Ren'Py Sexbot II: Recalibrated [v2.02] [LlamaMann Games]

[Llamamann]

I wouldn't say it's boring. The art and models are still hot, the writing is good, and the dev is expanding the settings where scenes happen. Technical/UI improvements are nice. I also like how the game keeps the gameplay loop recognizable from the first game but adds a lot more variety.

But the second game is missing a lot of the fun of the first game. In the original, it felt like things were constantly going off the rails in the sexiest and weirdest of ways. Neither the player nor the MC had any idea what was about to happen in each new scene. Now, with a more confident MC, girls who are more open/direct about their attraction to him, and Alexa more focused and not causing as much mischief, the scenes are a lot more predictable. It doesn't help that the sexual content so far is mostly tamer than the content with the same LIs available at the end of the first game.

The dev is obviously very talented, so I hope he'll be able to recapture that magic as the second game gets built up.

Hey I appreciate the constructive feedback. I actually had a good think about this.

This is the part of the first game’s development that no one was around for. SB 0.1 to 0.3 were just getting new content in the game each day, without a lot of crazy stuff happening. It was only much later, once expectations were established, that I could subvert them.

I’m still laying the foundation for everything else to build on. Gotta build the rails, so that I can later fly off of them.

 

[JazzyRey]

JazzyRey I don't normally address reviews, but you're so wrong on so many things, I can't resist.

No one is trying to "save polygons". I didn't even know they were endangered. Love how you have a take on technical performance of processes you clearly don't understand.

The character models changed in exactly 0 ways since the first game. So whatever you are seeing now, is what you saw in the first game.

Images are not upscaled in anyway (see I told you there were a lot of bad takes). They are rendered in 1080 and converted from .png to .webp which is also the exact same process as the first game.

In fact all the render settings are the same. So no clue what you're on about.

To be clear, I don't care what you want to rate the game, but don't make shit up.

This comment is subject to change, if you figure stuff out.

Oh got a warning for that review. Fair enough, i was thinking i should've made a comment and not a review while writing it.
First off, i respect you and your work. It wasn't meant as a personal attack, although i can see how it came across rather harshly and unjust. (Easy to do sometimes when online with "zero repercussions", even when trying not to be one of those guys.). And i apologize for any of my undue criticism or harm done.

Not meant to be a technical expert, or coming after you in those respects.
Oh i just know less polygons means less time rendering and less time spent on it. I think i said "or something", because i dunno, was only meant to illustrate my point.

The thing about facial bone structure might be true, hasn't changed. The lighting or scenes might have, making it more noticeable for me? But sure, they're the same as always. Except Mai tho, but for reasons.

If it's not upscaling, like the usual cheap trick everyone pulls nowadays, it's temporal anti-aliasing to a high degree then? But that "our of focus" look seems to affect more than just the necessary outlines it should, giving off "upscaling" vibes. Honestly i don't know why it looks that way, bitrate, compression. If it's bad takes, then that explains it.

I don't mind your comment on this, leave it as is. I'm as capable of being either right or wrong as everyone else.
Thank you for addressing it though, you didn't have to.

 

[BiscuitSlayer]

I use a UK/ Australian keyboard layout and it worked for me. Did you do it on the screen with the "shift" pop up? You need to press shift plus spacebar or whichever arrow might be lit at the same time, the timer is very short so it's easy to miss it and I think you have to do it twice.

Thanks! It worked with Shift + Highlight, 2-3 times in a row.

 

[phdusa1]

Unofficial compressed Android port for Sexbot II: Recalibrated [v2.02] [LlamaMann Games]

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*This unofficial port/mod is not released by developer, download at your own risk.

Updated to v2.02

 

[lebom83048]

Is the pc minigame winnable? In the last stage I have no chance

Game doesn't register using incorrect keys. Just slap those buttons like crazy.

 

[Llamamann]

Oh got a warning for that review. Fair enough, i was thinking i should've made a comment and not a review while writing it.
First off, i respect you and your work. It wasn't meant as a personal attack, although i can see how it came across rather harshly and unjust. (Easy to do sometimes when online with "zero repercussions", even when trying not to be one of those guys.). And i apologize for any of my undue criticism or harm done.

Not meant to be a technical expert, or coming after you in those respects.
Oh i just know less polygons means less time rendering and less time spent on it. I think i said "or something", because i dunno, was only meant to illustrate my point.

