Recommending Story-first games

[realjitter]

But, if your meta point is that VNs should just be dialog and images, then I disagree with it.

No it's not about that, not at all. It's about frequency of occurrence in this case, imo. The game constantly tells you what's going on. It does that in multple ways up to a point where, to me, it becomes just annoying. If you're being told everything all the time it's too much. The developer tells you what you see, how you should feel, how other feel and so on and so forth. And at that point i'd say you should get rid of, at least, the most redundant things... In this game the developer takes too much control of everything in general. So much so that I felt kinda ridiculed by the dev to be honest. Like i'm not smart enough to comprehend what's happening right before my very own eyes. So again, from my perspective, it's about balance and flow in this case.

Screenshots are not the way to go here, but keep in mind a high frequency of occurrence when you look at this stuff.

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So on it's own, not a problem of course. But this would be an example of redundancy imo. What you can simply do here is to move on to what he's saying right away. "Here, take the phone and call...."

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What's wrong with that you might think. Well, there's nothing wrong with it per se, but the thing here is that, just one render earlier, the MC told us already that he's going to call a cab. I know, it's a super small thing and i'm sure that I sound like a total hypocrite by pointing that out. But, yet again, frequency of occurrence...

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Again, totally legitimate to describe it like that (for many reasons). But at this point, because of how often it happens, i'm sitting there thinking "no shit she does, sherlock..." It's not only about the how often in this case. It's also that, at this point, I know the follow up/pattern of how the dev likes to handle things. The dev describes what I see followed by the MC having an inner monologue about it and then followed with a conversation about the subject matter...

I don't know, I could give alot more of those small examples, like alot lot. And who knows, maybe i'm in the wrong here and i'm being too harsh with it, but something felt off to me while reading. It's probably a combination of all the things i've mentioned in my previous posts about the game.. who knows, who cares...

 

[bacienvu88]

The game constantly tells you what's going on. It does that in multple ways up to a point where, to me, it becomes just annoying. If you're being told everything all the time it's too much.

I think it has to do with those lines being too terse and just does the minimal description. For example the "Inside the taxi" provides no extra information and is thus redundant. But if it was "MC gets into the taxi and fastens his seat belt before the taxi driver takes off." it wouldn't be redundant because you actually get new information even if it is just obvious stuff that happens.

I don't know, I could give alot more of those small examples, like alot lot.

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[realjitter]

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[kotte]

And what is it with AVNs and bars? Every other game has MC work in a bar, a friend works in a bar or both. And if it isn't a bar it is a cafe.

Bars? Bars?
(my inner voice is saying this like in the Monthy Python "Luxury" sketch)
Bars are fairly interesting places story-wise. But what about GYMS and clothes store CHANGING BOOTHS!?!?
The two most boring places on earth, and still eleven out of ten AVN's end up there...

 

[kotte]

Beyond Tomorrow Story focused game from new developer. She have deep story and good renders.

It looks promising, even though I can't keep from raising an eyebrow when a story is about a 20-something guy and it says "You suddenly find yourself in the role of a real man, even though you're still just a boy". Everybody's experiences are different, but for a lot of people, you weren't a boy (or a girl) when you were 20...

But this is more of remark on the genre in general, not a complaint towards the game (that is downloading as I type).

 

[thanks for the demos]

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You are right, it is time to reread their entire archive. Thanks for the reminder

 

[camube]

I think realjitter is talking about basic descriptions and Tlaero is talking about painting with words.
I mean, I think it's 2 different things.

Anyway everyone, i want to ask, do you have any games that is similar to Our Red String where "different choices players make lead to a different state of the world"? I guess at this point, non-renpy is fine. I'm in the mood of playing a "game" instead of reading a game.

Most AVN renpy games are mostly "choose which characters the player would like to pursuit" or a binary path between A or B or between 3 alternatives A or B or C. On Renpy, other than ORS and GGGB, I couldn't find any games by myself where things can change somewhat drastically in terms of characters relationships and the Main Character's path.

I kinda want to play games like that if you all have any recommendation.

 

[Tlaero]

The closest thing I've got is Saving Chloe. Many different paths with fairly significantly different outcomes, but I suspect it's not as much of a game as you're looking for.

Tlaero

 

[lurkingnobody]

I think realjitter is talking about basic descriptions and Tlaero is talking about painting with words.
I mean, I think it's 2 different things.

