So, how do I best describe
Once in a Lifetime?
It's honestly a tough question, but the best descriptor is probably "
Wow". This game is absolutely amazing, and is undeniably one of the best adult games that I've ever played.
Oh, and by the way: this review is
Spoiler Free.
For Ren'py/VN's there are essentially three things that I find the most important:
- The writing
- The Story
- The World
- Humor
- Player agency
- The Art.
So, let me take them in that order:
1: The Writing.
The writing is excellent in this game. It is clear that a very skilled author was at work for this game. That is especially true as the story is a quite long one, with several decision throughout it. Good writing is more than just grammar; it is a way to provide personality to the various characters, to underline the mood and to make the story interesting. This game did it all.
The game has a variety of characters which are all really nice. They have markedly different personalities, which helps to diversify them. You will have to get to know each of them before you can progress with them. Thus, this game evades some the rather anti-climatic points of so many other games where you essentially goes talk--> 2 options later --> fuck. Not here you don't, which is really cool. Furthermore, the agency of the other characters are respected, which is also really nice and a somewhat rare sight in adult games.
A coherent story is another important aspect of creating a great story. I've found many devs to struggle with this point, either trying to make something that is too big, or not adequately mapping what direction the game should take. That is not the case with this game. This game has a very coherent story, it progresses nicely, is well paced, and it makes sense where it is going.
The humor in this game is hilarious, so I thought I'd highlight it. I've rarely laughed as much playing a single-player game as I did with this one. There are so many moments where that are narrated in a perfect way - which at the same time is coupled neat with the visuals. As this is a spoiler free review, I can't make any examples.
The world too is coherent. The various characters has their own agendas, desires and opinions. While obviously the game is mostly about the main character, it is clear that the author put some thought into side-characters and the various women which means that they aren't just passive bystanders nor are they empty tools for the MC to fuck. Interestingly there are also male characters in this game, and unlike so many other adult games, they aren't one-sided depicted as evil/cruel etc. They also have their part of the story, and you get decide how to interact with them.
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2. Player Agency.
This is another thing some devs struggle with. The more player agency, the more work, and the more complicated it becomes. The dev will therefor have to be a good writer to allow much player agency, otherwise the world will quickly become incoherent.
This game has a great amount of player agency. There are several choices that you can pick from, which all affects the game and the world. Not all choices are equally relevant, and yet you will keep seeing the effects of them.
Player agency in this game also dictates how you act towards the various love interests. I didn't pursue all of them, and so I do not know if you would have had to make some compromises here and there. In any case, it's great that you have a choice.
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3. The Art
The art in this game is also really nice. Certainly, there is lots of materials to release your pressure by. What is even greater is that the game is also animated. This makes it even more interesting to watch the scenes. Many of them also have alternative angles to view them from. You will also sometimes have different options in terms of those scenes - for instance whether it should be a facial or inside etc. The only downside with the art I could think of, is that many of the women looks to have quite similar bodies. While they are beautiful, it wouldn't have hurt with a bit more difference.
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As the reader of my review will probably have noticed, I put the most weight onto Story. That is
not because the other parts are lackluster at all. But because great writing is what makes choices and the art that much better.
For those who do not want to read the whole thing, here's a short(er) version:
The Good:
- Amazing writing
- A capturing plot.
- Coherent story
- Hilarious humor - I honestly cannot remember when I laughed this much playing a game.
- Well thought-out world
- Choices matter - a lot.
- There is personality to the different characters, meaning that they are more than bland side-character fuck toys for the MC.
The In-between
- I find that most of the girls has somewhat the same body, which is a bit unfortunate. It would've been nice if there were a larger difference between their bodies.
- Pregnancy is not actually in the game, and is only hinted at. But I honestly found that it didn't matter too much.
The Bad:
- The very last part felt a bit rushed, it would've been nice to interact with the girls a tad bit more at the end, and hear their thoughts about various stuff.
I will just note that both those in In-between and Bad sections are very small "problems".
Conclusion: This is an amazing game. I quickly became invested in it, hell it wasn't even the beautiful art that drew me in the most. Instead I simply wanted to see the story progress and what would happen with the different characters.
So, if you want play a well-written game with loads of hours in it, then this is for you.