VN - Ren'Py - Love & Jealousy [Act 2] [Professor Amethyst Games]

Alright, gather 'round folks, 'cause I gotta talk about this experience.
Seriously, if you're lookin' for somethin' that just grabs ya and doesn't let go,
this right here is the genuine article.
I ain't kiddin' when I say the way the story unfolds is pure magic.
You think you know where it's headed? Ha! Think again, pal.
It's like every corner you turn, there's a new surprise waitin', keepin' you on your toes.
And the folks in this world? Man, oh man, they feel so darn real.
You'll feel like you've known 'em for years, the good, the bad, all of it.
They grow, they change, they stumble, just like actual people do.
It ain't often you find characters that stick with ya long after you've powered down.
The words they use, the heart-to-hearts they have – it’s simply top-drawer stuff.
Every single line just feels packed with somethin' genuine, somethin' that truly resonates.
I've sunk more hours into this than I care to admit, and lemme tell ya, every minute was pure gold.
You just get lost in its world, y'know? Everything else just kinda fades into the background.
And listen, I'm the kinda guy who usually needs all the flashy bells and whistles,
but this one? It flat-out proved to me that a powerful, gripping tale can shine brighter than anything.
That said, the artwork it does have is mighty fine, sets the whole mood perfectly.
It’s got this unique charm, a real visual treat that just fits the whole vibe, real purdy to look at.
This ain't just some run-of-the-mill story you'll forget by tomorrow, no sir.
It's got that incredible depth that makes you ponder, makes you feel things, way down in your soul.
So, brace yourself for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, 'cause it'll surely take you on one.
The way all the different raw feelings get tangled up is somethin' truly special to behold.
One minute you're grinnin' like a fool, the next your heart's doin' all sorts of acrobatics.
There's just so much to dig into, a whole mountain of content to explore and get lost in.
You're gettin' a whole lot of incredible journey for your time, that's an absolute guarantee.
The connections between everyone, how their lives twist and turn and intertwine, it's just brilliant storytelling.
Honestly, I could yarn on and on about it all day, but you just gotta experience it for yourself.
If you're after a narrative that'll knock your boots off and keep you utterly hooked from start to finish,
then your search is over, friend. This one's a true keeper, a real diamond in the rough.
Go on, give it a whirl. You won't be lookin' back, I promise ya that with my whole chest.

I rarely post reviews or comments but this game really entertained me. I don't remember any other VN ever having grabbed me like this one. Is it perfect? No, it has its flaws. Is it very good? Yes, really very good and well written that's why I signed up to his Patreon. I hope Dev continues as soon as possible without distorting the plot he generated, maybe just making some situations more credible and maybe a few more images. Act 2 could be a masterpiece (and I hope others will follow...). So it's easy for me to give 5 stars...

Well, let's start with the easy stuff...

There are no animations - and I don't care. Most animations from other games are badly done anyway and can detract from a story.

The character graphics are stunning but are limited to a bunch of poses that repeat throughout the game. This, too, is OK because the game is very much "novel" vs. "picture book," and the way these "poses" are used is effective enough to help move the story forward. And did I say they were beautiful?

And about NTR - or whatever those Japanese things are - this title is chock full of it, regardless of what the author says. While there may not be any overt NTR as the game is being played, the IDEA of it is quickly and firmly planted into your brain from the get-go. If you're like me and DON'T enjoy this aspect of human sexuality, you'll quickly discover just WHY that is so. I've literally been left scarred by some of the things I saw in this game. Imagining the love of MY life in some of those situations... UGH!

Character development is one of this games' strengths. You begin to "feel" for the characters very soon after being introduced to them - sometimes viscerally. And when bad things happen to them - and they DO - you can find yourself feeling that sorrow deeply. Maybe that's just me, though. Your mileage may vary.

And that last point is the key to the success of this title, in my view. The writing is far above par, apart from a few small spelling mistakes towards the end (I'm one of those "spelling nazis" so the writer doesn't lose points for a couple of flubs in this regard - it's me who is too anal about it).

Very few games have been as engaging and compelling as this one, in my experience. You quickly feel for the main character and the love of his life. Their background is quickly and concisely mapped out, and as the story progresses, and with every new challenge, you'll find yourself beginning to establish a deep love/hate for them for how they are steering themselves through the psychological carnage they cause themselves. I don't remember ever hearing myself say "holy shit" as often as I did in this story - it's THAT compelling!

