Recommending TonyMurray's Favourite Games and Favourite Girls

[Anclrei]

Thank you for this thread: it is useful for ideas.

I wonder for some of these games with multiple updates, where you are updating your tier lists over time, are you also tracking those changes somewhere? It would be nice to be able to publish a graph for a couple of the top 10s two or three years down the line, and show how your thoughts on the LIs changed as the game went on.

 

[TonyMurray]

Thank you for this thread: it is useful for ideas.

I wonder for some of these games with multiple updates, where you are updating your tier lists over time, are you also tracking those changes somewhere? It would be nice to be able to publish a graph for a couple of the top 10s two or three years down the line, and show how your thoughts on the LIs changed as the game went on.

Thanks! I'm not tracking to that level, purely as it's not something that I want to do - it could quickly turn into something resembling work!

 

[TonyMurray]

University of Problems (my review) has been updated to 1.5.5 and I took the opportunity to play this from the start as it contains the remade sections from early in the game. The new dialogue doesn't really do much for me, but some of the visuals do look better, which is always a good thing. As for the latest update, I'm happy with where the game is currently going, having previously noted that it seemed to be "running out of problems".

Okay, so there may still not be many problems, but at least there's a clear route of progression with the girls. On my combined path, conversation is being had with three different groups of girls in regards to getting into a throuple (or a quad, in one case), and there's a full-on lesbian relationship that we're finally getting some details of, along with the hope of rekindling it as part of one of those throuples.

I just set up a dedicated Natalie path, since she is one I didn't have a save for, and as she is the one girl with an actual path (even if she's not a recognised LI) who is unavailable on my main save (due to being Roxy's sister). On this path, we have finally had her endgame revealed, which is an interesting development with regard to Mallory.

With how things are going, I'm tempted to set up a solo save just for Roxy, and possibly another just for Rachel, as they feel more like monogamous paths than harem paths. Roxy is already being talked about as part of one of those groups, but her progression in the game doesn't suit that for me. I feel there should be a cut off, where you can have Roxy in a throuple/harem only until you get so far with her. Once you start getting more serious, she feels to me like she would no longer fit that situation.

Either way, I'm happy with this game at the moment, and I hope that continues, of course. Some movers and shakers, and updated images for the girls:

 

[flaviopaganini]

University of Problems (my review) has been updated to 1.5.5 and I took the opportunity to play this from the start as it contains the remade sections from early in the game. The new dialogue doesn't really do much for me, but some of the visuals do look better, which is always a good thing. As for the latest update, I'm happy with where the game is currently going, having previously noted that it seemed to be "running out of problems".

Okay, so there may still not be many problems, but at least there's a clear route of progression with the girls. On my combined path, conversation is being had with three different groups of girls in regards to getting into a throuple (or a quad, in one case), and there's a full-on lesbian relationship that we're finally getting some details of, along with the hope of rekindling it as part of one of those throuples.

I just set up a dedicated Natalie path, since she is one I didn't have a save for, and as she is the one girl with an actual path (even if she's not a recognised LI) who is unavailable on my main save (due to being Roxy's sister). On this path, we have finally had her endgame revealed, which is an interesting development with regard to Mallory.

With how things are going, I'm tempted to set up a solo save just for Roxy, and possibly another just for Rachel, as they feel more like monogamous paths than harem paths. Roxy is already being talked about as part of one of those groups, but her progression in the game doesn't suit that for me. I feel there should be a cut off, where you can have Roxy in a throuple/harem only until you get so far with her. Once you start getting more serious, she feels to me like she would no longer fit that situation.

Either way, I'm happy with this game at the moment, and I hope that continues, of course. Some movers and shakers, and updated images for the girls:
View attachment 4379411

I really liked this game. After I got to understand Roxy, she became my favorite character. However, I had an issue with the game save, and unfortunately, this was one of the few games I was too lazy to restart. I'm waiting to see if there will be a Steam release someday so I can play it again.

 

[TonyMurray]

I really liked this game. After I got to understand Roxy, she became my favorite character. However, I had an issue with the game save, and unfortunately, this was one of the few games I was too lazy to restart. I'm waiting to see if there will be a Steam release someday so I can play it again.

