Degraman: Act II. Victor

[i]Degraman: Act II. Victor[/i] focuses on one of the most interesting characters in the series, full of darkness, sex, twists n turns. [h2][u]The Story & Gameplay[/u][/h2] It does state that you can play these acts in any order and I tried to play act 2 as a stand alone, and I can tell you that it is really helpful to play act 1 (just the free part) before reading it. I got to a part where I met characters that talked about others or events and I was missing context. The game does fill you in later on eventually but going in with a bit of fore-knowledge really made my experience better once I played the first act. * [i]One a side note * I did not review the first game but I have played it. The achievements for Act 1 do not work but they have been fixed for Act 2. [/i] Despite act 1 getting a lot of negative reviews, I do not dislike the first act but can certainly see the validity in some of the negative points made. I am not a fan of the main character in act 1. She was too easily swayed by a bunch of handsome men (I mean I know the explanation but really all the men have to be handsome and ONE female amongst them all). I get the fantasy aspect of writing it that way but eh…

I was (and still am) a huge fan of Act 1 with Vincent/Cassel, so I was really looking forward to Act 2 with Victor. And even though the game is still in early access, what I’ve seen so far has really impressed and intrigued me. For those unfamiliar with Degraman, I’d say it’s not strictly necessary to play the first act before jumping into the second. However, I still recommend at least trying the free version of Act 1 to get to know some of the characters from a different angle. In my opinion, when Act 1 first came out, it was ahead of its time for the otome genre - both in content and tone. It was a provocative experience: even just one love interest’s lines were enough to drive more sensitive players up the wall. Still, the descent into the dark world of Degraman was rather gradual and unpredictable. Victor's Act, on the other hand, throws you straight into the darkness - into a world of injustice and cruelty. And it doesn’t even start with meeting Victor, but with the life the heroine shares with her own mother, who was already a walking red flag in Act 1 but now truly outdoes herself. At this point, I still don’t know if Victor is the heroine’s salvation or the guide to her…

Once again, they've produced a game with an incomplete story. It leaves you with a cliff hanging 'to be continued' and once more left an insane amount of questions unanswered, even if you've read the other stories. It speaks volumes that the devs themselves wrote a guide for the first 5 parts JUST so that players could progress. While the multitude of choices seems fun, it's just a complicated mess trying to navigate. I'd say just skip these and find a good story that is actually finished. This story has huge potential, but will probably never be realized. I've been loving the 'idea' of these stories since the beginning. I bought the Vincent/ loner pack and now this one hoping for resolutions or answers that seem so tantalizing. But it's all just a ruse, no conclusion, dozens of loose ends and a terribly disjointed story.

I already loved the first game, even though it pushed me to the limit - I have to say that I'm relieved that the next part is a bit more focused, but without losing the important points. It gets to the point quicker, but that's also because you now have the prior knowledge of the first part (I played 90% of the endings/story of the first part) This time the game doesn't disguise what it is, it's straightforward and it's not for the faint-hearted. Anyone who hates (psycho)horror, mystery, thriller, utsuge - this game is not for them. This game is surreal, extremely depressing and super exciting. The artwork has got even better, it looks beautiful, the music is once again super fitting and ensures that you are drawn straight into the game, but what makes the series great is the excellent writing, paired with an absolutely mesmeric story. I recommend it to anyone who loves horror, surrealism and tragic stories. There's something masochistic about playing this game, but it's also addictive. I just hope this time its easier to get all routes and to reach the main Ending. So far, for me, its a 8,5/10 For people who enjoy red flags, truly dark and triggering stuff.

I cant wait for more updates!!! I really enjoyed what I saw so far <3

I started with Degraman: Act 1 and was confused and captivated and then angry and crying, but it hooked me. I've been waiting for Act 2 and I don't want to spoil anything, but it's just as intriguing as the first game. I hope we get to see more of the guys fleshed out!