VN - Ren'Py - Completed - Now & Then [v1.00.0] [ILSProductions]

I don't usually post reviews, but this game is just AMAZING! "Now & Then" is my all-time favorite vn game out of all the ones I've played. This game will gratify your heart and mind in addition to your dick. This game offers a lot, including a compelling plot, superb character development, hot models, and more. I thank the game's developer/s for providing me with such a memorable experience.

touching, sexy and funny. a tale about a father and daughter stuck in a small apartment with the infected roaming outside. the writing is clever and the renders are great, it's simple, elegant and a pleasure to play.

Only thing holding it back really is the repeat use of the same sound effects. Otherwise flawless game. As good as I've ever played in the genre. Suprisingly deep and complex. Staggering amount of options.

Story about how MC and his daughter try to survive the apocalypse while discovering their love. On the way you meet your old friends who join you on the journey.
It is very story rich, it has romantic as well as Emotional scenes balanced, and a bit of thriller scenes sprinkled in between to spice it up.
Action is pretty realistic as well, every step taken, bullet shot is thought through every possibility and not like guns blazing while Bandits miss 9/10 shots.

I absolutely loved it. 10/10.
Has to be in my top 3 most favorite AVNs ever
I highly recommend y'all give it a try as well

8/10 for the model, i feel like newer character have better model than Naomi and Carol, but it's not that significant

7/10 for story, i wish theres a big battle between the three faction or atleast a mini conflict, but it's good overall and the ending is kinda mid, i guess the game creator didn't want to pursue that way, well its a porn game afterall lmao

9/10 for each character personality, the game feels alive because of this. there's not sudden change to the character personality when shit happens.

I love this game. It is one of the few on these forums that i will remember for a long, long time. The (sex) games on these forums pretty much only interest me when there's a lot of emotions involved and only if there's a good story.

There's some very good character buildup in this game, more than in most others. This makes for actual immersion in a porn game, something that has only happened to me in very few of these games.
This may be a porn game, but there's not much unrealistic nonsense, if you want stupidly huge boobs or cocks, stop reading and move onto the next game.

The story has some turns and twists that are not predictable. Your choices don't matter in the actual story, but that's just fine by me, especially in a story with such high quality. You can pick which love interests you want to pursue, this only influences the ending, not the actual story. But, i don't need my choices to decide the outcome of the story.

The graphics in the game are above average, good, but not fantastic. Even though the quality of the graphics is not upto the standards of, for example, Areas of Gray or City of Broken Dreamers, the combination of the graphics, the type of textbox used and the font is perfect. Miraculously, I've not noticed any bugs in the game either.

As for the audio, the dev has managed to pick the right music for the majority of the scenes. What i mean is, the music really suits the mood and emotions a scene is trying to provoke. It really enhances the experience for me.
For me (and my ability to get myself off ) the story is one of the most important things in these games. Ofcourse the graphics and audio are very important too, like i said before, this game has above average renders and it's audio adds to the game. These things make up a large part of the reason i can give this game the highest rating.

Sidenotes:
- I played the game with the walkthrough mod. Which obviously influences the experience, but i tend to prefer walkthrough mods anyway, since i prefer story over choice.
- The game could have been better with better graphics.
- If you don't like games where your choices barely influence the story, or maybe you don't like storygames, then this game is not for you.
- My rating is not entirely correct imo: I would have given this a 4,5 star rating due to to the grapics, were it not for the fact that too many shitty games on these forums are getting an above 4,5 average. The first page of the top rated games on F95 spans 30 games, 11 of which are awful. The lowest rated is 4.6.
- This is one of the few games that i only played after it was finished. I only mention it, because 99.9% of the games on here take far too long to get updated. Im willing to wait a few years for a normal triple A game, but most of the games on here take far longer and are just not worth paying for at all.
- Like any of these games, there is a few unsolved mysteries. For me, it didnt have much impact on the actual story, but i suppose it could be different if you were to be really interested in any of those particular details.

