I'm going to try and make a review without spoilers, but I'll focus more on what I HAVE to say, instead of that. So, if spoils happen, I'll try and make them inline spoilers.
Review for Release 0.15.
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The structure of this review is probably not traditional, but it's what I feel it's right.
General Points:
Graphics: I found them sufficient. They were meant to help tell the story, not to be THE STORY. In that respect, they performed their role.
Animations: Like the graphics they were meant to be a supporting asset. While sufficient, there was a clear improvement from the start to the last one. Even if they aren't the best and even sometimes quite janky, I don't consider their role that important that it in any shape or form reduced my enjoyment.
The Cast:
The whole cast was admirably well designed. If beauty or hotness are subjective issues, their look fit their role, nothing more needed to be expected, but, was surpassed in all cases.
MC : His looks fit the role. I read several mentions that his personality was this or that, while every one can have their opinion, what was clear to me is that he's a nice cool kid I wouldn't mind to be friends with. I think that sums it up.
Lydia: In terms of looks, one of the best ones. In terms of personality, I have to be clear, I would marry her. With a few differences, I did. Her relationship with the MC is delicious and BOTH are responsible for that, but, her maturity and confidence are simply extraordinary.
Mary: Almost the last in terms of attractiveness for me, while beautiful and well proportioned, there's simply something in her that makes me rank her lower, I spent all the time playing, trying to figure out exactly what, but couldn't. Her personality is too similar to mine, I'm absolutely the wrongest person to say anything about it.
Barb: The second best in looks. This character had me from it's first scene and never let me go. A good combination of tough, sensitive, sensible and gloriously HOT.
Melissa: Much better with the second hairstyle. The way her personality shifts during the game felt quite real. I ended up liking her very much.
Audrey: Her looks are probably what I would place at the bottom. Not because she isn't good looking, but in this veritable sea of beauties, she draw the shortest stick. Unlike her looks, her personality is delightful and rivals only with 2 others.
Sam: My absolute favorite in looks. In personality she's right up there with Lydia, I couldn't possibly choose between them.
Kayla: Super Hot babe, so much so, that I consider her a class of her own. A fantastic sense of humor.
Shelly: Nicely balanced but one of the last ones. We haven't met her for long enough, but seems a nice girl with many interesting particulars to explore.
Angie: Good looking. I'll say I like her, so far, but, I still feel a bit guilty with her.
Brenda: Nice looks. Amazing personality.
Mom: Hmmmm, yumiii. I'm warming up to her, but, not there yet.
Rick: Nice looks. Didn't feel all that steady since his introduction, he showed a tendency for intensity, that put me off almost instantly.
Tommy: Great looks. From these 2 or 3 scenes he seems to be the opposite of Rick. Very calm and peaceful, like somebody that found his place and feels centered in it.
Jose: He looks the part. Very cool guy, with a great heart, the best of the secondary characters.
Reggie: His looks are improving, as would be expected. Nothing much yet.
The Story:
It is my understanding that this is a softened version of what would be a rather gruesome and hard to stomach story. I was personally and quite closely involved in stories similar to this. My real life versions didn't have this many successful results, and WAY many more Rick like endings. From what I could understand from this. so far, it is an attempt to show the people that would never been close to this world a palatable version of what it entails. It is much more didactic then it is realistic. All that happens in this story, is possible and it happens, it is however, and quite unfortunately, not the most common result.
Just as an example, after a dry spell, that lasted a week, on the day of the return, in a small town in coastal Portugal (the whole country has less population than large L.A.) I counted 25 od's. Many of them people with many years in the street.
We are, thankfully, spared from the gut wrenching pain and prolonged suffering of the families and friends, of the uncertainty and panic of the dry spells, of the euphoria and depression of the detox cycle. We are also spared of the extremes of the mental health problems that so many times accompany and develop within these communities.
Yes, it is a VERY sanitized and palatable version, but, one that allows a glimpse of the horrors that lie in a syringe. I found no lies, no imprecision, no fantasy. Yes, it is a VERY niche and uncommon possibility, but, real and verifiable.
There really was no need to go to extremes to paint it darker and gruesome. This isn't the medium for that.
The Sex:
You will excuse me if I have to say that in this case, it was, for me, completely secondary. Exciting? Yes. Could very well be a fade to black, my opinion wouldn't change. The threesomes being the best part of it all.
Conclusion:
While not a exhausting depiction of the sub-world it is based on, it is still a well done approach with enough depth to those that know about it, and enough levity for those that are being introduced to it for the first time. It isn't shocking. It isn't forgiving. It is, mostly, didactic. With a serious emphasis on trying to show the other side, that is almost always ignored or vilified. The only villain here is "The Disease". To my eyes, it makes a rather good job of explaining it and it's grasp on it's victims.
The love and friendship relationships depicted felt, in some cases, a bit rushed and oversimplified, this is mostly a consequence of the medium and a need for brevity, rather than an attempt to bring the sex scenes sooner.
For my tastes, my knowledge of the theme, my history and involvement with this, I felt all that respected and represented.
My Rating is mostly based on the Cast and the Story, rather than Graphics and Animations.
*****
P.S.: Expecting the continuation with very high interest.
Peace
