Posted on: August 13, 2023
arcanum0
Verified ownerGames: 463 Reviews: 12
Rough edged, but a solid effort
Mekana has its flaws, but the store page promises a simple management sim with erotic elements, and that is what the game delivers. The simulation is perhaps a little too simple, and it has a few glaring misses like not always being clear about who is delivering dialogue (kind of a killer when the whole game is about currying favor with individuals), but after a few minutes this becomes manageable. The sprites are detailed, attractive, and distinct enough to be told apart, and you pick up on the repeated positioning of dialogue boxes quickly. As the screenshots suggest, it is more of a graphical menu game than a visual novel or a JRPG, but this suits the gameplay, which is straightforward and quick. A robust save function means failure is only as costly as you allow. There is some character and scenario customization available at the beginning, which adds variety and replayability. If you are here for the eroge, I get the impression that these choices enable at least two distinct arcs of CGs with simple animations. The CG is quite attractive and unique; it doesn't feel like the usual indie game factory-second anime stills. I do wish they'd invested in the artist doing character portraits for everyone; this would have paid dividends. The game also doesn't require success to get into the blue bits; the bedroom situation escalates quickly. This is kind of a good thing, because the game is not a pushover and at times seems somewhat less than fair. Choices are simple and consequences severe and unpredictable. On at least one occasion your decisions don't have the intended effect because "the lords do not comply," and you aren't given any recourse for dealing with blatant treason. Notably missing from the intrigue ("Scheme") menu is any kind of black ops approach. All you can do is curry favor and purchase support. In the end, Mekana may be slightly overpriced, but I look forward to more offerings from the developers.
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