As of now (v0.2.5) it's maybe too early to judge a book by its cover plus a few pages of introduction. But there's already enough to constructively criticize with the intend to improve the current and future content... so let's do:
1) The whole apocalyptic story premise has some logic holes.
so high above the clouds that there would be not enough oxygen to breeze without air masks or a proper air ventilation system. And yet people frequent the open deck "outside" on that airship without any indication of this kind of tech. Under these circumstances they should all be dead within seconds - but not here. Is is magic? Or just ignorance?
In any case it's a huge issue, isn't it?
2) Furthermore, the writing of the whole introduction does not leave any mentionable impact on me. Maybe it's for the mostly trivial and almost jovial chatter between characters (with really weird names like "Daust" or "Narone")?!
Maybe it's for the somewhat stiff dialogues sometimes and the lack of substance that could build up the plot in any immersive way?!
Or it's for the absence of the horrific feeling of the apocaplytic situation and surroundings these characters are constantly confronted with?!
Or the almost absurd cliffhanger preview at the end of this version their next destination on the toxic fogged earth inhibits... a DRAGON !!!. Because logically every apocalyptic plot needs some serious thread out of fairy tales and fantasy
Feel invited to choose your favorite here...
3) Also, in its current state, this VN has no choices and is purely kinetic so far. Don't know about the intention to implement them in the future, but I can only hope for at least some player agency.
For example, the one and only sex scene so far happens without a choice and is therefore forced - always a no-go for me!
I prefer consent - for the characters and for the player.
4) A minor issue, but: You can't rename the MC. I personally don't like to be "Daust" the whole story. Sorry, but that's player agency, too, so please give us an option to name the MC as we like!
Conclusion:
"Shroud" in this very early state of development is not outright bad or poor, but lacks quite a lot to be an interesting story with the right amount of immersion to be more than below average.
The visuals aren't an issue cause the renders and the few animations are mostly okayish, some of them up to quite good. Can't say that the music or sounds were annoying or distractive in any way, so that's no issue as well.
But the writing and character introduction is just not interesting, the apocalyptic setting kind of absurd and not well developed, world building non-existant so far.
The lewd scene is okayish, but I've seen better. There's only one potential LI introduced at the moment - too early to say anything about her.
So because nothing's really outstanding or picking my interest, that's only 2.5 stars.
1) The whole apocalyptic story premise has some logic holes.
How high into the sky
has an airship to fly
to avoid the toxic mist
that is covering the gist
of all earthly ground?
Could be a kind of limmerick, but in other words:has an airship to fly
to avoid the toxic mist
that is covering the gist
of all earthly ground?
so high above the clouds that there would be not enough oxygen to breeze without air masks or a proper air ventilation system. And yet people frequent the open deck "outside" on that airship without any indication of this kind of tech. Under these circumstances they should all be dead within seconds - but not here. Is is magic? Or just ignorance?
In any case it's a huge issue, isn't it?
2) Furthermore, the writing of the whole introduction does not leave any mentionable impact on me. Maybe it's for the mostly trivial and almost jovial chatter between characters (with really weird names like "Daust" or "Narone")?!
Maybe it's for the somewhat stiff dialogues sometimes and the lack of substance that could build up the plot in any immersive way?!
Or it's for the absence of the horrific feeling of the apocaplytic situation and surroundings these characters are constantly confronted with?!
Or the almost absurd cliffhanger preview at the end of this version their next destination on the toxic fogged earth inhibits... a DRAGON !!!. Because logically every apocalyptic plot needs some serious thread out of fairy tales and fantasy
Feel invited to choose your favorite here...
3) Also, in its current state, this VN has no choices and is purely kinetic so far. Don't know about the intention to implement them in the future, but I can only hope for at least some player agency.
For example, the one and only sex scene so far happens without a choice and is therefore forced - always a no-go for me!
I prefer consent - for the characters and for the player.
4) A minor issue, but: You can't rename the MC. I personally don't like to be "Daust" the whole story. Sorry, but that's player agency, too, so please give us an option to name the MC as we like!
Conclusion:
"Shroud" in this very early state of development is not outright bad or poor, but lacks quite a lot to be an interesting story with the right amount of immersion to be more than below average.
The visuals aren't an issue cause the renders and the few animations are mostly okayish, some of them up to quite good. Can't say that the music or sounds were annoying or distractive in any way, so that's no issue as well.
But the writing and character introduction is just not interesting, the apocalyptic setting kind of absurd and not well developed, world building non-existant so far.
The lewd scene is okayish, but I've seen better. There's only one potential LI introduced at the moment - too early to say anything about her.
So because nothing's really outstanding or picking my interest, that's only 2.5 stars.
- With more future updates I may revise my review -
