VN RPGM Abandoned Saria Reclaimed [v0.17] [Velminth]

[Zariaswell]

Velminth is an amazing artist who was working on something pretty good that a lot of people were excited about. Now we have this...thing after three months that is the most uninteresting CG collector I've ever seen. So much of the promise, potential, and great art has been thrown away for nothing, the corruption mechanic is gone, and in exchange the game is painfully boring and unfun. It really sucks to see one of the projects I was most excited about fly into a fucking mountain.

As a long-time patreon supporter I can only say: dude, you really need to pair up with someone to design this game for you. You need someone to curb your impulses to blow it all up and start over every five minutes. You're so creative and productive; this is a real shame.

OTOH, if this is the game he wants to make I guess there's nothing to say to that. But I'm out on this project now unfortunately and looking around I think most of the community around it is more dismayed than anything else

Exactly my feeling rn.

 

[LordChiruChiru]

What I don't get is why he's gotta be a smug asshole about it. In the discord he was complaining about "armchair devs" but like the point of allowing people to sub to a patreon is partially to let them have some kind of a say on the development process. Seems he really only wants an echo chamber.

Man needs to pull his head out of his ass instead of attacking everyone around him. Especially the people who wanted his game to succeed.

 

[LordChiruChiru]

Had the same rough interaction with him on the discord, which led me to pulling my patreon sub and getting booted from the discord

I actually love the new system...except the entire loss of the old corruption system. The game is basically a boring CG hunt now with combat mixed in. You randomly get 'fetishes' which you can equip, which no longer feels like a slow lewding of the MC, but just mediocre combat with sex scenes.

The current revamp release is just:
Text -> Lose battle -> See scene -> Win battle.

The game had so much potential before, but the loss of interactivity with the sexual side of the game just isn't nearly as interesting.

Yeah I saw his interaction with you and his reaction was wholey unnecessary. It doesn't even matter if your criticism is constructive or not. He's just lashing out.

 

[alias34]

 

[Spenser4]

And i actually considered becoming patreon after see new version. Gift exchange on Christmas, if you will. But HOLY SHIT, i definitely not received any gift.
And after see what happened to on of my favorite game now and hearing how developer shitting on people on discord, it might be he actually going crazy now. This whole situation just really-really sad, to be honest.

 

[whamos_olrac]

Really liked the open-world style, pixelated Metroidvania thing the dev went with, but now with the new update (and the ones prior to that)? Just...no. This ain't it lol.

Hurts seeing one of your favorite games lose that charm that played a key part in it being loved and what people associated it with. Well, good luck anyways Velminth. Hope you figure out what to do with the game.

Just to add salt to the wound, this is one of those rare games where you get to play as a tomboy, choco-muscle milf and have the opportunity to corrupt her. But hey, just my kink tho lol (kidding, I'm actually sad).

 

[glareash]

No sandbox, no persistent slow corruption, no epxloring, no battle-fuck. This game was quite unique and promissing. I didn't care much about jRPG to card battle systems changes. But now nothing is left here. It's not just another VN, it's a linear set of one-and-done fights. What a dissapointment after 4 months of waiting.

Prior to 0.16 when I read "I won't cater to anyone but myself regardless of sum or interest." on the author's patreon page I was like "Yeah, tell them Vel! You have your vision, I'm here to support it!". Now that his vision has nothing in common with my interests though, I have nothing to say. I wish him well, but I dropped my subscription.

 

[Sweet Force]

This situation reminds me of when Hreinn Games made Noxian Nights and it was a success, with monthly updates, exploration and great art for the time, but with their next game instead of going that route they opted for a VN with a different combat system, almost no one liked the change and in the end it lost all the reputation it gained with the previous game, this case is practically the same only that the game that was entertaining was never finished.
I also don't support that any constructive criticism of the game the author responds aggressively.
I guess his goal now is "I'm going to make a VN for myself regardless of whether i make any money with it"

 

[MadMan691337]

Wtf happened, I've been gone for like 4 months and come back to this? I haven't played the new update nor have I read about what happened (cus it's Christmas). But I'm guessing he changed the whole game?
I checked the file size and it's less than half now.

