AA2 and Koikatsu

[Winterwolf]

So... I've played both. I like both because they each have elements that make the games fun. However it feels like Koikatsu which is a spiritual successor not necessarily a direct successor of AA2 seems to be lacking... options in terms of gameplay. A sort of gameplay mechanic sacrifice for better graphics is the way I see it. This only applies if you have the main game and aren't just using character creator.

Let me go a bit more in depth. So AA2 had a sort of... Sims-like feel to it in its way of interacting with other students and the behaviors, greater chance of failures based on chance and such. With Koikatsu it seems you just have to fail once then you're basically guaranteed a success on future interactions pertaining to that subject. Like if you know someone likes eating food then you know exactly what to say when they ask if you like eating food. It crops up more often then you think where a character will ask the same question back-to-back (At least for me) Makes things a bit... easy. There doesn't really seem to be any chance of failure and the chances for failure are rather... minor? They don't really punish you like AA2 did. Also I love the 3D environments so much in Koikatsu, big step up.

Now the game describes it as a Romantic Simulator. Yet we all know its an H-game first and simulator second. Not meaning to throw shade at the devs, I love your work, don't get me wrong. It's just it's an H-game and I understand that comes before any other mechanics, but I feel like the core mechanics that lead up to the H-stuff need a lil more love. A little more... depth, so to speak? More options in conversations, more dialogue and such. The H-stuff is great mind you, but its what leads up to it that feels somewhat lacking at least to me.

One of the things I also miss about AA2 that isn't in Koikatsu is the random walkup interactions from NPCs. I haven't had any of that happen in Koikatsu, if it is present let me know please, but I haven't seen it. I liked how NPCs could spontaneously approach you and start a dialogue, ask a question, spread rumors, etc. I think some of that should reappear in Koikatsu.

Personally the LLDH (Like, Love, Dislike, Hate) system of AA2 would've been great here, but I digress. All in all I'd say this is a pretty good game, pretty pricey so I'm hoping the DLC will be free and that more content will be added over the course of the next few months.

Tell me some of your thoughts, what are your gripes about Koikatsu, what comparisons would you make between it and AA2. What changes would you make, what are some ideas you have that might make it better? Or hell if you think its a great game just say so! :3

[Jehuty]

Free DLC's? Dream more, digital pack of 2 main ones is $94 now. Plus the third one is coming on 31.08.

And our thoughts and ideas are pointless because Illusion don't read anything here.

Btw npc's can initiate dialogues with you or propose to you here, if they like you enough.

[Winterwolf]

Weird, I've maxed out the like and still nothing. *Shrugs*

[Winterwolf]

I was also gonna suggest the implementation of the typical Girls fighting over guy trope presented in so many harem anime. Wondering if that could be a possibility to add in...

[Jehuty]

You need to max out friedship scale twice and lewdness scale too as well for this as I know.

[Jehuty]

Originally posted by Winterwolf:

I was also gonna suggest the implementation of the typical Girls fighting over guy trope presented in so many harem anime. Wondering if that could be a possibility to add in...

This game is a happy harem simulator, so it's quite opposite here.

I've never seen mods for this too, which indicates that most of the players don't need it. They usually mod in qite opposite features (like free random h).

Plus you can add possiblity for several girls to join the sex scene and chage them during H as you wish (or love one and tease two others at the same time) with a mod.

[Outsider]

It's a porn game.
I take graphics over "gameplay" any day.

[Winterwolf]

@Jehuty Well I did max all that out, I've got it maxxed out on quite a few characters and still nothing. Maybe a bug with mine? When I say fighting over a guy, I mean in the playful way you see in anime. Like a competition so to speak.

@Außenseiter At least you're honest about your intentions lol, but not everyone is the same. Yes it is porn but also... a game. Hence mechanics should be balanced in with graphics, at least that is my viewpoint. Would you be satisfied with a very pretty, high graphics game that required you to only press 1 button to win? Then why should this be different? Just because its goal is to get laid? Personally I like development up to H-scenes and a variety of ways to go about it. Then again I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority of people that like a bit of backstory before the banging lol. I would also like to point out the game itself considers itself a "Romantic Simulator" which would lend the belief to some more depth to the gameplay. I get it, porn is the focus of this game, I understand, but some extra mechanics and features and the like leading up to that part would be pretty nice.

