My first impression of Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed was that it's a grenade/blaster launcher fest and I thought I take a break of and play some stuff in my inventory and new discoveries from Steam Summer Sale.
VA-11 Hall-A Cyberpunk Bartender Action
This isn't sort of game I usually play and I decided to get this just because of that and because some favourable mentions in the Codex. So it turned out to be a lesbian simulator. Well, that's... different.
It's Visual Novel type of game which is set in (plausible like) Cyberpunk setting in the US. Your alter ego is a bartender who mixes drinks to customers and also interacts them via chatting them in different scenarios. There's also bartender's boss and initially one co-worker. Some other characters.
My initial expression of this game was good. I found setting interesting and felt that with formula of implementation of Visual Novel this might offer some interesting scenarios. Progress in game is measured per daily. There's some resource management also in taking care of your apartment (paying a rent, etc) and buying different items to your house or otherwise can help you in certain situations. It feels bit superficial but I can see why developers wanted to have that aspect in game, to have at least some game in this and it sort of gives dept to life of your character.
Main attraction is however the bar. Customers come and order something, you mix their drinks in a minigame (which is hardly challenging) and deliver them their order. The key thing is, customer chat with your character and depending your success in mixing right drink to them and even sometimes giving them the best drink according to their mood, sometimes even if it contradicts their order, your bartender can manipulate the outcome of conversations, which then in turn can have other consequences, so you need to learn to know your customers. Customers also interact with each others.
It sounds very good, unfortunately as whole, it isn't.
Some characters and scenarios are very well written, but as whole the game is too long for what it has to offer and comes repetitive and boring. There's love story, I didn't expect that and it's terrible. There is subplot tied to this 'romance' where your alternate version in game universe tries to come in terms with herself. Again, this sounds like it's something mature, but actually as whole, it isn't.
Usually I try avoid spoilers, even I typically play older games, but this time I feel I'm obliged to break that rule, simply because otherwise sharing my experience wouldn't have much value.
The game's main plot is actually this coming to terms with herself bullshit and romance that ties to it. The conclusion reveals this game what it truly is, which is one really cynical piece of work. This is a game which is made to look good from beginning to mid game, where it have some good parts to grab players, and especially critics / reviews attention. Yeah this can make a good impression there with it's mix of things and themes. In the end it aims for Sugar Rush (which is also a drink in the game) ending which is, for me at least (and I'm quite mature) was something really repulsive. My disgust is not because lesbianism, but because it's perverse, narcissistic view, so everything is fine when you project yourself to other person and even make her to be your doll.
So it's for a reason it's about lesbian relationship, because otherwise there might have been quite a few questions that developer might have find difficult to answer, but in current political climate in gaming and cuck reviewers being human waste they are, hey, lesbians, love, coming to terms with your past, cute, or whatever, and nobody calls these fucks out for what they are, or even review game for what it really is.
Disclaimer: I played Bible Black and I recall some other Hentai 'visual novels' years ago and found them hilarious, if for nothing else, for imagining what the hell must have been happening in the writing team. So I don't feel like I'm prude. It's just that at least those games don't pretend to be anything they are not.
Soundtrack is great if you like 'Cyberpunk synthpop with spice', you can buy it from Band camp from the musician without buying the game.
Unless you are a dev, or interested in writing (there are some good ideas and even implementation), avoid.