VN Ren'Py Summer's Gone [S1 Steam + DLC] [Oceanlab]

[John972]

Oh no, I just realized you changed your username (yeah, I'm a slowpoke) and we pretty much argued about this and that during the beta.
But even if you're just trolling, I'll still answer sincere.

The dude is a pretty cool character, an asshole but not much, he is honest with people who deserve it, I admire his attitude towards girls, he treats them with a mixture of a certain amount of cynicism, irony, sincere interest, care and respect. Apparently, so that his experienced and mature personality would not be too striking, the author emphasized his teenage features too caricaturedly, maybe he even overdid. But I can live with it.

Just one example: when the girls in Chapter 4x5 assure him that he's not alone and they all want to help him, he sarcastically replies to them with a subtle smirk, "But do I even like you guys?" My dude!

I don't even want to comment on his flaccid dick, I think anyone who paid attention to the game understands that this is a temporary condition and just a plot limitation that will soon to be removed.

And Ocean doesn’t need to turn him into a Casanova, the girls seem to have already warmed up and for good reason. The dude is objectively attractive and his emo/edgelord/whatever aura is a killer for 18-19 year old girls. Let's add there that he hits the gym, maintains the reputation of a macho who fucks girls in the toilet cabin. And on top of that add that he sincerely shows interest in the personalities of girls when he communicates with them, easily gains their trust and finds the right words like Simon Baker from The Mentalist. Damn it, limpy wormy is the only thing that stops them from eating him alive.

How many people here uncritically watch and enjoy, say, movies in the MCU universe or other works of fiction? I cannot for the life of me understand why some people would get so hung up with "unrealistic" tropes in SG like anti-gravity hair or intelligent mice - so hung up that they have to make their dislike known here in the strongest terms, often repeatedly.

Nika's hair - which gets enough comments within the game - just ain't my first takeaway after playing SG (disclaimer: I don't play SG with a finger holding down the CTL key and my other hand clutching my.... you get the idea... so I have no subliminal reaction to Nika's hair blinking rapidly across the screen). The extreme duality of Nika's character, however, is a big takeaway for me.

 

[NeroZee]

You abhor which whole scene? The scene with the gun that's been removed since version 4.5 I think, and no longer has any part in the story?

The nihilist/existentialist scene that you mentioned, not a scene from the game itself lol, you make some really wild speculations

So, explain how he has 'school shooter' vibes. Currently in season 1, all he does is get in one fight with a dude who looks like a jock. He never touches a gun in the game, all we have is Mila assessment based on his look from one conversation when she first meets him. So how does he have a school shooter vibe in the game, what actions, other than being emotionally detached? What have they done but judged him based on his look?

Confusion isn't an emotion, but it does show emotional uncertainty in the context of the scenes. He is confused by his reactions to Bella, and freaks out over kissing her is one of the most obvious examples. He's not confused by the event, but by the the reason he kissed her and liked it, and is starting to have feeling for her. Certainly not the response of a cold, anti-social asshole. The biggest generic asshole moments are when he has the choice to be an asshole to Maja in the hospital, and when he doesn't hold the elevator door. And all the heist/plan with Bella, that's pure asshole. But he's not cold, he has emotions through the whole thing - he's just confused by his emotions and doesn't know how to react.

And I do get that not everyone will identify with him. I'm not questioning that at all, and I'm not suggesting that you should see him any differently either. It just seems to me that you're basing your opinion on content that's not in the actual release. Most of your characterisation fits Nika until the Ch3 release, then Ocean started changing his character.

A loner, thats off putting and an asshole to almost everyone, is generally anti-social, thats the school shooter vibe. He doesnt have to literally pick up a gun my dude... do you know what school shooter vibe means or just when in general what a vibe is suppose to convey? I can't do this... you know what you are right i was wrong the MC is great, dont care to talk about it anymore much rather talk about more positive stuff like all the wonderful girls in this game.

 

[BobTheDuck]

The nihilist/existentialist scene that you mentioned, not a scene from the game itself lol, you make some really wild speculations



A loner, thats off putting and an asshole to almost everyone, is generally anti-social, thats the school shooter vibe. He doesnt have to literally pick up a gun my dude... do you know what school shooter vibe means or just when in general what a vibe is suppose to convey? I can't do this... you know what you are right i was wrong the MC is great, dont care to talk about it anymore much rather talk about more positive stuff like all the wonderful girls in this game.

Yeah, waifus are more interesting, agreed.

 

[John972]

I just noticed on my current replay through the game that Sasha's super hot friend (whose name still hasn't been told to us yet) is in the background when you go shopping with Bella for clothes. It never shows her unblurred in any shot, so I never noticed before but you can see her distinct hair style/color/length on one side, the other side is pulled behind her shoulder.