Anyway everyone, i want to ask, do you have any games that is similar to Our Red String where "different choices players make lead to a different state of the world"? I guess at this point, non-renpy is fine. I'm in the mood of playing a "game" instead of reading a game.

Most AVN renpy games are mostly "choose which characters the player would like to pursuit" or a binary path between A or B or between 3 alternatives A or B or C. On Renpy, other than ORS and GGGB, I couldn't find any games by myself where things can change somewhat drastically in terms of characters relationships and the Main Character's path.

I kinda want to play games like that if you all have any recommendation.

Survival of Sarah Rose. The paths are all clearly heading in the same general direction, but they take drastically different routes to get there.

 

[thedude]

Anyway everyone, i want to ask, do you have any games that is similar to Our Red String where "different choices players make lead to a different state of the world"? I guess at this point, non-renpy is fine. I'm in the mood of playing a "game" instead of reading a game.

A Couple's Duet of Love & Lust and The Singer.

But the sexual content on those games might not be everybody's cup of tea.

 

[moskyx]

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[Hildegardt]

Anyway everyone, i want to ask, do you have any games that is similar to Our Red String where "different choices players make lead to a different state of the world"? I guess at this point, non-renpy is fine. I'm in the mood of playing a "game" instead of reading a game.

Most AVN renpy games are mostly "choose which characters the player would like to pursuit" or a binary path between A or B or between 3 alternatives A or B or C. On Renpy, other than ORS and GGGB, I couldn't find any games by myself where things can change somewhat drastically in terms of characters relationships and the Main Character's path.

I kinda want to play games like that if you all have any recommendation.

Hmm, a big maybe for Snowstorm?
Instead of simply choosing a LI, Snowstorm has an RPG inspired stats system, in which you have to have enough skill points to succeed at your choices. Don't expect too much, though, because it's pretty much impossible to predict the skill checks for your preferred path.
The world also doesn't change depending on your choices, but you get to see it from different perspectives and the differences can actually be pretty detailed. You'd probably need 2 1/2 playthroughs to see all the content of the individual characters and 3 full playthroughs to get every detail of the main story.

 

[camube]

Hmm, a big maybe for Snowstorm?
Instead of simply choosing a LI, Snowstorm has an RPG inspired stats system, in which you have to have enough skill points to succeed at your choices. Don't expect too much, though, because it's pretty much impossible to predict the skill checks for your preferred path.
The world also doesn't change depending on your choices, but you get to see it from different perspectives and the differences can actually be pretty detailed. You'd probably need 2 1/2 playthroughs to see all the content of the individual characters and 3 full playthroughs to get every detail of the main story.

What's your take on their completed game Sandstorm if i may ask?

 

[bacienvu88]

What's your take on their completed game Sandstorm if i may ask?

At the core of Sandstorm is a pretty good Indiana Jones-type adventure mixed with a good relationship drama. I find it especially interesting watching Rion and her boyfriend and seeing their relationship develop (i.e. if they can repair it or it deteriorates and MC "steals" Rion from her boyfriend).

The problem is the supernatural stuff that is all about people fucking with a humongous magic dick. And most of that is basically rape (the whole evil path is MC raping girls with said dick). Including MC being raped. In addition I feel like the story telling part is lacking. A lot of the time I scratch my head and ask why they are taking such stupid actions. And if an explanation is given it is very flimsy. One time there is even a whole investigation ending with a very flimsy reason why it happens (I'm referring to the event where Nora drops in the pool due to someone cutting the rope).

Hmm, a big maybe for Snowstorm?
Instead of simply choosing a LI, Snowstorm has an RPG inspired stats system, in which you have to have enough skill points to succeed at your choices. Don't expect too much, though, because it's pretty much impossible to predict the skill checks for your preferred path.
The world also doesn't change depending on your choices, but you get to see it from different perspectives and the differences can actually be pretty detailed. You'd probably need 2 1/2 playthroughs to see all the content of the individual characters and 3 full playthroughs to get every detail of the main story.

I rather like the different perspectives. But it does have the effect that your choices can only change how the LIs sees MC. So far the game has don't have the supernatural sex stuff from Sandstorm which is good. But there are other porny things to replace it (human milk girl). One thing Sandstorm got right was limiting the number of LIs to three (plus a hidden one). It made the relationships believable. Snowstorm feels more like MC is just a women magnet. There is no relationship that really feels natural to me. The problems with flimsy reasoning are carried over from Sandstorm.

 

[Hildegardt]

What's your take on their completed game Sandstorm if i may ask?

