My position on this and EVERY game is based on 2 things, what the game tells me and what the devs tell me.
Cheeky told us 4 years ago this wasn't going to have a harem so I never played it as such but on the routes I did take there were constant warnings it was not going to end well if I had multiple partners.
The other game you are talking about sounds like Retrieving the Past, another game the dev said wouldn't have a harem and the MC woulod have to choose and another game the dev was ignored and people acted like it was sprung on them.
Same thing happened with BaR despite constant warnings.
I freely admit i'm not a fan of harems, I think they look ridiculous as fuck and make choice based game utterly pointless.
People keep bringing up WVM as doing a harem game well but it isn't much of a game. It's a pick your porn scene simulator. Choices mean nothing and all boil down to "wanna see sum, fuk yes or no". And that's fine for what it is, it is a good fuck fest novel.
Harems are great in fantasy settings.
I missed one out from games I enjoy, I also love Last Sovereign and that does a harem insanely well. The thing there is the MC is an Incubus King that needs all the sex to power up so collecting women like it's Pokemon made sense.
Sisterly Lust and Parental Love both did it great by getting everyone involved and leaving no one out but that could never work here considering half the cast hate each other.
The sad thing is, people see multiple LI's and instantly expect harem despite everything they are told.
The REALLY sad thing is despite being told for 4 years this would never have a harem it still has people complaining yet they must have grasped by now the dev isn't going to pander to them.
"The game told me not to expect a harem but because other games have plot twists I ignored it yet when it happened I gave up" .... fucking, wut?
Picture Perfect was so close to being great.
I loved the characters, I loved the build but it could have done with being a few updates longer to let things end naturally. It did feel a bit abrupt at the end.
Secret Summer is doing better.
I don't include Come Home because they never interact with each other so it's less of a harem and more a guy that gets lots of sex.
I think that Harems are only good if done in the right setting.
For instance, let's take Sisterly Lust.. one of my favorite incest and harem games. It made it tense to have the harem in their home town, and so a wonderful land where poly is king, literally was the solution. It was done so well. I just adored it.
Light of my Life, with the daughters is one that I think deserves a lot of credit. It is one that yes, it is a bit creepy because of the dead wife memories/drunken visions, etc.... but it works... plus I love the office harpies that you get to totally have sex with all of, and they are still such little biddies.....
Secret Summer is going to surpass Picture Perfect. I feel that in my bones. Picture Perfect had me just as you said, right till the end when it just.... ended way too abruptly. I am hoping for a much better ending in SS.
Come Home... yeah I see your point... I am wondering though since several of the girls have said they are ok with the MC seeing other girls, if that does not sort of set up a true harem type situation.
WVM...... yeah it is kinetic really... and it is not believable... and you really just can't fuck it up... I just wish that the adopted mom, the real mom, and the sister were all on the menu!
I have not been playing this one for a harem route. I have a couple of play throughs. One for a milfy ending, and one for a more age appropriate ending.
Anyway, I am looking forward to this update now!
Peace
