So I just want to make this clear that this review may change if changes are made to the game. First off, the good. I think that the models look stellar. Second, I think the sibling rivalry between the MC and step-sister is a nice change of pace compared to games where all the girls love the MC.
Now the bad which is honestly the writing. I admit I didn't play the original game so I won't compare this one with that version. Two BIG fundamental writing mistakes were made which can kill a story before it even launches.
The first is exposition. GET RID OF IT. The writer tried to "hide" the exposition behind it being a therapy session, but readers can still pick up on being spoon-fed plot points. The story should have begun with the MC being woken up by his stepmother, and you go from there. Every plot point spoon-fed to the audience before that point should be learned (or even missed) by the audience later in the story when we become emotionally invested in a character. This may sound harsh, but the audience won't give two damn's about a character dying if it's not in the context of having gotten to know them first. This is a writing mistake that is very easy to fall into.
Second, SHOW DON'T TELL. There are many instances where we as a viewer can be shown a situation where we can be left to infer about the complexities. For example when the MC says, "I became introverted because of the trauma I went through" or whatever. SHOW us that became introverted. SHOW us the consequences of that introversion. I know he stayed in his room and he lost friends, and honestly, that's enough. You could literally RIP so much "fat" off the writing and be left with a semi-decent written game.
Now the bad which is honestly the writing. I admit I didn't play the original game so I won't compare this one with that version. Two BIG fundamental writing mistakes were made which can kill a story before it even launches.
The first is exposition. GET RID OF IT. The writer tried to "hide" the exposition behind it being a therapy session, but readers can still pick up on being spoon-fed plot points. The story should have begun with the MC being woken up by his stepmother, and you go from there. Every plot point spoon-fed to the audience before that point should be learned (or even missed) by the audience later in the story when we become emotionally invested in a character. This may sound harsh, but the audience won't give two damn's about a character dying if it's not in the context of having gotten to know them first. This is a writing mistake that is very easy to fall into.
Second, SHOW DON'T TELL. There are many instances where we as a viewer can be shown a situation where we can be left to infer about the complexities. For example when the MC says, "I became introverted because of the trauma I went through" or whatever. SHOW us that became introverted. SHOW us the consequences of that introversion. I know he stayed in his room and he lost friends, and honestly, that's enough. You could literally RIP so much "fat" off the writing and be left with a semi-decent written game.
