After 98 hours I believe I have fully finished the game, completing all bosses and completing what I believe are all 6 endings to the game, although I'm convinced there's 7 and now confidently write my review on the game.

For the sake of not wasting much of your time with this review i will start with the bad

- Weird FPS stuttering issue, I didn't really get this bad compared to most people seemingly but I did encounter it in a particularly foggy and snowy area of the game. Hopefully they can fix up these PC port issues quickly.

- The worst PvP invasion system out of all their titles. The only way you can invade is if someone has summoned help already, that means the invader has to always 2 v 1 at a minimum but in fact most of the time they are actually 3 v 1ing as the person being invaded will summon in additional help. I personally think this invading system is absolute garbage awful design and it's especially tragic with how well the rest of the game is designed and it really cuts deep with the potential this title had in regards to PvP.

- Bad summoning multiplayer system. I believe this game has a level scaling system if you play multiplayer with your friends and use a password so your high level character can help out a friend, however for absolutely no reason, this is not the universal multiplayer system and they did not extend this level scaling system to the random summons to help people or the random invading PvP. This means that I, with my level 165 character are destined to never be able to use multiplayer system to help out new players kill early game bosses even though they actually have a system in the game that I should be able to use in order to do this.

- An issue that almost all open world games have towards the end of the game. Copy and Paste enemies and bosses where unfortunately due to the scale of the game that variety of bosses and enemies gets thin, and you get bosses that are 2 or 3 man of previous bosses. Also due to the nature of an open world if you explore and happen to successfully grind through a difficult or area you're underleveled for, this will ultimately mean you have thus overleveled another area. I had this problem myself where I explored and facesmashed through a couple of massive hidden zones and thus overleveled probably 2 main zones I had to progress through later. Having said that in the last 2 or so zones and especially the last hidden zone of the game I seemed to be at the correct level for them so it seemed to equalise regardless towards the end of the game.

- I believe the game actually tricks new players into a more difficult experience. At the start of the game you are given a direction of where to go through arrows on the map pointing you where to go. The arrows in Limgrave, and in Liurnia point you towards a major boss / zone that is actually substantially more difficult than the other major boss and Points of Interest in the zone. I believe for the sake of new players they should somehow adjust the arrows. I highly recommend new players, especially to the series as a whole explore zones to their maximum before actually following the arrows which seems counter-intuituve design.

Now let's talk about the good parts

- There are a couple of systems in place that make it the most accessible From Software title for new players. The main system is the Spirit Ashes system that is basically an offline summoning system that summons an upgradable NPC or group of NPCs to help you. This system alone makes the game exceptionally accessible for new players to the series as these NPCs are frankly and I believe intentionally busted, if a player ever gets bored and wants to progress a frustrating part of the game they can pop one of these and fly through it.

- Another major plus to this game compared to previous titles is the sheer variety of builds, especially through the Ashes of War system that allows you transform any standard weapon to scale with any stat. This with the sheer variaty of weapons, armour etc. that are already in the game adds massive replay value to the game over time. Also the game has a built in easily accessible respec function. I'm already looking forward to trying new builds through new game+. The culmination of this variety in builds really solidifies Elden Ring as the Magnum Opus of the Souls combat system, which once again makes how bad the PvP is sting extra hard.

- Open World, Storytelling and Characters. I really enjoyed the Open World myself and believe it was a great evolution to the series that just requires some kinks sorting that I've discussed previously. You can actually see landmarks on the map without having visited them yet. Caves, Towers, Churches and especially the Ruins are all clearly visible on the map before you have visited them although there are also some hidden ones for the people like me that also like exploring.

Overall I found the world and zones themselves very varied and interesting going between zone to zone, so that's definitely a big plus of the Open World design. Whilst From Software isn't the pinnacle developer of graphics, From Software has always been phenomenal at environmental design and they carry on their form in Elden Ring.

- I enjoy the Elden Ring story more than other Souls titles. I found it had a much stronger foundation that you could more easily understand and follow, it made you want to explore the world more and interact the NPCs regularly. Elden Ring didn't leave a lot of the story vague, throughout the game it solidified the lore into quite an easy to understand package and I believe this is a plus personally.

In my opinion Elden Ring has the most interesting NPCs and also Quests out of all the titles. I love the secrets in From Software games and fortunately Elden Ring has a good few of them that were a treat to discover with all the NPCs. The NPC quests were quite long, fleshed out, interesting to the story and if you explored the game fully weren't really terribly difficult to miss. They also contributed a lot to a few of the endings which I found really cool.

Middling things that can be positives and negatives

- The ambient soundtrack for the zones is the best out of all the From Software games, however I found a lot of the actual boss music quite hit and miss. Overall it was good enough for me to buy the Soundtrack so there's that I guess.