Oh no! It's not a SanchoMod issues is it? That's the only one I've seen, and you need the save fixer in each new update, not just the first without the mod.

Absolutely agree on Roxy though, she was a bit of a rough start, but is now a gem.

 

[flaviopaganini]

Oh no! It's not a SanchoMod issues is it? That's the only one I've seen, and you need the save fixer in each new update, not just the first without the mod.

Absolutely agree on Roxy though, she was a bit of a rough start, but is now a gem.

I don't remember if he was the reason because I usually don't use him. He's problematic for me when translating games. I usually use a specific tool to translate some of my games in Ren'Py.

 

[yoyojrt]

University of Problems (my review) has been updated to 1.5.5 and I took the opportunity to play this from the start as it contains the remade sections from early in the game. The new dialogue doesn't really do much for me, but some of the visuals do look better, which is always a good thing. As for the latest update, I'm happy with where the game is currently going, having previously noted that it seemed to be "running out of problems".

Okay, so there may still not be many problems, but at least there's a clear route of progression with the girls. On my combined path, conversation is being had with three different groups of girls in regards to getting into a throuple (or a quad, in one case), and there's a full-on lesbian relationship that we're finally getting some details of, along with the hope of rekindling it as part of one of those throuples.

I just set up a dedicated Natalie path, since she is one I didn't have a save for, and as she is the one girl with an actual path (even if she's not a recognised LI) who is unavailable on my main save (due to being Roxy's sister). On this path, we have finally had her endgame revealed, which is an interesting development with regard to Mallory.

With how things are going, I'm tempted to set up a solo save just for Roxy, and possibly another just for Rachel, as they feel more like monogamous paths than harem paths. Roxy is already being talked about as part of one of those groups, but her progression in the game doesn't suit that for me. I feel there should be a cut off, where you can have Roxy in a throuple/harem only until you get so far with her. Once you start getting more serious, she feels to me like she would no longer fit that situation.

Either way, I'm happy with this game at the moment, and I hope that continues, of course. Some movers and shakers, and updated images for the girls:
View attachment 4379411

It might just be me, but I've never been able to play this game. There’s something about the facial features that makes me uneasy.

 

[TonyMurray]

Hard to Find by Onyx

This idea might have been done before, but I’ve not seen it, and I thought it was a pretty good premise. I liked both the idea of the game itself (young girl getting into the adult entertainment industry), and the idea for some of the scenes (casting couch, fucking a teacher and having someone walk in just after the cumshot, etc.) that plenty of people will likely recognise.

The story itself didn’t really work for me overall though, as I was expecting a game following Anna as she tries to break into the industry over a period of some time, but she was there and successful by the end of the first update (of currently two). I’m not sure what direction the game will now take, although I’m sure there will be a plan for it.

The gameplay is almost exclusively linear, with very few choices. The early choices are a bit odd as well, as they basically give the option of continuing or giving up the idea of becoming a performer. Since that’s the aim of the game, the “give up” option is a game-over choice, with a quick scene showing three or ten years later, and I didn’t really see the point in this as it just seems like false agency given to the character. The other choices seen so far are mostly during sex scenes, so would generally have no impact outside of the scene itself.

The graphics are pretty good and I liked the look of the main girl. It’s refreshing to have a young (20 years) FMC with some proper curves and bush, rather than the usual slim, shaved models of most other games (and the curvier models reserved for the mature love interests only). There aren’t really any other girls to comment on at the moment, but there is a photoshoot with two other girls here and the talk of filming some girl/girl scenes to come. Ultimately though, I guess that’s not the focus of the game, so it's not to be looked at as a downside.

(Also, I'm not sure if I missed it in the dialogue, but I have no idea what's supposed to be "hard to find" here!)

 

[Lagunavii]

Hard to Find by Onyx

I tried this briefly last night, I thought the idea was excellent but executed poorly. Our MCs fall from grace happens far too fast and as a result we kinda have a TACOS issue in there is now no where for the plot to go other than lewd scenes.

