Rent-a-Vice

Worst thing I've read in the last four years. I cannot think of anything I've experienced in the Choice of Games library more passé and uninspired then this.

Pros: -Very well written -Very intriguing and unique premise Cons: -Short. I beat it in 2.4 hours reading at a medium/fast pace -Very few skill checks, literally maybe one or two for some -Middling replayability. Could probably enjoy one two more runs Would recommend for the price but there is better out there.

[h1] Rent-a-Vice [/h1] It’s hard to leave a review for this game. In one sense, it achieves what it aims to achieve. It’s well-constructed, and the writing has particularly beautiful moments. However, because of the actual content in the game, it’s not something I would actually recommend to anyone. To me, Rent-A-Vice is an experience you need to stumble upon, read the summary, and use your best judgement about whether you as an individual can enjoy this type of content. [h2]Summary:[/h2] In a world where virtual experiences can feel real, the ethics of feeders and users opens up a labyrinth of mystery. As a divorced P.I., your life is turned upside down by your newest case. Searching the underground world of virtual experiences for a man pronounced dead, you experience firsthand how and why these experiences are important to the world you live in. Find out the truth, deal with your past-trauma, solve your case and try to stay alive between warring factions. [h3] The Good: [/h3] - [b]I like that you can opt-in to trigger warnings. [/b] I didn’t think I’d necessarily need them (I did. Good gracious), but I turned them on by chance. From self-harm to police brutality and so many other things, I was so glad that I didn’t have to approach these aspects blindly. Part of the object of this game is to leave a bad taste in your mouth, but it doesn’t surprise you with trauma. - [b] The writing style I also like. [/b] What a subjective point, right? Still, the writing matches the tone and the genre without being all *noire misogyny irritant*. The parts of the game that I like—like spending time with your kid, or overcoming your trauma, are really elevated because of how these experiences are written. - [b] Positive Possibility [/b]. Although the game and the experience are pretty dark, I’m thankful that one possible route of your character’s personal journey is one of healing. [h3] The Not-So-Good [/h3] - [b] It has so many triggers and dark content. [/b] It’s purposeful, it’s not just awful for the purpose of being grimdark, but it’s still so much, and so constant. - [b] You have to engage with the triggers. [/b] Again, this makes sense, but it’s still something I really didn’t want to do. - [b] Flat side characters. [/b] I wish the peripheral characters had a bit more substance. [h2] You would like this if [/h2] - [b] You like film noire and/or cyberpunk [/b] - [b] You enjoy dark content—or at least it tends not to bother you [/b]

Really enjoyed the writing in this game and how well the author has defined the world and the struggles of vices that the people in the novel face. The world is very detailed and some of the vices are disturbingly graphic for a text only game, but it does its job well describing to us how the vicers are effected in the world of "Rent-a-Vice". However i don't know if i screwed up half way and couldn't access the rest of the game or maybe its just very short but there was only one case to solve in the novel that i know of and i felt it was way too short for such a detailed and well written game. I can't blame the novel for that because i don't know exactly if its the novels fault or my own incompetance. But to make it short, i would reccomend this game for a nice quick read that is well written and enjoyable.

Imagine a world where you can experience life through another person. Virtual Reality but more visceral - more "real". What consequences might arise, and how might people try to exploit the system? These questions, among others, are what Choice Games ask in their new title "Rent-a-Vice". The story takes place in a futuristic, sci-fi city where people (dubbed "feeders") can relay real life experiences - such as cliff-diving, self-mutilation, and claustrophobic situations - virtually to "users" via a technology known as VE (Virtual Experience). The exact implications of this technology is left fairly hazy, but it is known that the technology can be exceedingly addictive for varying reasons. The game puts you in the shoes of a Private Investigator, whose character you craft through choices semi-frequently proposed to you throughout the play-through. These choices are reflected in a typical character stat sheet that you can view at any point during the game. It is never outwardly revealed how your stats affect your interactions. They could be an illusion for all I know. At the very least, it did appear that my choices were reflected through stat changes, which gives you *some* satisfaction - if not entirely gratifying. The story itself is interesting - taking a sinister view on the future that advanced Virtual Reality could create. It is clear however, that this game is more intent on getting a message across than anything else. While this is a respectable choice to make, the world is left slightly undeveloped as a result. For example, it is heavily implied throughout the game that you have some sort of history with VE - but the game never bothers to go past surface details with the main character (or with *any* character for that matter). Perhaps this is explored in more detail along some other path that I did not explore in my first run - but it seems unlikely. Additionally, there were a few times where the story seemed to "forget" events that had happened. The most notable instance of this occurred when the game told me that the death of character A would be a heavy blow to character B. Rather curiously, however, character B had already died earlier in the story. This, I assert, would make it very difficult for them to be affected by character A's death - as they are already dead themselves! Despite this, it was still an enjoyable read. The pacing is fast, and the writing is surprisingly enjoyable. This makes up for some of the shallow world-building, as you are not left too bored at any point, and the choices come frequently enough to keep you from skipping through chunks of dialogue at light-speed. There are even a few special moments in the game where you feel a huge sense of player agency - even if it was just an illusion. That's pretty impressive for a game that has no visuals other than text and buttons! All in all, I think the story is told very well through the medium it has chosen, and is definitely worth the relatively low price-tag.

我基本上是把它玩成了一个加强版的depressionquest。

Барахло. Эджи фальшивая елочная игрушка. Основная драма настолько тупорылая, что проникнуться ей невозможно. Две стороны - несчастные одноногие собачки против гадов-политиков. Прочувствуй страдания! Страдай! Печалься! Пропустите, оно даже ста рублей не стоит.

互动还是有的，打着星云奖最终提名的名头……能打个七分吧。 美式侦探剧一贯的剧情，能看。不过后期并没有前期的那么紧凑和有意思。 好歹完成了个结局。全游戏共10章，打完后就是结局，可以看到选项统计。

Enjoyed this story immensely, so many different ways you could go as the protagonist. I liked that it was realistic in the sense that it was aware we all have struggles and vices, and that doesn't make us any less human or meaningful. Bittersweet but loved it!