 point and at the bar, if you have like X she write you off but if you have Y then you have the path where Malena backs off. It leaves more room for developments. Maybe the MC can be convinced later on to have kids, etc. Unless the game will only be like 5 chapters, then it's less of an issue. Any idea on how many chapters are planned for a complete story?
As of now on my blind run, i'm going after both Jamie and Malena as best as i can and won't start a second run for a while, as i dont see the necessity as there is only 3 chapters done and not enough to distinguish and path forking yet. Pretty good game and waiting for more.
