VN - Ren'Py - STWA: Unbroken [Book 1 Steam] [STWAdev]

[SPOILER ALERT]

Back when I was done playing STWA: Author, I immediately gave that game two stars out of five. When I finally had the gut to try its next game, I was afraid that STWA: Unbroken would fall into the same depth along with its predecessor. Well, I certainly can see that STWA: Unbroken has many improvements, but sadly some of the most important aspects are still the same as its predecessor.

The romances/relationships in this game are bad, not as bad as STWA: Author but it's still damn bad if you see the big picture. Valentine keeps blocking himself to get a real woman despite he was famously as a womanizer. Playing solo routes (this is how the game is supposed to be played) is kinda painful. Let's say I have a specific playthrough for Els, now the problem is Els herself gets a little screen time which means that I need to calm my ass down more often. But once her sequence shows up, all I can do is just talk with her about things and that's that. I know that she's elusive and kinda hard to get, but once there's a moment of her opening up to Valentine, he just kinda blocked her affection because of "muh past" and it turns into an argument instead of set everything aside to bonding with her.

Other girls are also weird. Ines for example, is a new member of the house and also new in Valentine's life, but then few days later she acts slutty toward him and then pretend that she knows Vi better than him. What the fuck is her problem? I swear if there was an option to kick her out of the mansion, I would've done it. Amrit is also very persistent, I like her as my student but I don't have any romantic interest against her. But then she keeps flashing her tits out a lot even after I rejected her advances. I swear people keep judging Valentine most of the time, but when they're the ones who lay down their guard, Valentine does the same thing against them. Seriously it's like me being a dense wall talking to another dense wall, at this point our convos won't get anywhere if we keep acting this way. No character developments whatsoever.

However, the story is great and I have no objection at all about it. Don't get me started on its sex scenes, definitely one of the best out there for a DAZ-made game. If you're comparing Unbroken with Author, it feels like day and night. One thing that I forgot to mentioned, I really, really like how we have separated moment for each girls instead of going out all together every damn time, something that I hate from STWA: Author.

So, if you like being miserable around people who are also miserable or maybe just plain bored looking for a game to kill time, this game is for you. Four stars for now, but I could see a complete five stars in the end of the tunnel.

The effort that quite obviously went into this game is totally worth it.
Its not been often that totally different and actually diverging feelings can be "transmitted" in a VN as it is here.. the dialogues are pure bliss. The characters actually DO have character. And that the pace of the story with this load of content is actually thought through very well is just the cherry on the cake.
This deserves praise - and this is what this review is. Total praise! Thank you for this gem of a VN!

I love this game, it's on my top 5 favorite vn games of all time if you can believe it, already played it twice and i'm on the third run.

From the start you know that this game is gonna be different, all the girls are into you but you are told from the very beginning that you are a casanova, a manwhore, so you quickly accept that, it helps that the mc is actually hot. The whole fighter premise is very welcome too, not too many games with that premise and this one is by far the best one, it does everything right. The main girls are absolute gorgeous and they have their own distinctive personalitiy which the dev does a really good job of portraying it.

At first this game may seem a bit shallow, you meet hot girl, you porsue hot girl, hot girl porsue you, but as you play you realise there is more to the MC and the girls as the eyes see, and it gets very deep, which is something i really like, there is no overcomplicated drama like "oh somebody wants to kill me, oh somebody is trying to kill one of the LI, oh something happened and if i don't do this the girl i love will die" (and thank god because i hate these dramas) but as you go on every main girl has a very deep story, with very deep and real feelings, they are not there just to have sex scenes you know? and the MC suffers from a lot too, it's very intriguing watching things develope.

The renders are pretty good too, specially after chapter 3, the writing is pretty fenomenal if i'm being honest, and as i said all the girls are hot but destinctive from any game i ever played.

If i am to complain about something it would be the amount of girls with short hair, i don't really like it but it doesn't really bother me either, just would be nice to see more girls with long hair.

One of the Best AVNs out there. The storytelling is just so good. All the characters are round and interesting. The Graphics is also top notch and LIs are hot and varied so I think anyone can find a LI to their liking (but Els is the best). If you want an immersive AVN with great story and graphics you should really try this one.

I'm usually about lengthy reviews but I feel like I dont want to tell anything in this review at all. I just want you to experience it for yourself.

