Recommending Story-first games

[jufot]

I guess I generally treat games more like role-playing games where the MC isn't necessarily my proxy, but I take on a role.

It doesn't happen too often, but if there's an interesting male LI, I follow that route - not for the sex, but for the story.

That's why I have no problem playing / reading adult games / VNs with gay (male) MCs - I'm very open-minded in that regard.

In the end story comes first for me - and love is love, regardless of gender.

I didn't mean to imply I'm some sort of bigot. Yes, love is love, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. No, I have no problem playing games with gay male MCs. Yes, story comes first for me as well, it's why I started this thread. And yes, I play plenty of games where I don't identify with the MC as my proxy (Corporate Culture being the prime example).

In these games, I specifically don't like fucking men as a woman. It feels like a turn-off, and perhaps my explanation of it was too simplistic. Apologies if I gave the wrong impression

 

[Jaike]

One very good reason to play a pure lesbian route is that way too many slice-of-life games with a female protagonist have male LIs that are either creeps, toxic machos, cheats or cucks who push the protagonist into sex with the first two classes. Of course, why that happens isn't mystery, it's that these games, typically VNs, are lite corruption games with a little window dressing. So they're like god games for male players. But JOHN is a welcome exception to that tropefest. Well, maybe the boyfriend is a cheat, we'll have to see about that.

I've never ever thought of AWAM, or its cute crackhead sister, Project Myriam, as story-driven. It is true that the player forms an outline of something of a story through choices, but they don't seem to have much of a narrative premise that shapes and drives the action. They feel more like sequences of choices à la carte. Unlike JOHN for example, in which you have the investigation into the vigilante and the mysterious doings of the boyfriend (vigilantism? ) leaving its mark on the sequence.

Sorry for the two mini-rants.

 

[ShamanLab]

I've tried Xenolov.

This is definetely story driven game with very decent quality of renders and plot. But the story isn't my cup of tea.

 

[Crese1967895]

I haven't heard of the first one. I'll check it out, thanks! I'm not a huge fan of DA, something about it just feels off to me, though I can't pinpoint an exact reason. City of Broken Dreamers is a much better follow up

Same. I don't now why, but I just couldn't get into Depraved Awakening. Mist has a good story and although there is an abundance of sex scenes they don't feel forced. There might be a bit of grind(I wouldn't know since I cheated)but it's all connected to the plot. Really fun game, check it out if you can!

 

[Deleted member 1044747]

Apologies if I gave the wrong impression

All good. I wouldn't have thought of you that way.

I've never ever thought of AWAM (...) as story-driven (...)

I guess I expressed myself in an unfortunate way.

What I meant to say is that AWAM is an adult VN with focus on story rather than explicit scenes (which is a good thing in my opinion, but apparently many people don't like that).

 

[Raife]

In these games, I specifically don't like fucking men as a woman. It feels like a turn-off, and perhaps my explanation of it was too simplistic. Apologies if I gave the wrong impression

I think I'm the same way. Perhaps I'd put it this way, though, jufot: I'm highly interested in women and female characters, whether or not there's any sex involved... and less interested in guys. Of course, I enjoy well-written male characters, but I'm not fascinated with men the same way that I'm fascinated by women.

I mean... my best friend is a woman, I choose to spend almost all of my free time with her, and she's the first person I see every morning when I wake up. She plays some of these games with me, and offers comments on choices and the LIs. I can't help but interpret some of these relationships based on my own relationship... not least because she offers her own views and they shape mine.

Thus, if I'm playing an adult game, I greatly prefer that the LIs be women because that's inherently more interesting to me... regardless of the gender of the MC.

In this respect, my tastes are extremely conventional for this genre of games, which tend to be written with a male player and/or male MC in mind (that is, of course, a shame for players of different preferences). Where I'm a bit more unusual is that I'm not interested in female LIs primarily as sex objects: I'd like to see their characters explored and understand their view of the world and the MC, imagine how a relationship might be established, and see it evolve in passionate or tragic ways.

Finally, I don't like to see female LIs hurt, whether or not the MC is the cause, because I can't help but see some fragment of my friend in them... and I cannot stand the idea of her being hurt or unhappy. That doesn't mean I shy away from games that deal with sorrow or tragic themes -- quite the contrary -- but that makes violence of any kind against women abhorrent (unless it's an integral part of the story) and non-consent is a major turnoff.

