Re: illusion - haremmate
I'm actually kinda surprised nobody has mentioned this title before now.
I don't really get hyped much about Illusion games anymore. The graphics will of course be gorgeous in this. That goes without saying. However, it seems like through the years the company has never really become interested in gameplay. Watching the trailer, this game seems to allow for a fairly impressive amount of customization on the girls which makes me think they put at least some extra effort in. Anyone play it yet and able to give a bit of a review?
I played it some, lets see what I can say that may be of use.
first thing worth mentioning, is that this game is using an entire different engine, which so far seems to have big potential for user based content (meaning allows for more kinds of mods and is supposed to make it easier to mod) and new graphic features (such as lightning that you will be able to experiment using the photograph mode).
Many people seemed turned off by the graphics, its a cartoony/hentai style artwork/graphic presentation, kinda like AA games but while AA feels alot more closer to drawing artwork, Harem feels more glossy-CGI 3d Art, I personally dont dislike it, at least I dont dislike it more than AA itself because I prefer the more "real" detail of say real Kanojo or even premium play darkness.
I think this engine will allow for my preference, but I think its just not the way the devs wanted Harem to go, they clearly wanted the more cartoony aproach.
the gameplay features are pretty straight forward, in fact the game feels more like a somewhat in depth customizable showcase of what illusion intends to do with their new engine in future games than an actual story or gameplay featured release.
you have a very short story (that I cannot comment on because no translation yet) that introduces you to several female characters that you will have specific hentai scenes with;
after that all features unlock, and you can:
-create new girls, customize face, body hair makeup etc and choose their clothes.
-go to poser and photo modes where you can play around with their positions facial expression, scenarios, take pictures/postcards etc.
-start a 1 girl with 1-5 male partners scene (using the same option as the main story after it is concluded and features unlocked)
-start a 1 male with 1-5 girls scene (using the lower option in the main menu)
the animations are pretty much top notch when it comes to Illusion standards and while there isnt a huge variety (for example only one position for 1 girl with 5 men, but 3 or when its just 4 or less, and ofc lots more when its a 1 on 1) there is enough.
as for customization its the best so far in any illusion game if my memory doesn't fail me, and room for lots more (as illusion themselves tease at with the added makeup patch and all), particularly when mods start coming out, there's healthy doses for face, tho not many considering the cartoony nature, but the body is pretty cool, the sliders allow good body variation being able to make fuller bodies, or even hourglass ones, hips and thighs especially, ofc still important customization features seemed to be neglected, for example how tall models are and the breast shapes, were disappointing, being able to choose only size, something I liked in AA was how you were able to give distinctive shapes to the breasts.
oh and you can edit scenarios too somewhat, like choose what objects are in certain position slots and stuff, nice but, fluff
hope that was useful
my favorite game fom Illusion is "Yuusha kara na wa nigeranai" Something like that :3
this pretty much, the basic strategy/rpg gameplay went really well with the whole story theme imo, and its one of the few sex games I know where sex is not just a reward/punishment or sideshow to the game but an actual gameplay feature too, using sex to buy time/gain power when the demon was too weak to defeat them in battle or to heal having sex your succubus sidekick.
my dream game by illusion would be a remake of Yuusha with premium play darkness style visual novel for the dialogues/non combat stuff and ofc its customization features for the heroines/sidekicks instead of being stuff with just a few with only 1 costume.