VN Ren'Py SnowStorm [v0.10 WW] [GleenX Studio]

[MrJay]

I really want to like this game but it's mostly just a headache to play. The supposed "freedom" of choosing in what order to do events doesn't result in any actual freedom in play, nor any improvement in enjoyment or any more immersion in the story, because there's clearly one single correct way to play the events in to get the most content, and failing to play that exact order just makes you feel like you're being punished.

And since there is one correct order to play the events in, the strictly better game design choice would be just to NOT pretend to offer this fake freedom and instead just play all those events sequentially like any other VN would, and let players just enjoy the story that you're writing, rather than having us players worry if they're playing it in the exact correct order, especially since there's no way to know if you're doing stuff in the correct order until you start failing checks.

Also the walkthrough is absolutely no help whatsoever in telling you what order to do the events in.

Once again proof that sandbox elements, no matter how few or many, just always strictly make these games worse. Not once have sandbox elements actually improved the experience of playing an adult game like this, they ONLY get in the way of experiencing the story.

 

[BEAR1613]

...
Also the walkthrough is absolutely no help whatsoever in telling you what order to do the events in.
...

Sorry, but I disagree !
With the stats you can check your strength, dexterity and intelligence in the game at any time.
The walkthrough is telling you how to handle each single event and it tells you what stats you will get ( nothing or strength or dexterity or intelligence ).
You can adjust your sequence of the events by taking care to balance your stats !
You can save if you are not sure what event to do next and test it out.

It is a game where choices matter and it is not a comic book.

 

[WarriorSteel]

Everything is going to change in the next update.
There will be no longer a choice of which girls you will pursue. The girls available for you will be based on which clan you are and the same goes for your stats.

Blood Bears (STR+DEX)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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White Wolves (STR+INT)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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Dark Ravens (DEX+INT)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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[MrJay]

Sorry, but I disagree !
With the stats you can check your strength, dexterity and intelligence in the game at any time.
The walkthrough is telling you how to handle each single event and it tells you what stats you will get ( nothing or strength or dexterity or intelligence ).
You can adjust your sequence of the events by taking care to balance your stats !
You can save if you are not sure what event to do next and test it out.

It is a game where choices matter and it is not a comic book.

Choices don't matter if you can't understand the consequences of them. That's not making a choice, that's just gambling.

And no, you're simply wrong, the walkthrough doesn't offer any insight in which order the story events will happen. I got to a scene where the game made an affinity check with Sonja and I failed it, so I was forced to miss a scene and it's not one of the weekly events so there's no way to just replay it. There was absolutely 100% no way to know that would happen, no way to prepare for it with the information offered in the game or in the walkthrough.

My choices at that point is to either just live with having missed a scene or load a much earlier save and get affinity with Sonja. Both those choices objectively suck, it completely disrupts the pacing of the game, it completely ruins immersion and my experience was made strictly worse for being put in that situation. There's absolutely no coherent and good reason to put the player in that spot. It's a game design choice that's literally just lose-lose and makes everything strictly worse for everyone involved. No one who plays the game enjoys randomly missing content or having to reload an old save. A designer should want players to experience the story, not obfuscate it from them for nonsense reasons.

"Freedom" of choice in VNs is pretty much always a complete misnomer, because in practice all it ends up playing as is the freedom to randomly miss out on content you actually wanted to see and the freedom to suffer through a much more tedious experience than it had any reason to be. None of that is freedom, it's just noise.

And even when the game works as "intended" and I'm planning my events and worrying about doing them in the "correct" order so to balance my stats and everything, that's not fun, it's time I'm spending literally not enjoying the game. That's just useless metagaming that doesn't need to be in the game because all it does is completely remove me from the experience of actually enjoying the story.

Developers need to stop getting in their own way and just let players enjoy the story that they've written and scenes they've created, because anything else is simply just noise. It's not fun, it's the opposite of immersive, it's noise.

 

[xXwankerXx]

Yes. At the end she says "I will keep this one" and later Liz says nox wanted the MC's seed. So I think we can guess what happened there.

Nox ain't pregnant lol. That's just cum inflation, the MC put a really big load in her belly, and that "I will keep this one", probably meant she'll keep him, the MC, who she somehow knows is a guy from the future, not the "kid". Anyone who played Gleenx's previous game, Sandstorm, knows they like to exaggerate their MCs cumshots.

I'm not really into all that cum inflation stuff, but I'm really disappointed Nox's sex scene was so short and the MC didn't even fuck her from behind or at least prone bone. A woman that fine deserves a real good, deep dicking so she'll remember you and cum back for more.

 

[Mmushy]

Everything is going to change in the next update.
There will be no longer a choice of which girls you will pursue. The girls available for you will be based on which clan you are and the same goes for your stats.

