Fujino's games have a unique mix of style, storytelling, and gameplay mechanics. I haven't come across anything like it, at least in the NTR genre. Some elements can be found in other games. But the best you can find are his other, earlier games.
I'd love to share your enthusiasm for Fujino's games, but for me, it's primarily the art that shines. He seems to make extensive use of well-known assets for the art and animations, which doesn't necessarily undermine the effort involved—much like games developed with Daz models or Koikatsu models.
However, my main gripe is with the narrative, especially when it comes to the portrayal of feelings—it just seems unrealistic. I get the whole 'hentai logic', and sometimes it doesn't bother me too much, but in this case, Asuna is corrupted too easily and quickly for my taste. From day one, she's lying to Kirito and sneaking around with Inoda behind his back.
I know we're not supposed to put ourselves in the characters' shoes in this type of game, but everything is designed to make us empathize with them. If we don't, we're left sympathizing with the antagonist. But I just can't relate to Inoda—I don't share his values or condone his actions towards Asuna, which feel like those of a virgin discovering sex for the first time. It's all a bit underwhelming, and I struggle to see how Asuna could fall for such a loser. Even with a lot of imagination, I can't make Inoda's appeal to her believable... Yes, it's fiction, but even in a fictional game, there needs to be a semblance of plausibility for it to resonate with people like me.
Some say you shouldn't empathize with Kirito to enjoy the game, but I find it hard not to because I can't align myself with Inoda at all.
Also, these games are presented as if we should experience the suffering through the eyes of the main character, and it feels like we're supposed to develop a masochistic aspect of our personality to appreciate this tragic experience.
I've noticed that every player has a different reason for playing NTR games, and I'm really curious—what's yours? I've heard that even creators can get depressed and empathize deeply with the characters they create, leading to cases of depression among NTR game developers. Although I doubt I'd feel depressed if I were to create a tragic NTR scenario for a character I invented, maybe I'm wrong. After all, these creators spend a lot of time with their characters and develop a bond, which is why they're so invested in their stories.
Furthermore, the game could benefit from multiple narrative paths and endings, similar to those in
Dark Hero Party. The inclusion of a 'revenge route' in that game not only diversifies the story but also deepens the emotional engagement. Offering players such choices can enhance the realism and complexity of the narrative, making the experience more immersive and varied.