I'm more than willing to be proven wrong here.

 

[TonyMurray]

I tried this briefly last night, I thought the idea was excellent but executed poorly. Our MCs fall from grace happens far too fast and as a result we kinda have a TACOS issue in there is now no where for the plot to go other than lewd scenes.

I'm more than willing to be proven wrong here.

That was my issue with it - I thought it would take a while to break into the industry and there would be a lot of back and forth, probably with some corruption or something, but it just sorted that really quickly. I'm not really interested in the "day in the life of a pornstar" sort of game, and that's all I can see going forward at the moment.

 

[PickerLewd]

My tiers, then, go something along the lines of:

1. “Stunning”
2. “Beautiful”
3. “Gorgeous”
4. “Hot”
5. “Hot… but” (there’s just something that doesn’t quite work for me)
6. “Okay” to “Not for Me”

I am not a native English speaker and I always used the word "gorgeous" as if it were a higher level of beauty than "beautiful", which I thought was basic.

So that's the order: stunning > beautiful > gorgeous > hot > okay > only with a bag on her head > ugly .

 

[TonyMurray]

I am not a native English speaker and I always used the word "gorgeous" as if it were a higher level of beauty than "beautiful", which I thought was basic.

So that's the order: stunning > beautiful > gorgeous > hot > okay > only with a bag on her head > ugly .

It's all relative, this is just how I see it though.

 

[TonyMurray]

Some additional/updated thoughts on Thief of Hearts (my initial review) after playing the new update, Episode 3. You might want to strap in…

I’m not really feeling this one at the moment. Episode 3 didn’t work for me in terms of building, and in fact, it definitely soured me on the game, if I’m honest. There are far too many bits that make no sense whatsoever, and even though it’s intended (I presume) as a light-hearted game, these bits are just too much for me. Examples include many of the sex scenes in general; the whole thing with Megan; the police officer in a uniform consisting of high heels, stockings, short skirt, and a revealing top; two burglars with the male in functional black, but the female in a Halloween store’s “slutty burglar” costume complete with a boob window that barely serves to keep the goods hidden…

The extra scenes are awful in terms of the story, but I’ve already spoken on them in my initial review, so I’ll spare you the long paragraph I wrote about them! For me, all three of the “family” girls went down a level in this update. It looks like Bella has suddenly ballooned by a couple of cup sizes, and all of them manage to look a little less attractive overall – for Bella it’s mostly the hair, I think, and Ariel isn’t too bad, but again, just not quite as good.

As with the previous update, there are some glaring consistency issues here. In one, the MC meets Ariel outside Bella’s store. He’s wearing a shirt and suit jacket, but when they walk through the door into the store, he’s suddenly wearing a t-shirt. It all just feels like a bit of a mess.

Finally, the gameplay is a bit poor. Once more, I won’t go into any detail on the extra scenes, but the unlocking of them is not very well-done. Similarly, special renders are poorly executed a lot of the time. There’s a built in walkthough to the game, and often you get the choice of picking the “correct” option to progress with the best result, or picking the “wrong” option in order to unlock a special render. So like most people probably do, I always ended up clicking the wrong choice, going forwards a few screens until the “unlocked” notification appeared, then scrolling back to the choices and picking the correct one.

With all that said, I found the only good parts in this update to be the thievery scenes. There’s a prepping situation at the art gallery which has a good idea to it, although it’s ridiculous in execution. Other than the whole opening the door thing, it’s just funny that the two thieves have to dress so elegantly and forge exclusive invitations to get in, so I was picturing a high-society gala… and then they get inside and there are “regular-looking extras” there in jeans and t-shirts and holding takeaway coffee cups! There’s also a different scene though, where the MC checks out a new target, and that one is not too badly done.

