Recommending Story-first games

5.00 star(s) 8 Votes

Arisushi

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Jul 9, 2020
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You absolutely have every right to be proud of this. Finishing book 1 despite the real life challenges you're going through alone is worthy of praise, but, more importantly, it's good.

Let's start with your art. I think you've proven that you can create a compelling game with the artwork you draw. Yes, it's not as good as the professional's stuff you started with, but it is enjoyable. And you're going to continue to improve as you make more. I especially liked what you did with the panels on Surya's "date."
Thank you very much :) I'm glad you liked it.

Also, very happy to hear that you found my art enjoyable. It is only thanks to the kind words of encouragement I've received (here and on patreon), that I was able to keep going on that regards.

I know I have a long way to go, but I will do my best to keep improving.

I understand the "why" of it, but I'm going to suggest one smallish change anyway.
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I totally get what you mean. I made it that way so that (when the Transition from 3dcg to 2d happens) there won't be any doubts on the audience's mind, whether that was chandra or not. But there must be other ways achieve that. I'll see if I can come up with something interesting.

Story wise, you've got a unique setting, an interesting plot, good storytelling, and the beginnings of a great "voice." I hope you continue to make visual stories and that we get to see your inevitable growth. You're off to a great start.

Mechanically, I suggest doing an edit pass or two. Focus especially on verb tenses.

Tlaero
(Yeah, I definitely need to proofread/edit the whole script again. Now that book one is complete, I'll probably do a couple of dedicated sessions for it.)

Once again, thank you for the kind words. It really helps a lot and allows me to keep moving forward.

I'll do my best to improve my skills and keep telling the best stories I can.
 
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Arisushi

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Ah, that's so clever, and it completely went over my head! As expected, really :LOL:
Oh, that one's probably on me too.

I have this insane obessession to not overtly explain the inner workings of my stories, and let the audience figure it out.

But sometimes I end up overdoing it. This might just be one of those times :giggle:

I knew I recognized that look from somewhere! The music during the festival was also from one of your previous games, right? Perhaps even that one?
Ohh.. I'm happy you know of/remember that game.

Using the some of the same music in Zia and Twin Eclipse was intentional. But if I have the same music in those old games too, then that's just a happy accident :)
 
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jufot

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May 15, 2021
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I have this insane obessession to not overtly explain the inner workings of my stories, and let the audience figure it out.

But sometimes I end up overdoing it. This might just be one of those times :giggle:
No no no, it makes plenty of sense. It just takes longer to register with those of us at the back of the class. It's a lifelong affliction, don't worry ;)
 
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jufot

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May 15, 2021
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The timing may be poor after Arisushi's announcement, but I was going to recommend something too. And this time it's a game I hated really disliked because why not? It isn't like only the games I like are good or anything. The Ninth Street Bus. It's abandoned but it has endings. The story hits a lot of themes people here like. The visuals are very (soft) porny tho. I won't spoil you yet with the reasons I disliked it.
That was very nice. I've seen two endings, and that feels enough. I didn't run into anything too objectionable (though I can imagine darker endings I've avoided), so I'd be curious to know what you didn't like about it.
 

Tlaero

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Nov 24, 2018
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I totally get what you mean. I made it that way so that (when the Transition from 3dcg to 2d happens) there won't be any doubts on the audience's mind, whether that was chandra or not. But there must be other ways achieve that. I'll see if I can come up with something interesting.
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Tlaero
 
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Arisushi

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Tlaero
Oh, in that case, I'm actually glad the intended message was conveyed properly.

Right now, you and Jufot are the only two people who have given their thoughts on the update. (Excluding the usual, "Don't release your game on this site if it doesn’t have porn." comments on the game's main thread, that is.)

And funnily, both of you have had the exact opposite experience with regards to that scene.

So, I'll just sit on the idea for a little, and go with whichever approach feels the best when making the next patch.

Again, thank you for the feedback. It really helps a lot :)
 
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Tlaero

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Jaike

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Aug 24, 2020
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It has a FMC! I remember you had quite an opinion on most of the FMC in the games out there. Would you say this one does not fall into one of the categories you shared before?

I've been avoiding most (if not all) of the VNs with FeMC for very similar reasons as the ones you explained, but this being recommended by you makes me curious about how the story goes and how the FeMC behaves.
Ehhh... I have dozens if not hundreds of posts where I give my blunt opinions about female-protagonist games, so it's kinda hard to know what you have in mind here.

