Fetish Locator Week One

[ReptilianWorldOrder]

With vivid atmosphere & attentive detail akin to 'Acting Lessons,' this Ren'PY VN isn’t quite that top tier, but close, with its unique sync of erotic central premise & game mechanics going a long way especially.
[Animated, Fetish Frenzy Of Your Choice, Hardcore, Uncensored]

Starting at the End: What You’re Reading This To Find Out

Since I’d been able to play to completion, I can luckily answer some of your more specific questions related to the story break.

To elaborate that inevitable question of what the ♥♥♥♥ “Week One” entails exactly, we’re talking “Fellowship Of The Rings” style here. (Though one where Samwise and Futa Frodo officially hook up every chapter, not just relegated to overt subtext like LOTR.) But, uh… more to the point of comparison, it’s the first third of a single narrative delivered piecemeal, with each entry released separately for purchase when ready. The post-game teases the second part in development already is slated around 2021, with the final chapter TBD still.

While just a third of the grander narrative, there’s enough content for a full game, with that first play-through running like at least 4--but maybe up to--10 hours. I guess? How fast can you read? How much do you skip? How bad is your ADD that you get up forgetting the game was running? ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ metrics. Someone time a playthrough on standard auto-mode text speed with instant decisions and report back. Let’s get some objectivity up in this ♥♥♥♥♥. My original game time ran about 6 hours from beginning to end, while occasionally rerolling to take a look at other decisions. Though are a number of scenes I’d not unlocked requiring bigger path branching for maybe at least 2 other playthroughs.

On the bright side, at least this is one complete entry rather than the early access gambles, and getting a final product when it comes to accessibility and amenities too. Still, I’m the type who’d rather have the complete narrative set to digest with full understanding of themes. But I guess that’s less and less common among a number of alternative approaches easier to finance. Thankfully there’s more than enough going on to feel like that split is deserved rather than artificially prolonged.

Like any entry film, there are clear (or rough) acts and act breaks that flow rather organically, also facilitating some sense of progression and accomplishment. There are measures of character growth/conflict with changes influenced. You’ll undoubtedly leave the game far more interested and curious than when you enter, but without it ending on a “cliffhanger” per say. It’s a somewhat nice breaking-point for a relative “climax” of an initial arc. Still there’s enough happening at the end that you’re exceptionally eager for the next arc to get underway--and at least one decision towards the end of the game should massively influence the next one. Apparently we're talking "Mass Effect" style save-import here, so label those end games saves... clearly enough you can tell WTF your labels even meant next year.

Plot/Purpose

Fetish Locator [Week One] opens on your typical college campus with one notable exception, an underground sex app has taken off and gotten those hormone-soaked teens whoremoaning it up, and things are escalating.

You get involved with an array of satisfactory sexcapades, though gradually find yourself invested on another level, both as character & audience. While only the first entry in a trilogy, it’s already one of those games where you’ll pull back enough layers of plotting and emotional interaction to uncover essential central conflicts underneath. IE, those elements which separate casual sex-romp games from upper echelon adult visual novels.

Most themes apply to the story events as well as modern society. Without getting into details, there’s a willingness of reflection and recontextualization that makes the narrative so worthwhile here. Looking back, there were many superb examples of foreshadowing along the way. And certainly more slithered right past me outlining future developments. Perhaps even some fiveshadowing? The premise is a rich trove and I’m endlessly curious about what the next installment holds… I got theories yo.

There’s likewise a few strokes of genius in their multifaceted application of the titular app here. Simultaneously, it’s the means to facilitate all the genre-specific sexy situations, drive the central plot forward, and convey quantifiable gameplay progression.

Even some of the better adult VNs have flimsy premises for their situational ♥♥♥♥-frenzies. Here this trending app & our “jump off a bridge too” nature organically lays the ground-work for that necessary organ exchange and adventurous escalation. The app provides the ultimate story-driver: justifying most shenanigans, while tethered to the protagonist’s initial motivation of attending a party with his crush, and itself a subject of ongoing intriguing.

And, for that plot-important party, you’ll need at least 25 App points to enter. Intwining this rather traditional gaming measure wiith our abstract VN ambitions ends up slapping a bow on top to tie the room together. These points, acquired from a myriad of encounters and means, pave way for the player to expunge their inhibitions as well, and experiment with whatever opportunities come knocking.

Character(izations)

You’ll play as [character], or the default Mike, while also getting to choose your in-app handle too. It’s the small sort of detail that ended up a real treat, as I’d always forget after hearing ‘Mike’ for so long until that unexpected “Hey there Diabeetus!”

There’s standard archetype fare: your nerdy sister coming out of her shell, the manslut roommate, a goofy best-friend, your unrequited pedestal crush, the girl-next-door gal-pal whose affections you’re oblivious, the no-nonsense Dean, and an assortment of mean ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ & bros for tertiary ♥♥♥♥♥.

Even the more essential characters come across as one-note at first, though each day gradually builds up that context and conversational charm to exist beyond static roles. It’s not as effortless or effective as comparable works, though that clearly improved throughout development. Many end up reading as remotely intelligent, reflective, and representing flawed realities.

As with many of the better Western VNs, the dialog successfully weaves together pop-culture references & matters of minutia to evoke our real world (and role of media in it), resulting in more natural characterization, without ever coming across as nerd-name-dropping or pandering ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ either. There’s a real flow to most character interactions that’s quite charming and organic.

The plural is Fetishi

Well given that title, there’s obviously a variety of fetishes, and you’ll need to oblige SOME to get those points… or not. I’d tested out to see what happened and “enhanced edition” means that even if you fail, you’re allowed to keep playing as if you hadn’t pruded-out and kept going. So, it’s actually a TOTAL matter of your choices here.