This turned into a bit of a rant, but I feel the update warrants it. Pretty much from the start I had decided I was going to dump the game once I’d played the update, but I was actually interested in the final scene and the cliffhanger, so I might (just might) play Episode 4 when it comes out, just to see how that resolves…

Updated LI cards:

 

[MiltonPowers]

Some additional/updated thoughts on Thief of Hearts (my initial review) after playing the new update, Episode 3. You might want to strap in…

I’m not really feeling this one at the moment. Episode 3 didn’t work for me in terms of building, and in fact, it definitely soured me on the game, if I’m honest. There are far too many bits that make no sense whatsoever, and even though it’s intended (I presume) as a light-hearted game, these bits are just too much for me. Examples include many of the sex scenes in general; the whole thing with Megan; the police officer in a uniform consisting of high heels, stockings, short skirt, and a revealing top; two burglars with the male in functional black, but the female in a Halloween store’s “slutty burglar” costume complete with a boob window that barely serves to keep the goods hidden…

The extra scenes are awful in terms of the story, but I’ve already spoken on them in my initial review, so I’ll spare you the long paragraph I wrote about them! For me, all three of the “family” girls went down a level in this update. It looks like Bella has suddenly ballooned by a couple of cup sizes, and all of them manage to look a little less attractive overall – for Bella it’s mostly the hair, I think, and Ariel isn’t too bad, but again, just not quite as good.

As with the previous update, there are some glaring consistency issues here. In one, the MC meets Ariel outside Bella’s store. He’s wearing a shirt and suit jacket, but when they walk through the door into the store, he’s suddenly wearing a t-shirt. It all just feels like a bit of a mess.

Finally, the gameplay is a bit poor. Once more, I won’t go into any detail on the extra scenes, but the unlocking of them is not very well-done. Similarly, special renders are poorly executed a lot of the time. There’s a built in walkthough to the game, and often you get the choice of picking the “correct” option to progress with the best result, or picking the “wrong” option in order to unlock a special render. So like most people probably do, I always ended up clicking the wrong choice, going forwards a few screens until the “unlocked” notification appeared, then scrolling back to the choices and picking the correct one.

With all that said, I found the only good parts in this update to be the thievery scenes. There’s a prepping situation at the art gallery which has a good idea to it, although it’s ridiculous in execution. Other than the whole opening the door thing, it’s just funny that the two thieves have to dress so elegantly and forge exclusive invitations to get in, so I was picturing a high-society gala… and then they get inside and there are “regular-looking extras” there in jeans and t-shirts and holding takeaway coffee cups! There’s also a different scene though, where the MC checks out a new target, and that one is not too badly done.

This turned into a bit of a rant, but I feel the update warrants it. Pretty much from the start I had decided I was going to dump the game once I’d played the update, but I was actually interested in the final scene and the cliffhanger, so I might (just might) play Episode 4 when it comes out, just to see how that resolves…

Updated LI cards:
View attachment 4397676

I thought 0.1 was pretty ordinary and I kind of went off it further with 0.2. I spoke to one of the Devs about some of my concerns with 0.1 and he said that he shared them and it was too late for 0.2, but they would look to rectify them on 0.3.

I had my fingers crossed, but from what I've heard and your comments here it sounds like not much has changed. That's disappointing, so I won't be in a hurry to play the update. I haven't played DMD properly, but all the other Mr Dots games I quite enjoyed (despite some issues with them), but this one is at the bottom of my Mr Dots list at the moment.

 

[TonyMurray]

I thought 0.1 was pretty ordinary and I kind of went off it further with 0.2. I spoke to one of the Devs about some of my concerns with 0.1 and he said that he shared them and it was too late for 0.2, but they would look to rectify them on 0.3.

I had my fingers crossed, but from what I've heard and your comments here it sounds like not much has changed. That's disappointing, so I won't be in a hurry to play the update. I haven't played DMD properly, but all the other Mr Dots games I quite enjoyed (despite some issues with them), but this one is at the bottom of my Mr Dots list at the moment.

I realised early on in the update that I was playing it but not actually enjoying it, it was more going through the motions. That's when I decided to drop it, but I do want to see what happens next, which is a pain in the ass. Bloody cliffhangers.

If there are particular concerns, I can let you know here or in DMs if I think they've been worked on for Ep3 or not

As for Dots... I didn't finish Melody, and I don't think I've tried any of the others. I'm not in any hurry to change that at the moment.

