When Sony settled on the slogan “that is dwelling”, we expect it could have had Venus Trip Prism: Useless or Alive Xtreme in thoughts.
This eye-poppingly introduced PS5 relationship recreation might seem to be an oddball outing, however Koei Tecmo has been working in direction of it for eons.
These of you with sturdy reminiscences might recall Useless or Alive Xtreme on the unique Xbox, a spin-off sports activities recreation that includes the preventing franchise’s buxom beauties in varied states of undress.
A sequel was launched in 2006 on the Xbox 360, which was later ported to the PSP as Useless or Alive Paradise. A 3rd recreation, subtitled in a different way relying on the system you performed it on, launched in Japan and Asia solely in 2016 – an indication of the occasions.
This new title – which sees you assume the function of an unnamed supervisor of the idyllic Venus Islands – does away with the minigames of more moderen instalments, as an alternative deciding on a relationship format not too dissimilar to Chinese language FMV efforts like Love Is All Round.
The narrative is thinner than a number of the recreation’s unlockable underwear, however the premise is that you just’re overseeing a volleyball match often called the Venus Competition, and you could woo a bunch of barely legals to your vacation hotspot as a way to assault them along with your eyes.
Whereas it could appear controversial, the content material is essentially fairly tame – assuming you possibly can look past the sheer variety of immaculately rendered pores and skin shaders on show.
With all six of the featured women very a lot in Leonardo DiCaprio’s relationship vary, they’re principally extra bashful than the form of consideration seekers you’ll discover effervescent to the highest of each X thread.
Misaki, for instance, is a shy 18-year-old assistant who’s by no means even thought of the chance she might be a Venus – regardless of her heaving cleavage and crystal-clear pores and skin.
Then there’s Honoka, whose bazookas are so huge she makes her aforementioned ally appear like roadkill. She bristles on the very thought of being thought of attractive, preferring to be complimented with cutesy remarks.
Every solid member fills a special trope, with the bossy Tamaki ticking the tsundere field, whereas Fiona is in fact a former princess who’s extra Disney than Daddy 4K Dot Com.
The remaining solid members embrace Nanami, together with her intoxicating cat-like eyes, and Elise, essentially the most mature character within the recreation. She’s 22-years-old.
Gameplay revolves round deciding on completely different dialogue selections, with every alternative influencing every lady’s notion of you. By default, they’re putty, however inform them they’re scorching they usually might bitter to your advances. Rizzers hardly ever go full perv.
The presentation is extraordinary, with every of the ladies animating in an exaggerated albeit partaking method. Whereas that is bigger than life in each sense of the world, the colourful oversaturated graphics and chunky character fashions are undeniably spectacular.
There’s not loads of meat on this launch’s bones, although – extra silicone, we suppose, however that ruins our metaphor. Exterior of selecting dialogue choices, you’ll spend most of your time photographing the ladies, with every chapter outlining some imprecise targets so that you can fulfil.
For instance, it’s possible you’ll must seize one of many women smiling, or in a selected location. Take the correct pictures and also you’ll be scored accordingly, including “followers” to your topic’s complete, thus unlocking new outfits.
Generally the story branches, so you possibly can select which lady you need to hang around with. This will result in not possible selections in case you’re making an attempt to play the sector, however that serves you proper for making an attempt to have your saccharine candy cake and eat it too. You possibly can replay situations to see different pathways by means of the story.
And that’s just about it.
Often the ladies will need to train with you, triggering some offensively simplistic minigames the place their garments flip clear whereas they sweat. Sometimes, you’ll simply be timing button presses to finish these, though as soon as once more they’re impeccably animated.
We’d be remiss to not point out the soundtrack, which is full of all types of twee 90s bops the place sultry singers croon about their heaving chests. You possibly can’t assist however respect developer Crew Ninja’s dedication to its imaginative and prescient right here.
Conclusion
A visible novel that cares extra about its presentation than its writing, Venus Trip Prism: Useless or Alive Xtreme is about as shallow as a actuality tv present – but it surely by no means pretends to be the rest. No matter your private urge for food for underdressed 18-year-olds, that is a formidable trying recreation, with vivid oversaturated visuals and a few good animations. It’s quite a bit tamer than its screenshots might indicate, however with out the minigame hooks of its predecessors, it feels somewhat light-weight as a consequence.