But I'll try to be a little helpful, with minor spoilers:
There was no sexual intercourse in the game when I tried it, so it wasn't a RIL game, and there was no sexual partner. So it doesn't fall in the "garbage male partner" trap at all, and avoids all my complaints about partners in these games.
The protagonist is passive and not strongwilled, but that's the entire point of the game AND it fits her personality perfectly so that'd be a useless criticism here (and that's a criticism that's more for female-protagonist games in general than for 1 work).
It is a DID game (in the bondage sense), but a pretty soft one.
The characters aren't 1-dimensional or Mary Sues.
It isn't about corruption.

I think that covers most angles, at least implicitly. :)

That was very nice. I've seen two endings, and that feels enough. I didn't run into anything too objectionable (though I can imagine darker endings I've avoided), so I'd be curious to know what you didn't like about it.
If you don't mind I'll wait a little longer before I give my opinions. I think we saw the same 2 endings, tho. Or not very different ones.

any recs yall have for a story focused game with a female protagonist that don't get randomly misogynistic like so many porn games do for some strange reason?
Beside Tlaero's games with a female protagonist:
Ladykiller in a Bind, A Summer's End, Teen Zombie in your Cabin. Games with lesbian protagonists typically don't have that problem. Unless the protagonist is a lezdomme, usually.
 

UnkownRoboCommie

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Jun 16, 2023
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corruption can be real bad yeah

it's a shame because there's some corruption I really like but most corruption I absolutely hate

I think Seeds of Chaos (solid story focused game actually) is the only one that does it actually well. It's driven by the person getting "corrupted" and it's portrayed as them becoming their full self instead of just becoming a worse person or changing themselves for some misogynist sex thing
 
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Ehhh... I have dozens if not hundreds of posts where I give my blunt opinions about female-protagonist games, so it's kinda hard to know what you have in mind here.
I don't recall the whole thing, but the main points I remember were the FeMC being one or a combination of:

- Lust sex-starved brain-rotted characters.
- Dumber than a rock (although IMHO this can also apply to male MCs).
- Fall in the damsel in distress category.

It was a long-ish post/comment, and I don't recall all of it, but these were the points I remember.

Overall I have played some games with FeMC, but so far I haven't quite clicked with any due to some variation of the previous points.

Sadly, good male MCs are also really difficult to find these days, and more and more they share the same issues as the FeMCs; so I'm having difficulties finding VNs that I can enjoy.
 
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Birdnman993

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Dec 6, 2021
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4.5 stars average review, but only 54 votes since 2021. Is it good? What did you like most about it?
Well, the FMC has many paths, you can seek to be a vigilante or someone who prioritizes their own benefit, she is one of the toughest FMCs I have ever seen, literally a BADASS who opposes a bunch of mobsters, corrupt police, criminals and clandestine organizations, many of whom have an ultra-macho attitude it should be noted, but that is only a weakness that she can use to her advantage at times.

There is also a paranormal element that involves mystical entities that date back to medieval times, there is also a lot of lesbian sex that never hurts.
 
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Well, the FMC has many paths, you can seek to be a vigilante or someone who prioritizes their own benefit, she is one of the toughest FMCs I have ever seen, literally a BADASS who opposes a bunch of mobsters, corrupt police, criminals and clandestine organizations, many of whom have an ultra-macho attitude it should be noted, but that is only a weakness that she can use to her advantage at times.

There is also a paranormal element that involves mystical entities that date back to medieval times, there is also a lot of lesbian sex that never hurts.
Ok, that sounds interesting. I'll get it and give it a try.
Thanks for the recommendation!
 
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Geigi

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Jul 7, 2017
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Any FMC game that have attractive older man who is not a creepy old pervert? Dilf tag have mostly hobos/ugly bastards and I avoid them like plague.
 
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Jaike

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Aug 24, 2020
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corruption can be real bad yeah

it's a shame because there's some corruption I really like but most corruption I absolutely hate

I think Seeds of Chaos (solid story focused game actually) is the only one that does it actually well. It's driven by the person getting "corrupted" and it's portrayed as them becoming their full self instead of just becoming a worse person or changing themselves for some misogynist sex thing
Seeds of Chaos sure has ambition with its plot. I think its story value suffers from the grimdark worldbuilding, but I'm picky with that. And it's better than the Book of Bondmaids. And it's pretty much all about cheating, netorase or netorare.