 

[lilstank]

I honestly thought the card game system was cool and Vel took some unnecessary flak for it. I can't even try and defend this change man... the spritework and locations really made the game for me. The only thing I can commend Vel for is keeping the legacy version up on the itchio at this point

 

[Origami1337]

Guys, are we expecting another rework of the game in 4 months? By the way, a good move: remove the content that was there and gradually return it. What difference does it make, because people have “hopes” and they(hope not "will") continue to be cows giving milk. But even if we accept this fact, I cannot accept the next one: “He kick from discord and shitthrowing at people who criticize his activities.”...dude...are you 15 years old kiddo and you write "kawaiii" stories, considering them an ideal? Snap back to reality - they give you money and you are not against it, but you are against making compromises. People who gave him money and were deceived - I feel sorry for you. “Your expectations are your problems,” but not when you have an idea, there is money, there are good people who support you, there are opportunities and there was a DESIRE, but your opinion changes every 5 minutes, like a 15 year old. I know I was rude, but I don't give a fuck. I don't live in childhood dreams and see reality



P.S. "freedom of speech", "Healthy acceptance of criticism and acceptance of opinions from people who care about you" left the chat in his discord channel. Good luck everyone, Stay mentally healthy

 

[shado990]

Yet another promising game falls to the devs ego a big shame really.

It feels almost like a "fuck you all" from the dev as well after the backlash of the card system. Ever since the feedback from that change hes turned into a real holier than thou type who can't be questioned. I can't be believe thats all it took really he seemed passionate and approachable before.

 

[Hunterop6969]

Yet another promising game falls to the devs ego a big shame really.

It feels almost like a "fuck you all" from the dev as well after the backlash of the card system. Ever since the feedback from that change hes turned into a real holier than thou type who can't be questioned. I can't be believe thats all it took really he seemed passionate and approachable before.

is do look like he want to milk every drop from his patreon dont it?

 

[DemonLord98]

This game will NEVER approach Karryn's Prison level greatness now. It's just a basic ass shitty VN, lol.

 

[HumblestRanger]

The new spritework is gorgeous as always, the UI is amazing, but the gameplay change? Utter garbage. I didn't mind either the card gameplay nor the Karryn's Prison-y one, both had potential. And I love the games where you piece the lore together bit by bit by exploring it and finding the clues. And the character creation was amazing. Now we have none of that.

Look, I understand that designing games is hard, TRUST ME, I KNOW, but who in their right mind would want to downgrade the core gameplay loop to... this?

Edit: Just noticed that not only corruption, but all the fucking body stats were wiped. Unbelievable. I can't believe the dev has missed the entire fucking point why the people loved his game, even I am not that tone deaf.

 

[rambledamble]

>Doki Doki Bandit Highschool
lmao I love you velminth. The art looks good. Congrats on surviving Project DevDeath.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Hunterop6969]

The new spritework is gorgeous as always, the UI is amazing, but the gameplay change? Utter garbage. I didn't mind either the card gameplay nor the Karryn's Prison-y one, both had potential. And I love the games where you piece the lore together bit by bit by exploring it and finding the clues. And the character creation was amazing. Now we have none of that.

Look, I understand that designing games is hard, TRUST ME, I KNOW, but who in their right mind would want to downgrade the core gameplay loop to... this?

Edit: Just noticed that not only corruption, but all the fucking body stats were wiped. Unbelievable. I can't believe the dev has missed the entire fucking point why the people loved his game, even I am not that tone deaf.

he just scrapped like 80% of the game for nothing

 

[GhostProject]

Man this is sad. This game had the potential to be up there with Karryn's Prison in terms of content, interactivity and amazing art, but now? Now it's just another VN (with annoying random mechanics).

R.I.P. Saria *zips pants*

 

[Catabolis]

is do look like he want to milk every drop from his patreon dont it?

No, not at all, which is why this sucks so much. Velminth was constantly delivering new content on a monthly basis. There are so many awful developers with glacial update schedules but not only was this dude a great artist, he was absolutely pumping out content on a regular basis. The dude was reliable and the game was making steady progress toward being one of the best out there.

Now it's just...destroyed, I guess! And that sucks.

 

[BigBiggieBig]

How does this new progression work? I've made it to the short dude boss and honestly can't beat him since one of his moves does 10 damage (My entire HP)

Is there something I'm missing? This update removed leveling as far as I can tell (As well as all equipment), and I can't gain any new cards, so I'm just the same in every fight while the enemies get more HP/Damage.

Is it just a matter of 'play better' or is there a mechanic I'm not using?