Freeroams aside, thank goodness Drifty is looking at changing the underlying game mechanics.
I recall someone posting that Drifty said he wanted to make a game, rather than an AVN, and there's unmistakable BeADIK lineage to the mechanics and design of u4ia. This choice is apparently now bitting Drifty in the bum.
Among the many flaws:
1. Too many obscure choices affecting later gameplay. There's too much clicking and navigating to go through even on a skipped replay to go back and change earlier choices.
2. Lin's path looking like it's locked out if you choose to work for Synne (it's way too early to be locking out paths). I reserve judgement on other potentially locked-out paths because some of these characters are on slow-burn anyway.
3. Some needless freeroams - i.e. the wharf and cleaning the trailer. The two trailer freeroams could be simplied to one freeroam (after a linear cleaning event) to quickly explore the trailer and interact with the phone.
4. The perks system. Either it should just be the two main character traits (Brawls/Brains) or it should be eliminated entirely. The two main branching character traits could be implemented via dialogue choices throughout the game.
5. Gallery unlocks that are either choice-dependent (i.e. gallery images 1 and 5) or have ridiculous prerequisites (i.e. gallery images 2 and 4).
6. That gooddamn timer during freeroams!
7. For goodness sake! Do not use the term "Missed Opportunities" in the end-of-chapter summary screen - that implies player fault rather than developer fault.
I don't think freeroams need to be eliminated entirely. They just require better and more user-friendly implementation. Freeroam
is a player preference, just like kinks. If the majority of Patreons (and I am one) want freeroam eliminated entirely, so be it, but I think it will take something away from the game and kill some phone interactions almost entirely.
PS - to all those complaining the MC is too ugly to get chicks... there's four stereotypical traits to become a chick magnet: 1. Exceptional good looks, 2. Money, 3. Fame, 4. a BIG cock.
The MC has a BIG cock.