Blood Bears (STR+DEX)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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White Wolves (STR+INT)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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Dark Ravens (DEX+INT)
Available girls:

Spoiler

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Oh that's disappointing. I was hoping for a Astrid, Lizgard, Ysra and Matilda harem

 

[WarriorSteel]

Oh that's disappointing. I was hoping for a Astrid, Lizgard, Ysra and Matilda harem

There was never a harem like that planned. Only one is planned and it involves being in the BB clan.

 

[BEAR1613]

....

And no, you're simply wrong, the walkthrough doesn't offer any insight in which order the story events will happen. I got to a scene where the game made an affinity check with Sonja and I failed it, so I was forced to miss a scene and it's not one of the weekly events so there's no way to just replay it. There was absolutely 100% no way to know that would happen, no way to prepare for it with the information offered in the game or in the walkthrough.

My choices at that point is to either just live with having missed a scene or load a much earlier save and get affinity with Sonja. ....

In the moment we are using here a walkthrough which is taken into account version 0.3.5. You are talking about the scene "bath sonja" in a bathtube in the game which happend in branch Bloddy Bears in version 0.4 beta of the game.
The structure of the game is that it is splitted into up to now 3 main branches (White Wolfs, Dark Ravens and Bloody Bears).
The player is not able to see every scene of the whole game in one playthrough !
Therefore choices matter ! The dev gives you the possibility to play YOUR game NOT HIS game .
YOUR game is only restricted by the matrix of possible subbranches which the dev has put into his software of Snowstorm.

 

[MrJay]

In the moment we are using here a walkthrough which is taken into account version 0.3.5. You are talking about the scene "bath sonja" in a bathtube in the game which happend in branch Bloddy Bears in version 0.4 beta of the game.
The structure of the game is that it is splitted into up to now 3 main branches (White Wolfs, Dark Ravens and Bloody Bears).
The player is not able to see every scene of the whole game in one playthrough !
Therefore choices matter ! The dev gives you the possibility to play YOUR game NOT HIS game .
YOUR game is only restricted by the matrix of possible subbranches which the dev has put into his software of Snowstorm.

That's not at all how you make "choices matter", because if I don't know what I'm choosing, it's not a real choice. Again, at that point it's simply just gambling.

Example: Let's say I made a VN that let you choose to wake up on the left side of right side of the bed in the first episode. But seemingly it doesn't matter. Then depending on that "choice", two years of updates later, if you chose left side your wife dies and if you chose right side you live happily ever after.

That's not a real choice and anyone who thinks that's a real, meaningful choice simply does not know what they're talking about whatsoever, and that's putting it kindly.

The exact same principle is at play here. The situation is not quite as exaggerated, but the PRINCIPLE is the same. None of these are real choices.

 

[WarriorSteel]

That's not at all how you make "choices matter", because if I don't know what I'm choosing, it's not a real choice. Again, at that point it's simply just gambling.

Example: Let's say I made a VN that let you choose to wake up on the left side of right side of the bed in the first episode. But seemingly it doesn't matter. Then depending on that "choice", two years of updates later, if you chose left side your wife dies and if you chose right side you live happily ever after.

That's not a real choice and anyone who thinks that's a real, meaningful choice simply does not know what they're talking about whatsoever, and that's putting it kindly.

The exact same principle is at play here. The situation is not quite as exaggerated, but the PRINCIPLE is the same. None of these are real choices.

You ignored Sonja and then got mad because you couldn't see a scene with her? I really can't see how the dev is the one to blame. The Dev always said you wouldn't be able to get affinity with all the girls.

Still it is a moot point. In the next update you will be locked to only 5 girls, depending of the clan, and will be able to do all the events for them.

 

[everhardninja]

Will the full version be released or can we consider this beta as a full release?

 

[AmerHST]

I really don't get it... why make an amazing premise and setting, great world building, diverse and interesting characters, good soundtracks and good visuals... just to throw it all away with an over the top perverted cringy MC?

For example Astrids story line was fantastic:
1- The idea of writing the book and maybe shift the whole idea around "books are useless" and have huge impact on the story.
2- How the relationships developed between them where at first she just saw another idiot to finally finding someone who makes her feel seen and heard + the waltz was a very romantic and sweet.
BUT all of that is ruined by the MCs constant over the top horny thoughts and actions like building a sex toy which killed all the build up there.

I feel very conflicted about this game in the one hand, it's very unique(at least I never saw anything like) with an engaging story and interesting characters. On the other hand the MC is cringe and some scenes look out of place like

Spoiler

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This could have been one if the best VNs ever, it had all the components but it is kinda wasted...

