Taking it both directions is part of what makes it work, IMO. They're predators, but they're not "evil". They're more "alien". It makes them fascinating to see them as dangerously incompatible with human life, but also normal by their own standards. And to steal from another semi-macabre work, "what's normal for the spider is chaos for the fly". The fact that they have their own sort of moral scale that doesn't quite fit as harmless, nor outright malicious, gives them a sort of intrigue that lets them go beyond a simple sex appeal device (doubly ironic too, since their actual role in the greater story is practically as being only pawns).
I'd agree if they didn't try to characterize them in a human way. Especially with the "rape victim"
They're not portraying them as beings outside of humanity, when they act and move on general human impulses along with their succubus impulse of fucking dudes to death.
Now again, I'd be completely fine with scum girls who I want dead. Tons of games do that.
It just feels to me that the author wants it both ways. To find the girls attractive and like them as well as hate them to their guts and find them frightening. This is the dichotomy I cannot understand. It's probably a fetish thing. I don't have a vore fetish so maybe it's in the same line of thinking.
It's like... making a horror game but the scary stuff just pops out and gives you candy and sweets while the color palette is bright pink.
I don't know what SQDT's vision is specifically, but i wouldn't say that in most cases Succubi are evil, they are predators as you say, but much like the Antelope is to the Lion, the Lion needs a steady supply of prey to stay alive. In the animal kingdom, predators evolve specifically to hunt their prey and the sexuality of the succubi is how they evolved to drain men, who are as powerless as a fly against the fly trap once caught. I wouldn't call them villains for the same reason predators aren't villains, i also wouldn't say that they are put in any kind of light to say they are 'heroines'. Clearly their entire interest in the male characters is to devour them, everything they say or do is to ultimately achieve that goal.
That my own personal take, to each their own.
If you're a human, a lion is your villain.
The Loup/Wolf has a huge use in children's fiction especially for this reason. They don't need to explain that the wolf is the bad guy/villain. It'll eat you. It's bad. It ate grandma.
By your logic, the wolf in red riding hood can't be considered a villain.
" i also wouldn't say that they are put in any kind of light to say they are 'heroines'."
I disagree. They are given specific males they prefer devouring.
The writing tries to keep their personalities forward and personable.
Their character designs are simple and attractive used for the cover.
They are given backstories and are relevant to the overarching plot. Lots of effort was done to characterize them and relate them to a specific guy.
Well, I don't think they're truly heroines because of their egregious features, but I feel the dev attempted at trying to have the player at least like them. Especially when swimmer girl goes up in your face.
But that's just my view. I'm not trying to invalidate yours, just giving my side.