Ashes of War

I bought this game at a steep discount, thinking, "Hey, why not?" I ended up feeling like I had robbed the developer! This game is GOOD, and there's way more of it than you might guess. Just look at my playtime. I have so-called "AAA" games that are shorter than that. Now, bear in mind that this is one person's passion project, for both better and worse. The "worse" part is what you might imagine from a small or singular dev: a typo, a minor glitch, a feature that you might wish was present but isn't, etc. But the "passion" part of it thoroughly outshines any shortcomings the game might have. Yes, this is an adult game, and the adult content is solid. The art style is nice, almost every scene is animated, and there are a decent number of them total. There are, however, long stretches between each adult scene, and believe it or not, I considered this a good thing. Each scene feels EARNED. The characters feel like real people who the main character has evolving relationships with, as opposed to random pretty faces who want a piece of the MC's sausage just because. This game also tackles head-on an issue that most adult games I've seen either ignore outright, sweep under the rug, or…

A very well done story, reminds me a bit of Sunrider but with less anime tropes The Good: - Interesting characters, great scenes - SFX design is pretty good - Combat minigame breaks the tedium of dialogue ( also one battle has actual weight to it ) The Bad: - Several translation errors, wrong context or grammar, sometimes half a word is missing by mistake - A lot of dialogue boxes either have an incorrect person or color assigned to it - Music usually does not stop playing or another track starts playing on top of it forcing a reload The Ugly: - Linear plot, choices don't really matter the show must go on - Character art is inconsistent due to several artists making art with no direction lead - Several plot points remain unexplained I want Noblewoman Morgan to step on me 8.9/10

The only real issues are minor. Some spelling mistakes, a couple of dialogue boxes out of wack, and a few art assets are inconsistant for 'this person is a hologram'. A single misclick on a space battle, made me skip it, when I was real far into it... which could be good to have it give a "are you sure" box or the like. And I felt like it was a bit rushed near the end, story wise. But I do mean "a bit". And it doesnt detract from what was depicted, was enjoyable. Genuinly, minor issues. All stuff that can be updated out of being issues, or shrugged off as a player going through them. The story, while yes, has plenty porn logic, is not high on its own supply. Characters are genuine, its geopolitically centered plot, is good backdrop for it all, and nearly every single character, has plenty of moments about their hopes, dreams, fears, personality, that has absolutely nothing to do with sex. Which makes them seem far more realized as people, for when sex does happen. Not that you cant enjoy blatant smut, but for the pretentious types like me, who wants porn stories to actually be stories... this is pretty good. Especially for the low price I got out of a 21 hour story run.…

Ashes of War, developed and published by CAT'S TOOTH STUDIO, is a science fiction visual novel that combines military drama, romance, and futuristic adventure into a story that emphasizes its characters as much as its larger conflict. The game takes place in a galaxy consumed by a century-long war between the Union and the Kingdoms, where the protagonist, captain of the Dawn of Defiance, chooses to break away from an endless cycle of violence in pursuit of a different future. This decision becomes the foundation for a narrative centered on freedom, loyalty, and the bonds formed between a diverse crew trying to survive while forging their own path. Rather than focusing solely on battles and political intrigue, the story places equal importance on emotional connections, making the experience feel personal despite its grand interstellar setting. The narrative is the game's greatest strength, offering a lengthy and character-focused experience that steadily develops both its world and its cast. Each of the four main heroines has her own personality, motivations, and relationship with the protagonist, allowing the story to explore romance alongside themes of sacrifice, trust, and hope.…

The characters are written with unique captivating personalities. The plot of this thrilling adventure is well paced and executed. The setting is distinct and clear effort has gone into making the galaxy feel more developed than may be expected. Gameplay is the weakest feature, especially in the later stages of the game. However, I'm happy to set that aside given the ability to skip frustrating portions. Overall, a very fine visual novel and well worth the price for the story and romance.

Good game