The NTR arc with Andras, well the part that's anviliously telegraphed on the non-netorare section, kinda cheats by imitating the Man with a Thousand Faces from harem games tho. He's a genocidal psycho when he's taking villages, and a romantic shy boy when he makes a move on the MC's wife. And he isn't characterised like a German extermination camp officer or similar.

People from this topic may want to be warned that you get rape dilemmas shoved in your face if you try to play a good arc btw. The Trumpy demon twins mind control a knightess who served under the MC, you get the choice if the MC is pushed into sex with her and cheats on his wife or lets her get gangraped by orcs. I quit it right there.

And don't get me wrong, I suspect I'd rate it like 4 out of 5 stars if I ever got to play it through. I just think those are the weak points.

I don't recall the whole thing, but the main points I remember were the FeMC being one or a combination of:

- Lust sex-starved brain-rotted characters.
- Dumber than a rock (although IMHO this can also apply to male MCs).
- Fall in the damsel in distress category.

It was a long-ish post/comment, and I don't recall all of it, but these were the points I remember.

Overall I have played some games with FeMC, but so far I haven't quite clicked with any due to some variation of the previous points.

Sadly, good male MCs are also really difficult to find these days, and more and more they share the same issues as the FeMCs; so I'm having difficulties finding VNs that I can enjoy.
Then it's either from the good, the bad and the fugly tropes topic or it's an early post in general discussions or this topic. That'd likely be me complaining about RIL games (a type of Japanese shovelware), or RIL tropes in other games. Anyway I obviously don't think that's true for all female-protagonist games, but probably for a majority. But the female protagonist games that are safe are usually exclusively lesbian. Seems adding a male "lewdable" character to a female protagonist game tends to unleash the raging coomer in many male devs. :unsure:

Tbh I put up with a lot of bullshit as long as it's avoidable.

Well, the FMC has many paths, you can seek to be a vigilante or someone who prioritizes their own benefit, she is one of the toughest FMCs I have ever seen, literally a BADASS who opposes a bunch of mobsters, corrupt police, criminals and clandestine organizations, many of whom have an ultra-macho attitude it should be noted, but that is only a weakness that she can use to her advantage at times.

There is also a paranormal element that involves mystical entities that date back to medieval times, there is also a lot of lesbian sex that never hurts.
I used to like it, but the forced submission sections, that happen on all routes, were too much for me, especially cause some of those were iirc rape with sex toys.

Any FMC game that have attractive older man who is not a creepy old pervert? Dilf tag have mostly hobos/ugly bastards and I avoid them like plague.
Can't think of literally a single one. I think all older men in GGGB and Casual Desires are creeps?
 
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jufot

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May 15, 2021
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But the female protagonist games that are safe are usually exclusively lesbian. Seems adding a male "lewdable" character to a female protagonist game tends to unleash the raging coomer in many male devs. :unsure:
Ain't that the fucking truth. :( It speaks volumes about the AVN ecosystem that only women developers seem capable of creating "safe" FMC games.

And no, "but it's avoidable" doesn't count.
 

Canto Forte

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Jul 10, 2017
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The old geezers are all revealed to be creeps who enjoy ”signing” young flames to shag - Picasso is the creepiest asshole around, second to Leonardo di Caprio, Brad pitt, you could stick Cosbi and many others in there.

You cannot build anything ”safe” with the ”old creepy bastard” trope in games where tropes need broad brushes to appeAL TO THE PLAYERS.
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Normal FMC trope is that she ”corrupts” the unsupecting younger dumb lass who is never any wiser.
Lez FMC are always aggressive to their spouses - it is how they get them to submit to them.

Seriously speking: if a girl who looks devine has simps by the truckload, why would she entertain a bully lez aggressive cougar?

When the woman has the pussy to crush all balls and tame them to her will - why bother with old and vile?

In a game where there are no stakes - every character is endeless and has nothing holding them back from being creepy, villainous and crude - which are traits that build draama and are fun to watch spiral down the drain - who cares about old and ”safe” serial hook up artists who are actually boring degenerates?

Do you?
 
5.00 star(s) 8 Votes