Ren'Py - No Such Luck [v0.5] [CSkin Games]

In my opinion there isn't much not to like in this game. I've played quite a few college-based AVNs and this really is a breath of fresh air. The pros and cons:

Pros:
+ For a change everybody looks like "the boy or girl next door". Nobody looks like a photomodel. This really enhances the realism of the world it's set in for me. Almost all of the characters feel realistic (except for the "bad guys") and are very likeable.

+ Despite it being a story-focused game, there are more than enough sex scenes already in the game spread among quite a few different love interests. These sex scenes also have a lot of good and fitting dialogue, to the point that this is the first game where I actually read all the dialogues in these scenes. Except for some cases, it isn't just moaning and how much they like it. Quite refreshing.

+ A wide array of love interests with different looks and personalities. All of them have more than enough individual screentime especially if you're on their path.

+ Although the biggest plotpoints aren't that original, the story itself is quite well written and has a good pace.

+ The soundtrack is sublime. It isn't as good as "the big ones", but it certainly is up there in the top 5 AVN soundtracks. Quite a feat considering this dev has a much smaller supporterbase (understatement).

+ Although it has minigames (can be turned off in the beginning) and freeroam, they don't take away the immersion or speed from the game that much. All the freeroams are very short on additional runs (can easily be done in 2-3 minutes at most) and almost all the minigames are optional even when playing with minigames on.

+ Choices really make a difference. Currently not yet to the major plotline, but they do decide which character(s) are available to you as a love interest. It's impossible to have everyone on the same run and it's even pretty challenging to still have 4 or more LI's active at the same time at the end of chapter 5 (at time of writing the most recent one). Even if you manage this, the cliffhanger makes it seem that won't be the case for long.

+ The game currently already has an average playtime. I guess that my first playthrough took around 15 hours and thanks to the cliffhanger in chapter 5, it will almost certainly be well worth it to have many saves ready for chapter 6 with different combinations of love interests.

Cons:
- Both models and backgrounds often look mediocre and sometimes even grainy.

- Although there are quite a few sex animated sex scenes, the animation is pretty bad. Simply said, they just look like two dolls humping each other in a rapid pace. It doesn't even look slightly realistic.


Overall I can highly recommend this game, and I'm looking forward to play the next chapter and future games by this dev.

Enough content to absolutely warrant a play through. The story is interesting and engaging enough to read the entirety of the dialogue as well as the banter to be enjoyable. Absolutely worth time checking this out.

I'm surprise there's not more interest in this game. It's really good
with many paths for different LI's...and there's a good deal of content
before this recent update as I write this. The renders may not be Top notch
but there pretty good. Then add the music and the comedy in the game
and it's better then some of the other's out there where the Dev's get
more resources{$$$} then this Dev. Definitely worth playing either way!

A good story that starts very strangely but has some really funny moments especially with the tasks around the hunt and some nice movie references. I really like Jenn, Holly, Mia and Mrs C, Felicity and Anna are getting there. However I don't like the turn it made in chapter 4. I don't want to join Scoob and the gang and start investigating mysteries. It just feels forced. The MC should have the option to stay in college and get on with his life with a great set of female characters. I clicked no every time I was given the option to get involved with the annoying girl and her ridiculous brother but now I'm forced into it at the end of chapter 4 anyway. Very frustrating!!! Give people the option. For those that want to okay let them, for those that don't, it cant be that hard to have the option to skip it. I've really enjoyed it so far but I think its about to disappoint and go downhill.

I really like this kind of game with a combination of story based gameplay and free roam. Also really like games where there is a build up of tension between MC and the girls, not just fuck-around during the first 5 minutes of gameplay.

In addtion, the girls are different and have different personality, which is also a good thing.

Well this was a good supprise, normaly i hate when girls are forced on you and in this one you do start with a GF and is even about to get married to her, but she gets killed in a bank robbery very early game so you dont really have to think about her all that much, its a big part of MCs backstory so for once i do see it being needed for the story, could always hope for a plot twist where shes still alive somehow but proberly wont happenit does have one or two forced sex scenes with her which i guess should have been optional to make it perfect, but since i personaly liked the girl i was really more annoyed about what happened then the forced sex scene but some might not and might dislike seeing forced sex in a game that is choice driven.

