VN Ren'Py Summer's Gone [S1 Steam + DLC] [Oceanlab]

[Ghosty99]

Frankly, I don't understand where this perception of VNs being nothing but vehicles for porn comes from. Why exactly would anyone think that they can't have deep characters or engaging stories? The whole genre was conceived in Japan where VNs are a booming mainstream industry. AVNs are just a rather niche subgenre which we, for some reason, tend to see as VNs' default form.

The format of static digital images coupled with the ability to make everything into a quasi-cinematic experience through adding animations and a suitable soundtrack makes VNs great platforms for storytelling. Some of the devs who had the balls to go against the grain and deviate from the lame 'landlady/tenant' formula and focus on telling a good story went on to deliver some of the most memorable games in the genre. Ocean takes it a step further and the result speaks for itself.
Those are games that I would still play through even if all the sexual content was removed... or if it wasn't there to begin with.

Maybe then, for example, music producers would be more open to working with AVN developers instead of dismissing their work as the equivalent of a typical Brazzers production and not wanting anything to do with it... Because let's be honest: if an artist or their manager decided to do research on AVNs and saw the usual - a creepy, leering protagonist who drools over his mother and fingers his family members in their sleep - could you blame them if they said 'hell no!' to being associated with that?

But a game like SG, where the sexual content - when it arrives - will be the consummation of deep feelings that have been building up in the characters involved over the course of multiple hours of playtime? That's a lot more palatable. Who knows, maybe some of the artists would even end up here and chime in on who the best girl is.

Bottom line: games like this are the ones we need to support if storytelling is what we value the most in VNs.

100% Agree with this. This is why Summer's gone is my favorite game on this site Storytelling and character develoment are just breathtaking in this game and I'm just emotionally invested in it.

Long term storytelling is the key in this game

 

[SumTingWong0420]

Thanks bro, it's a solid list I'd vouch at least for five of the eight of them without an eyeblink. But we're about to be moderated if we continue.
Anyway, SG is something else, I couldn't even point out to myself why is it. The renders? Yes, they're outstanding, but I've seen almost similar quality in a couple of new games, it looks like they learned from Ocean The story? Yes, it's good and keeps the tension, but I wouldn't call it something super-outstanding or very original. The characters? They are very well depicted and adorable, but similar ones can be found in other games. The music? Some people like it (including me), some don't. I'd say it fits well for this game and sets the mood. But when all these pieces are combined together - here is the masterpi+ece.

Agreed 100%^ about SG just having 'something special' I think it's the characters overall & the situations that all feel so real...it's like there's no room for BS or filler material it's just very relatable. I feel anyone who's ever been Very sad or depressed or apathetic for long periods of time can relate easier to the MC and probably wants him to feel better & get back to life.

This is what I interpret the description of the game to mean...maybe even with multiple characters, MC was crushed by an extremely devastating emotional event, amplified by the fact that he was a young teen & she was his 1st love, to have that torn away suddenly with no reasons, no answers and no closure...I can't even imagine the sorrow & how easily he lost his vigor for life, very relatable indeed.

 

[SumTingWong0420]

So I'm playing the Android port by Blackeye w/ a WTmod & some choices feel like it wants you to 'go for' every girl, Example:

Spoiler: do we like Mila choice

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Most likely I'll figure some of this out by playing thru more content But I always enjoy some good discussions.

 

[anonnyscouse]

So I'm playing the Android port by Blackeye w/ a WTmod & some choices feel like it wants you to 'go for' every girl, Example:

Spoiler: do we like Mila choice

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

Most likely I'll figure some of this out by playing thru more content But I always enjoy some good discussions.

The dark path no longer exists. Mods haven't been updated to reflect this as there are remnants in the code but it'll make no difference from now on.

I always aim for +RP with girls even when not on their route, it could make for more scenes before actual branching takes place, I can't see having high RP with another girl closing a path unless you don't have enough RP for the path you want, so it only matters when there's choices that lower one RP and raise another.

 

[noctarima]

The bananas! They're multiplying!

View attachment 2343349

I blame this fucker

 

[Frowster]

I feel anyone who's ever been Very sad or depressed or apathetic for long periods of time can relate easier to the MC and probably wants him to feel better & get back to life.

Take it from someone who's been living with dysthymia for the past 20 years or so... Nika is easily the most relatable MC I've seen in one of these games. From his sour and gruff demeanour, the way he doesn't emote, the recurring negative thoughts, behavior ranging from complete lack of energy to violent outbursts, thinking about what you should be feeling but not actually feeling it... When playing SG, I felt more than once like I was inserted into the game. Only I never had someone like Nami in my life.

