Help a person out in finding the title of a game. 
This is a long-ish post, so if you read the whole thing, thanks in advance. If you manage to help me find the game in question, *double* thanks in advance to you.
So, some months ago I checked what was either the demo, or the first chapterof a 3D rendered image English VN. I can't for the life of me remember its title, even after hours of looking around VNDB and checking tag combos.
I will leave game details I recall here and hope someone knows what VN I'm talking about.
- I am unsure what engine the game uses. I am fairly certain it is a ren'py game but don't ask me to swear on it upon a stack of bibles.
- The game is 3D DAZ-syle urban fantasy sorcery/secret societies VN taking place in some US university. It has a very strong inspirational vibes from DC Vertigo (the MC demeanor almost makes him feel like a version of John Constantine in an alternate universe), Mage: The Ascension, and even some Chūnibyō elements when the fighting action scenes get a little over the top.
- Before game start you can select a patron deity for the MC ranging from a selection of real-life gods/goddesses from different cultures (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, even Japanese). This affects the magic MC can use a bit, but there doesn't seem to be significant mechanical effects in the game from your choice. A curious details is despite this the MC mentions the existence of one God that is clearly an Abrahamic deity and even refers to himself as its servant, despite being a sorceror.
- In the last arc of the story there a section about infiltrating the big bad's HQ, a manor, that involves location movement and inventory system.
- MC has come to the university the game takes place to investigate... something (I can't recall the initial details), not to study. He was aparently fast-tracked into admission under some mysterious circumstances he isn't fully aware of as he didn't put any effort behind it. Everyone who has heard of MC assumes he is some sort of genius student because of it. During the story he meets the Uni's head honchos (really some kind of witch coven) and is 'volunteered' to deliver a speech at the academic year opening ceremony.
- The plot revolves around murder taking place at the Uni and how the supernatural stuff might or might not be involved with it. A major plot point is about MC's previous love interest being involved with the supposed 'big bad' behind it all now, who has their HQ located near campus.
- Major characters include the Uni's bike (you can shag her right on arrival day one at Uni, either by going with the flow or mind-manipulating her into it), her jock brother who turns out to be some from of half-angel or someone who can inadvertently become an archangel's avatar... or something. An elfin/hippy/airy sweat asian chick with a strong connection to nature who doesn't seem to do anything, but has remarkable insight about what is going on, other people, and what is to come. I think there's also a succubus somewhere, and a vampiress working as muscle for the big bad you can turn to your side using lustful magic powers.
- There is adult content in the game but it isn't a Nukige by any stretch of the imagination. The hanky-panky serves to progress the story and/or giving you insights (sometimes disturbing) about NPCs. I don't you even have to get laid to reach the ending. The adult scene that stuck most in my head is when an egghead/library chick at Uni gets MC alone to ask him for protection (as is, fearing for her life because of someone) and services him orally all the while talking about how she is an ugly, unworthy slut whose only value is in pleasing men like this (because whores like her *have* to learn to be good at it if they want any male attention), and demands to be slapped across the face hard for punishement... talk about red flags!
Another example is what appears to be a one-night-stand with a secondary character at an MC's lowpoint evolving into pillow-talk about personal life and trauma, and leading to a full-blown game ending leading into a sequel.
Now, some details that set this 3D VN from the norm (imho) and that are some of the main reasons I want to re-visit it:
The urban fantasy/modern magic setting and atmosphere is taken remarkably serious, and it's clear some thought went into it. Even if was just good pop culture research (and I think it was more than that). This is not 'magic missiles' in current day. When exorcising a demon (which looks like a gargoyle-ish Lemure from Roman myth, rather than the typical red-horned-winged-satan Diablo) the MC manifests a glowing sword and cup in his hands out of nowhere and shouts something alogn these lines:
"IN THE ALLMIGHTY NAME OF TETRAGRAMETRON I DO HEREBY BEREAVE YOU OF YOUR NAME, TITLE, AND STATION AND CONSIGN YOU TO THE VOID!!"
Yes, in all-caps, looking and sounding badass. The hermetic-style sorcery, the words of power, etc are all along this vein. Even though the game has some Dragonball-esque events with shafts of light, martial arts, etc a lot of the magic has to do with perception, like 'seeing beyond the veil' to decipher writing, or notice someone is actually a spirit/demon in disguise. The aesthetics and soundtrack made some scenes quite creepy, and make you want to learn more about the mistery of exactly wtf is going on.
Speaking of the soundtrack, the game has quite a nice one (I think it is all Creative Commons music), not spectacular but it fits great. Certain tracks are used well used as leitmotifs, so when you hear them you know what's coming.
There are also in-game tracks with lyrics, which is quite rare. Like 'Defence Mechanism' by selfpity:
The credits sequence track was also bitchin' and had vocals, but I don't know what song it is.
Alright, this is long as it is so I'll leave it here after just one more reference, about an early ending (not really a spoiler).
The end I remember best comes very early in the game due to player agency, and I think it's the first time I've seen its kind on an OELVN complete with the nice bookend.
Once enough cards are lain in the story about what might be going on, the MC can decide to do an 'Eric Cartman', go 'Screw you guys I'm going home." and leave the university, it's murder mistery and all the magic stuff to live a normal, mundane life. We find find him about a decade later, living somewhere else with a wife away from all those supernatural misteries that had been a part of his life... until he gets wind shit is happening at that university again, and propted/blessed by his wife he returns there to deal with what he refused to years go. It ends with his older self back at Uni in the exact same spot and pose where we saw his younger one leave. Cue in credits.
I hope this wall of text has enough details to make someone who's played the game to tell me the darn title and where I can find it.
Whether you do or don't, you're a true trooper for reaching this far. Thank you for reading it all.
