I’m a bit torn on this game.
First off, I’ve read some reviews criticizing it for relying heavily on tropes and clichés. But honestly, clichés exist for a reason: they work, and they can be very appealing if used properly. In my opinion, this game uses them really well. The narrative arcs of the 4 LIs are genuinely well put together, with some neat little twists and sometimes unexpected outcomes that make their stories really engaging to follow. So yes, it’s a game that leans heavily on clichés, but it does so masterfully.
The problem, unfortunately, is everything else. The main story isn’t all that interesting so far, and the only thing holding it up was the blackmailer, though barely, considering how minor her role is. The bodyguard role feels pretty wasted on the protagonist, since he does almost no bodyguarding. The combat minigame is pointless (works for the first couple of times, maybe), the protagonist’s stats are irrelevant (I really wish the dev had actually done something with them). The soundtrack is super repetitive, basically just the same track over and over and over again, and it kills the immersion in certain scenes that'd require something more appropriete.
The scenes themselves, supposed to be the climaxes (pun intended) of each LI arc, felt pretty flat to me. Looped animations, a few grunts, a couple words, and then it’s over. Or straight into the next loop. And during those loops it’s like watching a pendulum swing back and forth. The animations are good, but the execution is awful.
I don’t know, I feel like this game could have been so much more, but instead it’s just a decent title carried by its characters and not much else.
