Would you play an adult VN with this classic comic-book art style?

[Syndicate Neon Black]

Hey everyone,
I’m part of a small dev team working on Syndicate: Neon-Black, a hand-drawn adult visual novel set in the Infinite Stars universe.

You play as a member of the LCS (Legitimised Crime Syndicate) who has just inherited half of Dollicious Dancers, a synth-shell pleasure club down in the lower levels where everything’s fragile and dangerous.


What really sets this project apart is the art style. We’re going for a classic comic-book aesthetic. My question to you is:
- Would you play an adult visual novel with this art style?
- Does it grab your attention?
- What turns you off?
- And if you could co-create the game with us by voting on how the characters look, what they're into, the story etc, would that interest you?

We're planning to share a bit more soon, but I wanted some honest critique about whether this style and concept has any potential first.

 

[Syndicate Neon Black]

And while I have your attention, (not art related) but does this sound like a fun premise?


Syndicate: Neon-Black is a hand-drawn adult visual novel about power, lust, and survival in the Infinite Stars universe, where you get to channel your inner crime boss. Who are you, though? Are you a Walter White? A Ray Donovan, or perhaps a Raymond Reddington?

You play as a member of the LCS, the Legitimised Crime Syndicate, trying to make a name for yourself in a gate station where everything has a price. Through luck and circumstance, you've gained a half-ownership of Dollicious Dancers, a synth-shell pleasure club clinging to life in the lower levels.

Your co-owner is a fiery, foul-mouthed mechanic who'd rather gut you than thank you. To survive and thrive together, you’ll need to navigate business, temptation, and betrayal, building or burning trust, wealth, reputation, and relationships one choice at a time.

Every character hides a story waiting to be undressed.

 

[Saint Blackmoor]

Welcome to The F95 Zone.
I like the art style. I think it will be a popular game.
The females in the first pic are very masculine.

 

[Syndicate Neon Black]

Welcome to The F95 Zone.
I like the art style. I think it will be a popular game.
The females in the first pic are very masculine.

Thanks! And this was exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for!

 

[secret_agent]

- Would you play an adult visual novel with this art style?

Yes.

- Does it grab your attention?

TBH, it doesn't immediately draw my attention, so the premise and story would need to carry some weight. The artwork is great (way better than anything I can do), but the artwork won't carry the novel, the story and premise will need to elevate it. Some novels can get by with just great artwork and lackluster story, so you'll need a good writer and story to help grow your readership. Maybe if there were more than just some character profiles, like a scene

- What turns you off?

The first nick pick I have is the woman on left (blonde/pink hair), something about her face or jawline just turns me off. The other characters look fine to me. I can't say for sure, but there's just something about her head shape, maybe a bit too masculine looking for me (but is probably fine to most others).

The second nick pick -- and just know this isn't an artwork critique, just honest initial impressions, the art is good -- is the shadows on couch aren't consistent. I know this is hard, I struggle the most with highlights and shadows as well and I know I'm bad at it, and since I'm bad at it, I'm always looking at others to try to learn/teach myself how to do it better. For example, the (right pic) couch armrest on right side shows light coming from upper right (shade on left lower armrest) and the back rightmost cushion is shaded on its right side where it should be direct light (unless there's something there blocking it), which the right back cushion and the right armrest should have same lighting.

- And if you could co-create the game with us by voting on how the characters look, what they're into, the story etc, would that interest you?

Variety. Have different (and unique) personalities and body shapes and likes/dislikes. I'd suggest finding a story that your team is excited to tell, having readers vote on story can possibly end up with a story that the team just isn't excited for, it needs to be something they want to work on and finish. If readers tell you a specific story and non of writers or artists are excited for that story (or genre) then they might just get burned out or not have enough motivation. I'd defer to your team to see what stories they want to tell and what they are into.