This is a long-ish post, so if you read the whole thing, thanks in advance. If you manage to help me find the game in question, *double* thanks in advance to you.
So, some months ago I checked what was either the demo, or the first chapterof a 3D rendered image English VN. I can't for the life of me remember its title, even after hours of looking around VNDB and checking tag combos.
I will leave game details I recall here and hope someone knows what VN I'm talking about.
- I am unsure what engine the game uses. I am fairly certain it is a ren'py game but don't ask me to swear on it upon a stack of bibles.
- The game is 3D DAZ-syle urban fantasy sorcery/secret societies VN taking place in some US university. It has a very strong inspirational vibes from DC Vertigo (the MC demeanor almost makes him feel like a version of John Constantine in an alternate universe), Mage: The Ascension, and even some Chūnibyō elements when the fighting action scenes get a little over the top.
- Before game start you can select a patron deity for the MC ranging from a selection of real-life gods/goddesses from different cultures (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, even Japanese). This affects the magic MC can use a bit, but there doesn't seem to be significant mechanical effects in the game from your choice. A curious details is despite this the MC mentions the existence of one God that is clearly an Abrahamic deity and even refers to himself as its servant, despite being a sorceror.
- In the last arc of the story there a section about infiltrating the big bad's HQ, a manor, that involves location movement and inventory system.
- MC has come to the university the game takes place to investigate... something (I can't recall the initial details), not to study. He was aparently fast-tracked into admission under some mysterious circumstances he isn't fully aware of as he didn't put any effort behind it. Everyone who has heard of MC assumes he is some sort of genius student because of it. During the story he meets the Uni's head honchos (really some kind of witch coven) and is 'volunteered' to deliver a speech at the academic year opening ceremony.
- The plot revolves around murder taking place at the Uni and how the supernatural stuff might or might not be involved with it. A major plot point is about MC's previous love interest being involved with the supposed 'big bad' behind it all now, who has their HQ located near campus.
- Major characters include the Uni's bike (you can shag her right on arrival day one at Uni, either by going with the flow or mind-manipulating her into it), her jock brother who turns out to be some from of half-angel or someone who can inadvertently become an archangel's avatar... or something. An elfin/hippy/airy sweat asian chick with a strong connection to nature who doesn't seem to do anything, but has remarkable insight about what is going on, other people, and what is to come. I think there's also a succubus somewhere, and a vampiress working as muscle for the big bad you can turn to your side using lustful magic powers.
- There is adult content in the game but it isn't a Nukige by any stretch of the imagination. The hanky-panky serves to progress the story and/or giving you insights (sometimes disturbing) about NPCs. I don't you even have to get laid to reach the ending. The adult scene that stuck most in my head is when an egghead/library chick at Uni gets MC alone to ask him for protection (as is, fearing for her life because of someone) and services him orally all the while talking about how she is an ugly, unworthy slut whose only value is in pleasing men like this (because whores like her *have* to learn to be good at it if they want any male attention), and demands to be slapped across the face hard for punishement... talk about red flags!
Another example is what appears to be a one-night-stand with a secondary character at an MC's lowpoint evolving into pillow-talk about personal life and trauma, and leading to a full-blown game ending leading into a sequel.
Now, some details that set this 3D VN from the norm (imho) and that are some of the main reasons I want to re-visit it:
The urban fantasy/modern magic setting and atmosphere is taken remarkably serious, and it's clear some thought went into it. Even if was just good pop culture research (and I think it was more than that). This is not 'magic missiles' in current day. When exorcising a demon (which looks like a gargoyle-ish Lemure from Roman myth, rather than the typical red-horned-winged-satan Diablo) the MC manifests a glowing sword and cup in his hands out of nowhere and shouts something alogn these lines:
"IN THE ALLMIGHTY NAME OF TETRAGRAMETRON I DO HEREBY BEREAVE YOU OF YOUR NAME, TITLE, AND STATION AND CONSIGN YOU TO THE VOID!!"
Yes, in all-caps, looking and sounding badass. The hermetic-style sorcery, the words of power, etc are all along this vein. Even though the game has some Dragonball-esque events with shafts of light, martial arts, etc a lot of the magic has to do with perception, like 'seeing beyond the veil' to decipher writing, or notice someone is actually a spirit/demon in disguise. The aesthetics and soundtrack made some scenes quite creepy, and make you want to learn more about the mistery of exactly wtf is going on.
Speaking of the soundtrack, the game has quite a nice one (I think it is all Creative Commons music), not spectacular but it fits great. Certain tracks are used well used as leitmotifs, so when you hear them you know what's coming.
There are also in-game tracks with lyrics, which is quite rare. Like 'Defence Mechanism' by selfpity:
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The credits sequence track was also bitchin' and had vocals, but I don't know what song it is.
Alright, this is long as it is so I'll leave it here after just one more reference, about an early ending (not really a spoiler).
The end I remember best comes very early in the game due to player agency, and I think it's the first time I've seen its kind on an OELVN complete with the nice bookend.
Once enough cards are lain in the story about what might be going on, the MC can decide to do an 'Eric Cartman', go 'Screw you guys I'm going home." and leave the university, it's murder mistery and all the magic stuff to live a normal, mundane life. We find find him about a decade later, living somewhere else with a wife away from all those supernatural misteries that had been a part of his life... until he gets wind shit is happening at that university again, and propted/blessed by his wife he returns there to deal with what he refused to years go. It ends with his older self back at Uni in the exact same spot and pose where we saw his younger one leave. Cue in credits.
I hope this wall of text has enough details to make someone who's played the game to tell me the darn title and where I can find it.
Whether you do or don't, you're a true trooper for reaching this far. Thank you for reading it all.