I don't know if we'll ever see more chapters of this story, but I hold hope of seeing more with a combination of dread and intense desire. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip through some very bent psyches in this game. And it leaves me wondering exactly WHAT that says of mine.

An easy 5 stars.

Great game. The storytelling is superb and you just can't stop playing. The emotional depth of the characters is amazing and makes you really engage with them.

The nice visuals are the cherry on top!

Wow! What a phenomenal game. Easily 5 out of 5 stars.

Pros:
Amazingly compelling and gripping storyline that leaves you wanting more.

In-depth, believable characters.

Beautiful AI art.

A massive amount of 'game' for a first release.

Cons:
No gallery to be able to look at past scenes/pictures.

Sex scenes could have more animations and many more frames of detailed art. Example: It could show many more different angles and poses during them, thereby making them longer and more satisfying. While the scenes aren't bare bones, they could definitely be expanded on.

It's the Dev's side project, which means it'll be a long time until we get part 2. In my opinion, this should be his priority because of how great it is.

Hopes for the game:
I sincerely hope there are further options for NTRS in the future. I loved what there was, and that is my favorite kink. I can't abide cheating, but sharing is awesome. I like the voyeuristic aspect while being involved.

I eagerly await the promised FFM scenes and deeply desire the option to have a permanent third F (or 4th, because I'm greedy and it is fantasy) added to their relationship.

Dev needs to add a gallery function!

My thoughts on the game so far.

The writing is simply the best I've ever encountered in a VN game. It was so damn compelling. Each character had a distinct personality and was nicely fleshed out, bringing a deep realism that made the game stand out. I realize that many people dislike NTR/NTS-type games. However, I believe that even many of those people would still immensely enjoy this if they love a deep story with well-developed characters. Especially because the MC overcomes his adversary (I won't put in-depth spoilers), and while severely damaged, he is NOT a wimp or even a true simp as might be first perceived. In fact, for many significant parts of his external life (I.e., work, friendships, physically, etc.), he is a boss. He is extremely likable, even if he makes choices many wouldn't or puts up with situations most would rightfully run from.

The female protagonist in this story, Lacey, is also anything but one-dimensional. She is extremely damaged goods, but even with all her flaws, she is still likable as well. I actually feel for her, even though I personally would've run from her pretty early on. Still, even saying that, I can understand why the MC stays. His own damage makes it make sense.

There are numerous supporting characters, and they are more complex than most and add a delicious flavor to the game. The way they are written had me eagerly absorbing the storyline where each was concerned, and I look forward to seeing how they develop and add to what's coming. The alternate love interests are varied, and I empathize with their feelings because the Dev has done such a good job fleshing out their humanity. I honestly would have a hard time choosing one over another if the MC were to consider one for a serious relationship.

On a personal note, this story particularly resonates with me because I dated a girl who was as messed up as Lacey is. She was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, was sexually and physically abused throughout her childhood. To cope, at age 8, she started smoking weed, and was drinking booze by age 9. She ended up a full-blown alcoholic by her early teens. Because of the abuse she suffered, she was placed in multiple group homes. Miraculously, she was able to convince a judge to emancipate her at 16. She was able to hide her drinking and is quite intelligent and well-spoken. She put herself through esthetician school even though she struggled with dyslexia. When I met her in her early 20s (I was late 20s), she had stopped drinking for three years and only smoked weed.

Obviously, I had no clue about any of her backstory when I first started dating her. Everything was amazing between us for the first 1 1/2 years. Until she started drinking again. Her background slowly came to be known to me, and like Lacey, she had become quite promiscuous at an early age as a way of dealing with her pain. We lasted another two years as I tried desperately to help her deal with her past abuses and her drinking. Then I found out that she'd been cheating on me behind my back for almost the whole relationship ( the drinking part). Even though it broke my heart to do so, I left. We remained friends, because like our female protagonist in this story, she had a heart of gold. Her cheating was always done under the influence, never sober. At a certain level of intoxication, she didn't know how to say 'no'. Once the truth came out, I didn't see a way past it or that it would even stop.

I realize this is a word salad, but I felt compelled to write this for anyone interested.

TL/DR-This game is amazing with stellar writing.

Well, how to explain what this vn did to me?