Wonderful game, very engaging story with quality writing. Can't say enough about how well thought out this game is.

Animations are excellent, very good visuals for and HS1 game, lots of varying paths and plenty of love interests to occupy you time.

This game actually made me care about the characters and what was happening in their lives. I can't say enough about home complete this is from top to bottom.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes a compelling story in HS format.

Very well written characters. Love how even small choices seem meaningful even if it's only a brief mention later on. Sometimes the characters use the same phrases and expressions which are more about the writer than the characters.

This is first and foremost a VN:
+ Lots of dialogue/text/story
+ Story is one of the better written and easy to follow
-- Some events are too verbose and could have been shortcut to get to the main plot. For example, don't need to show us so many meals with MC if the scene doesn't push the story forward or could have been handled differently for some variety.
> Not exactly a zombie story, just so you don't come into it with the wrong expectations like I did. They are infected humans, which is different.
+ Great use of sound effects and music
+ One of the longer stories out there, which I like because it kept my interest and it wasn't over in 2-3hrs.

Secondly, this is a VN with porn elements:
+ The models are more 'realistic' for teenage girls and older women/wives, which I appreciate since we get variety instead of the same big tits+hourglass figure regardless of age like some games choose to do.
+ Great use of sound effects and music
-- Does the art/renders look dated? Yes.
+ Nice animations
> The 'porn' is a slow burn, but a logical one. This may be too slow for some, but I appreciated it.
+ I don't remember if it was a mod or part of the game, but there is a gallery option to replay scenes.

Overall, if you are just looking for fap content, then there are plenty of games that jump right into the 'action'. Those have their place and are a great break while working through this story-driven adult VN.

Too good Visual Novel - Need part 2 . Try this game if you want a great story with porn elements. Also multiple endings and extra scenes for more than one playthrough.Also u can try the mod for perfect ending

Good game but I took off a star because there were some things I didn't like.

• The MC made idiotic decisions for the first few chapters (which he acknowledges in later chapters).
• The story setting is that the infected are not actual undead but just people who have lost higher brain function. They eat too little and last too long without food. There are a lot of other issues, but basically what we see versus what we know of the setting doesn't make sense.
• The graphics look like they were made using AG3 (Illusion game that came out in 2007).
• I only liked the character design of one love interest.

*review for completed version

PROS:
- Good sex scenes.
- Great story with believable plot.
- Sound effects add so much to sex scenes even though they're generic.
- Cool art style.
- Very soothing background music.
- Good writing and dialogues.
- Compelling characters with good backstories.
- Models have realistic bodies which is a problem with many other lewd games.

Cons:
- Story is a little bit too long, so much text that can be trimmed a little for a pacier experience.
- Models look ok buy could be improved.
- Small amount of girls to have fun with.

Overall this game is a must try, the pace is very slow which is not entirely my cup of tea but if it's not an issue for you, you'll probably absolutely love this game because it does almost everything right.

The story is amazing. It is absolutely not a “standard teen boy with mother and sisters” VN that is overwhelming nowadays. I really wish there were more VNs like this. I did enjoy it from the beginning to the very end. Usually, I prefer more realistic animations but this did not change the fun I got from this VN. In fact the story is so great that I can’t wait for another game from the developer.

Now & Then is basically a romance and sex version of The Walking Dead or maybe The Last of Us.

You need to like the typical Honey Select aesthetic to probably enjoy the game, but if you can accept or maybe even like the typical HS aesthetic Now & Then will be a great experience.

The game is very long, it's also one of the few games that is actually completed and has an actual ending that is neither rushed nor disappointing. At the end of the journey you will absolutely be satisfied with what you see and get.

One good thing about the game is that it takes its time to introduce the characters and the romance. Some characters have an in-built attraction to the MC, because of shared history, and they open up to the MC or make advances pretty quickly after some build-up, but you get to see the shared history in flashbacks and thus the somewhat quicker progression of the romance here is actually believable, especially given the apocalyptical setting. Other characters take much more time to warm up to the MC and sometimes it takes hours playing the game before progress is made. but it can be very rewarding.