This is a question of personal preference and playstyle, though -- each player's likes/dislikes will necessarily vary. I'm just explaining my own.

 

[Raife]

I've never ever thought of AWAM, or its cute crackhead sister, Project Myriam, as story-driven. It is true that the player forms an outline of something of a story through choices, but they don't seem to have much of a narrative premise that shapes and drives the action. They feel more like sequences of choices à la carte. Unlike JOHN for example, in which you have the investigation into the vigilante and the mysterious doings of the boyfriend (vigilantism? ) leaving its mark on the sequence.

I agree. AWAM has some character development, but the story is a clunky pastiche of suburban daily life, to the point where I had a very hard time getting in to it. The corruption angle alone isn't enough to hold my interest.

I also share your dismay about the sheer lousiness of the juvenile, creepy, or predatory male MC personas who are common in these games (though not AWAM, of course, with its female MC). It is unappealing to roleplay these cretinous MCs... worse, it's boring.

My personal MC preference is for 'self-loathing white knight mugged by reality' types who remind me a bit of:

• Philip Marlowe (Linda Loring might also be one of my ideal female LI types); or
• Harry Dresden (a fantasy genre Marlowe).

As far as I know, this classic type hasn't been done really well yet in an adult game.

 

[Crese1967895]

Have you played where it all began? It's made by the same person who made Summer's Gone, and it's just as good(imo).
I'm not sure if Ataegina matches your criteria but I'm pretty certain ReBirth does.

I enjoyed reading through this thread and I'm glad to have found like-minded people. Although I do play and enjoy porn over plot games, I find myself more emotionally invested in the one's that put their plot and character development first(Unless it's a game that has a story based on sex, like twisted world).

 

[jufot]

I've tried Xenolov.

This is definetely story driven game with very decent quality of renders and plot. But the story isn't my cup of tea.

I just tried it for about 20 minutes and agreed, so not my cup of tea :/

Absolutely. And you just gave me the perfect catch phrase... [screenshots] Gotta love Nyx and her mocking humour.

Interesting. Judging from your screenshots and how you censored them, I assume you tend to name MCs after yourself? It's funny, I never feel like doing that. I usually go for James, which isn't my real name. No idea why, either. I just picked that once a long time ago and I stuck with it. Hmm...

[Mist] Really fun game, check it out if you can!

Will do, thanks for the recommendation!

Have you played where it all began? It's made by the same person who made Summer's Gone, and it's just as good(imo).

Not yet, I was waiting for a few more updates, but now that the game has been basically reset to zero, I'll definitely wait a few years first

I greatly prefer that the LIs be women because that's inherently more interesting to me... regardless of the gender of the MC.

I'm not interested in female LIs primarily as sex objects: I'd like to see their characters explored and understand their view of the world and the MC, imagine how a relationship might be established, and see it evolve in passionate or tragic ways.

Finally, I don't like to see female LIs hurt, whether or not the MC is the cause

violence of any kind against women abhorrent (unless it's an integral part of the story) and non-consent is a major turnoff.

I also share your dismay about the sheer lousiness of the juvenile, creepy, or predatory male MC personas who are common in these games. It is unappealing to roleplay these cretinous MCs... worse, it's boring.

Agreed, word for word. Not for the first time either

 

[jufot]

Hi, again.

My second project "Mysterious Erotic Theater 3500' is story first game too.

All right, I just played the first 2 movies. I refuse to believe you weren't as high as a kite when you made this, and not the cheap shit, I mean proper high It's so weird and trippy!



Indeed Belinda, indeed...

Also, while the English isn't great, sometimes it works out brilliantly, like in these two scenes

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[Jaike]

I agree. AWAM has some character development, but the story is a clunky pastiche of suburban daily life, to the point where I had a very hard time getting in to it. The corruption angle alone isn't enough to hold my interest.

I also share your dismay about the sheer lousiness of the juvenile, creepy, or predatory male MC personas who are common in these games (though not AWAM, of course, with its female MC). It is unappealing to roleplay these cretinous MCs... worse, it's boring.

I was actually firing my trap off about female MCs and male LIs, but I do agree about male MCs. Though I've kind of warmed up to the morally grey creepy but otherwise benevolent male MCs by now.

