Review of "My Real Desire" Visual Novel
Introduction
I was “recommended” My Real Desire from another AVN, funnily enough. I’ve always appreciated AVN Developers' (Devs) ability to throw in easter eggs or shoutouts to other AVNs. It’s one of those things that makes you giddy when you’ve already played through said AVN and know what’s going on. However, despite the AVN being a shoutout from another, I found the overall experience in My Real Desire to be lackluster. I will try to break it up into sections, so if you want to know about a specific area, you can skip to that section.
Storyline
The story of "My Real Desire" is divided into one main plot and various character subplots. The overall main storyline is mid at best. It was enough to keep me curious until the end, with a significant split halfway through that leads to drastically different outcomes based on the player’s decisions. However, the subplots, while adding some depth, often feel rushed. This can be attributed to the challenge of adequately developing ten different love interests (LIs) within the game. As a result, the game falls into the common harem genre pitfall where the characters lack sufficient development, making it hard for players to truly connect with or like them.
Character Development
The individual characters lack distinct personalities and are often quick to align with the main character (MC) without substantial relationship development. The typical progression involves the MC helping a character, who then becomes exceptionally grateful and quickly expresses their appreciation in a predictable manner. This rushed development leaves much to be desired for those preferring more depth and gradual relationship building.
Dialogue and Writing
An important marker for an engaging story is whether players feel compelled to read the dialogue. Unfortunately, for "My Real Desire," much of the dialogue outside the crucial main story points is often skipped or skimmed through. The characters do not offer much individuality, and their interactions with the MC tend to follow a repetitive formula. Moreover, the game suffers from poor English, which can be jarring at times. While the intentions behind the dialogue are clear, the need for a thorough proofread and some tender loving care is evident to enhance the overall experience.
Visuals
As this is a Honey Select (HS) game, it has an anime look, and the graphics can only get so good. The individual LIs have a good look, and I can't complain too much about it. The animations are also ok. Nothing about either really jumps out at you. If I had to put a number to it, the characters get a 7, and the animations get a 5.
Conclusion
"My Real Desire" has an alright main storyline and struggles with character development and dialogue. The rushed subplots and lack of distinct character personalities prevent it from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it remains an alright experience for those intrigued by the harem genre and willing to overlook its translation flaws.
Introduction
I was “recommended” My Real Desire from another AVN, funnily enough. I’ve always appreciated AVN Developers' (Devs) ability to throw in easter eggs or shoutouts to other AVNs. It’s one of those things that makes you giddy when you’ve already played through said AVN and know what’s going on. However, despite the AVN being a shoutout from another, I found the overall experience in My Real Desire to be lackluster. I will try to break it up into sections, so if you want to know about a specific area, you can skip to that section.
Storyline
The story of "My Real Desire" is divided into one main plot and various character subplots. The overall main storyline is mid at best. It was enough to keep me curious until the end, with a significant split halfway through that leads to drastically different outcomes based on the player’s decisions. However, the subplots, while adding some depth, often feel rushed. This can be attributed to the challenge of adequately developing ten different love interests (LIs) within the game. As a result, the game falls into the common harem genre pitfall where the characters lack sufficient development, making it hard for players to truly connect with or like them.
Character Development
The individual characters lack distinct personalities and are often quick to align with the main character (MC) without substantial relationship development. The typical progression involves the MC helping a character, who then becomes exceptionally grateful and quickly expresses their appreciation in a predictable manner. This rushed development leaves much to be desired for those preferring more depth and gradual relationship building.
Dialogue and Writing
An important marker for an engaging story is whether players feel compelled to read the dialogue. Unfortunately, for "My Real Desire," much of the dialogue outside the crucial main story points is often skipped or skimmed through. The characters do not offer much individuality, and their interactions with the MC tend to follow a repetitive formula. Moreover, the game suffers from poor English, which can be jarring at times. While the intentions behind the dialogue are clear, the need for a thorough proofread and some tender loving care is evident to enhance the overall experience.
Visuals
As this is a Honey Select (HS) game, it has an anime look, and the graphics can only get so good. The individual LIs have a good look, and I can't complain too much about it. The animations are also ok. Nothing about either really jumps out at you. If I had to put a number to it, the characters get a 7, and the animations get a 5.
Conclusion
"My Real Desire" has an alright main storyline and struggles with character development and dialogue. The rushed subplots and lack of distinct character personalities prevent it from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it remains an alright experience for those intrigued by the harem genre and willing to overlook its translation flaws.