Tearing my Codex hymen with this post, so I might spray all over the place and be extra sloppy… Engrish is not my first, yadda, yadda, yadda.. Taught to give my load of EVENICLE, as I’m currently playing it… First heard of it from that sunburnt merchant prince, Sseth, allah yarhamuh, Tzeentach, and he knows to sell a guy his vice. And I found my in HRPGs. This transgression happened by fortune, while I was getting to know fertile land of VNs (Nitro+ in particular, but about that in another worn thread), after a perennial drought in playing vidya games. Parenthood, a job that pays bills but charges time, and all that jazz.. I’m 35 yrld teacher, and daily staring at smoking exhausts of 13 yrld grls didn’t help either… So I languidly set off to a sunset of my religious background. I’m not claiming that I’ve become a connoisseur of God knows what, but I can proudly say that I have couple of H titles under my belt and on my trousers…
Anyway, about Evenicle… Not overly impressed with the game mechanics, and especially not immersed in its story. I get that it tries to be lighthearted with its quirky humor and appropriate graphical style (Lancelot enemies come to mind with doodle elephants and giraffes) and turn upside down genre tropes (sentient moving castle Camelot), but because of that I can’t take it seriously enough when it talks about subjects such as sacrifices one will go through for things they believe in, or tense relations between the individual and the community (introduction of Gurigura’s character into the polygamous collective was especially bad; Water Plant scene, when she learns that the one she calls Master is using her as a tool for his evol schemes) etc. Premise of the game is pretty absorbing in itself, what it means to be an Outlaw, cast aside and damned by the God, does one become ostracized by her own will or is she forced by the genitals of others.. It reminded me of Biblical motive of Cain and Abel… I can't talk extensively about the storyline as I'm currently finishing second chapter, with 10% of map explored, fighting first sub-boss in the ruins of Arthur, Rochefort, in his monstrous form.. I think I'm going to quit because I consumed all of my BP juice, so I can't use special skills that consume full battle points circle and the bastard fully heals when is near his untimely end. Could load earlier save, but won't suffer another Colpis rape scene!
TheEntitledOne is right, it seems that AliceSoft really hates girls with jars on their face...
Concerning gameplay, main loop consists of exploring the Map, which is not open as some of the areas are locked until you progress in the main storyline. Equipment consists of three slots, weapon, armor and item (various accessories which give different bonuses). Every character has his own equipment preferences (determined by their class I presume) for weapons and armor so you can't swap between them. You can find gear (but only the stronger versions of the ones already bought from vendors in world's cities) and consumables in chests scattered around the map, boosts like Drone beetles for secondary stats and variety of skills for your group, which are divided in 4 categories: Physical and Magic attacks, Support and Ability. Skill points aren't gained through level ups (only primary stats go up like HP, attack, magic etc.) but after some plot knots are disentangled (I’m still not entirely sure) and after Love (Gauge) meter is full you can choose which heroine to pump your spunk into, unlock a scene with her, after which she gains skill point which you can distribute.. You can change your skills freely, so you can answer the challenges, spread like patient on the deathbed, in front of your group. System that is best used in Kingdoms of Amalur with its Destiny skill-tree system, game that has more to give then meets the casual eye.. Asterisk, the main character, is magic warrior, so you can combine wizard spells and variety of combat stances.. Ramius, first waifu is a knight, specialized in fighting with a lance and defending the group with her a(r)morous boobs, Riche, princess mage with a nicely toned ass, Gurigura, ranger, mascot of the game for me, with her battlecat gloves and oblivious personality... I don't know who is the fifth member of Aster's harem gang (reclusive geek Kathryn maybe) but I'm afraid that I'll never find out.. I know that I'm still early in the game, but I think I grasped the gist of it and can expect more of the same... Running around map, fighting the critters and collecting hearts to strengthen the bonds with my Wamen, finally going to floating island of Eve and maybe deflowering even the Mother Goddess under whose thumb this world dwells, lifting the heavy burden of her black and white laws by adding a little shade... Finally I can recommend HRPG title that I finished not long ago, which captivated me a lot more, with its story, worldbuilding and character interactions, by the name of Ideology in friction.
Now back to my Nitro+ catalogue (a little male love of Togainu no chi) and clicking my nights away...