I'll just keep it short & sweet and say it like this.
The Main Girls:
All enjoyable, none of them really "suck" they all have quirks and defined personalities. Elspeth is probably the most unrealistic of the cast but it still fits her so well. Practically a mad genius, super babe, with the athleticism of a amateur male boxing prodigy. Everyone else is a LOT more grounded but still find myself drawn to best girl status with Els.

The Animations/Renders:
Renders are gorgeous, some of the characters are more unique, some of the others are more standard but cant really complain at all. They have exquisite detail. Animations aren't anything to write home about, they gradually get better but you can tell this kind of AVN isn't really meant to be so much about the lecherous scenes and more about the hefty story.

In which The Story:
Character that hates himself and self-loathes at every turn that claims to only be good with guns and fists. Served in the Military, now is a career MMA fighter, heavily tied to Veterans charity. He's a really likeable MC. His personality isn't too far one way or the other and tends to have a more modern approach to everything where he would fit the bill of attractive, tall, muscular, but also quick-witted, funny and passionate. The story takes its run on his life after the war and the people he met while serving & after serving and how he handles day to day life coaching while also being a professional fighter himself. However..

This game definitely loads on the heavy themes, centers heavily around Trauma and expresses individually with what each person is currently fighting. Theres a lot of closet demons, no one is safe from them, not even the MC who seems to be having his own massive internal battles. Slowly but surely overtime everything starts to unravel and clue you in a little more each time at what each person is struggling with.

Welp said it wouldnt be lengthy but rambled a bit anyway, wanted to make it a fair review but seriously just a great experience. The kind of AVN that makes you want to try your own hand at making them because you feel how much passion is in it.

One of the best VN's I've ever played. The writings what sets it apart though, by far some of the best writing and characters I've ever read from any other VN. The renders are amazing too, as are the animations, the only thing lacking I'd say is audio, though I understand with licensing and all that it can be difficult to attain. Other than that, this is what VN's should strive to be like.

The best story I read in a visual novel. Every character have their own demons. It feels real. It's just perfect. Els is the best girl though. Better give her the best ending. Amrit, Kana, Vi and even Ines everybody is written flowlessly.

This game is not just some random fuck around game.
This is about emotions, character arcs, connections and lead to a few Sex scenes.
The women of this game are pretty unique to me and no I very much like, that when you say no to one they are persistant, because they really want to. It is cool to see, that there are language differences, due to origin, age and social background
What I don't like is that the MC does not really has to do something to get the attention, of those georgous girls. Most of the girls, are already in MC's life.
Keep up the good work!

As a diehard MMA fan, I can understand most of the references they make and the moves they have you do during the fights. But where it really misses for me is the tension and emotion inherent in the sport. It's literally impossible to lose, and your opponents don't really have any character. They're all faceless mooks you beat up while you slam all the hot pussy you can. Your training is a non factor as well. I tried to do as little training/MMA as possible to see if I could lose and nothing was significantly different. Your fighting decisions mean essentially nothing for the plot and the game fails to make you really care.

There's also a lack of real male training partner presence, probably so the game can focus more on the girls. BADik mixes in dudes well, but this game really doesn't. There's one male training partner who is also a fighter but that's about it.

As a porn game sure it's fine, but if you expected a little bit of MMA realism, or looked forward to an MMA career simulation it's extremely lacking. There's a lot of missed opportunities they could have built on imo, but maybe I'm just a stickler.

Personally I rate it a 2 for plot/immersion. Renders and girls are great though, so no worries there.

Overall, I'll give it a 3 only because the renders are super hot.

Really good game with a gripping cast and story. Assets aren't anything two amazing nor is the the sexual content but it you're okay with that and playing it for plot its damn good.

The main issue I have with game is while I know it's trying to sell a setting. No self respecting scottish woman is having a Union Jack. Ever.

I'm not into tomboys, short haired girls or whatever but dammmn these girls looks fineee!!

This VN has two of the best looking ginger girls too! Specially Elspeth <3

The face gestures look amazing, very well done.

I don't have complaints: you're a successful MMA fighter, has a shared mansion, students, good friends, money and the chance to interact with beautiful ladies. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!!

You may have a bit chip of PTSD but nothing to cry about.. With some work you can overcome it.

5/5 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

I should start off by saying I do not like MMA. I think it's silly for two people to get into the ring/cage and try and beat the crap out of each for no real reason. I am not knocking people who fight nor the fans, but I just am not a fan of meaningless violence. I have held of playing this because of it, but I love the dev and their previous game so I have been anxious to play. I am sorry I did.

