Reviewed on 2024/03/31, Steam version 1.0.0
Score: 4/10
Playtime: 5-7 hours for 100% achievements.
[b]TL;DR:[/b]
While my first impression of this game was good, it ultimately failed to stand out. In the Adult Visual Novel-space, there is an expectation that the adage of “show, don't tell,” is followed. This game does the opposite. While this game certainly is an Adult Novel, visually it fails to stand out or impress.
[b]Adult:[/b]
With 24 lewd scenes, there's plenty of adult content to be had. A few scenes are NTR situations, most others include family members.
Our MC, Icarus, is blessed by his succubus with a gigantic penis. During lewd animations, this often causes clipping. I'm sure there are some people who think it's hot to see a woman dislodge her jaw, I'm not one of them. Clipping is an issue in pretty much every animation. If it's not someone's hair, or legs, then it's the penis itself clipping through body parts or orifices.
The lewd scenes themselves consist of 1-3 looping animations, with wordy text describing what's actually happening. It will say how the lovers are touching each other, but it will rarely be shown. This also causes a disconnect between what's shown and what's read. The MC will be balls deep on screen, while the text is still leading up to it. Usually, these animations just consist of a single motion. While the movement looks fluid and natural, it gives a lifeless impression. This isn't helped by filters that make the women look like real life silicone sex dolls.
When the MC's face would be visible, a black circle covers it. I don't understand why. Is the dev worried about the MC's looks, or do they think this improves immersion or would let players more easily self-insert? I don't know. For me, it's distracting. Honestly, if players are capable of immersion or self-insertion with the massive ♥♥♥♥, I'm sure they can handle seeing the MC's face.
[b]Visual:[/b]
“Warlord” mixes photorealism with cartoon-style visuals. A heavy use of filters can make renders and characters look washed-out and out of focus.
Many scenes feature particle effects like animated fire, falling embers or floating dust, and I think these are gorgeous. But, if I had to pick between these animations and actually seeing characters fighting or lobbing fireballs, I'd choose the latter.
There's also a certain lack of attention to detail with these animations. They'll just abruptly restart their loop, and don't always fit what the text is describing.
A few visuals and animations stand out, and I wish more games would incorporate these. An example of this is the transition from night to day in Chapter 4.
[b]Sound:[/b]
The choice of music is on-point. Scenes have a track that fits the general atmosphere and goings-on. There are no tracks with lyrics, which, I think, is perfect.
[b]Novel:[/b]
Yes. This game is a novel.
Joking aside, a capable writer has written the story. There's a call to action, struggle, and potentially, victory. Player choice guides the protagonist down a certain path, which can lead to multiple endings. There seem to be 3 main endings, and several endings that can happen during the story.
I think I've only noticed one or two spelling mistakes, which is exceptional.
There are some inconsistencies between what's shown and described. The text will describe four soldiers, three will be shown. Things will appear on fire before a fight has started in full, and so on.
Toward the end, the story feels rushed. An interesting character is killed off, and suddenly the MC will infiltrate to attack the “big bad” with his sisters and aunt. It feels as if large parts of his hero's journey were waved away. The group of followers he gathered were abandoned and never mentioned again, and a single choice involving the succubus decides which of two endings the player gets.
[b]Conclusion:[/b]
When deciding whether I'd recommend this game or not, I almost had to flip a coin. In a vacuum, I would hesitantly recommend this game, but in the AVN space, I can't. Not only did the story leave me wanting, the visual presentation of an animated render per few pages of text just doesn't do it for me.
[b]Remarks:[/b][list]
[*]The replay gallery isn't accessible during the game, only from the main menu
[*]The absence of a (configurable) textbox makes some text difficult to read on bright backgrounds.
[*]Many, if not all, scene animations noticeably restart their loop after a while. Including the Main Menu background.
[*]The scene gallery shows 24 locked scenes, some are marked as ELITE
[*]Elite is an NTR mode, players have to manually enable this (every time) after starting a new game. The game doesn't inform the player about it existing, and doesn't ask if the player wants it enabled.
[*]Some visual effects are very disorienting. Like when reading a long conversation while the render is constantly zooming in & out.
[*]While lewd scenes often show ♥♥♥ shots, its viscosity is too liquid.
[*]Characters are shown through side-images, but they don't show emotion and don't have action poses.
[*]There's no music in the main menu
[*]Some music tracks are too silent compared to others.[/list]
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