- They managed to make, in my humble opinion the worst 'poison swamp' area out of every souls game. Take that as you will. Hidetaka Miyazaki spared no expense in the creation of this area.

Closing Notes

To summarise this review, I strongly believe this to overall be the best From Software title for a singleplayer experience and possibly the worst for a multiplayer experience. New players and Veterans alike can have an absolute blast due to the systems they have implemented. The sheer freedom in this game is incredible from the build variety to how you explore and progress through the game which gives this game a ton of replay value compared to previous titles and also gives Elden Ring the strongest combat in a souls game so far. The story is interesting and in my opinion more concrete than previous From Software games which made it very fun to learn about as you played through the game, the NPC quests are the most interesting so far. The PvP invasions had the potential to be the best in all Souls games due to the aforementioned build variety but they messed that up, hopefully they will change it. The multiplayer with randoms is unfortunately hindered for absolutely no reason. Hopefully they fix the performance issues, luckily I didn't really have any except a little bit in one zone.

Naturally this review is all my opinion, if you disagree that's cool. If you have performance issues that's unfortunate, hope they fix them.

Your review is 4,745 characters too long. Please shorten it and try again. Bruh.

Sup my Maggot Brothers!

Never really played an 'adult game' before and not really any visual novels (does persona count? lmao), have a friend that plays quite a few visual novels and I meme'd on them. So they 'dared / egged?' me to play this game and if I liked it I had to write a review on it so here I am. Genuinely thought this game was going to be cringe as hell but I was very wrong;

From the moment I completed Chapter 1 of Being a ♥♥♥, I knew I was in for a unique experience, but the first two episodes exceeded all my expectations. This adult visual novel combines mature themes with an engaging storyline, rich character development, and superb graphics, creating a thoroughly immersive and enjoyable experience.

Story and Characters:

The narrative in "Being a ♥♥♥" is both compelling and well-crafted. You step into the shoes of a young man navigating his first year of college, filled with the excitement, challenges, and chaos that come with it. The writing is sharp, witty, and at times, deeply emotional. The dialogue feels natural, making it easy to connect with the characters and their various plights.

The characters themselves are standout features of the game. Each one is distinct, with their own backgrounds, personalities, and arcs. From your best friend Derek, who adds a lot of humor and camaraderie, to the intriguing female characters you meet along the way, every interaction feels meaningful. The game does an excellent job of balancing romance, friendship, and rivalry, creating a dynamic and engaging social environment.

Visuals and Art Style:

The visual quality of "Being a ♥♥♥" is nothing short of stunning. The character models are beautifully rendered with great attention to detail, making every scene a visual treat. The backgrounds are equally impressive, with a high level of detail that brings the game's various locations to life. The use of lighting and shadows adds depth and realism, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal.

Gameplay and Choices:

One of the most impressive aspects of "Being a ♥♥♥" is its choice-driven gameplay. Your decisions significantly impact the story, leading to multiple branching paths and various outcomes. This replayability factor is fantastic, encouraging players to explore different choices and experience the game from multiple angles. The choices are ...relatively morally grey, adding complexity and depth to the narrative. I completed both 'types' of run I guess and both of them were enjoyable.

The inclusion of mini-games and puzzles breaks up the standard visual novel format, adding variety and keeping the gameplay engaging. Whether you're mixing drinks, solving riddles, or participating in mini-game challenges, there's always something fun to do.


Sound and Music:

The sound design in "Being a ♥♥♥" complements the game perfectly. The soundtrack is a standout, featuring a mix of upbeat tracks and more mellow tunes that match the game's tone and pacing beautifully. Each piece of music enhances the atmosphere, whether you're in a tense moment or a lighthearted scene.

Overall Experience: 9/10

"Being a ♥♥♥: Episodes 1 & 2" delivers an outstanding start to what promises to be an exceptional series. The combination of a gripping story, well-developed characters, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay makes it a must-play for fans of adult visual novels. It's a game that not only entertains but also challenges you to think about your choices and their consequences.

DrPinkCake has created a masterful blend of narrative and interactivity, making "Being a ♥♥♥" a standout title in the genre. If you're looking for a game that offers both depth and fun, look no further. These first two episodes are just the beginning, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here. If you're not into the Adult stuff, I would still recommend the game because it's honestly just a cozy and hilarious game. DO NOT READ ANY GUIDES ETC. ON FIRST PLAYTHROUGH. I went in blind on my first run and it was amazing, guides would've definitely ruined it.

Derek best Maggot Brother for life. I will now patiently wait for Season 3 to be completed and come to Steam. Definitely opened my eyes and perspective in terms of gaming, went in thinking it'd be garbage, came out having had an absolute blast.