Look at that! It's that time of the year that I get out of my hiding and actually review something!
Jokes aside, let's talk about Cleaved. Spoilers ahead, I guess.
I've seen some people talking about this being a good on the isekai trope, which is fair, not everyone likes isekai, I do but not the point, but it seems that this one is a good one and I, a random person on the internet that reads too much VNs, agrees.
Cleaved already had a good light for me by having Haps as the artist (Love his drawings and his character designs.) so when I saw that I really had to play it. And it was a pleasant surprise! The first build having at least a choice is a good sign for me, as I like having choices and different endings, which I assume this is going to have, and the two characters and the protagonist (not counting Calder because he appeared in the last 5 seconds) feels like real people.
I like the use of "new world language" which is lost in translation, because it's another place, VNs should use this more often.
For the first build... Is a bit short. Might be because I just got off Roads yet traveled and the first build of that thing was massive, but it wasn't bad. Short and sweet.
This is definitely going on my list of promising VNs, and I will keep a close look on the updates.
The exposition dumps are huge, and don't often feel organic. at the start, the MC instantly monologues their backstory on the way to the portal. once there, they name drop some friends' names for a bit while starting at the portal which is suppose to have urgency yet continues to reference them. these friends we haven't yet met prior at all to build off of either. I feel like a proper prologue is needed leading up to the portal going haywire. Show the MC at the university with these friends stated earlier for a better set up.
Skjold, I like his mellow and respectful vibe but, he's a walking, talking lore double wide extra thick lore book. every other sentence is spoon feeding various info of the town, rival nations, some laws at the MC right away to someone he just met ever so casually. Explaining something is one thing from a naive question MC has being a fish out of water but dropping a near whole history lesson is another when on their way to his cell. I know he was getting a read for the MC reaction to it but it sure was a lot all at once. I love lore and history dumps, yet gradually over time via environment and yes dialogue, that warrant's a mention for the current situation.
That wasn't a history lesson, that was an interrogation disguised as a conversation.
Skjold was using his eyes, ears, and maybe even his nose as a lie-detector.
He was evaluating the MC's reactions to each and every single thing that was said. What is agreed with? What is disagreed with? How does the MC feel about this, that, and the other?
That is a skill which fully justifies putting someone in a leadership role, and he's apparently good enough at it to have been raised up the ranks relatively quickly.
Now, I'm NOT saying that his friendliness was or wasn't genuine. That is something we will need to wait till farther into the story to find out. I'm saying that Skjold was multi-tasking. Very good way to justify a lore dump, and it made the motive for it's delivery especially interesting.
My following statement tells you i know this "I know he was getting a read for the MC reaction" But my point is, drowning them in lore etc right away is too much starting out. It feels better spreading out this kind of info gradually over time, not all up front right away.
First of all, I want to apologize for my ignorant and hasty comment before, it wasn't right to make conclusions before playing Cleaved based purely on VN's usage of isekai trope.
Cleaved surprised me, really, judging purely by page description I expected another uninteresting and boring, childish MC. Yes, the novel uses isekai trope, but in really good way, a MC with scientific (in technical fields) background sounds pretty intriguing. Even though I still don't like the whole "evil voices in your head" cliche, I can imagine various ways to use it good.
I've chosen Frasier path and a possible political conflict intrigues me too. I liked the fox, he has good looks (thanks haps), pleasant character and, all in all, is the best boy.
In the end I'd like ro apologize again for my rude comment, I'm definitely going to follow Cleaved updates and hope it'll turn a better game than other novels with similar tropes!
I didn't pay the quick warm up much mind, besides I've only followed the path when you run with the fox. For me, personally, mysterious watcher is an issue, as I've said, I hope writer has an adequate explanation for it.
People who's read it already, how's the whole MC situation? Another isekai, another amnesia, another puny human in a world of big wolves... Probably another voice in the head... Correct me, in case I'm judging it too harshly. How bad/good it's now? What are the chances of MC turning into a simp in the future updates?
It's absolutely nothing like Adastra, that's for sure. Adastra annoyed me to no end with its billions of choices that don't matter at all and then suddenly one choice makes all the difference but only twenty pages later.
idk about MC coming a simp (currently Build 1) but the rest of your assumptions are pretty spot on. Especially mild amnesia, and yes definitely a mysterious voice lol.
I'm loving the first build. The MC is for once actually intelligent, he's almost as good as Rhicter from Lyre which I'm not saying is a bad thing, if he uses is knowledge as a scientist in this world then I'll be satisfied, thou the Pole in the Main Square is making me think magic is integrated in this world, so it'll takes Brynn some time to understand how his world works. The cast so far seem to warm up to Brynn a little too quickly. Calder at the end, wish I could have seen more of him.
