Ren'Py - On the Mountain Top [Ch. 1] [Professor Amethyst Games]

Very promising despite no sex-scenes so far. It's also NOT a loli story.
Nor is this a quick jerk-off story. People who look for that need to look elsewhere.

This is more of a story about healing. Seemingly every character has troubles, insecurities and issues that they struggle to deal with. So far the game gives the impression that a key part is people helping each other overcome those difficulties.

You play as the elderly grandpa who's decided to spend his days as a park ranger in a quiet town far off the beaten track, joined by his granddaughter that has been marked by tragedy and left traumatized.

While you may have given up any chance at finding a girl after your wife left you at your advanced age, your granddaughter is comitted to helping you find a new girlfriend as your adorable little winggirl.

So far the characters have been very different and feel very human, rather than the trope-based one-dimensional characters you usually come across, and the character art is very distinct, clearly setting the characters off from each other rather than a bland cast of superficial beauties.

For people that want to read something different that's perhaps more emotional than the average sex-scene filled and plot deprived story, this is a pretty fresh wind.

If you can't stomach the age gap between the protagonist and the other characters, or read VNs just for the sex - then this VN is not for you.

Off to an EXCELLENT start, some good amount of humor but able to handle the writing well when things get serious. Use of models I haven't seen in a few dozen other games is also a massive plus, and making the MC someone so old is also rare, another plus. Things are just different from the norm.

Unfortunately, I can only grant three stars for the current experience.

The plot and renders are a strongpoint of the game and certainly deserve more than three stars, however, in my opinion the game currently suffers from the following:

- There is not much content yet - after playing the entire game, I started it from the beginning and just skipped everything in a very short amount of time - needless to say: This highlights that the project has a long way to go
- Unfortunately, the dev lures people with highlighting a loli on the cover of his adult game (and example renders). He furthermore, let you build up "loyality" and "control" stats for the girl. However, after nothing erotic happens with the loli in the game you will soon figure out, that the dev declared to never implement such content - quite disappointing. If the loli topic wouldn't be used to pull players, this wouldn't be a problem, but the entire thing has something dishonest about it. It's an adult game after all - don't highlight what you don't intent to give.

As with all my ratings: I am willing to alter them once a game developed.

Wow! This is a rare gem!

It feels like a realistic experience with a live world around, filled with interesting characters (many of which are nice and sexy women).

The story is rich and complex (this time without that self-loathing or supernatural shit of the previous game). Way to go!

Psychological problems (of several people, actually) add to the trilling dramatic quality of the game.

That would be already good enough to play and enjoy, but Professor Amethyst added a bit of a crime mystery too. (I hope it all will turn out well in the end).

Sounds are great, and the songs are particularly impressive. I didn't know AI nowadays can so seriously compete with real live musicians.

Renders have rather simple textures, but they look OK, except that weird crimson stuff in the Angie's ears. And the crazy sheriff haven't changed a bit since I saw him in other games. General visual style is very nice though.

I highly recommend this masterpiece to anyone who likes rich, believable, thrilling and sexy experience.

[Ch.1]

VERSION: CH.1
SUMMARY: Emotionally charged story with complex mental and psychological aspects
RATINGS: (out of 5):

1. Models: 3
2. Animations: X
3. General Visuals: 3
4. Characters: 4
5. Story: 4
6. Writing: 4
7. Pacing: 3
8. Content (amount): X
9. UI & Sounds: 3
10. Fetish & kinks: X

Average: X of 50 possible points giving a X% rating i.e. X stars.

PROS:

1. Solid writing and structure, spelling may need some revision though
2. Story is interesting, simple yet complex due to characters and their emotional and mental status.
3. Music is nice, not that I overly care much for it, I prefer ambience and sounds during sexual scenes.
4. Interface is solid and provides what I believe the player needs in terms of info on NPCs etc.

CONS:

1. Very focused on mental, emotional and psychological aspects and not really an adult VN (yet)
2. Models are not bad looking, but the general look and renders have a dated look and feel to them.
3. Stats for NPCs and potential LIs are not available nor is it understood what the different stats do if anything or how it affects the game/story.

FINAL THOUGHTS & SUGGESTIONS:

• While its a deeply profound game in terms of story, it lacks the adult aspects regarding sex. I believe that this platform is for the more sexual and yes, perverted desires of players. That said, its still very good and there is obviously some sexual tension with potential for a lot more.
• Pacing is hard to really determine simply because CH1 focuses on story and characters and not any adult content so its hard to measure the MC progress with any particular LIs.
• As of the time of the review, I can't say much more than what I did above, here simply is not enough content to review properly. Story and characters I feel are good, there is decent depth and complexity, though its not 100% clear what the dev is driving at and what we can expect. If it is story focused only then its pretty good but in terms of a VN with sexual content, there is nothing.
• I am looking forward though to see what happens next and hope that the next chapter arrives soon and has more "interesting" content in terms of sex, but it could be a longer wait considering our MC is an old guy and so far has not shown any strong sexual desires, making me think this game will not be focusing on that and more story.

Ch. 1

An excellent start to what will no doubt be a magnificent AVN, On the Mountain Tops delivers as expected. Jump into the shoes of a for once qualified and not retarded MC as he starts a new life while taking care of his grand daughter (who has some serious shit to deal with herself).

Chapter 1 starts ramping up an interesting dynamic between MC and his ward, the young Angie, with just the right amount of emotional distress, while introducing the characters and the setting.
The graphics are fine, the music is good (the song breaks are kinda nice, but could benefit from something more visual to compensate for the slow pace of the music text), and the writing is excellent.

Heavily recommended, and best of luck to Professor Amethyst. I am looking forward to future updates.