VN - Ren'Py - Starlight City Mafia [v.01] [Endgame Gaming]

  1. 3.00 star(s)

    N0madS0uL

    VERSION: v 0.1
    SUMMARY: Fine enough start, but not an AVN that will turn heads.
    RATINGS: (out of 5):

    NOTE: The following categories and scoring method are my own criteria and may require more context. Additionally, scoring is based on the state, and what is in the current version and not what may or may not be introduced at a later point.
    1. Model Visuals..................... : ⭐⭐⭐⭐
    2. General Visuals................... : ⭐⭐
    3. Animation Quality................. : ⭐⭐⭐
    4. Character (Persona)............... : ⭐⭐⭐
    5. Story Quality & Pacing............ : ⭐⭐
    6. Writing Quality & Dialogue........ : ⭐⭐
    7. UI & Game-play Mechanics...........: ⭐⭐⭐
    8. Playtime & General Quality.........: ⭐⭐⭐
    9. Sounds & Music.....................: ⭐⭐⭐
    10. H-Content & Fetishes.............. : ⭐⭐⭐
    Average: 30 of 50 possible points giving a 60% rating i.e. 3 stars.

    PROS: (y)- See my opinions section for details.
    1. Models look fairly good actually, LIs are pretty and attractive.
    2. Animations are not bad really, but some things to consider. Check comments.
    3. Writing is decent nothing over the top but reads and is structured well.
    4. Some basic sounds and music lend toward immersion, not great but at least some effort which is good.
    5. Pacing is fine, there is at least one lewd scene in this version.
    CONS: (n)- See my opinions section for details.
    1. While models look good, renders are not very good, often grainy, fuzzy and just not high quality expected by todays AVNs
    2. MMC looks built like a brick shit-house gone wrong, his suit doesn't fit his body at all, first scene I saw him talking to his uncle I though WTF is up with that suit. His bodily proportions are not good, neck/shoulders too big, skeletal structure and poses sometimes are just wrong!
    3. Some facial expressions are simply bad, weird, the character faces look exaggerated or completely wrong, unfitting to the scene during simple conversation exchanges. Also pained or constipated :ROFLMAO:
    4. While animations are not bad, they are not great, clipping of clothes, body parts during lewd scenes happens often, movement in some instances are "jerky" (hard to describe, almost like spring effect in limbs)
    5. Dialogue is sometimes really cringe and cheesy. A few typos and really annoying when the dev tries to emphasize the relationship between MMC and the LIs being family e.g. "you'er not so bad yourself Bro", 2 lines later 7 words later "How was your day Bro". There are other issues making dialogue feel unprofessional. See comments
    6. Story is not really remarkable, its actually out of sync with the supposed plot/setting. It feels like same sappy novel from the 60s with fun and friendly vibes, but lets be honest, this a story built around a criminal enterprise FFS, not a soap opera!
    7. Added to above point, the MMC is 25, looks good (face) and probably has more money than he knows what to do with considering the "business" his family is in, yet stays with his family still? Doesn't really fit, too forced to push the incest route IMO.
    8. Added to consistencies, the MMC can peek on sister in the bathroom, but ends up inside the room with the door semi closed when he is caught? Makes no sense...
    9. The incest angle is often a nice kink for fantasy in AVNs, but it also does better when its not so obvious or blatant. Its also like the game was too setup for this route, like they just waited for the father to die to make a move...
    10. While I can appreciate adult VNs having some porn logic, I do find stupid things like the friend jilling off at the MC, outside the mens locker, in a public gym with no shorts on, while the MMC has a boner and his cubical being public is in the door where all can see? a bit much...
    OPINIONS, SUGGESTIONS & FINAL REMARKS: :unsure::coffee:

    NOTE: The following remarks are my personal opinions and thoughts, which may provide more context and could be useful to the developer. (Read them or don't)
    • Regarding the MMCs body and suit, his neck/shoulder muscles look hugely out of proportion to his chest which is narrow by comparison. Mostly the suit just sit shitty on him, can live with the buff bod being exaggerated, just make the guys clothes fit better, he looks like a yet when he addresses his capos his legs are crushing his balls (which probably don't exist anyway due to his roided body!) Honestly, for a suit wearing "business man" the MMC just is too big and bulky, he doesn't need to be and it actually makes him look like these bad guy villains from cartoons, though its a gripe, its not a deal breaker.
    • I also find consistency issues with the MMCs body, he looks shorter in one scene over another, then he looks slightly less bulky and broad. I would say it could be my imagination but...
    • Another point to raise about inconsistent and poor renders, like the MMC sitting on the couch, he looks like he is hovering forward from the couch, like he has a stick up his ass. Such issue with blending/meshing the character with surrounding, furniture etc are obvious and look bad.
    • While animations look good, clipping of models into clothes or themselves happens often. More attention to detail and polish will go a long way.
    • Dialogue can be really stupid and cringe, like when the MMC chats with this Capos, its like a football team chat with hoots, cheering and things unfitting for a gangster mafia that is just organized crime/terrorism. To compound this, right after he applauds himself and tells everyone he is going to see his mom...that way its done just seems so damn stupid and "non-mafia"...lol. Also weird way the writer structures sentences, over use of MMC name when no reason for it during the natural flow of the conversation etc.
    • Tiny gripe, but mother looks too young, by all accounts, she 41 and MMC 25, ergo she had him at 16, which is probably not a huge surprise in todays day and age, but yeah, she looks like the MMCs sister more than mother...would have been nice to have more mature look for her, slightly more lines and a body showing she had 3 kids...just saying.
    • AVNs are about story and visuals mostly. If you can put it together and be close to realistic even when fantasy then it amplifies the feeling, especially for the adult themes. This is something I recommend the dev look into more. As a reference to an AVN that does the mafia thing better, have a look into Valenza Family.
    • Too lighthearted and "friendly" for an AVN built around a life of crime, where betrayal, death and murder are daily occurrences. Everyone knows what the family and MMC does but treat him like the best guy who wins the man of the year award each time, like some family guy story...gives me whiplash. Such a well adjusted criminal family, makes decent people look trash :LOL:
    TLDR:

    Not a terrible AVN at all, but not exceptional or even memorable in any way really. Its really not bad, but not 4 stars let alone 5. Its plagued by inconsistent renders, models with poses that make them look double jointed. Added on top of the MMC stupid proportions to neck/shoulder, poor logic (porn) to scenes and generally poorly executed plot emphasizes lack of polish which otherwise could push this AVN well to at least 4 stars.