This screen perfectly captures the way you feel about everything:

Spoiler

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It's such a breath of fresh air to play as a troubled, introverted character rather than the buff, outgoing or straight-up creepy dudes you normally see as protagonists.

Spoiler

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I can understand why many might have trouble connecting to him; admittedly, people with this condition are difficult to deal with and SG shows this perfectly. In fact, I'll risk saying that the author couldn't have portrayed it so accurately if it wasn't born out of personal experience. If that's the case, I'm both sorry and happy for him: sorry that he had to go through it, and happy that he's doing well enough these days to be able to create such a high quality product.

So yeah, for me supporting SG is more than just supporting a game I like. I feel like it's investing in a broader effort to show that AVNs absolutely are a valid storytelling medium that can cover serious real-life subjects while the sexual stuff lurks in the background.

 

[Paradigms]

Take it from someone who's been living with dysthymia for the past 20 years or so... Nika is easily the most relatable MC I've seen in one of these games. From his sour and gruff demeanour, the way he doesn't emote, the recurring negative thoughts, behavior ranging from complete lack of energy to violent outbursts, thinking about what you should be feeling but not actually feeling it... When playing SG, I felt more than once like I was inserted into the game. Only I never had someone like Nami in my life.

This screen perfectly captures the way you feel about everything:

Spoiler

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It's such a breath of fresh air to play as a troubled, introverted character rather than the buff, outgoing or straight-up creepy dudes you normally see as protagonists.

Spoiler

You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.

I can understand why many might have trouble connecting to him; admittedly, people with this condition are difficult to deal with and SG shows this perfectly. In fact, I'll risk saying that the author couldn't have portrayed it so accurately if it wasn't born out of personal experience. If that's the case, I'm both sorry and happy for him: sorry that he had to go through it, and happy that he's doing well enough these days to be able to create such a high quality product.

So yeah, for me supporting SG is more than just supporting a game I like. I feel like it's investing in a broader effort to show that AVNs absolutely are a valid storytelling medium that can cover serious real-life subjects while the sexual stuff lurks in the background.

This is literally why I play and I love this game so much, this feeling of closeness in the emotions of Nika and the fact that each character is alive with a universe with consequences, each one lives his life and it's not because Nika is not there that they stop existing for all that not to mention the new vision seeking to heal, I think that through the game Ocean seeks to send a message to all people in a bad way with each character having their demon to come to end whether it is Bella, Nika for their past see Marla when we learn her story, we also have the issue of disability that will be addressed with Victoria especially if we spend our time with her, we will learn concretely the consequences of becoming a paraplegic and overcome his disabilities without ending up moping, but accepted his past pain to make a strength in the future as the iron that we beat at the forge our character will be forged by his experiences

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[RNasc4444]

Re: Acting Lessons.....let me summarize by just saying:

Fuck.
That.
Game.

Still the worst game I've ever played. Not even close. And I'm not speaking from a technical standpoint, it's a well executed game, but from an enjoyment perspective. There is no game I've enjoyed playing less than AL. Never even finished it. Won't ever touch that crap again. I'd gladly play the 100 worst games on this site back to back to back over replaying AL once.


Back to SG. I'm gonna go with:

1º - Bella
2º - Nami (Hottest model in the game by far, for me, and her loyalty and devotion are such a huge turn on. Will dropkick Bella if Nami asks me to even if I don't want to do it.)
3º - Sasha (Attractive and mysterious. Want to know more.)
4º - Maja (Didn't plan on focusing on anyone else until I saw the Maja rework and her kinkiness in last chapter. Fuck me. She makes my list.)

Don't really care about anyone else. Female cast is WAYYYY too big as is. Even though Ayua is pretty cool and if this were a different type of game I'd be all over Nojiko.

 

[idontdreamwhenisleep69]

1) Nami - Just presses all my buttons. Perfection.
2) Bella - Wasn't a fan at first but progressing her story and seeing her connect w/ MC, can't help but be a fan.
3) Vanessa - Such a well designed and written character. As Nami and MC said on the bus, she leaves quite the impression.

Zara, Maja, Vic, Nia, Amber are all fantastic in their own right as well, while they may not crack my top 3, they're all fantastic characters and can easily see how they can be favorites.

Mila is the only one I am lukewarm on. Might change if I ever do a Mila only playthrough but nothing about her grabs my attention like the others.

Plenty of unmentioned characters that could turn out to be great as their stories develop, but I'm going to hold off until we get to see more than some beautiful renders to comment.

 

[Deleted member 3917737]

The dark path no longer exists.