Another positive thing is that all the female characters are unique both in character and bodytype. The characters also have flaws, weaknesses and their own opinions and none of them are magically turned into bi-curious group sex fanatics once they meet the MC. When a female LI says she's not into girls, then she's not into girls all the way through. Even if you, as a player, may hope otherwise.
The realistic bodytypes range from petite, to normal to voluptous, there will be something for everyone. And if teenagers are not your thing you can choose to focus on the older females or vice versa, or just go the harem route and be happy with all of them.
There is plenty of choice in the game, choice is absolutely no illusion here. You can easily track the scores of your LIs via the interface and shape your playthrough accordingly. It basically boils down to this, the woman with the highest love/like score will be your main LI. You can either accept or refuse everyone else. You can even end up all alone, but you need to actively sabotage your playthrough and always choose the very apparent bad option to get a bad ending. It is not difficult to get a happy end with your main LI (and all the others as well) even without a walkthrough.

Not everything is perfect though. Since it's Honey Select the male characters usually do get the short end of the stick. Maybe it's also for that reason the dev decided not to show the MCs face and to hide even more of the facial features with a ridiculous looking hairstyle. And because of that decision, never to show the MCs face, the composition of the renders is sometimes a bit weird when characters interact, with faces cut off or awkard angles, but this doesn't happen too often though.
Otherwise the composition of the renders can be quite cinematic at times. And there is a great variety of environments, a city, an apartment complex, a school, later a more rural region with a small town and a big mansion are all featured here. Each location is unique and you change locations before they wear out their welcome. Which is important in a very long game.

This VN could have also needed some editing, while the story is overall really great some of the details like patroling the premises or foraging for things could have been handled much quicker, sometimes a lot of time is spent with activities that add nothing to the actual story. They do add to the atmosphere and general worldbuilding, but I feel those scenes could have been shortened. Once you see the 10th patrol to make sure everything is ok you do get a bit weary of it, not terribly so, and you can always just speed press the space bar or left mouse button of course.

Depending on personal prefence the animated sex scenes may not be to your liking. All of them are animated, but virtually all of them are also vanilla (i.e. virtually no kinks) and feature the MC with one woman. Of course this plays into the wholesome nature of the relationships which are (almost) always built on love and mutual respect. The sex scenes are also quite long and take their time, with dialogue, foreplay, sometimes cuddling after the deed etc, further contributing to the wholesome nature of the relationships. If you like vanilla then Now & Then will deliver.
That being said the sex scenes can eventually feel a bit samey, the dialogue also can become a bit predictable when you pick one LI for the 10th time, but it's usually always very sweet. One negative thing about the sex scenes is the female voice, it sounds like something taken from a Japanese anime or porn, quite a bit over the top and squeaky at times. It's not super annoying but you hear that voice a LOT in this game since there are quite a few scenes with the various characters.

But the positives far outweigh the negatives. The characters are memorable, the story is very engaging and despite some dark(er) twists and turns focuses mostly on the wholesome relationships. The story makes it clear that in end times like shown in the game love and affection are what make this world still worth living in and bearable, the desolation, destruction and despair not only become bearable, but you may also actually find your very happiness despite all odds and find yourself even happier than before.

Now & Then, despite the Honey Select aesthetic and a certain lack of editing in places is a top tier VN, one of the best I ever played, even though I only gave it a 4 star rating, but in many aspects this is a 5 star game especially when we talk about story, setting, characters and ending. Very few VNs featured on this site manage a satisfying ending, here the ending is an entire chapter and you get plenty of time and resolution with all of your LIs.

But it is not a 5 star game for the given reasons, the story can at times meander a bit, sometimes the renders look a bit compressed or very dark, the MC looks odd (what you see of him), but at least the game acknowledges this and even pokes fun at it here and there when other characters make comments about the MC's haircut or choice of clothing.

