Hi there.
So since I created an account just to comment on this game, I figure it's high time to comment on this game.
First let me get the sucking up out of the way: Tlaero, I am a huge fan of your work, and consider it the gold standard of this genre. Your attention detail is excellent, story-wise and I feel like you have raised the bar for the rest of the genre. I also appreciate some of the attitudes you have brought to this forum, congratulating creators for creating what I would call a "fidelity path" in their games, which is not always the most sexy of options (although given the recent breach of Ashley Madison, maybe it will be!)
Okay now on to Dreaming With Elsa...
Overall, this may be my favorite game produced by Tlaero, but I think that is likely because Elsa is the sort of woman that would appeal to me. I've seen some criticisms of the two main paths layering over each other a little too much, and that may be fair, but given that it is Tlaero and Mortze's first collaboration and that I think both Tlaero and her fans were both chomping at the bit for her to put something out, I think we should be happy with this first act, especially given that there has been the promise of more. I can't speak for my peers, but I will gladly take a smaller release with the promise of more to come even if the two paths seem to parallel each other. If we want something more epic like Christine, it's going to take longer, and I think the creators feel like they have to balance between those two mutually exclusive forces.
Individual things that I loved:
- Lip biting!--Holy crap was that a great detail that I noticed multiple times. The fact that Elsa bites her lip is incredibly sexy. Again, it is that attention to detail that makes these games so great.
- Bush!--Yes! Elsa is a GROWN WOMAN who GROWS HAIR. I am not a big fan of this trend of shaving one's pubic hair, as I think pubes signal the difference between a WOMAN and a GIRL. So when I saw that Elsa was sporting bush, I loved it. I agree with Pheaky's idea that since Elsa is kind of shut in, she probably isn't so keen on grooming and thus should have a bigger bush, but the fact that she had one at all is spectacular.
- Story!--I think one of the strength's of Tlaero's work is that she is a good storyteller which makes the game more enjoyable to play. I know people seems to be disappointed that this release wasn't more epic, but it's obviously an introduction to these characters so I can deal with it not being so epic. After all we didn't learn Darth Vader's identity until the Empire Strikes Back, right? However, there are certain story points I had issue with, so...
Room for improvement?
- So one of the lessons I learned from this game is that if you are respectful and kind and romantic your girlfriend will give you a handjob, but if you are an overly sexual meathead she will blow you, let you give her a pearl necklace and let you stick your finger up her butt during sex. I think that one of the subtle things trying to be communicated here is that there is shy Elsa and more forceful Elsa who kicks Chloe's ass at the end of the game. When Jason tells her he likes forceful women at the end, I feel like if he went the sexual route, he should put up or shut up. He wants to stick a finger up her ass? What does he think if she pulls out a strap on and tries to peg him? It would be interesting to see such a juxtaposition happen in a game like this, even if some folks might find it to be beyond the pale.
- Even though Mortze said he wanted Chloe to be "cute." I likely would have kept his original design for Chloe rather than what he went with, as I find her "cute" self to be a little mousy. Having been part of the independent/alternative/punk scene for over twenty five years, women like Chloe don't want to be "cute." It kind of undermines what they are trying to accomplish, socially. Of course this is totally informed by seeing the original design, so that will show you to share with us too much Mortze!
I think that's all I have for now. You guys should be really proud of what you accomplished here. Hopefully we'll get another chapter for Christmas.
Thanks again.