Zen: A Gay Sequel

Can't recommend this one. The writing is way below the first game. It's super repetitive. Each guy has one problem that gets overdone to death with each meeting, and the story randomly has you break up with him at the end if you didn't play through the game exactly as the developer intended. Gameplay is too convoluted - you need a guide that doesn't exist to find out how to get on each romantic route. Of all the guys in the first game who could have returned in the sequel, we have Dan again, which lowers my overall score an entire # out of 10.

bobcgames has already spoilered us with how massive YAGS is, and ZAGS doesn't disappoint in that department either. The addition of the scheduler gameplay really fits how Carlos is trying to gain more control of his life than when we saw him in YAGS and it adds a lot of replay value to the narrative- a college student rediscovering himself and coming to terms with his sexuality in the early 2000s. As someone who remembers those days with some fondness, it's a delight to relive those days in ZAGS. If you're on the fence about whether a sometimes slow and dramatic but ultimately optimistic slice-of-life game is up your alley, please do try YAGS and the demo first. It's a lot of content (the majority of which I played on itch.io before grabbing the Steam version) and a tad bit different from some of the more traditional "Boys' Love" games common in visual novels, but it's definitely worth the price tag.

Although I would have been in college in the 80s, this game brings back nostalgic feelings from when I was that age and how difficult it was to come out. The game is a lot of fun, especially if you played the first game.

It's a good game but frustratingly difficult to get all the character routes even on standard difficuly. There are no walk through guides for this second installment which really sucks! The writing is good/solid - the characters likable it's just trying to romance them is problematic. I can't get Malik or Dan amd to unlock easy mode you have to get all 4 routes completed to do that. Challenging - Too much for me now. I NEED a walk through to see what I'm missing.

I would say I overall like it. As a sequel it's a little disappointing that 3 of the 4 romancable characters are all from the last game. I would have thought it would have been an expansion on the limited options or at least all new options. I guess it was nice to see my character from the first game as an actual person. But with cute guys like mark and mike added it's a little meh that it's just the same ol people. I just felt less compelled to be interested in dating them as I kinda already got to know them the first game. The gameplay is improved for me as I enjoy the planner system and having more control over the week to week activities. All and all it's a decent sequel. I would like to see more from them in this vein of gameplay.. Even better with all new characters.

Such a great game... or gay-me! It touches on topics that are very real but in a (mostly) non-triggering way and allows you the option of looking at situations from different perspectives. The LGBT community have man "universal experiences" that actually play out differently for each person and this game highlights that. That aside, the options of how to execute your schedule are fun and I love seeing the way my semester plays out. HIGH REPLAY-ABILITY and I will be doing my 2nd run though very soon. I need to know how all these different stories play out!