Restaurants, different cuisines, diners, fast foods, etc. Everybody knows them, everybody loves them. Having a nice, pre-prepared meal that's top quality. Eating in a nice environment with a classy atmosphere Or maybe you simply like to have a meal delivered to you and eat it in the comfort of your home. I really don't know anyone who wouldn't like eating out or ordering in. You see, AVNs are just like restaurants. There are many of them, and all try to provide a great experience. Often times they are quite similar to each other, albeit there are always clear differences. You have your different cuisines: your Italian college games, your Mexican harems, or your disgusting British NTRs. Not even your two Italian restaurants will ever be completely the same. Every carbonara you taste will have a slight difference that is specific to the game you play...
Now then, where am I going with this? While most dining places are often very similar, after all, why break the mold if it works? You can often find some weirdos who try to do their own thing. The hipsters, if you will. Hellcat Lounge is a game made by these hipsters. In a world of AVN restaurants. Hellcat Lounge is the smoothie bar of the AVN industry. And these fuckers know how to make banging smoothies. Like, fuck me, are these some of the tastiest smoothies you will ever eat.
They are absolute masters of their specific crafts, which explains why so many people love them after all. But because they are doing their own thing, different from the rest, they are met with their own specific issues. The taste of their smoothies is awesome, as are the texture and atmosphere of their posh little shop. All of it is fucking immaculate. Can't forget the viking-like fella behind the counter with his little manbun and huge beard who makes the smoothies. All of it just screams good vibes. That is the case from the outside anyway.
Once you actually taste the smoothies, you start experiencing the issue they are facing. Have you ever tried a smoothie? No matter how well made it was, no matter how floral, how fresh, or how exciting the taste was, every smoothie becomes less and less exciting the more you drink it. It lacks substance. It lacks any form of heterogeneity. There is no difference between your first gulp and the last. Your first mouthful will make you fall in love, while your last will be a slog. Now, it's not like there isn't any variety. Every single smoothie you try, whether it is the strawberry Mary, the banana Caitlin, or the weirdo spinach Sloane. All of them are made to taste absolutely perfect. But once their novelty wears off, you are stuck with a longing. Longing for that first taste to come back.
You see, just like the Hellcat Smoothie Bar, the Hellcat Lounge suffers from the same issue. Everything is so damn perfect. The visuals, the animations, the presentation, the music, the characters. AND THE DAMN WRITING. God, have I fallen in love with the writing! But man, does it feel disappointing. It has been a long time since I have been charmed this much by a game's writing. But everything seems so damn rushed, so quick. I want to spend more time with these characters, I want to have a real, compelling reason to court these ladies. And every time I start to feel like it's getting there, they are gone. Just like the taste of that smoothie, you've been longing for since the first sip.
I'd have gin the game a 4.5/5 if I could, but since that is not an option I'm going with a 5/5 instead of a 4/5