AWAM is far from bad or even average in my opinion, but I do think it is more driven by relationship choices than by an underlying plot.

My personal MC preference is for 'self-loathing white night mugged by reality' types who remind me a bit of:

• Philip Marlowe (Linda Loring might also be one of my ideal female LI types); or
• Harry Dresden (a fantasy genre Marlowe).

As far as I know, this classic type hasn't been done really well yet in an adult game.

To be frank, I don't get your references here at all. Do you mean a tragic romantic hero who is forced to act against his (?) ideals; so a male MC?

Have you played where it all began? It's made by the same person who made Summer's Gone, and it's just as good(imo).
I'm not sure if Ataegina matches your criteria but I'm pretty certain ReBirth does.

I enjoyed reading through this thread and I'm glad to have found like-minded people. Although I do play and enjoy porn over plot games, I find myself more emotionally invested in the one's that put their plot and character development first(Unless it's a game that has a story based on sex, like twisted world).

Ataegina is the fantasy game about a powerful 'orphaned' mage at a magic academy, isn't it? I thought its dialogues and characterisation were rather basic. But I have to concede, I recall that the sex was usually embedded in the story.

When it is about narrative I think that what I care for more than anything else is characterisation and captivating writing. I want the characters to have motivations, to deceive me into accepting them as real and to see them talk and think as if they are alive. But I won't lie, the sexual content is probably more important in grabbing my attention. Sorry, dev who made the War and Peace of scat guro, I probably won't ever give your game a second look.

 

[Crese1967895]

Ataegina is the fantasy game about a powerful 'orphaned' mage at a magic academy, isn't it? I thought its dialogues and characterisation were rather basic. But I have to concede, I recall that the sex was usually embedded in the story.

When it is about narrative I think that what I care for more than anything else is characterisation and captivating writing. I want the characters to have motivations, to deceive me into accepting them as real and to see them talk and think as if they are alive. But I won't lie, the sexual content is probably more important in grabbing my attention. Sorry, dev who made the War and Peace of scat guro, I probably won't ever give your game a second look.

AWAM?

 

[Jaike]

AWAM?

A Wife And Mother, likely one of the most popular adult games on this site and such a slow burner that I believe it has killed more frogs than the boiling cooking pot of urban legend.

 

[Deleted member 1044747]

Judging from your screenshots and how you censored them, I assume you tend to name MCs after yourself?

Depends.

If a VN suggests a name, I often simply go with that.

In case of Intertwined I'm using different MC names that fit the respective route I'm on.

I actually used my real name on this particular route, but I would have probably censored it anyway - not that anyone ends up thinking my real name is Chad.

 

[Crese1967895]

A Wife And Mother, likely one of the most popular adult games on this site and such a slow burner that I believe it has killed more frogs than the boiling cooking pot of urban legend.

Ahh, I've heard of it. I never could get into games with a female protagonist. I tend to place myself into the shoes of the MC, and that's very hard for me to do when the MC is of the opposite gender. If I can't empathize with the protag then I'll probably just grab a gallery unlocker and put it in my "good games but not for me" folder(Depending on reviews)and then check out another game.

Strip and play with Valerie has topnotch animations and renders(Plus a relatively good story as well)so if you don't mind cliche big dick protag(Although it makes sense because

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Choose the story mode version if you don't want to go through annoying minigames. Also, there are some bad endings, so watch out for that. There's also a sequel in the works too.

 

[Dragon59]

That's a fair reason.

I guess I generally treat games more like role-playing games where the MC isn't necessarily my proxy, but I take on a role.

It doesn't happen too often, but if there's an interesting male LI, I follow that route - not for the sex, but for the story.

That's why I have no problem playing / reading adult games / VNs with gay (male) MCs - I'm very open-minded in that regard.

In the end story comes first for me - and love is love, regardless of gender.

Exactly. My contemporary game, It's Complicate, will definitely embody that motto. Given that you can play my steampunk game as cis, trans, or non-binary, I guess it applies there, too.

Hi, again.

My second project "Mysterious Erotic Theater 3500' is story first game too.

I'll check it out!

