Such a shame. They do everything almost perfect to my standards when it comes to corruption progress, good looking models, nice chonky updates with plenty of scenes. Decent story/writing.
Then they score an own goal with the gameplay yet again. Gameplay feels like 'My first love' but doubled down further on everything people complained about.
The game requires you to menu after every scene and gives you very vague hints in the process. If you skip dialogue which you will do when you have to repeat the same scenes constantly you will be instantly punished as it might be a time or a location to go to next but of course doesn't show up in the hints progress.
Anytime you have to stop playing the game to menu to figure out the next part is BAD, and you basically need to do this every interaction.
The three girls are very similar in personalities and looks. Even the mini portraits, they all have the same pose so very easy to click the wrong one and of course you cant roll back. Again names are similar Lynn & Lina which is mighty confusing.
Menu buttons in top left feel off having 1 hour skip, then 30 minutes skip, then 1 day skip on the outside which is the one that you instinctively go for.
Many times girls will ask for money which you will ask for pictures in return. These events repeat even if you haven't gotten the pics yet (oh and also u get no hints or reminders or even a time given for when to get the pictures, just a location if your lucky). So usually will end up paying them the money again in hopes you don't miss the next one.
I consider myself to have decent tolerance for loopy/grindy games but this was bit much for me and quit at 63 out of 77 bookmarks.
And its only grindy because of the bad vague menu hints.
I am an enjoyer of CeLaVie Group's games in general and their one of the few that do corruption type games well, but the gameplay that comes with are really so uninviting to play.
A accurate quest toggle on/off overlay is badly needed. Someone else shouldn't have to make a walkthrough mod just to make it playable.
Still though, even with the grievances i recommend the game as everything else is done well overall. And for sure ill give it another attempt for episode 2.
*Edit
+1 star (from 3 star) as dev added a 2nd walkthrough system & also improved gameplay where having to repeat scenes to find the next trigger happens much less - Its still not perfect but its much better and the content & updates the dev pushes is S tier
Then they score an own goal with the gameplay yet again. Gameplay feels like 'My first love' but doubled down further on everything people complained about.
The game requires you to menu after every scene and gives you very vague hints in the process. If you skip dialogue which you will do when you have to repeat the same scenes constantly you will be instantly punished as it might be a time or a location to go to next but of course doesn't show up in the hints progress.
Anytime you have to stop playing the game to menu to figure out the next part is BAD, and you basically need to do this every interaction.
The three girls are very similar in personalities and looks. Even the mini portraits, they all have the same pose so very easy to click the wrong one and of course you cant roll back. Again names are similar Lynn & Lina which is mighty confusing.
Menu buttons in top left feel off having 1 hour skip, then 30 minutes skip, then 1 day skip on the outside which is the one that you instinctively go for.
Many times girls will ask for money which you will ask for pictures in return. These events repeat even if you haven't gotten the pics yet (oh and also u get no hints or reminders or even a time given for when to get the pictures, just a location if your lucky). So usually will end up paying them the money again in hopes you don't miss the next one.
I consider myself to have decent tolerance for loopy/grindy games but this was bit much for me and quit at 63 out of 77 bookmarks.
And its only grindy because of the bad vague menu hints.
I am an enjoyer of CeLaVie Group's games in general and their one of the few that do corruption type games well, but the gameplay that comes with are really so uninviting to play.
A accurate quest toggle on/off overlay is badly needed. Someone else shouldn't have to make a walkthrough mod just to make it playable.
Still though, even with the grievances i recommend the game as everything else is done well overall. And for sure ill give it another attempt for episode 2.
*Edit
+1 star (from 3 star) as dev added a 2nd walkthrough system & also improved gameplay where having to repeat scenes to find the next trigger happens much less - Its still not perfect but its much better and the content & updates the dev pushes is S tier