She really is eeeeverywhere haha... I really hope we get to bang know her in this coming chapter!
View attachment 3645624

Well spotted!

Her just being in that store confirms that she:

(a) belongs to an the ultra-rich family, and/or

(b) works for Sasha Petrova's mysterious spy network, who follow Nika/Bella everywhere for (as yet) undisclosed reasons.

 

[Mr_Mister]

I just noticed on my current replay through the game that Sasha's super hot friend (whose name still hasn't been told to us yet) is in the background when you go shopping with Bella for clothes. It never shows her unblurred in any shot, so I never noticed before but you can see her distinct hair style/color/length on one side, the other side is pulled behind her shoulder.

She really is eeeeverywhere haha... I really hope we get to bang know her in this coming chapter!
View attachment 3645624

you mean Sasha's Sister ?

 

[John972]

A loner, thats off putting and an asshole to almost everyone, is generally anti-social, thats the school shooter vibe.

Agree. Mila commented on Nika's demeanor using the "school shooter" parable. That doesn't mean she thinks he's actually about to pick up a gun...

 

[Raynare69]

Considering she's shopping there, she's also from a rich family, which we could guess from her association with Sasha (and considering she's not getting acussed of shoplifting).

Yeah, this was part of my takeaway from this as well. It means she's rich, but I've already assumed that.

...........And then I put on my tinfoil hat XD For some reason, Emilio came to mind and how he wanted background info checked on our MC and it made me wonder if she was some kind of spy... Yes, I know that's not it... Time to put the tinfoil hat away

 

[BobTheDuck]

you mean Sasha's Sister ?

That'd certainly be an interesting twist. At very least, I suspect she does MMA with Sasha and Ayua, it looks like they're doing bets on something competitive.

Yeah, this was part of my takeaway from this as well. It means she's rich, but I've already assumed that.

...........And then I put on my tinfoil hat XD For some reason, Emilio came to mind and how he wanted background info checked on our MC and it made me wonder if she was some kind of spy... Yes, I know that's not it... Time to put the tinfoil hat away

The Emilio thing is legit - you can see Desiree in the background, blurred, when Nicole corners Nika in the hallway.

Agree. Mila commented on Nika's demeanor using the "school shooter" parable. That doesn't mean she thinks he's actually about to pick up a gun...

Having said that, other than MIla's assessment, and Bella's incel comment, since Season 1, where is all the reasoning for this characterisation? It's based purely on his look, as immediately earlier, they assume Nika and Nami are a cute couple. All I'm saying is based on his actions, there's far more of a socially awkward vibe than an antisocial vibe. The anti social vibe is mostly seen when Nika's at the hospital. Other than that he get's worn out and stressed because he is overwhelmed by social settings, not because he rejects them.

 

[John972]

The first impression which Vanessa gives is that of a haughty, dishonest, egocentric person, so it’s natural that some people dislike her.
She tested Nika when she stripped in front of him to see what he’s made of, if he’s yet another “inferior male” as she says, an underhanded tactic on her part but it was her own way of getting to know him, she’s just built different.
Even if she likes messing with people I don’t think she’s a horrible person, rather someone who sees the world as a dangerous place and has learned to adapt and even gain some pleasure from it in a fucked up way. Once she warms up to Nika and his family and learns that they’re not potential enemies and she can trust them she’ll prove herself a smart, valuable ally in the chessboard of Wollust.

It's funny that your description of Vanessa also applies to Nika as well. I wonder if Nika will ever have a "we're not so different" moment with Vanessa?

I was just thinking about the "dislike her" part of your statement, and it occurred to me... how many people at college would like or interact with Nika if Nami wasn't there by his side? How many times has Nami been there to not only keep Nika's worst impulses under control, but to guide Nika's interactions with others and balance out is anti-social behavior.

 

[John972]

Having said that, other than MIla's assessment, and Bella's incel comment, since Season 1, where is all the reasoning for this characterisation? It's based purely on his look, as immediately earlier, they assume Nika and Nami are a cute couple. All I'm saying is based on his actions, there's far more of a socially awkward vibe than an antisocial vibe. The anti social vibe is mostly seen when Nika's at the hospital. Other than that he get's worn out and stressed because he is overwhelmed by social settings, not because he rejects them.

It's not only Nika's look, it's his demeanor. Mila said he gives off "school shooter" vibes, not that he specifically looks like a school shooter.

As I mused in another post. Picture (based on everything we've seen so far in Season 1) an alternate reality where Nika is forced to attend ZPR college alone without Nami. How would he behave and how would others react to him?