If you are, like myself, a self inserting person you will get hurt emotionally. You will feel like shit after you´re done with chapter one.
Oh, and if you are a person that doesn´t play first chapter vn´s, this is not a normal chapter one vn. I started the vn on a saturday morning, stopprd reading around midnight, then continued almost the whole sunday. I guess it took 15 to 20 hours to finish it.
I don´t do spoilers but i have to say some things to let you form an opinion. Although it has ntr in the description, it is not a ntr game.
Does it make you feel jealous and helpless? Yes it does, oh boy that it does! Is the li been taking away? Not in the slightest. Does she hurt the mc on purpose? No she doesn´t do it, but she hurts him anyway, bnecause she´s damaged good.
If you feel you are at your lowest, and it can only get better from there, well it gets even worse and worse and worse.

I don´t even rate this vn based on render quality, i rated it because the author tells an unbelievable story in a way that sucks you deep into it
and leaves you sad and miserable after you are done reading.
He promised it will turn better in chapter two, and i have no idea how that could happen.
If you are in a bad shape or feel a heightened sense of jealousy, DON´T play it! It will hurt you!

I've never been one to delve into reading much, especially not entire stories, but this visual novel completely captivated me from start to finish. Its story is remarkably grounded in reality, offering an incredibly believable narrative that resonates deeply. Unlike many other narratives, the characters here react like real human beings, devoid of the typical "braindead" responses often found in similar works.

The genuineness of their reactions adds a profound touch to the storyline, making it not just engaging but genuinely touching. I found myself reading line after line, eager to uncover the next twist in the plot. The only drawback I found was the noticeable lack of detailed renders, which occasionally detracted from the immersion. However, the strength of the narrative and the realism of the characters overshadowed this issue entirely.

Overall, this visual novel is a testament to compelling storytelling and realistic character development. It's a rare gem that kept me hooked throughout, proving that a well-crafted narrative can transcend the limitations of its medium.

A good story and excellent visuals, but it does contain too much text. I'm not saying it's bad, but some of the dialogue could be shortened. It's an incredible work, and it really draws you in from the opening scenes, especially when the mystery surrounding the wife's absence is completely dark and very perverted.

Art - 3/5
Story - 1/5
Writing 3/5
Characters - 3/5
Porn - 2/5

Honestly, this game is weird as fuck. I get the feeling that it's supposed to be written to be really emotional, but it's hard for me to judge that kind of thing because I don't have normal reactions to things like love stories and weird magical thinking about sex. What I do know is that the characters aren't likeable or believable, the dialogue is unrealistic and fantastical, and the writing is very cringeworthy at times. Almost the entire plot is one long cringe-worthy session, not that I'm the type to cringe. I actually started out thinking this game might get a 5/5 from me but I would just say that my enjoyment was a 0/5 because the game just isn't for me, but as time went on things got worse and worse. The AI art is inconsistent, especially the body proportions. The plot gets more and more ridiculous and nonsensical, feels like it was written by an edgelord. Even the porn scenes are just kind of goofy. The creator clearly has great grammar and a good command of the English language, but writing characters who speak like actual human beings? Not so much. There is potential here, I'll keep track of future projects, but I have zero interest in the rest of this one.

The only reason you're getting 4 stars is because of the AI art. It's not even bad AI, it's simply the principle of the thing. I'm not gonna get on a soapbox, I fully understand if you don't have the already built skill in 2D or 3D art yourself, the time to build it, or the money to commission someone. This is a very ambitious project and one helluva first release. If you were paying someone to do the art it'd probably be 5% the size and cost you a month's salary. All that to say I very much get it, but would obviously prefer hand drawn or 3D modelled art.

Onto the story. Entirely deserving of 5 stars. I've lived a very similar experience to our protagonist as far as having a deeply traumatized partner who makes inscrutable mistakes thanks to said trauma. You write very believable characters. Embellished, sure, but there is still a groundedness to it all that makes the interactions and relationships feel human. This is by FAR the most realistic NTR story I've ever had the pleasure of reading, and I have to assume it's somewhat informed by life experience. If not, a ton of research and empathy. I'm really looking forward to future releases, and while I know the realism may decline a bit with the introduction of harem mechanics, I don't mind. You did the heavy lifting with this first act and you have me hooked. I hope you are living a good and happy life, dev.