The thing about facial bone structure might be true, hasn't changed. The lighting or scenes might have, making it more noticeable for me? But sure, they're the same as always. Except Mai tho, but for reasons.

If it's not upscaling, like the usual cheap trick everyone pulls nowadays, it's temporal anti-aliasing to a high degree then? But that "our of focus" look seems to affect more than just the necessary outlines it should, giving off "upscaling" vibes. Honestly i don't know why it looks that way, bitrate, compression. If it's bad takes, then that explains it.

I don't mind your comment on this, leave it as is. I'm as capable of being either right or wrong as everyone else.
Thank you for addressing it though, you didn't have to.

All good. I’m happy to address this type of stuff.

There are a few images that used depth of field. Maybe they weren’t perfectly done, but I don’t use them often.

Some lighting has changed. Which does affect the look of characters.

The png to webm is compression, and does affect image quality. But all the processes are the same as the previous game.

 

[andrei88990]

anyone knows how to unlock the locked scene so far i get 1/1 on every hot squad memeber did meiko and emily and sam but there some scenes that say locked and i dont know how to proceed cannot even get to the prom night

 

[GenericAnon123]

Mei looks a lot better than her initial release. Can't wait to see the MC get caught by her.

 

[akdemir2]

i dont know why but it looks like i can only play the new content everthing else is locked

 

[PickaMaterina555]

Whats up with locked stuff, need hint system, or is it not in the game yet ?

 

[Snugglepuff]

or is it not in the game yet ?

That one.

Remember this is far, far from a completed product.
The fact that the changelog still makes reference to what's changed since the tech-demo should be enough of an indicator to anyone who bothers to read it how early in development it still is.

 

[LWok]

Trying to get the peaceful option in the minigame but it just moves so fast and gets frustrating. Haven't even seen the shift option. Always hated minigames like this, took long enough to get the kill the ogre option then I find out I have to do it again, somehow see an option and react to it when I can barely react to the kill options so I fail and can't roll back and have to do it again?

Hope this part gets streamlined a bit or an option to slow it down or something. I'll come back next update and have another go

Apart from that, loving it.

 

[Dude137]

Hey I appreciate the constructive feedback. I actually had a good think about this.

This is the part of the first game’s development that no one was around for. SB 0.1 to 0.3 were just getting new content in the game each day, without a lot of crazy stuff happening. It was only much later, once expectations were established, that I could subvert them.

I’m still laying the foundation for everything else to build on. Gotta build the rails, so that I can later fly off of them.

Based on your track record, I think you probably have a good grasp on everything, and I'm sure that when you do finally "fly off the rails," it'll be a good time, but right now, the game feels stale because I don't understand the reason for the reset.

By reset, I mean you seem to have reset the gameplay loop. That is, we're back to basic groping/handjobs with most of the characters, with not one interaction in each update ever escalating beyond any of the other interactions. (I know there are a couple exceptions to this.) In the next update, most of the characters will likely go one step further with the MC. In the update after that, maybe another step forward. And then, eventually, maybe we'll all get to where we were with the love interests at the end of the first game. And then what? The game will start branching off in the ways it could have immediately after the end of the first game?

In general, I'm highly critical of restarting gameplay loops. Risky to make players restart the climb up the mountain before they have a chance to enjoy the view . . . and why make players restart the climb when instead we could be reaching next for the stars? But a reset could make sense, given the context of your story world. But my main issue, the one that prevents me from getting invested in the characters again, is one I already alluded to: I don't understand the reason for the reset. That is, the story world does not provide one, so I'm left wondering what the point is. Some people might counter this by saying "Oh, the reason is provided at the end of the last game, where the world essentially ended with some apocalypse." Fair enough, but as far as I can tell, Sexbot Recalibrated isn't following these threads yet. We're just cycling through entry level sex scenes with the same girls.

Don't get me wrong, the scenes you do have are extremely well done. The positioning, intimacy, etc., have all been created by a keen, intelligent, creative eye. But without an obvious point to it all, I feel like the game is sitting in idle, and I'm left wondering why those excellently designed scenes are not allowed to flower.

Hope this all doesn't sound overly aggressive! I'm also thinking that maybe I'm speaking prematurely, and that I should wait and let you cook a bit. Anyway, huge fan of your work and highly respect your work ethic.