As for the rest of the story its about MC finding himself again and getting back into the relationships, its well written and i enjoyed pretty much all of it, theres also another plot running currently, proberly going to be some drug related thng but not much about that yet.

You meet alot of diffrent girls all with diffrent background stories and some has a small story arc as well.

The best part is that you can turn down anyone you dont like and go for does you do, but since its not a harem im not sure how it will work out if you play it like a harem game, i guess it might bite you in the ass at some point, maybe already from chapter 4 but we will see.

As for girls theres a bit for everyones taste and i love its not aimed for big tit fetish players which sadly seems to be the norm now a days, in this there is a very nice diversity in builds and no real bimbo types which is so damn refreshing to see.

There is one huge let down when it comes to girls and thats Jenn shes proberly the best lookng one of all and shes not even a LI? atleast she dosent get much screen time but that could be true for others as well, hoping she will become a LI very soon.

Animations are about average, mostly due to them being very short and just a click or two on the mouse and it stops, no real dialogs doing sex scenes which really needs to be improved, but thats the only bad thing ive seen in the game.

Music is pretty decent, not much with lyrics but still decent.

Choices are perfect atleast when it comes to relationships, pick and choose who you want to be with, but as for the main story it feels very kinetic and you dont really change much if anythng you do, can you lose the hunt? i dunno dident try but i will at some point for the fun of it.

Sandbox, its not really a sandbox game at all but just a freeroam which is pretty short and easy and i like those types of "sandboxes" so you get to do something other then just clicking for dialogs.

On a side note, MC really needs a little improvement look wise, not sure why he has to look like he hasent had any sleep for 2 weeks, having dark shit around hes eyes all the time just looks awfull.

Dont really get how ths game has so few reviews considering how good it is, it surely deserves alot more.

Though it's another VN where you're a university student with drama and all that, it's relatively well-written with engaging characters. The MC is a bit too "OP" in the sense that they can do everything but that's basically a given at this point. Overall, the story is interesting enough that I feel a good amount of investment into where the characters go.

I'm not giving 5 stars primarily because the renders aren't the greatest, particularly some characters look really off. It also seems that at the end of chapter 3 there is a potential for the drama to get kind of stupid with the MC at the centre of it, but I'm not taking away any of my rating for that quite yet.

Another College teen drama type that has some positives and negatives.

The renders are very average in quality. I've seen much better but also worse, it's not the most important thing if the characters are likeable and the storyline.

I have to say, the MC...looks fucking hideous! I can't stand his weird ass eyes in every scene...seriously, dev...why make him look so weird/creepy?
Also the LI's....most are either just plain or ugly....apart from Clara, Shana and Jen....hard pass. Jen should be a LI to be honest, Molly is a waste of one...

Story is reasonably entertaining and has potential, as much as a College VN could have I guess?

I feel there could be more choices? but it is what it is.
I want to join the Frat and eventually become the leader..

The girls may be ugly for the most part but at least they have personalities which is good. A few seem sketchy...who to trust hmmm?

I have a soft spot for Clara and Shana's alt bad girl image makes me wanna tame her...but every time I see MC's face I'm like "Get a bag for this dude!"

I give this average marks because for me, yes, it is just average at the moment...but, it does have the potential to be much better with good romance paths, story content....and oh yeah, a paper bag for the MC

Look forward to seeing what the next update brings and will adjusy my rating if the VN improves for me.

This game is great - as per previous reviews there isnt much in the way of sexual content yet (there is a couple of scenes), however the story is engaging, the characters all offer something slightly different.

It has a mild sandbox in the "free roam" sections which is fine and easy to navigate.

Personally i hope the story doesnt branch too much, it does look like there will be multiple LIs available, however not sure at the moment whether this will require multiple playthroughs or whether there will be a "harem" style option... i hope both options will be available, or if there is branches, i hope that these are obvious so that save points can be created to saves having to go through the whole game multiple times.

All in all though, this is up there with the best college games on this site.

Reviewing through Episode 3

How in the hell is this not more highly liked (fewer than 100 likes on the homepage as I write this)? The writing is every bit as good or better than the college game everyone talks about. Try it. Once you get past the mildly depressing prologue, you'll like it.

-The characters are truly differentiated and feel very real.
-The MC is likeable and very believable as someone the LIs would be into.
-The minigames are varied and generally interesting, but skippable if you don't like them.
-The phone feature is well implemented.

Once I started playing, I didn't stop for the ~3 hours it took me to get through the first three episodes.

