VN - Ren'Py - Abandoned - The Artist [Act One v0.1.1] [Grotslot]

The storytelling is masterful. Dialogs are smart and funny, albeit somehow repetitive at times (about MC and his dad).

But the story itself is not that captivating. MC is a self-absorbed moron. Choices are pretty meaningless, e.g. in the speed dating scenes whatever I choose I can't establish relationships with any woman there. (Maybe I like fairy creatures).

So it's a masterfully created story that puts me in the shoes of someone miserable, with no control over things I would like to have influence on.

The mystery basically does not thrill me much, because since meeting Ava in the bar I have a certain theory about her, and it makes all the other details about her feel unimportant.

The art style is not a problem, but I think it creates a distance between me and the experience, e.g. in sex scenes.

My verdict regarding episode 1 is: well done but nothing interesting personally for me.

Hence just 3 stars. If the story and the gameplay would interest me, it could be 5.

Amazing start! Played it recently and I adore the presentation and art style. It is different but also beautiful at the same time.
I found the story and interactions interesting and you can tell the foundations are being laid for a really strong AVN. This has to be one of my most anticipated games for future content.
Although it is only one chapter long the start is REALLY promising, especially compared to other new games with only one chapter (looking at you Strangers On Paper, which I thought was pretty awful).
Best of luck to the Devs for the future of this excellent game!

Pros:

1. Unique art that is lively and very easy on the eyes.
2. LI is beautiful
3. Writing is decent
4. Music is good
5. Plot is pretty good even for a early release

Cons:

1. None honestly and that's rare for a early release.

Verdict: I would play it cuz even early release has good amount of content.

Really honoring its title, the art of this game is what first drew me in. It looked different, stunning, intentional, and upon having played it, I can happily state the rest of the game alligns with its presentation.

The writing is fun, the characters feel real, and the things about them that would have bothered me in other circumstances - like the main character's stubborn refusal to be likeable - feel well thoughtout and in line with the story the creators want to tell. A second playthrough was even more enjoyable for me, unwrapping all the little details thrown in there to hint at a story we are not fully aware of yet.

I can tell there is a very clear vision of where this is going and I can't wait to see more of it!

Great stuff.
The artwork is a nice little throwback to the days of XIII (or Borderlands for you Gen Zs).
The MC is great, believable and relatable with everything happening (and not happening) in his life.
I enjoyed the little surprises when they happened, even though I somewhat saw them coming.
Keep up the good work!

for the Act One, the amount of content is fine by me, not really short, and I do like the artstyle you choose specifically for this game, and the story, well its a bit new in here for me at least, but I like that for sure

so much potential on this visual novel, i loved it, the art style of the render is something new but dont uncomfortable, the characters with their own personalities and charisma, the humor is good, the dialogues are really good, `promising

I feel bad about this. I can see how much the developers have put into the game. It shines with the passion they clearly have for it. The writing is mature and the dialogue works really well. But....

I absolutely hate it.

The main character is both interesting and infuriating at the same time. His misanthropy is interesting to a degree, but playing as him is quite unpleasant.

The main girl is a beautiful 3D model, and in concept, I should love her. An artist with a quirky temperament. But she's so much the "manic pixie dream girl," who is there to rescue the MC from his quasi-depressive, self-flagellation - that it makes me want to throw rotten fruit at the whole situation, and boo incessantly from the rafters. It's overdone and self-indulgent.

Then when you add the painfully obvious twist, a twist that completely negates Ava as a character worth pursuing, you kill off my interest completely. I am not interested in pursuing a figment of an imagination.

Interestingly, it does raise the question of how we play these games, pursuing characters who do not exist. It gets you thinking, and that's kind of fun... But, in the end it makes the character development extremely unsatisfying, despite its ostensible cleverness.

Sorry guys, you've done an objectively great job, it's just that in the telling, you have turned this one reader completely off.

Pleasantly surprised, very enjoyable.

Some moments seem a little long, and others lack context and/or substance.

Looking forward to the suite, since I was finally caught up in the story.

The graphics are nothing extraordinary, but the style gets the job done and suits the overall mood of the game.

Really promising.

Good writing, renders are ok and characters feel natural and interesting. It has some funny moments too. I wouldn't mind if it keeps pushing you towards a main character, as it seems to do, but gives you some time with side characters like the mature woman. Definitely worth a try.

Strong recommendation. Just blew me away. I expected to have some standard render real-porn game in front of me, but was dead wrong, it was a little artistic jewel instead. It has a rather dark-toned story with some light humour in every other scene. We got an MC with good life but struggling with depression and lack of inspiration, we got his family (and a living father sic) worrying, a casanova as best friend and a mysterious bubbly woman who starts to drag him out of his misery. Renders are awesome in quality and in captivating the scenes, featuring multiple full frontal nudity and one lewd scene towards the end of this 0.1 intro. Very much looking forward to the continuation by the Grotslot team.