Reviewed on: 2024/06/25
Score: 7/10
Playtime: About 4 hours.
[h3]TL;DR:[/h3]
Outstanding visuals, great music, plenty of lewds and animations.
“Reconnecting's” (mostly) kinetic story deals with (canonically) a father and daughter reconnecting and falling in love while they're both in a committed relationship already. While infidelity is a theme in this game, this isn't the cause for much drama or sneaking around. The game's kinetic nature also lets players distance themselves from the MC's actions. Personally, in a choice-based game, I wouldn't have gone for Kelly without breaking up with Jade (Kiyoshi's fiancée) first.
For much of the game, we can think away Jade and Chris (Kelly's husband), and just enjoy a romantic story.
Without really diving into spoiler territory, I can't say much more, but the sections below expand on this.
If the game's themes of (optional, but still heavily implied) incest and infidelity don't offend you, and you enjoy a kinetic and romantic story, then I highly recommend this game.
[hr][/hr]
[h3]Gameplay:[/h3]
“Reconnecting” is a kinetic AVN. While it does offer player-choices, they're conversational flavor and don't impact the ending.
In this game, we play through Kiyoshi Ichikawa's story, in which he reconnects with Kelly. Players can change Kiyoshi's name, and how he's related to her.
[h3]Adult:[/h3]
There are 11 lewd scenes of various intensity in this game's gallery. Most vanilla flavors are represented, like masturbation, oral, and vaginal. Three lewd scenes feature pregnancy, which might not be for everyone. Two scenes involve an MFF threesome, and are part of the same event. And, depending on your choice for Kelly, most of these can feature incest.
One major theme in this game is infidelity, but its effect on the people impacted by it isn't deeply explored.
[h3]Visual:[/h3]
Like SuperWriter's other games, this AVN is visually pleasing. From a customized UI, to detailed environments, great posing, attention to lighting, camera placement, even reflections… A lot of love and care has gone into this game's renders.
Similarly, its characters have been selected and molded with great care for their role in the story. We'll meet people with different age, education, ethnicity, and backgrounds. The two love interests are visually distinct, and their looks compliment their personality. The developer really lets its characters shine by adjusting their posture and facial expressions to match their emotional state and atmosphere of a situation.
Like the renders, the game's animations have received plenty of attention to their details. They'll show body parts moving at different intervals, making for longer and less repetitive loops. Facial expressions will change, or eyes will move. These sexual interactions also show intimacy through posture and posing, instead of the typical porn-like sex we usually get in AVN. They have multiple camera-angles and viewports as well.
Some animations, in certain viewports, can be a little rough, but most of them are well done. There's some unnatural-looking movement (bodies sliding), minor clipping, and uncomfortable angles of entry.
[h3]Sound:[/h3]
“Reconnecting” features 22 different music tracks. These are chosen to fit the scene, and are balanced well.
They're remarkable in how unremarkable they are. As in, they never broke my immersion or distracted me from the visual experience.
[h3]Novel:[/h3]
After starting the game, setting our name and configuring our relationship to Kelly, we meet Jade.
Jade, Kiyoshi's fiancée, is meeting with a wedding planner about a wedding location. Kiyoshi arrives late because of traffic, adding stress to Jade's already stressful day. She lashes out, but the situation is defused when Jacob, Jade's son from a previous relationship, enters the room. Smart writing shows how much Kiyoshi cares for Jacob, and how much Jade appreciates him for it. It also leads them to talk about Kelly, Kiyoshi's estranged (canonically) daughter.
When Kiyoshi decides to reach out to Kelly, the game's main story starts.
[b]Spoilers below![/b]
“Reconnecting” tells the story of how Kelly and Kiyoshi fall for each other. Kiyoshi is initially attracted to Kelly physically, and Kelly is attracted to Kiyoshi as a strong, stable, and good man. Having lost her adoptive father, and her husband acting unreliable at times, she's drawn to Kiyoshi as the only man she can really trust and lean on. After going out and having a few drinks, Kelly comes on to him, and they both let passion take over. Soon after, Kelly discovers she's pregnant, with it being next to impossible that Chris (her husband) could be the father.
The following chapters explore the relationship of Kelly and Kiyoshi. They frame their love for each other as a father/daughter bond that transcends other relationships, making the sexual aspect an optional extension of it.
The story shows us how they navigate their infidelity and grow accustomed to seeing each-other with their respective partner. It's very subtle, woven in between events, how Kelly is happy for Kiyoshi and Jade, and how Kiyoshi doesn't even think to come between Chris and Kelly.
What happens to Chris, is what I like least about this story.
The writer tries to make Chris unlikeable in ways, like showing him being dumb or acting immature. This is done to make the audience root for Kiyoshi and Kelly. But, if you think things through, it really paints Kelly in a bad light.
Not only is she cheating on Chris, she's letting him raise the children she has with another man. She'll never love him like she loves Kiyoshi, and instead of granting him freedom by telling the truth and divorcing him, she's enjoying all the luxury his hard work provides for. Meanwhile, Kiyoshi, Kelly and Jade, all get their happy ending.
[h3]Conclusion:[/h3]
Where I'd avoid cheating in choice-based games, the narrative and framing in “Reconnecting” made it feel natural.
Despite infidelity being a main theme, there's very little drama or sneaking around going on. And, if you don't think too hard about Chris' future by the end of the game, it provides a happy ending.
In short, if you don't mind a kinetic AVN, and like a good romantic story, I highly recommend this title.
[hr][/hr]
[b]Socials[/b]
Interested in discussing AVN? Join the [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/LewdReview]Lewd Review Group[/url]
Or, follow our [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44944816-Lewd-Review/]Curator page[/url].