I honestly don't really have a take, because I pretty much skipped through the whole game and don't remember much at all. Needless to say I'm pleasantly surprised by Snowstorm for now.

One thing Sandstorm got right was limiting the number of LIs to three (plus a hidden one). It made the relationships believable. Snowstorm feels more like MC is just a women magnet. There is no relationship that really feels natural to me. The problems with flimsy reasoning are carried over from Sandstorm.

True, nine LIs are really a lot, but I think it's impossible to get them all. It seems like the three main women of each clan will always play the biggest role. I'm also savescumming pretty hard and I need three playthroughs to max everything out. I'd probably miss a bunch of content, if I played the intented way and the PC would feel less like a women magnet.
But that's another problem: You don't really get alternative paths depending on your skill points. You simply miss out on content, if you pick the wrong choices.

But my biggest problem with Snowstorm is that it only offers vanilla or rapey vibes. The story isn't deep enough to justify this as a viking thing imo, so it feels very porny, like you said. The saving grace is that the story atleast occasionally acknowledges that rape is bad actually.
But this also means that the PC is pretty inconsistent and two-faced. Even if you play him as the good guy, he's ready to rape and abuse at the drop of a hat.

 

[Canto Forte]

Well ... the Nix path and the blacksmith path are most romantic - they feature MC moving in with them,
literally in one case and visiting in the other, but Nix claims MC for herself and makes it clear to everyone.
Each of these is a tell tale sign of a growing relationship, something believable.

The story isn't deep enough to justify this as a viking thing

Here are our Mads - Nix path and our Rion - princess path.

There are different clans for different problems ... Jarls waging extinction wars on eachother
is a recurring theme in that acclaimed vikings series as well, also women and men lower in power
standing were to be had or beheadded by their betters, so MC is living precariously as he has no actual
role in the community unless he is living by the grace of his Jarl with the blacksmith girl who is arguably most
fantastic bombshell in the game ... or by the grace of the gods - with Nix - who, as a conduit for their whims,
is one intricate and absolute must in the lives of vikings.

Where would spartans or vikings - most ferocious of warmongering savages - be without their gods?

 

[bacienvu88]

Well ... the Nix path and the blacksmith path are most romantic - they feature MC moving in with them,
literally in one case and visiting in the other, but Nix claims MC for herself and makes it clear to everyone.
Each of these is a tell tale sign of a growing relationship, something believable.

I lost interest in Nyx when she asked MC to betray the trust Candrid put in him considering Nyx is all about loyalty.

 

[camube]

At the core of Sandstorm is a pretty good Indiana Jones-type adventure mixed with a good relationship drama. I find it especially interesting watching Rion and her boyfriend and seeing their relationship develop (i.e. if they can repair it or it deteriorates and MC "steals" Rion from her boyfriend).

The problem is the supernatural stuff that is all about people fucking with a humongous magic dick. And most of that is basically rape (the whole evil path is MC raping girls with said dick). Including MC being raped. In addition I feel like the story telling part is lacking. A lot of the time I scratch my head and ask why they are taking such stupid actions. And if an explanation is given it is very flimsy. One time there is even a whole investigation ending with a very flimsy reason why it happens (I'm referring to the event where Nora drops in the pool due to someone cutting the rope).

I rather like the different perspectives. But it does have the effect that your choices can only change how the LIs sees MC. So far the game has don't have the supernatural sex stuff from Sandstorm which is good. But there are other porny things to replace it (human milk girl). One thing Sandstorm got right was limiting the number of LIs to three (plus a hidden one). It made the relationships believable. Snowstorm feels more like MC is just a women magnet. There is no relationship that really feels natural to me. The problems with flimsy reasoning are carried over from Sandstorm.

would you say you enjoy Sicae more than Sandstorm and Snowstorm?

 

[bacienvu88]

would you say you enjoy Sicae more than Sandstorm and Snowstorm?

I would yes. That said the games are not trying to do the same things. The storm games are focused on characters, adventure and action. While Sicae has a fair amount of action, I think the main part of Sicae (and MBML) is in the world building, characters and plotting.

 

[boobsrcool]

I would yes. That said the games are not trying to do the same things. The storm games are focused on characters, adventure and action. While Sicae has a fair amount of action, I think the main part of Sicae (and MBML) is in the world building, characters and plotting.

Having never played snowstorm I'm more inclined to try it out from someone mentioning it in the same sentence as sicae