The game was incredibly surprising, wasn't expecting anything like this. The size for 0.1 first release is huge, most of the games on this resource gain such volumes by release 1.0 version (if it survives, lol). Well regarding the content - my respects, I can't remember the last time a game involved me so much emotionally in what was happening on the screen.
I wish the author good luck and fruitfulness. Do not abandon this project, please. (And more content with wife, great emotional swings).

This writing is so intense! The AI art is great -- but I've never had to fight back tears while holding my dick, before. You could write a novel with zero sex scenes and I'm still reading for the twists!

The Art : the ai art is far below the standards, most art should be redone, but the most deranging part is how they all look like tall children, this if off-putting specially in a adult drama setting that involve ntr.

The Story : The story is more interesting then the generic ntr, it's true, but it's nothing incredible either, MC is very stupid, we have no real choice in dialogs we must endure his bullshit.


I don't know where the game may go but for now it's not that great.

This writing is sublime. I actually think that the game writer could write a how-to guide on confronting past relationship trauma. If the NSFW elements (visuals) and such were removed I could see this very work being used in therapist's offices everywhere.

The extremely well crafted characters, phrasing, insight, and plot elements is almost super human. Just when I think something is going to be completely implausible he word smiths reality into it. His understanding of the female psyche (little reason and no accountability) is so deep that I wonder how he got it.

The art elements and models used are also excellent. My only complaint would be that it would be nice if there were even more emotive scenes (there is about 100 to 1 ratio of writing to scene changes) since the artwork is done so well. The writing carries the whole project for sure.

I'm probably halfway done with the VN (it's HUGE for a 1.0) and I"m very comfortable giving it a 5/5.

I have to admit this story really intrigues me.
The rendering is very nice, although a bit static, the sexual parts seem a bit over the edge, but this story really hit me.
I get annoyed, angry even reading through the story, even though it is not real, it feels real, it makes me think how I would react and behave in this situation.
Really compliments for the very well written story.

P.S. This story could be turned into a very entertaining movie. Yes there is quite a bit of very explicit sex in it, but man, the burn behind it!

If you like Harem games with a longwinded story and short sex scenes this might be for you. If you come in expecting anything else you will be disappointed. The dev is hailed for his good writing of this game but in truth it doesn't differ from most other games here, the story beats rely on the same porn logic as other games although its much more wordy. If you like to read and not have any choice in who you fuck you probably like this game.

This game is only doing the bare minimum of what AI is capable of. Super long dialogues with barely expression changes. On top of that, there's not enough sex scenes after hours of playing the game. In my opinion, using a real porn images/clips will make this game a better experience. The story itself is mediocre. Giving this game a high rating is not fair for the other AI VN creators/developers which they put more effort in their VN, like lots of CGs with diferent characters expression, animations for sex scenes, camera works/angles, branching storylines, etc.

Uncanny Valley AI CG slop, and not even a good amount of porn. Child-like faces with adult bodies. Incredibly sparse content, think like 4-5 standing still images per girl (formal, informal, bathing suit, workout, towel) that literally just move left and right every few lines above the text box. like hey it's the same still AI image you've been looking at, but now she's on the left side of the room!! are you not entertained

has a bad case of, "extreme fantasy rubber body," where every girl is gonna be doing fisting/extreme insertions (wine bottles etc). weird, and dangerous unless you've done extensive stretching and worked your way up to it (and even then, prolapses and tearing happens). needs a warning label or opt-out, because that's really not part of the usual NTR/NTS package. almost stopped right then and there, because nobody that puts that shit in V.01 isn't going to graduate to anal-fire-hydrant shit by V.04

This game has a truly absurd amount of boring text. There's rollback so you can kind of skim it while skipping, but it doesn't work well with the in-game phone interface so you constantly miss images. It's not formatted nicely, it's broken up into very short sentences for maximum clicking, nobody speaks like a person they all speak like an AI chat agent. I knew that going in there would be a lot of text, but honestly it's overwhelmingly not sexy

Everything looks weird, and despite having "sexy" "women" all over the place it is very sterile feeling. not a fan of the loli-adjacent stylized imagery. I can't get into the narration at all, hard pass on that. It's just so clunky. I don't expect poetry or world-class prose from my porn but this volume of AI text is a huge bore

+1 star for having clearly signposted branching choices that encourage you to stop and save. always appreciate it when a game does that. Best of luck in future projects

Amazing first launch mate! I was blown away by the quantity and quality of content.
The story kept me wanting to know more at all stages. I went from angst, to pain, to relief and back again to repeat the cycle a few times. It really shows that you poured your heart into it. I loved it!
I enjoy all kinds of content in my AVNs. Not really into NTR and the tropes that go along with it (humiliation, mind break, etc), I mostly avoid those and I tend to play NTS oriented ones when they are done well. That being said, I honestly liked how you handled it in your game, it being unavoidable made it hurt a bit, but it made things click into place later (even if there were moments of "porn logic", I can suspend my belief and go with it)
Looking forward to see more of this and I'll have to try your other games too.