 

[Boehser Onkel]

0x52_URM cheats (WIP)

mc stats/gold // scores

View attachment 1553489 View attachment 1553490


choices detection/outcome

View attachment 1553488

*********************************************
replay/secret picture gallery - unlocked for 0.4b

extract attached rep gall unlo.zip file into mainfolder - overwrite if asked

********************************************

gui/text color changed

View attachment 1704030 View attachment 1704025
View attachment 1704046 View attachment 1703991

extract attached text color.zip into mainfolder overwrite if asked
(make backup maybe of gui.rpy and screens.rpy located at *\game folder first)
(should work with future updates if the dev not change something about gui)
instruction how and where to change color included


******************************************

extract attached file to *\game folder
!always save before edit!

open mod with alt+m
click the little open folder icon right upper
load a .urm file

how to use : Link

Rename (nearly) everyone,watch this tut -->

You must be registered to see the links

create your own "gallery" (label search) how to --> Link



i recommend always to play the game one time without cheats to understand gamemechanics

mod should work with future updates

this mod does not modify any game files

!use at own risk! - dont complain to dev´s /modder about broken saves/gamestates
(look for a updated 0x52_urm.rpa file every month or 2 at link above, thanks to 0x52
if you like the URM Mod consider support 0x52 -->

You must be registered to see the links

You must be registered to see the links

)

update

(i wanted to wait untill the full 0.4 is out , but it takes to long)

 

[AmerHST]

your concerns are things that can be easily tweaked by removing a few lines of code a few renders and finding a transitional render! nothing too schocking! besides i identify with the MC at that age...

It's not about removing lines or not. It's about how the dev is actually a very good writer who did everything right form world building to creating intersting characters and an engaging story but then ruin all that with some weird moments like the scene I talked about and making the MC borderline cringey in some scenes as well. I just don't get why he would do that...

 

[NewTricks]

In the previous game the MC had some out-of-character moments when he was under the influence of supernatural forces. Usually, but not always, this was as a result of deliberate choices made by the player. The moment when MC chases Fate into the burning building reminded me of one of these moments from the previous game. I think that it could work better with a little reworking. Such as when he is looting he comes across a familiar red gem and then the scene unfolds. There is already an intelligence check there that could serve as a kind of check on his willpower to overcome the influence of the gem. There are other ways to accomplish the same thing but that is just an example. I'm not willing to wash my hands of the entire game as a result of it, but pointing out that the scene doesn't work as is can be of help to the dev in the long run.

 

[GleenXstudio]

I can understand your points on this specific scene with FATE even though you seem to elude that in the heat of the moment, in such violent context, seeing everyone around doing such things, one could easily switch off his brain and just lose it from excitation and stress. Ssuch behavior could happen imo. You're not in a gentleman era. Nothing to do with cringe here imo. (For Astrid, maybe a bit, but wait for the continuation of her story, you're anticipating too much)

Now the real issue you pointed out on Fate's scene is that I let it possible to try to defend the blond girl from the other guy, and then the scene just after, I let the possibility to assault Fate. I agree this configuration doesn't make sense at all. This specific scene will be adapted/adjusted in the next update (with a choice menu to either chase Fate or leave her alone) as there is a gameplay rework currently in process (including additional events and story for the side girls).
The purpose is to make the game smoother and easier to play, with a more unique experience according to the clan you're part of. The playthroughs for each clan will thus feel more different and more focused hopefully.

 

[GleenXstudio]

As some started to partially reveal what's happening behind the scenes, I'll make a clear post about the rework (which has been voted by supporters at a large majority btw, and which I believe will benefit the game, so I won't lie, I'm pretty happy with this result as well.)

As some explained before, the compromise is to restrict a bit the possibilities of meetings in order to increase the depth of the side girls stories with a more fitting context/link with the main story. Until now, I had to make those side events pretty neutral and unrelated to the clan or main story, so that those events could work whatever the clan you're part of. Not only those stories cannot be as deep as I would like them to be, but they will necessarily creates context problems as I won't be able to make 27 configurations to adapt to whatever combinations of girl you would have picked. There are combos that doesn't match well together and it would just lead to nothing great. So instead of letting you pick some uninteressing combos that will just let you enjoy 2-3 events but then hit a wall, I decided to restrict the girls you can encounter from the start and only keep the meaningful combos, to avoid being disappointed in the late game because you didn't pick the most suitable ones to go along with your main story.