 

[MiltonPowers]

I realised early on in the update that I was playing it but not actually enjoying it, it was more going through the motions. That's when I decided to drop it, but I do want to see what happens next, which is a pain in the ass. Bloody cliffhangers.

If there are particular concerns, I can let you know here or in DMs if I think they've been worked on for Ep3 or not

As for Dots... I didn't finish Melody, and I don't think I've tried any of the others. I'm not in any hurry to change that at the moment.

I liked Melody herself, but if you didn't I imagine it would have been annoying to play and even liking her, it dragged on and should have been wrapped up earlier. But my biggest problem was that you needed the creepy option to get the points with Melody. You'd be in a coffee shop and to get relationship points have to grab her boobs. It was constant everywhere, grab the boobs to get the points. They were very nice boobs, but so annoying and it creeped me out, but I learnt to live with it. Sunshine Love didn't have any creepy stuff.

But it was back with a vengeance in ToH, to pass the tests you needed to creep out. Pass Bella, you had to look up her dress. Pass Viv, had to spy on her getting changed, and there was something about Ariel when you were under a desk too (can't remember exactly what it was). It was annoying. And then you had options to skip girls you didn't want, but had forced stuff like give your mom a hug and get a boner. WTF. And it was quite buggy, the stats and summary at the end didn't match. I think I didn't kiss Vivian, but it said I did and looking at the coding you got the kiss whether you did or you didn't.

It was more the overall vibe, but specifically, the Dev said he didn't like forced stuff and that would be addressed. As well as the having to take creepy options to pass. I'll still have a look at it, because I like Bella, I like Officer Justice and I really like Pretty Girl, but I won't be in a hurry.

 

[TonyMurray]

I liked Melody herself, but if you didn't I imagine it would have been annoying to play and even liking her, it dragged on and should have been wrapped up earlier. But my biggest problem was that you needed the creepy option to get the points with Melody. You'd be in a coffee shop and to get relationship points have to grab her boobs. It was constant everywhere, grab the boobs to get the points. They were very nice boobs, but so annoying and it creeped me out, but I learnt to live with it. Sunshine Love didn't have any creepy stuff.

But it was back with a vengeance in ToH, to pass the tests you needed to creep out. Pass Bella, you had to look up her dress. Pass Viv, had to spy on her getting changed, and there was something about Ariel when you were under a desk too (can't remember exactly what it was). It was annoying. And then you had options to skip girls you didn't want, but had forced stuff like give your mom a hug and get a boner. WTF. And it was quite buggy, the stats and summary at the end didn't match. I think I didn't kiss Vivian, but it said I did and looking at the coding you got the kiss whether you did or you didn't.

It was more the overall vibe, but specifically, the Dev said he didn't like forced stuff and that would be addressed. As well as the having to take creepy options to pass. I'll still have a look at it, because I like Bella, I like Officer Justice and I really like Pretty Girl, but I won't be in a hurry.

I remember the Ariel desk thing too, but not the specifics. I can't recall if there were any bits like that in this update, as I wasn't paying specific attention to that. In general though, there's definitely an element of the creepy option gets the reward. I wonder if the change with this one is the "best option progresses, other option gets the special render" bit.

I can't remember there being any triggers here—there might be previous pathing that's built into it—but there were scenes where there was no-choice kissing with all three family women, plus some groping (but it was a choice of ass or boobs, rather than a yes or no). There's also kissing with Lucy that I can't remember being given a choice for, but that was as "cover" rather than anything else (almost like Camila in the prep-house party, but with the roles reversed).

Some of the report card stuff is still wrong, saying you didn't get the Officer Justice special scene, when you did (I corrected that in URM, so I'm not sure if that changed the summary text as well, but if not, the summary said you got it, even when the counter said you didn't).

 

[MiltonPowers]

I remember the Ariel desk thing too, but not the specifics. I can't recall if there were any bits like that in this update, as I wasn't paying specific attention to that. In general though, there's definitely an element of the creepy option gets the reward. I wonder if the change with this one is the "best option progresses, other option gets the special render" bit.