Wow
The best word to describe this game's story, writing, style, and dialogue is simply "wow"

Let me start by saying that in this game, I'm definitely a fan of the vanilla and harem and optional NTS, not forced NTS and forced NTR. I will explain the reasons

Without exaggeration, formalities, or emotional outbursts: this is the best writing, and dialogue I've encountered in the hundreds of games I've played
Every dialogue, every word is brimming with love, meaning, depth, and tension

I've found myself now – someone who plays this game for 6 hours straight, oblivious to the world, completely immersed in this experience

What should I talk about? Where should I start?

I'll start with the game being text-based
This point is interesting for those who hate text-based games
I am someone who hates this tag
But look at the transformation
This is me before playing this game:
Ugh, another text-based game where you have to read hundreds of lines of dialogue just to see one piece of art. I hate that
This is me after playing this game:
(Sigh) I wish all my favorite games were text-based
Yes, my favorite games are still my favorite games
My point was to show that this game is so excellent, it made a text-based hater fall in love with the genre!

The next thing I want to talk about is clichés
This developer's overview isn't just for show
When he say there are no clichés, there truly, in the literal sense of the word, aren't any
Everything is fresh. You can't predict anything. Every event will surprise you; that's how much clichés are avoided
But this doesn't mean the game is illogical; on the contrary, it signifies the game's strong logic, because we all know clichés are often built on illogical and childish foundations

Next, I want to talk about the developer's courage
When a developer wants to make a game, what's the first question they ask?
Whether to make it vanilla or NTR
They tell themselves they have to pick one so that specific fanbase will support them financially
But this developer made a game that is both
It takes courage to write this much (33,000 lines of dialogue in 1 update!) based on a combination of vanilla and NTR!
And they succeeded. This is already the 5th 4 or 5-star review [it has received]

The next thing I want to talk about is the art
Yes, the art isn't amazing; it's a 7 out of 10
But I don't care about this one bit. I emphasize, not even a little bit
As I said above, I'm not a text-based fan, nor am I primarily a 'visuals' fan
But in this game, I didn't care about the visuals at all
I think I might have been a bit unclear here
Yes, definitely, adding amazing art would make this game even better
But even without visuals, this game is 100 out of 100
That's what I wanted to say

The next point is the tension within this game
If there's an adult game that will make you cry, this is it
I didn't cry, but I know that if a game is going to make someone cry, this game is the one
Because I haven't seen a game with this much high emotional tension before
All emotions are intensely intertwined here
Intoxicating love, maddening hate, deadly regret, explosive sexual tension, and so on
Don't misunderstand, I strongly recommend this game to vanilla fans, and just as strongly to NTR fans
Yes, what I'm saying is strange, but this game is a new experience, not something you've played before
Be careful, this game absolutely cannot be judged by playing for a few minutes or half an hour
Appearance and reality are not the same in this game, and it is full of very unpredictable twists
I won't continue on this topic further to avoid spoilers

I hate this game from one perspective:
It raised my expectations too high
I won't play games that don't have strong writing anymore
I won't play stupid, repetitive, mindless cliché games with mindless MCs and FMCs anymore

Another strength of this game is character development
The gradual change of the MC from an jealous person (which anyone in his shoes would be) to a better person
The change of the FMC
And the other excellent characters in this game

I could talk about many other things
About the incredibly excellent and captivating relationships
About the unbelievable plot twists
About the element of unpredictability in this game
About the unique and excellent personalities

But I think this is enough, because the purpose of writing a review is for the reader to understand whether they should play the game or not
Strongly recommended to everyone
I've been playing non-stop for 6 hours now, and I'm going right back to play more...

baconsmoke
Full respect for this developer, and I ask everyone to support this developer financially so we don't lose them