If you’re wondering what those fetishes are, well the store description has them all listed in detail. I know, no ♥♥♥♥. But really there’s nothing too intense that you’ll regret going with the flow if you’re feeling adventurous. They’re more standard examples of fetish action from an array of consensual activities. [There’s even a specific toggle in menu to turn off the taboo element that involves your sister].

One of the more interesting attributes, despite a game tailored towards specific fetish environments, most refusals don’t eliminate content. At least from what I’d tested. Most declined events simply function as any VN decision. It either sets into motion alternate scenes you otherwise wouldn’t see at all, or it adjusts whatever essential encounter to eliminate that fetish du jour for vanilla.

Misc. Non-Bum Bummers

While a lot of the writing and minor details really evoke a top-tier title, there’s a certain roughness to the character renders falling below par. I’d actually almost overlooked this title entirely. From a screenshot alone it’s hard to tell whether this is going to be a dedicated VN at all or whether it’s rudimentary slapping together static sex images in linear “click next” fashion. When animated, a lot of those flaws are quite negligible, but the standard scene to scene comes across as simply “less than” high tier competition offers.

I feel incompetent at expressing specifics beyond saying some of the character renders just kinda “feel” off. Characters like AmiRose often have those uncanny vibes. Ironically though, she’s also one of (if not the) best characters. So I’m wondering if perhaps that off-kilter appearance might actually contribute to the appeal: the natural variation of slightly flawed ends up more perfect than theoretic perfection.

What I can elaborate though: a lot of the tertiary characters tend to blend together with a certain “sameness” to the point that I’d mistaken three blond girls for the same one in different contexts. [Two of whom I’d straight up thought were the same person until preparing this review].

I suspect the developers made conscious attempts to minimize this. Perhaps, with technical inability to better distinguish character models’ faces/body types enough, they’d made some stand out via clothing, context, or gawdy tattoos. Lot of gawdy tattoos. It works at times, others not… like if the two blonds are both mega inked up.

Count tha pr0ns

The gallery is done as a “replay room” with all 45 scenes (all these animated I think) from the game that occurred, with them being re-enacted as best matches your current save went (given the many variations on encounters that can exist). Meanwhile the CGI gallery exists on top of that with the more photogenic moments and character introductions. And still there’s the bonus gallery for those side projects and character examples from varying artistic styles too. If you’re ever wondering how to unlock that missing chunk, well they put in the love to simply toggle the hint button on the gallery to see details on the path that would’ve unlocked those events. It’s pretty damn nifty and nice touch.

Stealing From The Best

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to “Acting Lessons” here---and not just because I’m 99% sure they use the same soundtrack selections at times too. In tune, they similarly enrich the novel with a constant and diverse selection of music and ambient noise. Fetish Locator doesn’t seem to utilize recurring character themes as much (in the tradition of Opera and old school Hollywood), however it still punctuates each scene with an extra degree of liveliness and atmosphere. The role of sound is a VN facet that most will never even notice when done properly, nor can they pinpoint it as the problem when lacking, yet they feel it nonetheless. It’s a measure of importance that can drag a game down a tier by itself

They’ve properly embraced the mantra “great artists steal” as intended, and it paid off, enabling them to sidestep common errors that bog down most Ren’Py novels. It’s not a comparison made shallowly, given such different plots and themes, or one meant as criticism at all. This comparison is a statement of appreciation for the capacity to hone in little labors of love to similarly apply enhancements that elevate what might otherwise been standard fare to grander effort.

I’d say there’s even noticeable improvement from the start, where I suspect they were still learning as they worked. Earlier scenes tend to be more static, less variation, and shorter--not always for reasons of circumstance/intended escalation—with simply fewer images. Later on, particularly the last two days, animations are lengthier but also including a number of poses/shots of variety with scenes being event-like.

That close attention to detail on otherwise often-mucked-up mechanics is noticeable across the board. So many stylistic choices I’d typically expect to go overlooked indicate a clear attentiveness of what top tier genre examples and reveal a great eye. The many achievements, achievement names, and by god the achievement images are simply rich. Even alterations from your choices are represented subtly in dialog too, where an attitude silently muttered changes up the song another character will sing to stay awake. There are enough little surprises to keep from zooming through the dialog that second go-around just to unlock the unseen erotica.

As I’ve said, it’s not quite top tier, but perhaps that next one might be. If you’re anything like me, it’s got that one sign of high-end quality already: once things start unraveling, you’ll find yourself so immersed in the plot and characters that you’re fast-forwarding all the deep dickin’ to get to all that deeply vested drama allure. Sweet sweet DVDA.


Okay I’m tired writing. Tha End.



[url= https://steamcommunity.com/id/ReptilianWorldOrder/recommended/1360980
Here's the link back to the original review so you can hit thumbs up, if only to validate that I'm not just shouting analysis and elaborating my thoughts for the sake of an endless void out there. [/url]

This review was brought to you by Erotic Game And Mod Empire.
https://store.steampowered.com/curator/35750827-Erotic-Game-Mod-Empire/


We’d like to thank the developers for providing us this preview copy of this game, and early enough to play to completion for a detailed and accurate full review posted early on.

And you find non- genre recommendations at our (incestuous) sister site, WWGW:
https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32660416-Weird-Wonderful-Game-Watch/

[My_Name_Favian]

ok

[aleks]

Part 2 please. I'm very happy about reading your vivid review. I'd pay you to write more. Please. Kind Regards, Aleks.

[hildem bruck]

what is wrong with you please go outside