One very good reason to play a pure lesbian route is that way too many slice-of-life games with a female protagonist have male LIs that are either creeps, toxic machos, cheats or cucks who push the protagonist into sex with the first two classes. Of course, why that happens isn't mystery, it's that these games, typically VNs, are lite corruption games with a little window dressing. So they're like god games for male players. But JOHN is a welcome exception to that tropefest. Well, maybe the boyfriend is a cheat, we'll have to see about that.

I've come to tire of the corruption games, even the light corruption. If there is a sign of character growth, I may put up with their initial creepiness. I've abandoned many of the old games I started with (like Big Brother/Glamour or Milfy City). I do seem to make an exception for Lessons in Love. The MC is a bit creepy, but he questions himself and there is a LOT of story going on.

I agree. AWAM has some character development, but the story is a clunky pastiche of suburban daily life, to the point where I had a very hard time getting in to it. The corruption angle alone isn't enough to hold my interest.

I also share your dismay about the sheer lousiness of the juvenile, creepy, or predatory male MC personas who are common in these games (though not AWAM, of course, with its female MC). It is unappealing to roleplay these cretinous MCs... worse, it's boring.

It reminds me of Penn Jilette's response to questions about his atheism, with questions like 'What's to stop you from raping and murdering all you want?"

His response was that he already rapes and murders all that he wants--zero.

Perhaps it is because I was abused as a young child, but I really have no interest in roleplaying as these despicable characters, especially if they will not improve due to their experiences.

My personal MC preference is for 'self-loathing white night mugged by reality' types who remind me a bit of:

• Philip Marlowe (Linda Loring might also be one of my ideal female LI types); or
• Harry Dresden (a fantasy genre Marlowe).

As far as I know, this classic type hasn't been done really well yet in an adult game.

Interesting idea...

 

[Raife]

...I really have no interest in roleplaying as these despicable characters, especially if they will not improve due to their experiences.

That is an important point, Dragon... the best and most interesting MCs all evolve and develop as a game unfolds.

A well-written MC must have a distinct personality to begin with -- and a world view -- but it should be able to shift somewhat with the player's choices. Radical shifts aren't credible... a compelling MC shouldn't be allowed choices fundamentally inauthentic to their core personalities -- i.e. a saintly character shouldn't suddenly go on a murderous rampage.

But subtle shifts over time in an MC's outlook, allowing a fairly despicable character to improve or a fallen character to redeem themselves, can be awesome. One of the reasons I enjoy _Corporate Culture_ so much is that the MC starts out as quite despicable (not in a sex creep way... he's a self-sabotaging loser) but is showing signs of improvement under the influence of another character.

The true tabula rasa MC, on the other hand, is a classic porn game trope... it's fine for quick fap-oriented games, but absolutely is not acceptable in a game that aspires to a compelling narrative.

It is so gallingly common, in these forums, to see players complain to devs that 'my MC should be able to do whatever I want' -- which really means that the player wants to be able to blow up the story that the dev is trying to create. Worse, devs sometimes give in to these requests, which almost always ruins their game.

 

[jufot]

The true tabula rasa MC, on the other hand, is a classic porn game trope...

This immediately reminded me of Summer Scent, where the MC can be anything from a kind, considerate gentleman to psychopathic rapist, all within the timespan of a few days.

 

[Raife]

This immediately reminded me of Summer Scent, where the MC can be anything from a kind, considerate gentleman to psychopathic rapist, all within the timespan of a few days.

Yup... the SS MC is such a blank slate that I find playing him boring... there's no way I'm going to make it through SS's byzantine branches.

One of your more amusing triggers, jufot, is when members start bitching about how 'I want my MC to rape that LI,' or 'I want that LI to suddenly start conforming to my preferred idea of traditional female gender roles around the MC.' Demands like that, directed at one of your favourite games, are guaranteed to set you off.

Do these complaints set you off mainly because (1) they're generally boorish/stupid/gross/offensive, or because (2) the dev might actually listen and ruin one of your favourite games? I'm guessing it's primarily 1 with a dash of 2.

 

[jufot]

Demands like that, directed at one of your favourite games, are guaranteed to set you off.

Oh, yeah. One of the earlier, whiny comments on the Hillside thread was asking "when can we go balls deep into Emma?" and it had really pissed me off. I mean... how dense must you be if that's your first thought after playing that game? Seriously...

I'm guessing it's primarily 1 with a dash of 2.

Exactly, in that order