VN - Ren'Py - Reclaiming the Lost [v0.9] [Passion Portal]

Really well made game, great looking girls, plot is pretty interesting, the writing could use some work as it's a little cringy but it's fine overall. Plot is a little compressed/rushed but not that big of an issue. Shame that it's still so unfinished.

As for V0.9, This game is a uncut gem, can't wait for the next update.

And here some Suggestion to the Dev:

Olivia: I think she is a cute little demon to seduce MC, maybe she will also got a love path?
If she will appear more in upcomnig Chapters, I strongly recommend it might worth Dev some time to re-work on her model? I found multiple negative comment about Olivia in reviews section, IMO her model could rework to a Higher Defination mesh model. All good other than this( Life facial feature, Height and body figure).

Emily: I Feel like the "Business Trip" parts could be main content with Emily since she is the "Assitant" after all, I found the part when MC go on a private jet with her to old town ended like way too short, was thinking this would be another trip like Ch.1 for a day or two with relationship progression, IMO this missed out a huge chance to deepen their bond. Hope to see more business trips and tell what business MC rly working LOL

Grace: No comment, Not my LI haha

Chloe: I found both Lust and Love paths look very promising, guess we will see more Love path in next patch? since Lust path been inclding more in current version.

Thanks for the work, really looking forward to next update.

The only thing this game is missing is MORE. Like every other impatient f95 member, I can't wait for this to have more story. The characters and art are great and the writting isn't dull and forced like most games.

Great Job Devs!

Story and Plot
"Reclaiming the Lost" presents an engaging story that blends mystery and personal drama. The protagonist, an ordinary man, is suddenly confronted with secrets surrounding one of his closest friends while also facing an unexpected revelation about his own past. The narrative explores deep themes such as trust, betrayal, and the consequences of difficult choices, creating a captivating experience that keeps the player immersed from start to finish.

Characters
The characters in "Reclaiming the Lost" are well-developed, each with unique personalities that enrich the narrative. Players can interact with figures like Emily, an intelligent and charming woman representing a deep and emotional romantic interest, and Chloe, a vibrant and energetic streamer. The cast also includes more mature characters ("MILFs"), adding complexity and diversity to the interactions. A notable feature of the game is the ability to customize the names of both the protagonist and the main love interest, enhancing the emotional connection to the characters.

Gameplay and Features
"Reclaiming the Lost" offers rich gameplay and well-designed features. The choice system allows players to explore various paths such as friendship, love, passion, or submission, which shape not only relationships but also the main plot. The game also includes an integrated choice hint system that players can enable or disable based on their preferences, making it easier to understand the consequences of each decision. Additionally, it provides 12 save slots per page, facilitating the management of multiple routes, 17 extra images to unlock, and a replay gallery with 35 scenes. Another highlight is the inclusion of 10 challenging achievements, encouraging players to explore all decision paths for a complete and highly replayable experience.

Visuals and Soundtrack
With high-quality graphics, "Reclaiming the Lost" is visually stunning. The female models are detailed and diverse, while the backgrounds help create an immersive atmosphere that complements the narrative. The soundtrack is another strong point, with pleasant background music that enhances the immersion and enriches the player's experience.

Adult Content and Pacing
In this initial version, the game focuses more on teasing and building tension between the characters than on explicit adult content. The pacing is deliberately slower, prioritizing character development and interactions. This approach makes the game more sophisticated and engaging, though it might not appeal to players looking for immediate gratification.

Areas for Improvement
While "Reclaiming the Lost" offers a rich experience, there are a few areas that could be improved. The slower pacing might be a challenge for players who prefer a more fast-paced progression, as the game prioritizes character building and narrative depth. Additionally, as the game is in Early Access, some elements are still in development, which might leave players wanting more from an incomplete experience. It’s important to remember that this is only an initial version, with plenty of potential for future improvements and expansions.

Highlights and Conclusion
"Reclaiming the Lost" combines intriguing mysteries, memorable characters, and gameplay with meaningful choices. The narrative is engaging, the dialogue is well-written, and features like customizable names, multiple routes, and unlockable achievements enhance the player's connection to the game. Additional features such as the scene gallery, extra collectible images, and the integrated choice hint system add value to the experience, while the soundtrack perfectly complements the impressive visuals. Despite the slower pacing and the focus on teasing in this early version, the game delivers a rich and captivating experience. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking an emotional journey full of mystery and intrigue, with great potential for further growth in future updates.

This is a game that has a semi-decent story that is fairly well written, but the story keeps getting buried behind content with LI. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if all of the content with LI actually progressed somewhere. For most of the LI, there is only a single sequence of scenes with them as well. After two years, you would expect there to be progress with *at least one* of the characters if the main story line was going to stagnate, but that is not the case here.