I may be stereotyping, but a person who willingly gets into a fight with someone else for no reason and they have to psych themselves up to beat the crap out of someone else.... I would imagine they almost have to create a false sense of dislike for the person. I firmly believe, if you can get into a fight like that when there is no life on the line or no cause to defend, then you cannot be a sympathetic character irl. That's doesn't mean you can't love or care for people, but if you are prone to violence like that, how can you possible empathize with most people? I just don't buy it. I am not saying a fighter cannot be a good person, I just think it takes a unique individual to be able to do that for a living and the MC in this story does not fit that mold.

Of course the other issue are the LIs... while all of them are hot, none of them are interesting. I mean Amritz has issues galore. Kano is just silly. She was "wronged" by her best friend for reasons I still have not figured out. I don't want to spoil anything, but there was no reason for her to betray Kano like that. So now we have to deal with some silly former wrestler who wants to be the best at something? IDK.

Then there is Elspeth. Some super intelligent girl who acts all mysterious and closed off only to give the MC crap because he can't figure her out. Then there is VI, a 14 year old trapped in the body of an adult. Or the attorney... snore... boring... lacking any personality except being hot for the MC. At least the hookups are interesting.

I know I am being a bit of an a-hole, but I really love this dev and I was really looking forward to another good story, but this just doesn't work for me. Granted, it my be my MMA bias, but to be fair, the fighting is not really that big a part of the story. I just have a hard time buying the MC as an MMA fighter and I am not really interested in any of the LIs. Other than looks, they are just silly and shallow.

Anyway, take what you will away from this. I am obviously in the minority so considering the talent of the dev, you should still download it and give it a try. and make up your own mind.

Reveiw as of version: Pt.6
This game is a visual novel with a lot of player input in the form of choices. There's an outstandingly rich set of variables the player affects with his choices.
However, they're also greatly underused and despite the complex structure the dev implemented, right now it boils down to "love" and "friend" points and a couple switches to open/close certain paths.

In the visual department, the renders are awesome, the locations are fitting, appealing and very high quality and the characters look, mostly, realistic, not just because of image quality, but because of being realistically proportioned.
There are however some slip-ups with characters designs like McNab having very short hair (growing after a shave) in some renders of a scene and also having his old short, but still longer, hair in other renders of the same scene. I also had the impression in several occasions that girls chest changes in size depending on what clothing they wear.
Lastly, the bit in which characters don't look realistic is nipples/areola. All girls have very tiny nipple/areola regardless of their breast size or situation. In a way that they look only reasonable for girls with tiny tits (which isn't the case for any of the girls) or if they felt really cold, which could be the case at some point, but certainly not in every situation.

Regarding the sound, others have commented on the good music of the game but my experience is that, aside of two specific scenes at a club in which fitting music plays, the rest of the game is entirely silent. No music and no other sound effects despite they're in the game files.

As for the narrative, it's by far the best and also most cared for part of the game.
The story feels a bit chaotic because there isn't a clear (or even unclear) goal or route for the MC and the story has often severe, long and not too well explained cuts (from scene to scene, weeks may pass inbetween).
But aside of the lack in direction and understanding of the progress, the characters are deep, intricate and realistic. Even at the most difficult part for these kind of games: girls accepting the harem situation. They all have well established and told pasts and it makes it really easy to empathize with them. The story is very compelling in this sense and makes you want to know what's going to happen next.

Finally, when it comes to the lewd scenes... They're probably the worst part of the game.
There are only a handful despite the great size of the game both in GB and in lines of text. There's also very little "intermediate" scenes. Characters interactions are either slice of life scenes of people having common daily interactions used to develop their characters and building the story with very mild flirting on occasion, or openly offering sex out of the blue and having sex. So, it's not just that the lewd scenes are very few, it's that there's no sexual tension built between the MC and the girls.
Also, the sex scenes themselves don't feel realistic. In comparison to the rest of the narrative, they're very shallow and simple. To the point that they have awesome animations and still aren't too satisfactory.

In my opinion, this visual novel is like a very good conventional movie. Great picture quality, great story, great script and an the occasional, very plain and simple sex scene that's by no means the focus. Meaning, this game is awesome, but certainly not a "porn" game.

Given the established mechanics and narrative, if the dev wanted to improve the lewd department, I think the best way would be to allow the player a small degree of navigation between major scenes to include optional encounters with characters that were heavily dependent on the choices made so far and might include the typical "Oops, sorry, I didn't knew you were taking a shower" kind of scenes to add some lewdness inbetween all the drama, build most-needed sexual tension and providing interactions with characters that at this point feel left out, like Viridiana and Ines. Especially considering the story puts Viridiana at its very center.

