Review as of [v0.5] for Summer Heat by Naughty Fox Games
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
My Synopsis:
Step into the shoes of a 19-year-old photographer, alongside your trusted companions, Mike and Mia, as you venture into the captivating town of Rosewood. This picturesque town offers a haven for creativity, where you'll refine your photography skills and uncover the hidden mysteries that lurk beneath its serene exterior.
Amidst the enchanting landscapes, you'll forge new friendships and perhaps even find love. But Rosewood has its secrets, and your journey will intertwine with enigmatic tales, leaving you with choices to either unravel the town's mysteries or remain an observer. Through this artistic odyssey, you'll navigate the complex tapestry of art, friendship, and discovery, forever changed by the secrets of Rosewood.
---------------------------
Renders – The character designs in this visual novel are a cut above the rest. Unlike many others, they use distinct models for various characters, which adds a lot to the game's appeal.
In the recent updates, I'm truly amazed by their utilization of lighting and skin texture. The way they incorporate lighting dramatically enhances the appearance of the characters' skin, accentuating their skin pores and achieving an impressive level of realism at times.
Furthermore, the developers' deft utilization of the first-person perspective is nothing short of exceptional, a rare feat in this genre. This perspective lends a unique depth and intimacy to the narrative, allowing players to forge a profound connection with the protagonist, and further feel the intimacy with the love interests, which is indeed a praiseworthy achievement.
The environments and ambiance almost always feature vibrant colors, a multitude of gradients, and consistently match the summer concept, even in locations where it might seem challenging to achieve. Well done, developers.
Story – This visual novel is all about its storytelling. Right now, it's really focused on developing the characters and building the world.
I've been enjoying the plot's direction, with its elements of mystery and intrigue, and I'm curious about where it's heading, potential conflicts, and maybe even some more explicit scenes.
What's cool is that each character has their own distinct personality, making them easy to tell apart, which not every developer manages to do.
The pacing is very slow, in the story, it hasn't even been three days. Probably, only a day and a half has passed? Not even. BUT, while playing it, it didn't even feel like the story's dragging on. The story's very compact and it seems like there's a lot going on which seems important. And it's very entertaining.
The art of "show, not tell" has been vividly demonstrated. There are instances where other writers might have resorted to words to depict a character's emotions; instead, they employ the portrayal of the character's facial expressions to effectively convey their intended message. Truly brilliant.
Animations – There isn't much to say about in-game animations because there aren't many of them. However, when they do appear, they're done really well and blend seamlessly into the game.
Despite the limited animations, the game shines in the sound department. I'll discuss this further in the sound category, where the soundscapes really deserve a closer look.
Sounds – It's absolutely flawless, a perfect 10 in every regard.
I often find myself pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound effects (SFX) in this game. Every time you click and move to the next scene, there are well-placed sound effects. For instance, in scenes where characters hold hands, there's a subtle touch sound effect, which adds a nice touch of realism. There's also a scene with three characters talking in a room, and one of them is about to leave. However, the camera angle is focused on the other two, so it doesn't show the character leaving. Instead, the devs cleverly use a door opening and closing SFX, which enhances player immersion in the environment.
For those who typically play Adult Visual Novels (AVNs) with the sound off, I highly recommend trying this one with the sound on and avoiding muting it. The sounds are a key part of the game's appeal and contribute to its unique personality.
UI – Their user interface excelled. There are hints for keybindings, such as pressing TAB to fast-forward, which new players might not be aware of. There's an in-game walkthrough that provides choices to advance relationships with characters. Furthermore, there are subtle cues where choices, when hovered over with the mouse, are color-coded to match the favorite color of the love interests.
Additionally, the theme of the user interface (UI) seamlessly adhered to the established color palette of the game, adding a unique and delightful aspect to the overall experience.
Grammar – It's quite good. I just saw one, maybe two errors, so it's evident that the developer dedicated time to thorough proofreading.
Dev - The developer has been open to suggestions, and as a result, changes are routinely made.
Conclusion:
I'm awarding it five stars and eagerly anticipating how the developer will further develop the strong foundation they've established for the plot as it unfolds.
