[reviewed after clearing Normal Mode]
Excellent game. It has been a while since I play an HRPG that the devs put in such little details and dedication. From each little spin and jump of the character sprites, to the thieves hilarious failures, and even the interaction and dialogues between
specific characters (not just some generic lines). Heck, there's even a tutorial room that the devs put way too much effort in. It is something other games skip out on; from a content POV they aren't anything worth adding. Maybe most people, devs and players, don't care either. But this level of effort goes into great length making a game more alive and fun. It's already getting high score from me just for this alone.
Let's talk about the genres. I was looking up for more NTR games when this came up. Looks interesting so I gave this a try. I will say this is definitely not a netorare game, hardly a netorase either. The defining genre of this game imo would be Humiliation, which the English DLSite also lists this under. There is a route that's an exception (fourth bullet point), but other than that here's why:
- Many CGs and events all show the girls in shameless situations. Even some public humiliation scenes as well. It is a core part of the content in this game.
- There are really no special relationship between you (the MC) and the girls. None of the girls are with you more than an escort. Sure you can bring them along and talk with the townspeople to see what their traits are, or even buy them items to increase Trust. But in the end, they're strangers who accept your work also for their own reasons (justice, power, self-worth, money, etc.). They aren't with you because they love you, though they do care for you as your escort. This is why the game isn't netorare at all. Without a special relationship, how will they ever be stolen in the first place?
- Talking about stolen is the corruption genre, another genre I thought this game would have plenty of. Strong, brawny bandits and naive escort girls, who won't? Turns out it's almost nonexistent. During special events/CGs, the bandits do try to make the girls admit how much of a pervert they are. I'm pretty sure all, or most, of them (even in the 2nd CGs) never do it verbally. Afterward, some are returned to the town and some disappeared. You can talk to the ones in the town, and they're usually shameful and full of regret. With no transformation to their actions, can't really count this as corruption.
- The only route where both netorase and corruption exist in this game is
Since I set out to find NTR games, this route is my favorite route in the game.
I will say that, due to me looking for NTR games specifically, I didn't enjoy the scenarios in this game much. It's nice and fun, but most of the events aren't what I'm looking for. Won't give this game a low score for that though just because the genres aren't interesting to me; it was my fault for not checking DLSite and instead relying on people here tagging this game as NTR. Overall it's a very, very decent and unique HRPG. Aside from my first paragraph:
- Lots of sidequests and interactions only at certain stage of the game or after talking to someone will you get access to them. These sidequests give you upgrades or new skills. Remember to always talk to NPCs sometimes, especially while alone.
- A combat system when you have to play to make your allies lose, and even moderate difficulty in normal mode; not too grindy but not stupidly easy either.
- Good variety of hurting your escort girls. Debuffing them in battle isn't the only available option; there's traps, poisoning, breaking her equipments, or cursing them.
It would've been better if there are some corruption, like the girls joining the bandits, or we get to see them returning to the town as sluts, or maybe while other girls escort the MC we could see fallen girls fucking the bandits. I am quite disappointed that the scenarios didn't extend that far, but on the other hand you get 9 different girls to write scenarios, special interaction, etc. for.
Another con of this game people might find tedious is how detailed it is. While both being a pro because it shows you the effort devs put into the game, it's also a con due to how hard some sidequests/events can be triggered. Some of the them are pretty hard to find, because talking to the guy who activate its isn't enough. You have to come back multiple times, or find this one lady who is staring over the river, or after X and Y events happened. Requirements that isn't very obvious without a walkthrough.
TL;DR: Not my kind of scenarios and genre, but this is an extremely good quality game.