But those are minor points. Overall Now & Then is excellent and it will give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside once you wrap up the story. It is a story of hope, love and resiliance, one that aims to show that even in times of absolute despair you can find happiness and even get a chance at a new life. At the end of the story almost all characters are better off than before the apocalypse in many ways and have grown as human beings. If that wholesome nature of the game appeals to you you should absolutely play it. It will be worth your time.

Interesting concept - zombie setting.
But honestly it's just common 'harem game' in zombie setting.
First 10 minutes I was excited but more I played this game more boring it became. So I fast skipped the game after school location (and even on fast skip it was like hour or two till the end.
Too much unnecessary dialogues and events - game is very overextended.
Choices are obvious and doesn't really matter on story (only depends whether there will be sex scene or not). Maybe at the end choices affect on something but I was disaapointed in the game at this point. Also there are replayability (some scenes unlocks for next playthrough). But game is too long and uninteresting to replay.

TLDR:

Setting - 5/5
Graphics and models - 3/5
Sex scenes - 3/5
Dialogues - 2/5
Story - 3/5

Don't let the high rating on f95 trick you. It's just another 'harem' game with graphomanian overextended dialogues and almost zero choice.

Flaws: The graphics are slightly low-res and the sex sounds are straight from JAV. One downer scene toward the end with a very minor character was unnecessary in my opinion.
Pros: Excellent storytelling - like professional writer tier. This is easily one of the best harem VNs out there!

An extremely well written, structured and developed VN. Truly outstanding in creating well defined, consistent characters with humanizing motivations. The major plot points are signaled well in advance, never leaving the reader scratching their heads on decisions made by characters.

Do yourself a favor and check out this top 10 VN on F95.

Excellent game, very well done. Long, deep story with flashbacks to provide more depth into the background and scenes with the characters. MC has relations (optionally) with multiple women. Good (Honey Select) graphics, so-so animations. Good social interactions not only between the MC and others, but also between other characters themselves to flesh out the story. I would definitely recommend this game.

Really unimpressed with the game. The graphics are very simplistic and mediocre with bad lighting throughout. You can find much better games with better artwork. But bad art can be remade with good story and I have to say, the writing here is really boring and unimpressive. The actual lewd scenes are not fantastic either. I'm really curious as to the high rating as it's simply boring for me. Ended up deleting the game after 15 minutes. Can't bear to continue.

I really wish I could give this 5 stars, but the writing ends up dragging its' feet by the end. The start of Now & Then is really good! I haven't been that invested in a story in a while! If this entire visual novel was just the Apartment Arc, I'd eat it up.

The characters are, for the most part, unique and enjoyable.
The soundtrack is actually surprisingly good.
The animations/sex scenes are not great and had me skipping through them more than once to continue the plot.
And the plot itself is gripping and anxiety inducing.

There's really only two big problems I had with my experience.
Firstly, the tension was really strong in the beginning, but it slowly fades away. After awhile, you will realize the main cast is untouchable due to plot armor. Even minor injuries/disease stop becoming an issue towards the end. This becomes more apparent with a few of, what I like to call, "why are/aren't we doing this right now" moments. Moments where tension is really high for the reader due to the characters deciding to interact for too long in an unsafe spot, but ultimately nothing bad happens because..? It's not even meant to be a high tension moment, it's just people being stupid and luckily nothing bad happens.
Secondly, the charm of the characters just isn't always there. While no character in particular was annoying, I feel there is so much more that could've been done. For example, the MC is really close to being an actual character. He constantly makes outdated references, has a preference for metal music/culture, and has a backstory that the reader isn't always aware of. These basic traits don't really get used to the full extent that they should. Outside of a few select interactions, the MC is just set in 'must protect my girl(s)' mode. A few characters sadly fall into this trap of having much more to them, but the writing not really doing them justice or exploring them enough.

TL : DR
A good game that only shows its' flaws towards the end. I recommend at least trying it out. If you don't like it by the time a new character comes into the mix, you probably won't like the rest of it.