It is rare to find a good sandbox game, but anyway I took the chance and decided I'll give it a try with this game when it lets you select the experience, sandbox or VN.
The conclusion regarding the sandbox is that it didn't feel that sandboxy. You don't have to explore because the game provides you a menu with the character icons where you can directly teleport to them.
This saves a ton of time for sure, but also, there is not exploration in the sense of sandbox game.
The only sandboxy aspect here that you can choose what character to interact with at each time.
Right at the start, the game bombards you with different terms from the game world, that you as the player have no idea what they are and have 0 meaning to you.
At first, I suspected the writing is kind of weird, but WOW, I didn't expect how the first H-scene was presented... this was new levels of rushed, from 0 to 100, no buildup, in one dialogue sentence without even knowing as the player who is the character the MC is about to fuck.
While playing this scene, it became clear what writing would follow in the rest of the game.
Though about the renders, models, animations and the camera control that the H-scenes gives you, they are pretty good and smooth, so at least we've got this.
The story just doesn't sit for me, they are talking and talking about stuff, and I just don't care because they never explain any of it and I have no idea what or who they're talking about..
Also, the characters are talking big and dramatic about all that's happening, but they don't act like it. At least for me, there is huge dissonance that makes everything meaningless.
This game has a huge amount of content. Many side stuff, gorgeous characters. Each character has an arc and side story that you can delve in if you are interested.
But even with all of this, it doesn't feel like it is written well enough to be interested to explore this world more - at least for me.
The conclusion regarding the sandbox is that it didn't feel that sandboxy. You don't have to explore because the game provides you a menu with the character icons where you can directly teleport to them.
This saves a ton of time for sure, but also, there is not exploration in the sense of sandbox game.
The only sandboxy aspect here that you can choose what character to interact with at each time.
Right at the start, the game bombards you with different terms from the game world, that you as the player have no idea what they are and have 0 meaning to you.
At first, I suspected the writing is kind of weird, but WOW, I didn't expect how the first H-scene was presented... this was new levels of rushed, from 0 to 100, no buildup, in one dialogue sentence without even knowing as the player who is the character the MC is about to fuck.
While playing this scene, it became clear what writing would follow in the rest of the game.
Though about the renders, models, animations and the camera control that the H-scenes gives you, they are pretty good and smooth, so at least we've got this.
The story just doesn't sit for me, they are talking and talking about stuff, and I just don't care because they never explain any of it and I have no idea what or who they're talking about..
Also, the characters are talking big and dramatic about all that's happening, but they don't act like it. At least for me, there is huge dissonance that makes everything meaningless.
This game has a huge amount of content. Many side stuff, gorgeous characters. Each character has an arc and side story that you can delve in if you are interested.
But even with all of this, it doesn't feel like it is written well enough to be interested to explore this world more - at least for me.