Thou this Ominous Voice...not sure what to think of him as yet, I only hope they can live up to the story and please as much as I like it being only males in these furry VN's a few prominent females would be great.
I like how this started. The MC is a promising person (with a personality (which is shocking for a human in a furrysekai)). My only complaint is the *ominous voices* because feels like they'll be a huge letdown for some reason.
Lol, I saw the art the character who's name seems to be Frasier and I immediately thought of Neferu from Adastra, so amazing to see Hops on another VN!
Brynn may not be good as Lyre's Richter but at least his confusion and fear is understandable and he take some action instead of being a total clumsy idiot who's constantly stare off into space as seen time and again in human MCs. It would be a plus if he can utilize his knowledge from his field of science to help to survive the world he's now in.
Fraiser is my favorite and he deserves much as Calder
I love that the protagonist is not some idiot who only observes what's happening and is not a total clumsy mess that makes ridiculous mistakes just for plot points. It's great how he can take initiative without the need of others pursuing him to.
Absolutely love the word choices and really appreciate that the line of thought doesn't get disrupted.
Seeing familiar faces in the team put a smile to my face. Absolutely love the background arts and the sprite work!
All of you did amazing work and congratulations on the first build!
This looks really promising. The protagonist is not a bad written mess, and actually has a personality, I just wish we could learn a little bit more about him, but since that's just the first build I know we can't expect much. The other characters are mostly likable, even tho we didn't get that much about their motivations and etc. Also I can now confirm Skjold is indeed friend shaped, very important information!
Definitely gonna be following this project. Can't wait for the next update.
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Look at that! It's that time of the year that I get out of my hiding and actually review something!
Jokes aside, let's talk about Cleaved. Spoilers ahead, I guess.
I've seen some people talking about this being a good on the isekai trope, which is fair, not everyone likes isekai, I do but not the point, but it seems that this one is a good one and I, a random person on the internet that reads too much VNs, agrees.
Cleaved already had a good light for me by having Haps as the artist (Love his drawings and his character designs.) so when I saw that I really had to play it. And it was a pleasant surprise! The first build having at least a choice is a good sign for me, as I like having choices and different endings, which I assume this is going to have, and the two characters and the protagonist (not counting Calder because he appeared in the last 5 seconds) feels like real people.
I like the use of "new world language" which is lost in translation, because it's another place, VNs should use this more often.
For the first build... Is a bit short. Might be because I just got off Roads yet traveled and the first build of that thing was massive, but it wasn't bad. Short and sweet.
This is definitely going on my list of promising VNs, and I will keep a close look on the updates.
8/10
skjold is my instant fav.
The exposition dumps are huge, and don't often feel organic.
at the start, the MC instantly monologues their backstory on the way to the portal. once there, they name drop some friends' names for a bit while starting at the portal which is suppose to have urgency yet continues to reference them. these friends we haven't yet met prior at all to build off of either. I feel like a proper prologue is needed leading up to the portal going haywire. Show the MC at the university with these friends stated earlier for a better set up.
Skjold, I like his mellow and respectful vibe but, he's a walking, talking lore double wide extra thick lore book. every other sentence is spoon feeding various info of the town, rival nations, some laws at the MC right away to someone he just met ever so casually. Explaining something is one thing from a naive question MC has being a fish out of water but dropping a near whole history lesson is another when on their way to his cell. I know he was getting a read for the MC reaction to it but it sure was a lot all at once. I love lore and history dumps, yet gradually over time via environment and yes dialogue, that warrant's a mention for the current situation.
That wasn't a history lesson, that was an interrogation disguised as a conversation.
Skjold was using his eyes, ears, and maybe even his nose as a lie-detector.
He was evaluating the MC's reactions to each and every single thing that was said. What is agreed with? What is disagreed with? How does the MC feel about this, that, and the other?
That is a skill which fully justifies putting someone in a leadership role, and he's apparently good enough at it to have been raised up the ranks relatively quickly.
Now, I'm NOT saying that his friendliness was or wasn't genuine. That is something we will need to wait till farther into the story to find out. I'm saying that Skjold was multi-tasking. Very good way to justify a lore dump, and it made the motive for it's delivery especially interesting.
My following statement tells you i know this "I know he was getting a read for the MC reaction" But my point is, drowning them in lore etc right away is too much starting out. It feels better spreading out this kind of info gradually over time, not all up front right away.
This is very good. I like the way events turned out when it came to the two choices you're given. Also great artwork.
First of all, I want to apologize for my ignorant and hasty comment before, it wasn't right to make conclusions before playing Cleaved based purely on VN's usage of isekai trope.