Will check back on this one in the future, it has potential to finish strong

I'd like to give this a 4.5 if I could

The game has standout renders, far above average even for the older li's. The models also all have good proportions which is a win.

The writing is ok, the wrong your is used often and the author completely takes away freedom from the player with the writing - dictating what the mc/you have to be thinking even in the static info screens as well

The mc also basically lectures the player restricting the choices and making pathetic decisions at a few points. I guess this is to slow progression, but I didnt love how it was handled.

Actually the writing is very flowery and feminine in process all the time, even when its supposed to be your thoughts.

The sms's also bug out and dont progress if your mouse is in the wrong position.

Overall, despite the nags above, this game definitely stands out from the crowd

5/5
Great dialogues, nice story, choices matter for different paths which are actually very different.

AMAZING RENDERS and animations. Really one of the greatest games on this site.

Some characters have some poses where they seem mad, even when they are having fun which can be just a little bit distracting, but other than that, it's hard to find flaws in this game

Great game. The renders and visuals are great, all the female models are beautiful and eye candy. The writing is engaging and interesting, the main story is intriguing enough. But the other side stories are also interesting as well. I do understand people's criticism about having not much sexual content other than teasing, as this is a more slow burn game. The teasing is done extremely well and begs you wanting more. if you want a game with a great writing and ongoing interesting developing characters rather than just a game full of horny sluts ready to pounce on your dick then this game is for you.

This is a decent game -- but one of the most infuriating that I've played. It seems that each satisfying moment is then taken down a peg by the next frustrating moment, and the MC is such a schizoid that one cannot buy that he is the head of some important business enterprise.
Main problem: The Best Friend/Business Partner. So this guy is supposed to be this very likeable dude that the MC has absolute faith in to the point of stupidity -- that's how great and charismatic this guy should be, right?
And yet -- he is portrayed by a character that looks like Macbeth's court jester played by Brian Blessed in a red wig. All big, blowsy bonhomie from the outset -- and I for one immediately saw him for what he probably is; why can't MC? And if the best friend ("Bob" -yep) were at ALL likeable/believable/trustworthy-SEEMING even, then I'd feel a bit more tension there with his hot wife. As it is... meh, what are the stakes here, really? You're going to try to save a marriage with THAT? Hm.

Oh, and the banner misspells the game title... "Reclaming..."

Also, MC makes these choices (yup, choices) with no input from me, while I'm going, "No, No, what??!" But I AM allowed the choices as to whether I think his sister's texted pics are Hot or not.

So, why not a 2? Because the game has its moments, the potential is there for a really GOOD game (lose Bob!), the models are HOT...yes, it's a tantrically Slow burn, but that just means the banked fires will burn all the brighter soon -- Right??
Good luck to you, Dev. Keep on working your improveable magic!

The story is truly amazing, and the buildup keeps you engaged throughout. Each scene is crafted beautifully, leaving a lasting impact. The visuals are stunning, and the overall experience feels too good!

Good renders
nothing but teasing
Story is good
Everytime you think there is gonna be a sex scene it ends up in nothing
No bugs
Would wait for some real content because game has potential but just lacks sex scenes

I really like this game. It´s entertaining, not too fast, not too slow in advancement. Grafix is decent (could be better, but not everyone can ace rendering programs on the firts go).
Plot is apealing, makes you want to know more and is not too slow in development.
Biggest problem for me, using a 20´ laptop monitor is: The font is too small!
I don´t know what the dev has for a monitor but it sure does look like a 5-7 pixel font to me on my laptop.
Pretty hard to read. I´d like to have the dev implement a selectable font size and maybe a textbox with selectable opacity. Should be a finger exercise to implement, but it will greatly improve the enjoyability of the the game on smaller screens.
That would be greatly appreciated.

(Review of v0.9)

Characters behave like tin soldiers most of the time and aren't supported by the best script ever; a certain scene in the hospital with you visiting a close person definitely proves that someone decided to use the absolute minimum of renders and facial expressions to illustrate this. So, even if the premise is good, storytelling has plenty of room for improvement. Continuity between scenes isn't the best either, with sudden jumps between places; you will also find a girl randomly switching places around your lap several times in a row.

Visuals and animations are decent and there are a few sexy girls and MILFs, though sex is almost inexistant for now so if you are expecting to quickly rub one out, you better look elsewhere. It's mostly teasing.

An average game in all respects.

Gosh, that's what I was looking for! The game itself is very entertaining, has beautiful models, and has an interesting history that made me excited for more. It was definitely a great start!
Keep up the good work!

