Let’s get one thing clear - this is not a game that features rape, it’s a rape game. I missed the tag and it isn’t one of my kinks - but I still wanted to finish the game multiple times to see what the experience was like. Personally, it’s probably a 3. But the dev does some great work on graphics and branching story, even though I didn’t care for it.
STORY
Jennifer is a standard nerdy housewife living together with her husband Andy and her daughter Maya. Things are fine as the husband leaves for a work trip and Jennifer’s past catches up with her. A former assailant enters her house and occupies it, holding her and her daughter hostage. The scene turns darker, as the men prey their sexuality on Jennifer and Maya. You won’t be able to save the women, you will just get to pick whether they enjoy being raped or not.
While the game plays out the hostage situation for far too long, it’s actually more sensible than the latter part of the game - where you (or your daughter) are taken elsewhere by the criminals. Depending on your playthrough, the game focuses less on the mental instability of Jennifer and more on the lore around the world. Gangs are controlling parts of the world outside the city and you eventually end up in a.. illegal fighting ring. It’s quite silly actually and takes away from the thing this game set out to do - break Jennifer and her daughter.
That said, the game features porn logic and dialog - although the developer does have his grammar in check. There’s too much internal monologue and a lot of heavy acts of molestation - without the trauma that comes with it. Sure, there are some dream scenes where ‘conscience’ seems to play up. But honestly, it’s just another way for the dev to throw sexualization at the main character.
An earlier review said the criminals felt too good of character and I tend to agree with that. Someone who breaks into a home, sexually violates women and holds them hostage won’t get this carried away. But the main antagonist has a fascination for Jennifer, so I guess that explains why she isn’t molested to the point she can barely walk.
The tree branching paths spread out pretty far, but honestly none of it was really standout for me. There is NTR here (by way of phone) as well as family intimacy, all that’s missing is the psychological scarring and the visible outer molestation. It’s like you get to enjoy the violating without the backlash - maybe that’s the fantasy trope here. Honestly, it’s lost on me - also because it’s handled like something that just happens. It destroys the weight of the act.
PRESENTATION
The game looks good, sometimes great I’d say even. Jennifer isn’t my thing and Maya is 6/10 for me, but the developer makes an effort. Interiors look alright, aside from that shitty basement you’re in mostly. Violation scenes look okay and the act of using the women for personal gain is captured pretty well, so if that’s up your alley you can definitely play this. The outside-of-house scenes look pretty believable as well and overall, the graphics are the strongest department of this game.
GAMEPLAY
This is a visual novel, but your choices do have impact. There are roughly three branches you can follow with minor tweakers and each branch will give you a different experience. There’s a pure unconsented intercourse route and basically two corruption routes - with one pulling the mother out halfway to start somewhat of a redemption arc. You’d do well to play that arc regardless because it gives you extra information about the world you’re in, and at least 10 extra characters to experience.
OVERALL
The Point Of No Return wasn’t for me, but I can see how people could be into it. The graphics are nice to look at, the story paths are varied within the subject and while the characters operate on adult movie logic level, the surface responses work well enough. There’s just no sense of trauma, urgency or emotional distress that would actually elevate the dark topics this game handles.
Oh, and we could have done without the racial slurs.
6/10