HTML The Princess Trap [v0.6.1] [Natnatnat]

[ffive]

That dynamic will probably be completely absent, since she has no reason to genuinely hate MC.

Eh, Colette seems to act with hate and disdain towards pretty much everyone, so i don't think you're going to be deprived of that particular behavior of hers just because the MC isn't the real princess.

 

[Zephyr Pulse]

That is definitely true, but there just was something about Collette interacting with you thinking you are actually the person that (presumably) did something horrible to her and who she might genuinely hate but now might develop (other) feelings for. That dynamic will probably be completely absent, since she has no reason to genuinely hate MC.

She might hate you now for "tricking" her

 

[ffive]

She might hate you now for "tricking" her

That, and for not being the princess she's obsessed with.

 

[BigAlzBub]

Or she can't hurt the real princess, and you are her proxy, you get her punishment until she returns.
If she makes your life hellish enough, you might bail at which point the Queen and Spy master would have to make a serious effort to recover her, at which point it is game on.

 

[secretside04]

A couple of weeks ago, I dove into this without knowing anything beyond some glowing reviews and a random post on another thread that mentioned this game.

What a gem! This story has genuine heart, something that I find remarkably rare. The writer has crafted an incredible world with vivid descriptions that strike the perfect balance. It's detailed enough to paint a clear picture without overwhelming you like some HTML games tend to do. Every scene has purpose. The dialogue feels natural while revealing the world, advancing events, and developing characters. There's no exposition dump here either. The well-paced story steadily reveals more about the world as you proceed. The writer clearly knows their craft and how to weave a compelling narrative. For two days, I was totally immersed in the world of TPT.

The real standout, for me, is the character writing. I'm firmly in the camp that believes story is character, and I can't praise this aspect enough. The cast is colorful and packed with unique individuals, each with their own voice, history, goals, and personality. Even one-off characters are given their due attention. I've rarely encountered stories (adult or otherwise) that manage to make every single character interesting. This one does.

Most importantly, there's the protagonist. I dislike empty vessels, and I absolutely hate moronic main characters. Unfortunately, most stories and games that feature submissive protagonists, or at least when that trait is optional, make them pathetic morons, with the instincts and intelligence of a kakapo bird. Here, though, the protagonist isn't some passive, mindless wanderer. Despite the dire situation he's thrown into, he actively tries to use his wits and assets to persevere. That spy motherfucker treats you like a dog? You can try to fight back in whatever limited capacity you can. It’s refreshing. I could write more walls of text about everything I loved, but I think the point is made.

I do have a few minor nitpicks, but honestly, they barely affect the overall experience. That said, I actually stopped at a certain point in the story.

Spoiler: The scene

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From browsing this thread, I've seen that a number of other players had issues with that same scene too. I know it sounds contradictory praising the game while simultaneously not finishing it because I didn't like how a particular event played out. I realize I'm in the minority here though, and for most people, it doesn't detract from the overall themes and quality of the writing.

On the subject of AI: I understand why most people are against it and automatically dismiss projects that use it. Generative AI could very well represent the single largest act of theft in human history: thousands of years of writing, art, experience, and innovation fed into machines, often to the detriment of the very people whose work fuels them. That said, AI is here to stay and will only become more prevalent in our daily lives. I don't think we should automatically dismiss products that utilize it, nor can we.

For a game like this, wouldn't some visual art complement the writing and enhance the experience? It already has character portraits, and I loved them. While some people prefer imagining things over being shown explicit visuals, I think for many of us who are imagination-challenged, original art, whether hand-drawn, CG, or even AI-generated, adds to the immersion and worldbuilding when done well, although I personally prefer text only to real porn images that are ubiquitous with HTML games. Sasha Grey is not my roommate.

Who would it hurt if the developer incorporated some AI-generated art? If the choice were between commissioning artists and using AI, then yes, it would hurt artists. But if it's between no art at all and some well-executed AI art, I'd prefer the latter.

It's obvious that a lot of love and effort went into making this game. If the dev were pulling in several thousand dollars a month, commissioning original art from artists would be feasible. But they're not. This is too niche a project to have widespread popularity and support (I hope it gets more support and recognition). With some effort and the right tools, you could inject even more life into an already strong story.

This short animation took more time and effort than I initially anticipated, but I loved seeing the characters come to life. I could have done some stuff better, like making Simone more petite or walk like a normal person, but I realized it too late and making changes would have required even more time.

Spoiler

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I understand the arguments made regarding the Colette scene, but for me that scene still stands out as a highlight. As much as I love the storytelling in this game, I enjoyed that scene because of how "smut" heavy it was, especially with Nat's clear writing skill, and I'm hoping to see more of it in future updates. This isn't to say I don't adore the pacing of this project as a whole, I'm loving every second, but I always find myself actively excited when I see Colette is part of a scene.

Where I do disagree is with the use of A.I. Initially, when I realised that the project used A.I images, the thought did cross my mind to stop altogether. However the writing kept me engaged and I chose to stomach my issues, as I know many game creators struggle with their games art due to the nature of commissioning. This is why I was so happy to see that artists had been commissioned for the recent updates! It's always good to see your favourite creators are doing well, and to see real, human art where Generative A.I seems to grow everyday.

I will always prefer the choice that does NOT incorporate A.I, as even the knowledge of its inclusion can be upsetting enough. Seeing it briefly does sour the experience unfortunately, and I absolutely believe the writing stands so strongly on its own, that it would only be improved by the A.I's removal. Of course this is a game and I understand the importance of having good visuals, and so I think the only real change I'd make is to commission those real artists to replace old generated images, and refrain from further use of A.I.

I don't mean to sound like I have an issue with TPT, because genuinely I do adore it. I check often for any update and it's always a joy seeing a comment from Nat just to know they're well. I love this game and cannot wait for what's next!

 

[Meiri]

Can we go back to just talking about the game?

 

[Heliophorus]

I understand the arguments made regarding the Colette scene, but for me that scene still stands out as a highlight. As much as I love the storytelling in this game, I enjoyed that scene because of how "smut" heavy it was, especially with Nat's clear writing skill, and I'm hoping to see more of it in future updates. This isn't to say I don't adore the pacing of this project as a whole, I'm loving every second, but I always find myself actively excited when I see Colette is part of a scene.

Where I do disagree is with the use of A.I. Initially, when I realised that the project used A.I images, the thought did cross my mind to stop altogether. However the writing kept me engaged and I chose to stomach my issues, as I know many game creators struggle with their games art due to the nature of commissioning. This is why I was so happy to see that artists had been commissioned for the recent updates! It's always good to see your favourite creators are doing well, and to see real, human art where Generative A.I seems to grow everyday.

I will always prefer the choice that does NOT incorporate A.I, as even the knowledge of its inclusion can be upsetting enough. Seeing it briefly does sour the experience unfortunately, and I absolutely believe the writing stands so strongly on its own, that it would only be improved by the A.I's removal. Of course this is a game and I understand the importance of having good visuals, and so I think the only real change I'd make is to commission those real artists to replace old generated images, and refrain from further use of A.I.

I don't mean to sound like I have an issue with TPT, because genuinely I do adore it. I check often for any update and it's always a joy seeing a comment from Nat just to know they're well. I love this game and cannot wait for what's next!

As far as art goes, I don't like anime style of it.