- Sep 1, 2023
- 3,486
- 9,597
How cunning you are!Now I'm not telling you to vote for PP inYou must be registered to see the linksI'm just saying that you're dead to me if you don't
How cunning you are!Now I'm not telling you to vote for PP inYou must be registered to see the linksI'm just saying that you're dead to me if you don't
Will I get more Elysra scenes if I do?Now I'm not telling you to vote for PP inYou must be registered to see the links, I would never try to steer the numbers like that.
I'm just saying that you're dead to me if you don't
I voted for you on the comedy, sci-fi, and harem categories. Couldn't bring myself to vote for the music tho, even if this song is my new favoriteNow I'm not telling you to vote for PP inYou must be registered to see the links, I would never try to steer the numbers like that.
I'm just saying that you're dead to me if you don't
Thank you friend, for this very in depth and also heartwarming review. Your feedback has been noted, and thanks for teaching me new terms such as Dutch Angle and Ken Burns EffectJust finished the update and let's do a review, why not?
I'm following maybe 10 different games and I've gotta say this one is the most fun. Which is how games are supposed to work, right?
In the last two updates I've been really impressed by how controlled the emotional range of the story is. It gets dark without getting melodramatic, farcical without getting downright cartooney. Lemon has a good natural sense of how far to go in both directions and hangs the whole thing on much better plot pacing and characterization than most devs can manage.
It strikes the same kind of balance as some of the adventure dramedies back in the '90s like Buffy the Vampire Slayer: a darkly serious overall plot that doesn't take itself too seriously and is populated by characters that have a sense of humour (or pointedly don't). It's a much better framework for comedy in a game than what we see more often, which is stoic, 'cool' characters twisted by the devs into strained attempts at funny situations or out-of-character jokes. This galaxy is just a more enjoyable environment to visit than 90% of the other games out there.
While I'm at it, something people don't talk a lot about is whether or not a dev is a good director, and now that I'm actually turning my mind to it, I think Lemon and Caribdis are probably neck-and-neck for being the best in the genre. The cinematography in this game is great and the choice of camera angles is always deliberate and evocative. No one uses a close-up or a Dutch angle as effectively as Lemon does, and he's got the best eye for colour going (with apologies to digi.B). The smash cuts to public transit (such a great running gag), the Ken Burns effect for establishing shots, the dolly shots for visual gags and combat scenes... this is a much more cinematic game than most of the heavy hitters out there. I love Being a Dik but let's face facts, most of the time you're just talking into a big yammering face in the middle of your screen.
I guess the only spot where I pull back a bit is on the gameplay mechanics. While the gameplay is really fun and the 'games', such as they are, are well above average in terms of being engaging, it doesn't always feel like choices particularly matter; or if they do, it's just for an immediate payoff rather than meaningful character or plot development. This is a visual novel that really does play more like a novel than an RPG, and I'd personally like to see a game capable of this emotional depth force me into some hard choices, to make me play again differently next time. (On the other hand, too much of that and you end up branching out so much you can only make thin, fragmentary updates.)
I'd also like the consequences of those choices to be at least vaguely foreseeable. You can fail the stash search even while being eminently reasonable, or you can lose a chance to boost your favourite relationship by going to the wrong planet first. Sometimes when the choices matter, you don't even know you're making them, or what choice you're making. The games with the best mechanics might not let you see the future, but they at least give you enough context to know that you're deliberately choosing A over B; or you're choosing to be more of this kind of character than that kind of character. So for example, if you stop to goof around with Kaylee on the stairs, maybe you're understanding that the trail's going to go cold and it's less likely that you'll be able to bring home the bacon for Emily, trading a few points with one for points with the other.
Finally, and most importantly, there's a staggering Hanna content deficit that the game has yet to fully address, so overall, D-minus.
(Seriously, though, Lemon, fantastic work. You've got a talent for visual storytelling, kid!)
Uh yeah, sureWill I get more Elysra scenes if I do?![]()
![]()
he still wouldn't have played your gameUh yeah, sure
(You would have gotten it anyway, sucker)
I'm afraid these contests are not really fair, because the bigger the fan-base, the more likely that the particular game will win the category. Like wherever you have BaDIK, I doubt any other game will snatch the win, and it has nothing to do with how good the game is. Back to Broken Dreamers, I think that game has also a much bigger following than PP, so I wouldn't hold my breath (unfortunately). Still it's already a win to be nominated, so yayDefinitely some tough competition there, though also a bunch of non-competition entries. I think the biggest competition will be between Project Passion and City of Broken Dreamers, which share multiple categories. While Philly does have the benefit of his game being nearly completed, and already having finished a very popular game, Project Passion does have more regular updates. The two are uncomparable and both are great, and I do hope that whichever of the two wins one category, the other won't be far behind.
Didn't even know I was in the music category. Weird choice considering music has only been good since Season 2 started.I voted for you on the comedy, sci-fi, and harem categories. Couldn't bring myself to vote for the music tho, even if this song is my new favorite
You must be registered to see the links
Pretty much, like the Steam awards, the game with the most players will win. That's my copium at leastI'm afraid these contests are not really fair, because the bigger the fan-base, the more likely that the particular game will win the category. Like wherever you have BaDIK, I doubt any other game will snatch the win, and it has nothing to do with how good the game is. Back to Broken Dreamers, I think that game has also a much bigger following than PP, so I wouldn't hold my breath (unfortunately). Still it's already a win to be nominated, so yay![]()
Yeah explain yourself Lostanddamned
on the animation side I was on the fence but I voted for BaDIK in the end, for the simple reason that DPC makes the scenes a lot more varied, quality-wise PP is probably top3 for me. Also that menu in S2, I cycle through it 2-3 times any time I boot up the gameDidn't even know I was in the music category. Weird choice considering music has only been good since Season 2 started.
Animations though
Sheesh.Now I'm not telling you to vote for PP inYou must be registered to see the links, I would never try to steer the numbers like that.
I'm just saying that you're dead to me if you don't
You'd be surprised. In the last two waifus contests organized in the same community, Badik's girls never made it to the finals and COBD's girls never reached the quarterfinals. The winner were Cece ( Leap of Faith ) and Kindra ( Artemis ).I'm afraid these contests are not really fair, because the bigger the fan-base, the more likely that the particular game will win the category. Like wherever you have BaDIK, I doubt any other game will snatch the win, and it has nothing to do with how good the game is. Back to Broken Dreamers, I think that game has also a much bigger following than PP, so I wouldn't hold my breath (unfortunately). Still it's already a win to be nominated, so yay![]()
well those are not small time devs eitherSheesh.
View attachment 3369593
You'd be surprised. In the last two waifus contests organized in the same community, Badik's girls never made it to the finals and COBD's girls never reached the quarterfinals. The winner were Cece ( Leap of Faith ) and Kindra ( Artemis ).
No Elysra sex scenes in season 2 though.Uh yeah, sure
(You would have gotten it anyway, sucker)
The screenshot speaks for itself.Yeah explain yourself Lostanddamned
But the vote is about the animation quality, not the variety. BaDIK isn't even in the top 3 of those 5 nominations when it comes to how good the animations areon the animation side I was on the fence but I voted for BaDIK in the end, for the simple reason that DPC makes the scenes a lot more varied, quality-wise PP is probably top3 for me. Also that menu in S2, I cycle through it 2-3 times any time I boot up the gameCare to share how you do them?
Your MC is named Lemon?
Kinda weird nglMy Mc's name is Sourlemon(Sour lemon)![]()
![]()
Yeh I wonder how you came up with that name, I have no clueKinda weird ngl