I'll say this: I love this game but I feel like the story is overrated, like I really don't think it's anything special and barely any interesting stuff happens to drive the narrative forward imo (especially compared to a game like city of broken dreamers for example).
Subjectively? Sure that's your opinion. Objectively? It isn't... far from it actually. The story so far explores a mystery(one amongst many). That mystery is the disappearance of the MC's lost lover, Summer. How did she disappear? What exactly made our MC have all these issues? Where is she now? What exactly lead up to it? Etc. These are the kinds of questions that most players have in regards to that. That is the external plot. The internal plot is the MC trying to either become a better person or plummet deeper into darkness. Furthermore, the subplots are all very engaging(Bella and the Holgersons, the sports tournament, Nojiko and Nick, etc.). These subplots not only keep things interesting, but they allow for the main plot to build. My point is that it's unique. There's nothing like Summer's Gone on this site, and there likely never will be. I'm not sure what you meant in regards to driving the narrative forward(because it has). COBD is meant to be around 15 chapters long, therefore its story will reach pivotal moments much sooner than Summer's Gone, whose story is meant to be near 30 chapters. But then again, that
was your opinion, so I can't really argue that.
It does have great characters, the characters are definitely the strong point of the game, but a game/show/movie/... can have great characters without having a great narrative and vice versa. All-time great movies etc have both though.
Obviously this game still has time to build upon its narrative since I think there are supposed to be like 30 chapters(?), but yeah, for now I don't get all the people gushing about the story.
I'm glad that you clarified earlier that this was your own personal view. Objectively, it's one of the most unique stories not only in its genre but in AVNs in general. The main plot is given attention in doses. Drop a character here from MC's past to get the audience thinking(Elsa), have certain characters give ambiguous statements regarding MC(Emilio on MC... and the background check), and have the MC directly make statements and perform actions on the main plot(planning to approach Emilio for what can only be, to find Summer). Oceanlabs is employing writing techniques that will prepare the audience for a major reveal/event somewhere down the line. These small doses will add up, and when the time comes, the main plot will move forward in a major way(one which I'm sure the audience will appreciate). But make no mistake, it
is moving forward. You just have to pay attention to see it.
So I'm glad that this is only your opinion... because it would have been something truly special if it wasn't