First of i really enjoy and like the game . Just like with The Author , the characters are beautiful , but also well written and their psyche quite well explored .
Especially again , the MC , which got a depth to him (like again in The Author) , beyond just being the chosen horndog that can do no wrong for the women involved .

Now i have some nitpick and issues , and i'm surprised that i don't dock points for it yet (pending another review of the game once it ends) . The points systems do not lend themselves to showing any real consequences through the game .... besides a few minimum requirements i'd guess to start some scenes .

Take the "interest in girls" one , where does it lead ? What's supposed to do ? I won't claim having tried every path and everything , but from what i noticed , it does not affected much the girls and their dynamic with either the MC or the other girls . At best some pouts when you don't hang out with them and it's supposed to veer them toward women , but it feels invisible so far .
Is this going to just be a points checklist at the end of the game to determine if they end up with the MC , or even in a throuple ?

And it's not just the "horny" points systems that are annoyingly vague and without much consequences . Even Fame/Infamy does not seem to do much , till the end checks i venture

Let's pop this 100th cherry

Pros:

1. Solid writing with diverse cast with unique personalities. Comical at times and very hard hitting feelings at times when discussing war and ptsd stuff.
2. Music (played with mod) was decent
3. Renders are beautiful (Elps simp here and also Reenie <3)
4. MC acts very realistic and doesn't have creepy inner monologs about banging everything.
5. Multiple choices and paths.
6. Animations are decent.

Cons:

1. It takes a while to get engaged. I had given up on this game earlier cuz it got boring but once I sat thru it, it really REALLY grows on you. So maybe adding more flavor or conflict in earlier chapter.

Verdict: Abso-fucking-lutely for realistic AVN fuckos like me.

Engaging story. likeable characters, great art including lewds. Would happily play it without the sex scenes, it's that good

A great follow up to the Author (another amazing game) that improves on it in every way. Happily supporting the patreon, I cannot sell the quality of this game enough.

A solid story and memorable characters. Definitly an improvment from his first game. All of the LI's are unique and memorable. The visual part improves from chapter to chapter. It lacks music but the story makes you forget about that minor detail.

Beautifully written, gorgeous art, engaging story this game has it all. Special mention for how MC and Alistair can be open and loving without the need for weak ass "no homo" bollocks. Very interested in the brief scene where Vi and Ines talk about

Story was about average to me and a bit on the boring side, there is a ton of text and alot of it dident matter much, and as always there is some secrets with some girls that takes forever to be revealed but they dont really feel importen so they where meaningless to me and dident add any fun to the game.

One thing does feel a bit wierd, MC is supposed to be a pure playboy with alot of girls, he invites girls to live in hes house as well and yet this game has no harem tag, so your supposed to only pick one girl which could be a tuff choice since it could split up friendships like VI and her friend that has been living together for 7 years, ofc we dont know how endings will be, if it will be possible to be with more then just one which would make alot of sense with some.

To me the girls just looks so much alike and not unique, and they all have big or huge tits which i am also not into, so it was tuff to feel anything for the girls in a romantic way, whice was a little annoying since i liked the story with Viridiana and would want MC to be with her due to the story, but i couldent manage to do it when i constantly have to look at her ugly big tits like so many others in game and its just to big a turn-off to me.
Its a matter of personal taste but i wish they would have made something for everyone instend of only having focus on big tit fetish, i think the smallest ones in this game is a big c-cup or d-cup and nothing below that, on the female fighter which is the one i went for since she had the smallest pair of tits which arent even small at all....

Virgin scene was also pretty bad, MC says he will go slow and in a single lick he pushed it all the way in, the hole secene just felt like any other normal sex scene nothing special at all about it.

Story 3/5
I liked a bit of it but mostly i found it a bit boring and very vanilla

Animations 3/5
They are pretty average and there arent many of them.

Girls 2/5
I like the faces but there arent unique enough to one another, and body frame is just focused on big tits, so dident really enjoy them much.

Music 0/5
Well it had some in the start but vanished very fast same for sound effects, so its pretty much just a silent game which is a bit boring as well.

I will update my review later if something changes along the way, but for now its just an average or below in all aspects.

Sooo boring, everything about it.
Story boring, girls are boring, they all look the same, choices does not really matter, story is happening either way anyway, always tons of boring dialoges with girls that i am not attracted to, its just crap.