I guess you’re being hyperbolic there, but if that’s not the case please consider: this doesn’t happen in any non IanxLena route, nor in any route where Ian goes (pursuing Cindy or not) to Wade’s party, nor in any where he goes to the fair but remains “faithful”, nor it has an impact if Lena is the one that has been “faithful” all along (as then her reaction I think undeniably makes complete sense). So...hardly 50% of the playthroughs, in my opinion, much much less.
Well, I could've phrased that better, but what I'm trying to stress is that at least half (and I think a lot more) users are very likely to run through this scenario. The vast majority of us play several+ play-throughs and though I understand a few users purposefully avoid Lena/Ian, the game is literally built around them, strongly pushing the relationship. Their reactions in common routes like this need to be believable and the Ian/Holly trip -
one of two possible routes in Chapter 7 - all but railroads you into being kissed by Holly. There's literally only
one selection that prevents her from throwing herself on Ian and that selection is a pretty insensitive shutdown approach for a friend expressing insecurities, considering you've had to make caring choices to even go on the trip. Most won't select it. But even just an "I like you", the most neutral response, and Holly's latched to your face, locking you into the scenario in question whether you sleep with her or not. The likelihood that Ian is with Lena and that she's got a dicking or licking from at least one of her many sex options is pretty great, I'd say. I think you're diminishing people's concerns here on the likelihood of running into this. Not sure why.
- Personally I’m fine with Lena clearly having a double standard regarding her own “indiscretions”. It would also have been fine if she at least acknowledged she’s been doing the same, yeah (could perfectly live with a small change in that regard), but I think that kind of Lena has shown before that she can be quite selfish and hypocritical, so… no that terribly out of character imho
I think this is what set us apart regarding the issue. I wouldn’t characterize as mere missteps that Lena, while supposedly beginning a relationship with Ian, goes behind his back an makes Mike cheat on his GF, and/or fucks a co-worker that’s been in not one but to fights with him, and sucks the cock of a friend of him in front of his girlfriend no less. Those are not missteps, it’s pretty shitty human behaviour, at least in my book. And I’m not that surprised that someone that has done all that doesn’t stop to contemplate her own faults, especially when riled up and feeling (in a very entitled and selfish way) betrayed.
Just my opinion though, and I understand how other people can feel Lena should address the issue at least internally, even if just to think “I don’t care I cheated on you, you don’t get to cheat on me with Holly".
Save for a few on here whose main concern in the Ian/Lena/Holly arc was something akin to "Lena's a hypocrite" or "Ian's a weak cuck... WTF?!?"... I think that's a huge mischaracterization of what most who voiced concern last weekend were put-off about. For the vast majority - and there were quite a few - it was something missing in the writing to make it all plausible, which Eva's had a consistently good track-record on in the past for the main arcs. Whether it's adding pushback from Ian in the Robert situation (or internal justification for his reluctance) or it's some mental gymnastics we could read in Lena's thoughts to justify her actions if she's slept around: something was missing and bullshit detectors went off.
Writing isn't about showing everything. But
it is about illuminating key parts in a story that justify actions and being true to its own internal logic and writing style. Miss those and people here for the writing will sense it, which greatly diminishes our investment in the story. Some of those key parts were missed here, and while it might be a take-it-or-leave-it for you, it kills the enjoyment for a lot of us. We've all got different make-it or break-its that invest us in a game. I've quit literally all but a handful of VNs within the first few minutes due to uneven writing. As much as I'm there for a kink + good artwork, I need that element too and Eva's usually been good there. Just saying it'll kill this one for me if the paths get so unwieldy that her writing continues to suffer like this on the main paths - (though more from lack of time than lack of talent)
It's like how some of us checked out of GOT mid-season-six or seven. While others had their WTF moment in Season 8 when the unearned plot-twists finally caught up to them.
Hopefully the text addition Eva mentioned is the one that'll fix this. It's the reason we wanted to share our opinions in the first place.
Oh. One more note. "Perfect is the enemy of progress" - or something like that. Eva knows there was some mess in this chapter and makes reference to her struggle within the dialogue throughout it. Another reason I was hoping she'd clean it up a bit before the Ch 8 final.
