VN - Ren'Py - The Promise We Made [v0.3] [AdultSpice]

‘The Promise…’ is promising. I like this type of stories with, say, slice of life (no zombies or superpowers), slow burn, options that matter… Even if they are not perfect (yet?).

With regard to the graphics, the author’s inspiration is clear – and this is ok, though the game is not in the same league as at least some games that could serve as an inspiration (due to e.g. static images, minimal changes of face expressions, some renders that apparently have distorted proportions, too small differences between the models).

The plot: we are at an early stage yet. Could be good; we will see later. As for erotic/porn game, the content is still modest (pun intended).

However, the biggest problem is with the dialogues. Not even with the language, though one may say that the game contains mainly a sort of school English. Unfortunately, the dialogues sound very artificial or naive. People do not talk like that in real life. The conversations are long, boring and quite often they do not move the action forward.

At the current stage of development I would assign three stars but one more can be awarded for the game’s potential – especially that I have the impression that the game is getting a bit better with subsequent updates (the most annoying dialogues are in the beginning). And for the female protagonist.

There is very little understanding of human nature and how people interact naturally in the writing of this game. So many plot turns are forced and manipulative. The writing is just unintentionally naive in general. And considering that's most of what the game is, with only sparse choices (though more than some games), it's just not enough. Not enough movement in facial expressions either as compared to something like EvaKiss games, which this is obviously trying to be like.

Not as bad as some of the content on here. But I see little improvement over the first build as time has gone on.

Reviewed as of version 0.2.

This game so far appears highly derivative of a couple of other games with similar art styles and initial story. I don't want to mention them by name here, but if you know you know.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, either. I happen to be a huge fan of those other games. I generally love games with female protagonists and I happen to love this art style. There isn't too much to see yet in terms of lewd content, but I have high hopes.

The writing needs work. The English is clearly non-native and contains plenty of mistakes, but overall it's not bad.

The real problem with the writing is found in the opening scene. It's supposed to be a conversation between the MC and her boyfriend, whom she's dated for several years and known since high school. But their dialogue paints the picture that they don't know each other at all and have just started dating.

The cause of this is the author's desire to include a heap of exposition but lack of understanding how to do it in a natural way. An example: when the boyfriend talks about why he won't quit his job, he says, "This company is the most successful of all the companies that exist in this day."

And the MC tells him she just returned from volunteering to clean up a beach and how she loves nature and outdoor activities, as if her boyfriend didn't already know this about her. With a little patient effort, AdultSpice could make this sound much more natural. Later conversations do seem to improve.

Looking forward to seeing how this develops!

v0.2

I was pleasantly surprised. The art is decent and characters so far are unique and memorable.
The game has a rather strong Good Girl Gone Bad vibe. One might say the basic idea is almost copied but not many games make the effort to make situations at least plausible and believable, so kudos for that, and there's not enough female MC games with a decent and plausible plot if you ask me, so I'm not going to hold that against it.

The writing is not on the same level as Eva Kiss' work, there's some spelling mistakes but it is more than passable.

It looks like there are some strong foundations, and could be a potential 5 star game in the future. At the moment, I think 4* is fair.

I will give the game four stars in debt as an investment for the future. Because the present confuses me a little. There's only one man in the whole game who didn't disgust me.: this is the owner of the diner. He is handsome, big, rich, has a domineering character, a typical sugar daddy. The rest of the men are just pathetic nonentities, which is embarrassing to mention. Why the developer used this art style in a game with fixed figures of heroes is not clear to me. AI makes excellent renderings of plausible people in 2 seconds. Now this technology is available to everyone. But people persist in making ugly art. This is strange. There is also a mistake of novice writers. A mandatory boyfriend at the beginning of the game and his departure is a waste of players' time. If he had to leave, it would be better if he left before the game started. Saying goodbye to a person you see for the first time in your life is an irritatingly empty and boring idea. He's nobody to me and I don't care if he's there or gone. In general, any plot should begin before the game, but there is no beginning here. Nothing happens in the prologue. It's confusing.

Great start, one to be keeping an eye on. If you like the GGG art style then this will be right up you steet.

**please note this is only the prologue and so no choices as yet**

there is a lot of exposition but i think its needed for the story thats about to follow, i must admit i do find it hard that the MC already has an established relationship of which we the player has absolutly no connection... therefore will find it easy to not stay faithful if the opportunity arises. BUt we will see.

So far good start im intrested to see where this goes and will update the rating as and when required.