It sure has a lot of passion poured in it
Projekt Passion: Chapter 1's review
Developer: Classy Lemon
Genre: Visual Novel
Store: Steam, Itch.io, SpicyGaming
Reviewed version: 1.00
Censored: No
Patch Needed: No
OS: Windows
Language: English, Russian, Chinese (simplified), Italian, Portuguese
I played this one without knowing whether I'd find a lackluster shovelware game like the many cheap ones on Steam or a worthwhile AVN. Projekt Passion surprised me a lot because it wasn't just good; it was one hell of a ride.
I imagined it'd be a serious story with no room for lighthearted moments, but it turned out to be a full-blown comedy with some plot thrown into the mix. The humor was silly for the most part to the point it felt like I was watching a Deadpool movie, which I didn't mind at all because it's my kind of humor. The jokes were amusing and always got a chuckle or two out of me, except for the disc-scratch ones because they have been done so many times lately that they stopped being funny.
Moreover, many choices allow you to choose how you come across to other people, whether you want to be a friendly guy, a witty dude, or an aggressive edgelord. It's a nice touch, even if it doesn't change anything aside from some flavor text and a few achievements down the road. Of course, there are also relevant choices that change a few events or lead to the protagonist dying in a silly way.
Another thing that makes this such a good game is how well-written the characters are. They are already endearing from the beginning, but you can't help but like them more and more as you discover their motivations, fears, and what shaped them to be the kind of person they are. Some weren't developed further because they were introduced late into the game, but I assume they'll get their fair share of character development in future chapters.
The graphics are also better than the standard Daz3D models in many 3D AVNs. Not only the characters' designs are unique and detailed, but also the animations are very smooth. Moreover, the stellar voice acting improved the scenes a lot, especially the spicier ones. As for the soundtrack, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the EDM tracks in the cutscenes fit the scenes and the setting of the game to a T—even if I find the ending song a bit too pop-ish for my liking—but on the other hand, the lack of background music in the rest of the visual novel makes it feel a bit unfinished.
Verdict: Fantastic
Some gripes aside, I had so much fun playing Projekt Passion: Chapter 1 that I can't wait to see what else the future chapters have in store. Anyone looking for a well-written story with endearing characters, silly jokes, and eye-pleasing graphics should give it a go.