Last Chance in Xollywood

Really ace game! Every time I take a chance on some random game on steam this is the kind of game I'm hoping to find. Really cool music that doesn't get grating and fits well. Great art that conveys different aliens without dipping into tropes or looking random. Plus, if you really like to see story choices come back this game makes you feel every little throwaway choice. Overall A+

(Summary) A science fiction visual novel that is a real labour of love - so many choices, so many outcomes, so much imagination , and so much humour and fun. The core game is free, but I liked it so much that I bought the optional DLC to get another distinctive main character with their unique backstory, and also to support (and thank) the developers. What a gem - or perhaps I should say blockbuster - of a visual novel this is! Often I struggle with such games, put off by the amounts of dialogue to read, particularly if the overarching story is bland or generic. But in this case I was fascinated by the premise of being a film director who's desperate enough to seek employment with a very low budget (and sleazy) movie production company on an orbiting dysfunctional metropolis, which employs a whole range of different (and cheap) life-forms. The choices in this game are numerous, from the life-form type and murky background of one of three directors (extended to four by the DLC), to the day-to-day managing (and juggling) of all aspects of film production - will the main character try to prioritise staying within budget, cast and crew happiness & welfare, artistic merit, story depth, special effects, etc, and what will they sacrifice to achieve those ends? Their own back story will also intrude as will the demands of financial backers, unions, and the very determined owner of the production company. There are achievements galore (51 in the free game), many of which are for doing extremely well (or extremely badly) in each aspect of the film production process, and also for forming excellent (or toxic) personal relationships with the owner and with the cast & crew members. The DLC only adds one achievement (ending the story with the 4th main character). Besides finding so much of the dialogue very funny, I was also intrigued by trying to work out which combination of choices would result in which outcomes. After 13 hours play I'm still trying to identify the set of actions to get the final achievement I need..! I have really enjoyed Last Chance in Xollywood, and I heartily recommend it. Why not give it a try?

I've been burnt a few times when I saw something in Steam that sounded interesting, but tuned out to be bland or shallow. I'm happy to Last Chance in Xollywood is neither of those. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story, and I found myself agonizing over a number of choices that felt significant without also feeling forced. I'm so glad I gave this creation a try! :P