We still see this significant duality in Nika - one part of him strives to change, interact with others, feel something (and, boy, does Nami get significant credit for that change). The other part of him falls back on his High School behavior: antisocial, unfeeling, will mess with others just to alleviate his own boredom.

 

[Kakasan]

I mean yea obviously i am defensive you are attacking my opinion and argument, as oppose to me criticizing a random fictional character in an adult game. What exactly am i trying to project onto others? That acting like a anti-social, cold, asshole with a school shooter vibe is bad?

We are not talking about objective reasons, we are talking about objective traits. Yes, thats what i have been trying to do here this whole time...

In the old version, yes he was a sociopath, jokes about weapons, dolphins, if I'm not mistaken he smoked with Summers, Milla was a smoker too.
If the game followed the very old version, he probably would have had sex with Nami in the first season.
In this new version he is a broxing depressive emo

 

[Raynare69]

Guys, tinfoil hat time. Hear me out... Summer lives on, inside one or some of the other characters.

There are flashbacks and hints of ER / hospital and that Nika saw summer one last time but cut off and didn't speak on it.

Amber: But not the last time you saw her?
Nika: *You slowly shake your head* I did see her one more time and-...

Nika connects with some people, like Bella, as if he had known her for so long, and she mentions that she feels the same when you go to the gym with her. Something happened with her twin sister, and she might have been involved, others like Sasha etc. might have as well. It's possible they all ended up in some huge accident (or victims of some kind of attack).

What if the reason Nika feels like he is connecting with them so easily is because... Perhaps summer's heart, other organs, are inside some of these others because she died and the others were able to be saved because of her. People who get donated implants often say sometimes things change, like they like eating something they never have before... It's a stretch on logic, but in this game-world, he could be "connecting" with her in this sense. Taking this logic in, besides the beginning prank pulled on her, it would also add on to why Nami feels some kind of resentment / jealousy towards Bella, if a part of Summer was inside her for example, but even if not, Sasha might be related in this sense. She certainly eyes Nika, a lot.

What do you guys think? XD

 

[Krytax123]

Guys, tinfoil hat time. Hear me out... Summer lives on, inside one or some of the other characters.

There are flashbacks and hints of ER / hospital and that Nika saw summer one last time but cut off and didn't speak on it.

Amber: But not the last time you saw her?
Nika: *You slowly shake your head* I did see her one more time and-...

Nika connects with some people, like Bella, as if he had known her for so long, and she mentions that she feels the same when you go to the gym with her. Something happened with her twin sister, and she might have been involved, others like Sasha etc. might have as well. It's possible they all ended up in some huge accident (or victims of some kind of attack).

What if the reason Nika feels like he is connecting with them so easily is because... Perhaps summer's heart, other organs, are inside some of these others because she died and the others were able to be saved because of her. People who get donated implants often say sometimes things change, like they like eating something they never have before... It's a stretch on logic, but in this game-world, he could be "connecting" with her in this sense. Taking this logic in, besides the beginning prank pulled on her, it would also add on to why Nami feels some kind of resentment / jealousy towards Bella, if a part of Summer was inside her for example, but even if not, Sasha might be related in this sense. She certainly eyes Nika, a lot.

What do you guys think? XD

lmao no

 

[BobTheDuck]

Guys, tinfoil hat time. Hear me out... Summer lives on, inside one or some of the other characters.

There are flashbacks and hints of ER / hospital and that Nika saw summer one last time but cut off and didn't speak on it.

Amber: But not the last time you saw her?
Nika: *You slowly shake your head* I did see her one more time and-...

Nika connects with some people, like Bella, as if he had known her for so long, and she mentions that she feels the same when you go to the gym with her. Something happened with her twin sister, and she might have been involved, others like Sasha etc. might have as well. It's possible they all ended up in some huge accident (or victims of some kind of attack).

What if the reason Nika feels like he is connecting with them so easily is because... Perhaps summer's heart, other organs, are inside some of these others because she died and the others were able to be saved because of her. People who get donated implants often say sometimes things change, like they like eating something they never have before... It's a stretch on logic, but in this game-world, he could be "connecting" with her in this sense.

What do you guys think? XD

That's an interesting idea: I've assumed Nika was the person in ER, are you thinking it was Summer, and that Nika was with her there? If that was the case, he'd know something more about her than she's missing like he told Vic. I guess there's nothing explicitly showing it was Nika that was injured.

As far as Summer being an organ donor, that'd take way too long to explain in a VN (well too long to make it plausible), and would be a pretty difficult plot point for most people to swallow. Blood types and other suitability things would make it hard for there to be matches, and other than Bella's sister, we don't know of anyone who might have had such an extreme accident. Vic would've mentioned if there was any kind of operation like that, and we see no scars on her.

