Ah, I see, like in treasure of nadia. Not really a sandbox as in "build what you want, play what you want", just posing as one. Thanks for the explanation.

I have not played the game - or the demo.

Originally posted by kevink27:

I do have games like that that I am ok with, but sandbox just makes me think it's not really a novel.

Originally posted by djinator:

Yeah, I agree, it leans heavily into 'family' relations and the sandbox mode is cumbersome and monotonous.

What exactly is the issue with the sandbox mode?

Thanks. Guess I will pass this then.

Hi Strider, I saw your review. You gave the AVN a score of 5-6, which is just below "recommended", but a far cry above "awful". Do you want to go into the details why 5-6? And you have 3 hours of gameplay... is the AVN so very short or did you give up on it in the middle of it?

The whole game feels kinda strange. There are the great visuals, someone has clearly poored talent and a lot of work into it. Some great songs when a scene demands it. BUT... the little things are not up to the standard. Some cutscenes, where you go click-click-click even though it just should play like a movie. Or the story which unravels, once you start to peel at one of the loose corners - and once you do, it does not make much sense any more.

The DEI mob has been in the gaming sphere for quite some time. But until now they where in the AAA-space, 'cause they follow the money and the attention. That they single out a little indie AVN is a new development.

Uh oh...

Adult Vuisual Novels are under attack. "No Mercy" just got taken down by Steam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT3pfOOIQ0Y

Of course, once the door is opened, more censorship is sure to follow.

There is a great song about two hours into the game - the scene between main char and Ashe.

Edit: Not the only great song...

On the other hand: SAC feels strange. The way it operates it reminds of an mom and pop shop, but it is a threat to whole planets and their whole populations. Meaning suddenly it gets magnitudes bigger and smaller.

already released
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2863160/?snr=1_5_9__205

I tried the game a second time. This time I avoided the walkthrough page - and it definitly makes the experience more fun. Still... I stand with the above review: Too many distractions from the core plot; and too many "puzzles" where the solution can be found either through helpful webpage, the crystal thingy ingame or possibly brute-forcing - but not by inspiration or logic.