Regardless as Jehuty said, I don't think Illusion is going to pay any mind to this. I just hope for an actual successor to AA3 with in depth mechanics rather then a spiritual successor.

(Side Rant sorry lol feel free to skip!) I would also throw in the case of Yandere Simulator and the depth of gameplay it has. I know it's not a porn game, but the difference between these two games is one you're trying to screw everyone, the other you're trying to murder everyone lol. Though take a gander at Yandere Simulator and you can see the variety of methods you can employ to accomplish your end goals. Now take that scope of variety and options and approaches to challenges and such and apply it to Koikatsu (Sorry for the overuse of and). Variety is the spice of life and can be added to just about anything, a variety of gameplay and approaches is all I'm looking for lol. It makes for a more entertaining experience. I would also say, reward is better when it is hard fought for and earned. Reward being well... lewdness. The hard fought battle for the reward being the gameplay itself. Eh either way. Everyone has their own preferences, if you get jolly off of just the porn aspect I won't throw shade, good on ya mate. Though some of us would like some more options in the whole gameplay approach is all.

Rant over, sorry for the wall of text. >.< Have a good one! And keep lewding!

[Jehuty]

Strange, they initiated a talk with me couple of times yesterday. Maybe it requires dlc's, I don't remember exactly.

Anyway, it doesn't like they'll made AA3 at all (I suppose sales were not good enough, but we don't know for sure). Their next game surely not AA3 at all.

Anyway, if we compare AA2 to AA (AA1), AA2 has lost some mechanics that were present in AA2 and were adding depth and realism too, like need to have a part-time job to earn money(so you could take girls to cafe and stuff), and managing time between working and hanging out with girls (as far as I know, I've only read description of the game).

And in AA2 you don't even need to care about money, you can take girls to karaoke, cafe and stuff as much as you want.

So KK looks like the next step in this way - removing boring stuff most of people don't enjoy and add or enrich more stuff they enjoy.

And anyway it's a huge improvement over HS or PH in this direction, which are basically just quick sex simulators (but really good looking ones), where you can't even walk.

So it looks like most people want not only qick sex simulator, but diverse (but not too complicated) interacting with nice girls with different personalities and conquering them too in order to be really happy.

[{O|G} Erik the Red]

AG3 needs more love so they can make AG4.

[Winterwolf]

@Jehuty I never got to play AA1 unfortunately. I do like the idea of balancing mechanics like your representing from AA1 lol. Makes things more interesting. I mean I've always been the kind of person that enjoys working for something and getting it as a reward for hard work as opposed to just getting something with no effort. It's like.... working to buy a nice new gaming rig, as opposed to having one just handed to you. You're going to value the one you worked to get while the one you just got for free with no effort it doesn't have quite the same amount of value, you put time and effort into gaining something, you've overcome obstacles for it which makes it more worthwhile. Do you get where I'm coming from with this? lol. Might just be my southern background talking here lol. But yeah definitely better then some other sex simulators I've seen around. I'm not saying to overly complicate it, and you could just make some of the gameplay mechanics optional, an on/off switch in the menus so to speak so it could appeal to those who like depth in their pornographic games.

[Jehuty]

Well developing and balancing complex mechanics (even optional ones) costs money. Illusion is not a multi-billion dollar company, so these money would be taken from other aspects of the game: paying for charcters voicing, making models, animations, enviroments, etc.

Idea with optional mechanics is good of course, but it would make other aspects of the game underdeveloped or cut. So Illusion choose a safe bet with better graphics and voicing.

Even Rockstar did not make GTA V with togglable realistic driving mechanics (like in Asetto Corsa for example), or relistic gun and shooting mechanics, like in Arma 3 for people who would enjoy it.

Plus most of the adult gamers want just to come home after a hard working day and feel being loved by some cute virtual girls and have some funny talks with them (or make their own girls), with some moderate time needed to conquer them (not like an hour or so for each).

Btw you can add fully fledged pregnancy mechanics in KK with KK_Pregnancy v1.1 (with proper development and without any game over), and a [surprise sex] mechanics too with Kplug.