Thank you so much for what I can only call a masterpiece (I'm not afraid to say it).
(Further phrasing may sound strange, as I am a Russian-speaking player writing this through a translator.)
I already have considerable experience with 18+ visual novels, but most projects either try to deliver a story through meaningless tasks, with the 18+ content only appearing after 4–5 hours of solid gameplay, or they completely ignore the story and focus solely on the lewd content. Here, however, I have found balance and harmony. Here are some of the positives I'd like to highlight:
- The story — it's already been mentioned, but the story is magnificent. This is subjective, of course, but for me, it truly is. From the very beginning, I felt that spark that kept me playing. It's a fantasy world with living, believable characters. The protagonist's internal struggle is wonderful. Even though I shamelessly lean into corruption and anti‑hero motives, it was still nice to see the remorse. And the episode with the Faun to reach 100% corruption — I won't even say much about that. I'm not made of stone; that one hit me right in the feels. Of course, I predicted many plot points early on, but I was genuinely happy about it, because those were the key moments that made the project perfect.
- The combat system. It's common to see turn‑based battles of this kind in Ren'Py projects, but it's been done excellently. The equipment choices — yes, the selection isn't large yet, but it exists! You can upgrade gear, which makes you actually read what each item does, rather than just equipping something randomly and being satisfied.
- The women. Obviously, the story is very important, but in 18+ projects, the choice of women is crucial — and here, it exists. Many of them aren't yet fully "available" so to speak, but the prospects are very promising. Also, there's no fear of crossing the line. There is no line here. When I first saw violence, then the Faun and the goblins, then the Pig, I was amazed at how easily the creator breaks stereotypes without going too far. Meanwhile, the city ladies, the rabbits, the mushroom, and the mouse really impressed me. Thank you!
- Animation, visuals, and music are pleasant. There's not much more to add, but they complete the picture and give the game its sense of place and time.
These are far from all the things worth noting. The project is incredible, and this is only a rough sketch of what I wanted to say. One small downside is that the Russian translation isn't yet complete — tasks and equipment descriptions in the inventory aren't translated. Still, my basic English and occasional help from a translator are more than enough.
You have given me hope and restored my faith in this industry. I now believe in a world where the peaceful town of Serenia exists. Keep up the excellent work. I'm eagerly awaiting updates. Thank you!
P.S. I registered here specifically to write this message, I simply couldn't not say this.