Cleaved surprised me, really, judging purely by page description I expected another uninteresting and boring, childish MC. Yes, the novel uses isekai trope, but in really good way, a MC with scientific (in technical fields) background sounds pretty intriguing. Even though I still don't like the whole "evil voices in your head" cliche, I can imagine various ways to use it good.
I've chosen Frasier path and a possible political conflict intrigues me too. I liked the fox, he has good looks (thanks haps), pleasant character and, all in all, is the best boy.
In the end I'd like ro apologize again for my rude comment, I'm definitely going to follow Cleaved updates and hope it'll turn a better game than other novels with similar tropes!
I didn't pay the quick warm up much mind, besides I've only followed the path when you run with the fox. For me, personally, mysterious watcher is an issue, as I've said, I hope writer has an adequate explanation for it.
To be fair you werenโt really wrong about the majority of your assumptions
People who's read it already, how's the whole MC situation? Another isekai, another amnesia, another puny human in a world of big wolves... Probably another voice in the head... Correct me, in case I'm judging it too harshly. How bad/good it's now? What are the chances of MC turning into a simp in the future updates?
Sometimes it's really exhausting. That's why I'm asking in comms instead of playing: to avoid wasting time on "FBTW 2.0" or "Adastra 3.0".
You could wait for Blaidd Llwyd to do a playthrough narration of it on YouTube.
It's absolutely nothing like Adastra, that's for sure. Adastra annoyed me to no end with its billions of choices that don't matter at all and then suddenly one choice makes all the difference but only twenty pages later.
I hope it's Adastra 3.0 because that would mean the game actually finishes development. And because I love all the tropes you listed.
idk about MC coming a simp (currently Build 1) but the rest of your assumptions are pretty spot on. Especially mild amnesia, and yes definitely a mysterious voice lol.
I'm loving the first build. The MC is for once actually intelligent, he's almost as good as Rhicter from Lyre which I'm not saying is a bad thing, if he uses is knowledge as a scientist in this world then I'll be satisfied, thou the Pole in the Main Square is making me think magic is integrated in this world, so it'll takes Brynn some time to understand how his world works. The cast so far seem to warm up to Brynn a little too quickly. Calder at the end, wish I could have seen more of him.
Thou this Ominous Voice...not sure what to think of him as yet, I only hope they can live up to the story and please as much as I like it being only males in these furry VN's a few prominent females would be great.
Can't wait for more. See yah.
I like how this started. The MC is a promising person (with a personality (which is shocking for a human in a furrysekai)). My only complaint is the *ominous voices* because feels like they'll be a huge letdown for some reason.
Calder's titties man
Lol, I saw the art the character who's name seems to be Frasier and I immediately thought of Neferu from Adastra, so amazing to see Hops on another VN!
Me: Oh, Fraiser is definitely going to get loved up.
*Calder, exists*
Me: Oh.... Oh my god
Brynn may not be good as Lyre's Richter but at least his confusion and fear is understandable and he take some action instead of being a total clumsy idiot who's constantly stare off into space as seen time and again in human MCs. It would be a plus if he can utilize his knowledge from his field of science to help to survive the world he's now in.
Fraiser is my favorite and he deserves much as Calder
Take a shot every time Fraiser winks
the entire comment section absolutely wasted now.....
This is literally so good, the art style, the character designs, the writing, and im really excited for the next build!
I love this so far!
I love that the protagonist is not some idiot who only observes what's happening and is not a total clumsy mess that makes ridiculous mistakes just for plot points. It's great how he can take initiative without the need of others pursuing him to.
Absolutely love the word choices and really appreciate that the line of thought doesn't get disrupted.
Seeing familiar faces in the team put a smile to my face. Absolutely love the background arts and the sprite work!
All of you did amazing work and congratulations on the first build!
what is the species of the protagonist?
The MCi s human
Havent tried it out yet and it looks interesting.
I'm ready to fall in love and get my heart broken by a beastman with a complicated life "^^_ bring it on!
So excited about how things will turn on. I wonder, Can we pick a route from each main character?
From what the team said on Discord, Calder is the main interest but the other two are just eye candy depending on your decisions
Haven't yet got to the game itsled but seeing so many familiar faces in credits was absolutely mindblowing
I like Frasier, he is a nice change of pace from all the big buff love interests (he is still hot of course)
Sweet
finally the song being used right
This looks really promising. The protagonist is not a bad written mess, and actually has a personality, I just wish we could learn a little bit more about him, but since that's just the first build I know we can't expect much. The other characters are mostly likable, even tho we didn't get that much about their motivations and etc. Also I can now confirm Skjold is indeed friend shaped, very important information!
Definitely gonna be following this project. Can't wait for the next update.
Excited to read this tonight! Good job with the webpage design, Azid! ๐