Although U4IA is better looking than Leap of Faith, it’s neither romantic nor erotic nor emotionally engaging. Plus its story is too far-fetched. It can’t be romantic because every relationship is stuck in limbo. The game steers you toward MANY LIs that each hit dead ends after one sex scene or, rarely, two. You may see her again but any further intimacy is blocked, often with the promise of something really special in a next time that never comes. And it’s not erotic because there is no sound. Erotic vocalizations deliver immersion and the arc of the sex scene. Without any sound other than some damned pop song playing, you’re left with clicking through animations until you hit the C-m button. It’s difficult to be either moved or aroused by the scene. The music is not an ambient soundtrack, but pop songs. Ambient music works best when it serves to deepen the emotion and mood on screen without drawing attention to itself. That’s why most ambient music is orchestral. As for the story, some scenes do what a scene is supposed to do – advance the story – whereas others are just there as filler. Some are entertaining but most FEEL like filler. Unlike most episodic AVNs, U4IA feels more like an early access game waiting for character content additions. But the main problem is the writer not writing what he knows. The MC's conversations with women are often awkward. The responses of women frequently make little sense. The story is about a pharmaceutical company, yet the writer has no sense of how drugs are developed. Drugs are referred to as inventions! The plot lacks any credibility. More chapters are coming but to get regular chapters you must support the game through subscription. Otherwise you’ll have to wait a year at least and you’ll likely have forgotten the characters by then because so many relationships are left hanging and, thus, forgettable. I will not pay a monthly fee to get another chapter every few months, nor will I purchase Episode Two.
It's a shame. The renders are lovely. The gals are gorgeous. The dialog with the girls is charming. But this is an erotic AVN. The sex scenes are slide shows. There's NO ANIMATION. Sorry but, for me, that's a sine qua non. Without which, nothing. Such a pity too. A lot of fine work went into this game. And you'll enjoy it if sex animations are not a requirement for you for games in this genre. As I said, the renders of the women are truly outstanding. Very sexy but static.
But, sadly, they are few. The sex animations are poor, there is no sound of sex in them, and you are forced to endure seemingly endless filler text. Yes, there are some great kinky scenes with plenty of alien gals, but no chemistry among the crew. This is odd as the game references Firefly. Actually there is an AVN series that is very much like Firefly but with lots and lots of sex, marvelous chemistry among the female crew, and some truly outstanding humor. It's called Projekt Passion. And I would suggest that game to anyone who clicked nearly wore out their left mouse button trudging through this one.
The final frontier has long been knees, elbows, shoulder, wrists. Jiggle physics has been around for ages but all those hinged knees forced the use of boots and stockings to maintain an illusion. But these are pre-rendered high quality animations, not real time. And the execution is brilliant. Yes, it's pure fantasy. Beauty is rare, youth is fleeting and male members are never so enormous. I could do with much smaller breasts but the legs - oh the legs - hips and backsides! And so many different types, colorings, and faces - all of them drop-dead gorgeous. Well done!