The only path that matters

 

[BeingADikDik]

The dark path no longer exists.

Replaced by the dork path.

 

[yossa999]

The only path that matters

Yeah, fuck that pathetic Nika, does such a name even exist?
[changes MC name to Dexter] It's time to release the dark passenger!

 

[Psycroptic]

So ik we're all Nami fans but who's everyone's 2nd/3rd girl?
#1 Nami is Cutie & best waifu material, amazing petite body and dam stunningly beautiful
#2 vicktoria just the sweetest thing ever, she's gorgeous and I have personal bias bc VN girls in wheelchairs are hot...no I don't know why
#3 Bella...hear me out....yes she just looks like one of those hawt bitches....the kind u wanna hatefuck the cunty attitude out of BUT...she is gorgeous visually...her attitude makes her less attractive although she does seem like a ride or die waifu

P.S.
I will be a sadboi if Nami doesn't also fall In love with Victoria & demand a throuple, which if I remember how much Nami likes her, this *could* happen >;D
View attachment 2343116

You got it wrong. It's Bella first and then Nami.

 

[charlesrich]

You got it wrong. It's Bella first and then Nami.

There's a certain foster mom I refuse to give up my tiny sliver of hope on

 

[Old Man Al]

There's a certain foster mom I refuse to give up my tiny sliver of hope on

Well...

Spoiler

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[Prokopije]

Hello. Anyone knows if "reworking"(changing and adding stuff in first chapters) is finished?

 

[Paradigms]

Hello. Anyone knows if "reworking"(changing and adding stuff in first chapters) is finished?

If you really want to play the real definitive version of season 1 I advise you to wait for the release of Chapter 5 Full after its official Steam release I don't think Ocean will come back on it and totally focus on season 2, Because for the moment until the release of chapter 5 he intends to rework chapter 2 and take care of the musical dmca

 

[rudy007]

Still the worst game I've ever played. Not even close. And I'm not speaking from a technical standpoint, it's a well executed game, but from an enjoyment perspective. There is no game I've enjoyed playing less than AL. Never even finished it. Won't ever touch that crap again. I'd gladly play the 100 worst games on this site back to back to back over replaying AL once.


Back to SG. I'm gonna go with:

1º - Bella
2º - Nami (Hottest model in the game by far, for me, and her loyalty and devotion are such a huge turn on. Will dropkick Bella if Nami asks me to even if I don't want to do it.)
3º - Sasha (Attractive and mysterious. Want to know more.)
4º - Maja (Didn't plan on focusing on anyone else until I saw the Maja rework and her kinkiness in last chapter. Fuck me. She makes my list.)

Don't really care about anyone else. Female cast is WAYYYY too big as is. Even though Ayua is pretty cool and if this were a different type of game I'd be all over Nojiko.

It's incredible tough to answer the question about best girl in this game. We have for example Nami ond Bella, for me best characters because they story progression is high(er). They had the most "screen time", doesn't mean there aren't another (potentially) good characters. I like Amber, Sasha and Ayua too. Nojiko is beautiful too. Doesn't mean that she's "mom". I think she could be a good LI, but she isn't in high position in Ocean's eyes. Too bad.
I play non incest games too, but the best are often incest. I'm not a huge fan of incest, but if I would kick incest games out, there are not many left.

 

[idontdreamwhenisleep69]

At this point in the stories, Ayua is too similar to Miru, who has had much more development and screen time. In a vacuum I might be interested but having played both, Miru is just a more compelling character right now and Ayua's allure suffers as a result.

Yes I am aware they are similar because they are mother/daughter.

 

[RNasc4444]

It's incredible tough to answer the question about best girl in this game. We have for example Nami ond Bella, for me best characters because they story progression is high(er). They had the most "screen time", doesn't mean there aren't another (potentially) good characters. I like Amber, Sasha and Ayua too. Nojiko is beautiful too. Doesn't mean that she's "mom". I think she could be a good LI, but she isn't in high position in Ocean's eyes. Too bad.
I play non incest games too, but the best are often incest. I'm not a huge fan of incest, but if I would kick incest games out, there are not many left.

In the end it's all up to someone's preference. I've literally crossed out most characters in this game as for one reason or another I have no romantic interest in them. Mila, Nia, Sonya, Vic, Zara, Vanessa, Amber, Marla, Nadia, Kate and the Twins are all crossed out for me no matter where the story takes us. I have no interest in milfs or the teaching staff either. So the ones we know and I'm still open to are Robin, Elsa, Nojiko and Nancy.

I can relate to the incest part though. There are plenty of tags I don't love like incest that are very much present in some of my favorite games.