I Stumbled on the orginal story Vertion and I like the amont of detail in the world and the charachter interactions. although not really my usal presence (orginaly thinking it was a normal fall of heroin CHYA story). The charchters and Elise Design drew me in and the amount of times I had to stop and way my decisions.
That said it's not without it's flaws for me. Let me Preface these critiqs are about the original Vertion not the remake as I have yet to play it. but maby these will with the remake.
The story is a Erotic Tragity full of Despair. But as writtin the story feel more like things happen to Elise/Aldric; Laking enough decisions to sercumnavigate or rebel in some way. understandably not out right because of the color and such but an example would be like when Elise can catch snibs semn in a mug instead of geting a fasical. this leaves some choices feel non-sensical like not haveing malka help clear your system, I think most players(besides wanting to sleep with her) would see that as the obvious choice, I respect the option to say no, and the possible bad as I havent gone back yet to see if that can happen, but most players would do the smart thing. Besides that CH 16's choices ruitng with snib feel like choosing between flavor text A or B, there's no consequens of moaning and giving or a minor heroism in defing desire. These examples in a indiviual micro scale are not deal breaking. On a Macro scale of the game/Story these hamper the it as a whole, for me any ways I'm courius what others think.
Story wise I have littile to gripe about. Besides what I've said before about Elise constint dispare feeling less like a tragic fall based or your dectisions to survive, feels like a seris of rail roaded constant moments of despair which to me happens after the fight with the troll (again for me personaly I would like to hear if anybody ealse feels the same, Adjasent, or not at all). Besides that I wirite this as I move into ch 17. Elaras hate in finding out and Aldric/Elise not saying something to her. I understand not saying anything because of feelings of betrayl, shame, and self loathng. But not at least saying he's trying to make me do things. In a world where goblins are known to activly, Relgiously, and Parasitcaly perau the Sexual domination and corruption of women. Feels like a stretch to anybody you told in this world that nothing happened in the, I think two or three, days Elise is gone before returning back to Elara alone. I understand the anger of being lied to but to me the loss of affection for elara dosen't make sense when the majoraty are things out of Elises control.
It would make sense more to me if the loss of affaection comes from lieing and not confiding in her, being in her eyes a defrent person who lies to her, dosent confide in her, and in her eyes is lost like losing some one to an adiction.
The story hints in a possible chance of snib going after Elara if you dont consided. and telling her that would deffinitlay help her understand the situation. these outcome would make sense to me if you confide in her and let her help or she goes behind your back.
Lastly For me on the story, the framing by the story and elara when lose of affection happens is it's Elises fault. If the collor wasen't involved and she was just changed and it was more like a addiction to ,as the Story puts it, "Gobbo cum". That Elise chose to place themselves in that situation sure. But the magic collor and the addictive mind change and the second half the storys In eboncrest and its insiting incedent. Elaras Words of "I've made my- choice its not Your fault". No, the whole incdent especally act 2 Is not Aldrecs/Elises fault. epecally seeing and knowing how the slave collor works, is applied again and what being around a goblin can do to women. This just palces whats suppposed be a stong empathetci to even a monstor plant, not only contradict the charactization but the charachter feel selfish unlikably so.
Lastly on sats of the story which I'll be breif on this long tirade. The stats seem to only be relvant in the second half of story and heroism is treated for the longest time like health bar so finding out its a stat with skill checks caught me off guard with rapid losses. more of a necesty for Herosim for more skill checks would make it feel more relvant instead, having herosim skill checks that you may need to hold out for that if you fail result in the loss of more heroism than giving in.
I'll end this long post by saying, I enjoy the story, I hope these critqes are helpful.
I'm curios what otheres have to say but this is so long I dont think its being read.
Also A Few questions, Is there the prospective possiblty to be with both Elara and Melka or one or the other? And is ther going to be more Melka? I like Melka is what I'm getting at, her existance in the world is a uinqe fact about world and her belif of Aldric as Skulguroth and the lore there. I also like her dicotimy as a potental love intrist contrsating agenist Snib.
And Do think the Orginal TGB is worth going doing a High Herosim run for a second readthrough or shoud I just Do the Remake after doing my Fallen Elise run.
All that said Im antispating your futur work I've enjoyed the Orignal TGP and exited to delv into Recollard.
P.S Are the Dimonds a meta narritve mechanic that are supposed to the gods allowing Aldric/Elise to make diffirent choices and defy there Darkening fate. When Elara rants at the Gods and mentions they offer blessing and gudiendes to good fates this popped into my mind cool thought that popped into my Mind.