The only drawbacks at this point are these:

-Still no action with most of the LIs
-No animation at this point.

This one really deserves more attention. It's a school setting which is overly used formula. It got it's own charm. Got nice renders and nice girls with unique personalities. Most of them don't easily falling for MC. Also MC is not thinking with dick either. It also got nice male characters too friendly bros. Also got nice story. Absolutely loved chapter 1. Chapter 2 mainly covers fraternity games these made me feel this one usual college setting game but it's not boring. Probably mant are afraid of the sandbox tag. Sandbox is not grindy it's actually just free roam. And there is fast travel button below. This one's mostly VN with free roam elements. There is also humor.

If you like playing college setting game with humor and nice characters you gonna enjoy this. Got nice writing too. This one's plus in my book. Hope it gets deserved attention

I smell a recipe for success!

Pros:

1. Renders are actually decent (the previews don't do justice).
2. Girls have varied personalities and bodytypes. They aren't chucking themselves at MC.
3. music is well chosen, it's banger!
4. writing is decent for college themed.
5. animations are good
6. Sandbox elements (freeroam), mobile apps, etc. are implemented pretty well.

SUGGESTIONS:

1. Pimp out the UI, it looks very old rn, especially the settings. I am playing on android so not sure, but i couldnt find skip unread preferences
2. I couldn't find a gallery for lewds. There's one for renders but not for animation so adding that would be banger.
3. Some sort of social media. there's texting but I would love more of like a Twitter stuff.

Verdict: Yes, play it! There's a very popular college AVN which I love and this one does so many elements correctly that I honestly think this will blow up too!! The dev said they already have written the entire story so I'm excited to see the next releases! (Current v.2)


(Insert Palpatine Voice) We will watch your career with great interest.....

I am giving 5 stars to this game because I really think he needs some support.
Probably would worth a 4 stars when compared to other stuff on the forum.

This game has a college setting so you can count me in to be hyped. Other than that, the MC has a previous experience in his life which makes his new life at college interesting. That is the part I like about the story and seeing how he evolves in this new environment after his trauma.

The musics are good actually and I really like the one on the menu.

The models are okay, the girls seem to have unique personalities and that's the thing interesting to me.

The graphics are not that great at the moment and I hope for an improvement in the next chapters. The sex scenes and animations could use an improvement too.

I'm enthusiastic about the development of the game as the developer put some effort in the coding with the features such as minigame on the phone.

In an industry where tired tropes and clichés often dominate, "No Such Luck" emerges as a breath of fresh air. This well-crafted gem offers a compelling narrative, relatable characters, and natural dialogues that engage players from start to finish.

One of "No Such Luck's" standout features is its exceptional storytelling. The game's plot is not just good; it's exceptional. It's evident that the writers poured their hearts into creating a gripping and original story that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. The characters are not mere avatars; they're individuals with depth and development, making you genuinely care about their fates.

The dialogue in "No Such Luck" deserves special mention. It flows seamlessly and feels utterly natural, making you forget you're playing a game. It's a testament to the writers' skill in crafting conversations that draw you deeper into the narrative.

What sets "No Such Luck" apart is its refusal to fall into the usual gaming traps. It steers clear of the tired harem situations and avoids the uncomfortable and overused themes of incest that many games unfortunately rely on. Instead, it focuses on character-driven storytelling and unique gameplay elements that keep you hooked.

In a world where many games play it safe, "No Such Luck" is a bold departure from the norm. Its well-written story, memorable characters, and avoidance of tired clichés make it a must-play for any gamer seeking a truly unique and engaging experience.

My Rating for this Game:
Positives:
+ Long Game Play
+ Great Story
+ Easy Playing
+ Great Characters

Negatives:
- Nothing

Conclusion:
I Started with fast skipping in the Game, until I saw the kissing scene and I started to think this is a Pretty interesting situation, so I started at the beginning and must say I loved it, the story, backround etc are Great and make sense and I was disappointed when I reached the end. looking for more releases of this Game.
Damn worth the Download.

+/- Renders' quality is passable. Sex scenes are short and scarce [v0.1], but that's not a problem.

+ Female models are beautiful. The story is interesting. Dialogs are a bit wordy sometimes, but in general they are OK. Mini-games are neither too hard nor boring. Free roam is appropriate.

Interesting game with attractive characters.