Well, I just completed chapter 3, about an hour ago! I'll fill you in on my thoughts later. I have a lot to say, and I need to figure out a way to make it short and sweet, but equally effective, haha! So, I'll fill you guys in later. I'm off to bed for now. Goodnight internet. ✌️
Alright! I'm fully rested and I've thought a lot about this! Here is my best review for chapter 3:
To keep this short, sweet, and effective, I think chapter 3 was written very well! Michael got some much needed backstory, Simon got more depth, Jade got a purpose, and the plot got serious! I like that Mike's school life is still relevant to the plot. I also like the slow pacing of the story, and the restraint on how explicit the H-scenes are. Saving the plot from kicking in until chapter 3 allowed us to properly know and connect with the characters before things got serious. And not going all in for the H-scenes this early on in the game will make the allure of the game last a lot longer, because anticipation will build the longer you make players get through the chapters and wait for future updates before anything particularly lengthy or graphic happens. Anya's last scene is by far the longest and most graphic H-scene in this entire game, and yet it's more tame than most of the very first H-scenes from other AVNs. I really, really like that. There is a value to restraint, and you seem to be the only developer who understands that. Not even Caribdis could resist making graphic H-scenes by the time Eternum got to chapter 3.
And, that's my review! I'm sorry it's not more detailed. The thing is, I've already tried to make this review three times now, but with more details in them. And they've always ended up way, way too long. Because I loved chapter 3 so much that I was incapable of stopping myself from typing about it. So, I opted for this instead. Short, sweet, and effective, but unfortunately lacking detail. I hope this suffices either way! Keep it up, DebatingPanda! You're an awesome guy, and an excellent developer! I am excited for chapter 4, and I will wait patiently for it. 😃👍
Thank you very much! Happy to hear and get some more feedback! :D I'll probably start with some less tame scenes in the future, since it needs to get a bit more... intimate at some point ;). But overall it should be pretty clear how most of the characters lives are, what their intentions are (at least if you pay attention to the details they're dropping). Some girls aren't even having such a deep relationship with MC, but more details about the remaining characters will be revealed in upcoming updates when you've scene with them.
Will try to get one H-scene in each update now and make them overall a bit shorter to have a quicker release cycle and maybe allow me to go part-time on my real job to invest a bit more time into BH. :)
You're very welcome! I'm glad I was able to help! And, I think that's a good idea. In my own opinion, I think we're far enough into the story now that it'd work with the plot to have the H-scenes be a little more graphic. Of course, not immediately jumping from 0 to 100, but a little more would work now! And as for going part-time on your real job to invest more time in Between Humanity, I hope that works out for you! Because that'd be awesome! I'm happy for you, man!
One last thing. I wanted to emphasize on this in my initial review, but I couldn't find a way to do it without ruining the "short, sweet, and effective" vibe I was going for. But, I really like how you expanded a bit more on Michael in this chapter. You gave him, and by extension, Simon, some much needed depth and character. Until now, Michael Collins, while certainly a good guy, hasn't been much more than a personality-less vessel for the player, and Simon a generic "protagonist's friend." Enjoyable characters, sure! But nothing at all like Orion Richards and Chang Wong from Eternum, or Kei and Shu from My Bully is My Lover. Simon, until chapter 3, was just a guy who talked to Michael occasionally, and Michael, just some guy who acted as a voice for the player. No real personality of his own. That seems to be beginning to be different in chapter 3! And I like how you're developing Michael and Simon to be their own characters now!
Because, at the end of the day, and this is just my opinion, the most important character is the main character. If the main character is bland, the rest of the game will also be bland. That's one of two reasons why I just could not get into Ripples. Jack, the main character of Ripples, had no personality, and Ripples also took the "graphic right out of the gate" route with it's H-scenes, which I've already made my opinion games that do that clear. And I just... couldn't do it. I couldn't keep playing past the first 30 minutes, and I'm surprised I lasted even that long. I detest Ripples. I see it as an insult to Eternum and My Bully is My Lover when it gets put in the same tier as them. It's nothing like those games. Eternum, My Bully is My Lover, and Between Humanity are gold games. Ripples is below corroded copper.
Anyway, I'm getting off track here. What I'm trying to get at is, I appreciate you giving Michael more development, which by extension, gives Simon more development! I think if they keep getting the kind of development they got in chapter 3, they could be like Orion and Chang, or even Kei and Shu! So, keep it up! :D
Yes, I'm obviously not having MC be the sexpert next Chapter, lmao! Also the part-time thing with my real job is a future goal, I'm not earning enough with avns to justify it just yet, but maybe after the next 1 - 2 updates (let me dream).
Anyway back to topic. I obviously have some plans for MC and Simon, but a man friendship can be different than a friendship between a man and a woman ;). But overall yes, I'll have some future content with him as well, but I'll always try to include some girls so make the people I won't leave out the people who enjoy girls more than some content with Simon (at least to a certain degree).
Will try to keep the development of the guys up, because as you said, MC is definitely important, and my goal is, that by the end of the game, the MichaelCollins (heh) is different than he was at the beginning.