 

[Raynare69]

That's an interesting idea: I've assumed Nika was the person in ER, are you thinking it was Summer, and that Nika was with her there? If that was the case, he'd know something more about her than she's missing like he told Vic. I guess there's nothing explicitly showing it was Nika that was injured.

As far as Summer being an organ donor, that'd take way too long to explain in a VN (well too long to make it plausible), and would be a pretty difficult plot point for most people to swallow. Blood types and other suitability things would make it hard for there to be matches, and other than Bella's sister, we don't know of anyone who might have had such an extreme accident. Vic would've mentioned if there was any kind of operation like that, and we see no scars on her.

I guess that's true, time to take off the tinfoil hat
Well, blood type might not be as much of an issue if they are all... related to Zane XD haha... okay REALLY taking the tinfoil hat off now

 

[John972]

Guys, tinfoil hat time. Hear me out... Summer lives on, inside one or some of the other characters.

There are flashbacks and hints of ER / hospital and that Nika saw summer one last time but cut off and didn't speak on it.

Amber: But not the last time you saw her?
Nika: *You slowly shake your head* I did see her one more time and-...

Nika connects with some people, like Bella, as if he had known her for so long, and she mentions that she feels the same when you go to the gym with her. Something happened with her twin sister, and she might have been involved, others like Sasha etc. might have as well. It's possible they all ended up in some huge accident (or victims of some kind of attack).

What if the reason Nika feels like he is connecting with them so easily is because... Perhaps summer's heart, other organs, are inside some of these others because she died and the others were able to be saved because of her. People who get donated implants often say sometimes things change, like they like eating something they never have before... It's a stretch on logic, but in this game-world, he could be "connecting" with her in this sense. Taking this logic in, besides the beginning prank pulled on her, it would also add on to why Nami feels some kind of resentment / jealousy towards Bella, if a part of Summer was inside her for example, but even if not, Sasha might be related in this sense. She certainly eyes Nika, a lot.

What do you guys think? XD

Plausible.

Goth Girl got Summer's heart and she just cannot fathom why she suddenly feels this attraction and obsession with some irrelevant, boorish emo guy she doesn't know. That perfectly explains the "what da f^^k?" expression she always has whenever she's near Nika.

However, you may be on the right track though... Summer's missing and Nika doesn't yet consciously know he got her lungs in an emergency transplant.

 

[alanrock]

who is this girl? View attachment 3645386

I call her Amy. She wants me.

 

[BobTheDuck]

I guess that's true, time to take off the tinfoil hat
Well, blood type might not be as much of an issue if they are all... related to Zane XD haha... okay REALLY taking the tinfoil hat off now

Just reminded myself of the scene for the script - "Get him to OR 4!" So it's either Nika looking at another guy (angles are wrong to be what Nika sees if he's the patient), or it's the most obvious answer being it's Nika remembering what happened to him. It's definitely a guy though.

 

[John972]

Just reminded myself of the scene for the script - "Get him to OR 4!" So it's either Nika looking at another guy (angles are wrong to be what Nika sees if he's the patient), or it's the most obvious answer being it's Nika remembering what happened to him. It's definitely a guy though.

Yeah, it's definitely a first person memory Nika has of being on a gurney.

 

[Raynare69]

That's an interesting idea: I've assumed Nika was the person in ER, are you thinking it was Summer, and that Nika was with her there? If that was the case, he'd know something more about her than she's missing like he told Vic. I guess there's nothing explicitly showing it was Nika that was injured.

As far as Summer being an organ donor, that'd take way too long to explain in a VN (well too long to make it plausible), and would be a pretty difficult plot point for most people to swallow. Blood types and other suitability things would make it hard for there to be matches, and other than Bella's sister, we don't know of anyone who might have had such an extreme accident. Vic would've mentioned if there was any kind of operation like that, and we see no scars on her.

Also, something makes me feel like he does know a lot more than we're given, but I think he has it shut in the back of his mind...

For example, besides talking with Amber and cutting off, or some other conversations even, there was that conversation when he met Elsa at the fancy restaurant with Bella.

Elsa: It's been so long. I... I thought I'd never see you again, afte-...
Nika: You don't need to mention 'it'.

They could simply be talking about Summer (being gone now for whatever reason.) However, Bella asks him what 'it' is and he tells her it's none of her business. And on this path you've most likely already told her about Summer anyway... So it was perhaps.. Witnessing or seeing her, at her end.

He also cut off why or when he saw Summer for the very last time when speaking to Amber. Regardless if you don't buy my tinfoil hat theory, the hospital thing might still be true. It might have been summer there and not him, and he has the memory repressed deep in the back of his mind.