• When you are part of the White Wolves, you can also interact with Sonja and Lizgard.
• When you are part of the Dark Ravens, you can also interact with Astrid and Yrsa.
• When you are part of the Bloody Bears, you can also interact with Katja and Mathilda.
• You will have as many quests as available days, so you won't miss any quests by lack of time.
• If you don't get some quests it's because they are not available for you clan.
• The stats you can get with each clan will be a bit more predictable and shape your MC during the story. WW is INT/STR oriented, BB is DEX/STR oriented, DR is INT/DEX oriented. So please do not cry if your BB warrior has no INT, it's normal. There will be alternatives to progress further, it's not a big deal at all to lack one stat.
• The week day quests won't be repeatable anymore. It's for timeline and gameplay purposes (for example if you waited late in the game to start the first quest of a certain girl, you would have the MC suddenly not knowing Norse anymore). Whether you succeed or fail to get the affinity point during that quest, you will advance to the next one. However with less affinity, you will probably miss the most romantic/lewd parts of the next event and at some point of the game, you might not be able to proceed further with her anymore or get access to their "offer" (don't ask me to explicit this point^^). FYI, it was working this way already for Astrja, Nox and Candrid. It will now be the case for all side girls.
• There will be some additionnal side events for the girls that had less content so far. Therefore, Sonja, Katja, Mathilda, Lizgard are getting a new event each to balance things.
• Some quests might differ according to your clan. For example, when you visit the market with Astrid, it will now proceed quite differently if you were a Dark Raven. If you are a White Wolf, it will be like before. There will be other cases like this.
• Fate's scene in the burning house will be slightly reworked with the possibility to not chase/scare her, and 2 ways to save Fate (instead of one).
• Although you can play from your old saves, you will have most of the needed points, but you won't be able to continue with the girls that are not intended, and you'll miss the new content. Therefore, it is highly recommended to restart from a save located after the midsummer festival (for example when Sonja busted Candrid with something in her ass). There are no changes before that. With this rework, 1 playthrough per clan is enough atm, but 1 playthrough for each clan is really advised as the experience with each clan is even more different than before, it's worth it imho)

It might feel like one step back but it's to make 2 steps ahead, and I clearly see a better future for the stories with this setup/rework. I also believe the gameplay will be more enjoyable with less headaches

Also just a reminder about the girls. There are a lot of girls, but before that, there are 3 MAIN girls who have the keys of the story and will make your adventure totally different with a completely different outcome. The other are SIDE girls that will participate/follow/influence your important choices, and you will be able to romance/fuck them at some point (if you want), but do not expect a specific solo ending for each side girl (at least not in the main version). The paths & endings are more story-related than girl-related. Obviously Astrja, Nox and Candrid represents 3 different and incompatible future . Doesn't mean the other girls are discarded, far from that, but they are not an end-purpose on their own

 

[Warscared]

• When you are part of the Bloody Bears, you can also interact with Katja and Mathilda.

so its oficial BB is best path, Harem and Mathilda the bitch to break... also Katjia...
can we exchange her for the little princess either lizgard or astrja
it does not matter the important part is to corrupt them and use them
into becoming your information whores on the other clans...

katjia seems less maleable!

The idea seems to be that even though the girls are in their own clans they still have higher or lower affinity for the other clans and therefore you. Katja is pretty much a Raven because she has black hair but would fit in better with the Bears, enjoying combat and brotherhood. It is similar in Yrsa that she is trying to get closer to Nox because she has agreed to take care of her daughter. Astrid seems to admire Nox even though she is wary of her. The real surprise was Sonja to the White Wolf character because I thought she was the main chick and Candrid was the side chick. Maybe that is just wishful thinking.

sonjia handles the logistic and management of the day to day that pretty much is white wolves, resource management!

but i was making a joke on my cannon path being evil and having crossed the portal after selling off ryon raping the gypsy chick and betraying Maddie and bastet herself!

 

[NewTricks]

so its oficial BB is best path, Harem and Mathilda the bitch to break... also Katjia...
can we exchange her for the little princess either lizgard or astrja
it does not matter the important part is to corrupt them and use them
into becoming your information whores on the other clans...

katjia seems less maleable!

The idea seems to be that even though the girls are in their own clans they still have higher or lower affinity for the other clans and therefore you. Katja is pretty much a Raven because she has black hair but would fit in better with the Bears, enjoying combat and brotherhood. It is similar in Yrsa that she is trying to get closer to Nox because she has agreed to take care of her daughter. Astrid seems to admire Nox even though she is wary of her. The real surprise was Sonja to the White Wolf character because I thought she was the main chick and Candrid was the side chick. Maybe that is just wishful thinking.

 

[BEAR1613]

...

• The stats you can get with each clan will be a bit more predictable and shape your MC during the story. WW is INT/STR oriented, BB is DEX/STR oriented, DR is INT/DEX oriented. So please do not cry if your BB warrior has no INT, it's normal. There will be alternatives to progress further, it's not a big deal at all to lack one stat.
• ...

Does that mean all BB warriors are mindless brutes while all WW warriors are physically slow but strong and thinking warriors and all DR warriors are physically agile and thinking warriors but they are physically weak ? Sorry, but I don't like this classification.
It is my opinion that a Viking leader needs all three qualities. Just two attributes are not enough.

Of course, I understand that with this classification, programming the game becomes much easier, since many variants are eliminated.