I can't remember there being any triggers here—there might be previous pathing that's built into it—but there were scenes where there was no-choice kissing with all three family women, plus some groping (but it was a choice of ass or boobs, rather than a yes or no). There's also kissing with Lucy that I can't remember being given a choice for, but that was as "cover" rather than anything else (almost like Camila in the prep-house party, but with the roles reversed).

Some of the report card stuff is still wrong, saying you didn't get the Officer Justice special scene, when you did (I corrected that in URM, so I'm not sure if that changed the summary text as well, but if not, the summary said you got it, even when the counter said you didn't).

Thanks. I know I changed the kissing Viv thing with URM, but the summary was still wrong. I did tell them, so I'll have to check if they fixed it when I get around to it. I don't really have a problem with kissing for cover (it probably sounds hypocritical, but kissing in that situation is ok with me, while kissing romantically if I don't want to pursue that girl bothers me).

I'm a bit surprised with their experience and I assume a group of beta testers that their coding would be buggy like that. But mistakes happen, I'm not that pissed about that stuff.

I'll see how 0.3 goes for me.

 

[Lagunavii]

Some additional/updated thoughts on Thief of Hearts (my initial review) after playing the new update, Episode 3. You might want to strap in…

I’m not really feeling this one at the moment. Episode 3 didn’t work for me in terms of building, and in fact, it definitely soured me on the game, if I’m honest. There are far too many bits that make no sense whatsoever, and even though it’s intended (I presume) as a light-hearted game, these bits are just too much for me. Examples include many of the sex scenes in general; the whole thing with Megan; the police officer in a uniform consisting of high heels, stockings, short skirt, and a revealing top; two burglars with the male in functional black, but the female in a Halloween store’s “slutty burglar” costume complete with a boob window that barely serves to keep the goods hidden…

The extra scenes are awful in terms of the story, but I’ve already spoken on them in my initial review, so I’ll spare you the long paragraph I wrote about them! For me, all three of the “family” girls went down a level in this update. It looks like Bella has suddenly ballooned by a couple of cup sizes, and all of them manage to look a little less attractive overall – for Bella it’s mostly the hair, I think, and Ariel isn’t too bad, but again, just not quite as good.

As with the previous update, there are some glaring consistency issues here. In one, the MC meets Ariel outside Bella’s store. He’s wearing a shirt and suit jacket, but when they walk through the door into the store, he’s suddenly wearing a t-shirt. It all just feels like a bit of a mess.

Finally, the gameplay is a bit poor. Once more, I won’t go into any detail on the extra scenes, but the unlocking of them is not very well-done. Similarly, special renders are poorly executed a lot of the time. There’s a built in walkthough to the game, and often you get the choice of picking the “correct” option to progress with the best result, or picking the “wrong” option in order to unlock a special render. So like most people probably do, I always ended up clicking the wrong choice, going forwards a few screens until the “unlocked” notification appeared, then scrolling back to the choices and picking the correct one.

With all that said, I found the only good parts in this update to be the thievery scenes. There’s a prepping situation at the art gallery which has a good idea to it, although it’s ridiculous in execution. Other than the whole opening the door thing, it’s just funny that the two thieves have to dress so elegantly and forge exclusive invitations to get in, so I was picturing a high-society gala… and then they get inside and there are “regular-looking extras” there in jeans and t-shirts and holding takeaway coffee cups! There’s also a different scene though, where the MC checks out a new target, and that one is not too badly done.

This turned into a bit of a rant, but I feel the update warrants it. Pretty much from the start I had decided I was going to dump the game once I’d played the update, but I was actually interested in the final scene and the cliffhanger, so I might (just might) play Episode 4 when it comes out, just to see how that resolves…

Updated LI cards:
View attachment 4397676

This is quite the shame, Mr Dot has never really been one for great story telling. DmD was about one chapter too long and Melody was forgettable, but when I first played this on release the premise actually quite excited me. Tis a shame if he's just reverted to his lewds for lewds kinda thing rather than lewds for story sake.