Great game, exciting story. A very cool and mysterious MC. Stunning renderings, beautiful.characters The universe is rich and interesting.plot I can't wait for more! Overall 5/5, a rare gem. Keep up the good work

I would like to share my impressions of this visual novel. The graphics and character design are done at a high level, they look very beautiful and attractive. The gameplay is especially pleasing it is very exciting and exciting. The plot of the game also left a pleasant impression. He is interesting and unpredictable, every turn of events keeps you in suspense and makes you follow the development of events with passion. I couldn't tear myself away from the game until I had completed it

Good models and renders but it's just been a lot of teasing with little payoff. I got a decent way in when I stopped for the night and I won't be picking it back up until it's complete. Not because of anything wrong but because it's just not something I want to get invested in and be left on a cliffhanger for a year. Know what I mean?

I get the impression it's going to be a slow burn porn wise and while that's not a bad thing, I'm not going to wait around for update after update for the dev and risk the dev quitting before any hot steamy taboo action. I just don't see it getting there any time soon story wise and don't have a reason to give it my time instead of other games.

It does have a ton of potential though. it might need a re-write and re-work from what other reviews say but great foundation. Could end up being an amazing game when finished.

Summary:
For sure will play again if/when the game is finished. Got too many other adult games to play in the meantime.

I've already played this game and I recommend it!
The game has a very good storyline, with some mysteries to be solved by the MC with the help of his beautiful assistant,.
as well as excellent images and the beautiful girls you can choose from, for example the beautiful and intelligent Emily, or Chloe a beautiful streamer girl, plus it seems some MILFs as well, with so many options, I have at least 03 saves with different paths, where you can choose a path of romance or a path more focused on actions a little more lustful, and in addition I made a third save trying to mix the choices so as not to lose any gallery.

Gorgeous renders which seem to differentiate from many other games. I can't remember a game where I have seen them before. Interesting and so far believable characters. A bit more subtle and less in your face than most games here. So far enjoyed it a lot.

Well, hmm ... I don't necessarily dislike this VN. It has a lot of intrigue and beautiful models, but there is almost no payoff. Most of this is the equivalent of going to a maid coffee shop. A whole lot of teasing, some blue balls and you might enjoy some coffee. There's a little bit of adult content in there with the "best friend's" wife but outside of that it's a lot of "will they, won't they" action.

And that's the main problem and really my only critique about this. That and the updates seemingly take forever, but given the integral way choices actually make a difference in this VN it makes sense. And that where my praise comes in. The Dev seems to truly grasp the idea of consequences when it comes to the MC's decisions, ie the reader's choices. Rarely have I experienced a VN that truly has a good handle on the story, it's characters and how they should interact with one another. What's been created here, while not entirely grounded, is a believable story with likeable characters which is the real reason to keep coming back.

If you're looking for a VN for a quick fap I'd say look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a VN with, frankly, a lot of build up, plenty of intrigue, but very little pay off at the moment (v0.8) then this is one to look out for and to keep revisiting as it goes. If I could give this a 3.5/5 I would. And if there was a little more to this VN (more adult content or a more fleshed out story at this point) this would be an easy 4/5. And maybe when this VN gets closer to being finished It'd be even better, but right now it's good. Not great, but good enough to keep coming back to. Which is more than I can say for the majority of VNs here, so that's saying something.

Do the dev a favor and leave your own review. Don't let anyone's opinion change how you see this one. Let the dev know what you enjoy and what you don't. Keep in mind this was uploaded for us to enjoy for free so if you like this VN try to kick some monetary support to the dev when you get a chance. I genuinely hope the dev has found their audience and wish them all the best. Cheers.

EDIT:
So, I've gotten to play some more of this and find it to be exactly as I had written. Very little progress and almost no payoff. And I mean almost zero. Again, there's a lot of teasing but nothing happens or comes of it (wink). I get that the dev is going for a story and dramatic feeling characters, but bruh ... this is a AVN, not a daytime TV soap opera. Additionally, the story has gone no where. I literally thought I had missed something. Some choice that I answered wrong that would open up more of the story. Nope. So here's how the story lays out, no spoilers and I'm going to write this as if two people are talking:

And that's it. This is never a good place to leave your readers. And before you say, "well, you haven't paid shit for this so who are you to make these judgements?" WRONG. I have given the dev money. Multiple times in fact. Now, like I said the dev is trying to create a story where choices matter and it really is noticeable. So much so that you notice the serious lack of everything else. I've literally gone through this AVN multiple times now and there is zero reason for it to be moving this slow. So I've changed my personal rating to a 2.5/5. I'm leaving the 3/5 right now, but if the next update comes out and nothing continues to happen you can bet your ass this'll change to a 2/5 instantly.

Anyway, really hope the dev can turn this around.