"Neverending True Romance" part 7: Newlywed is in the Name, Netorare is on its Way
Monica's Newlywed Life's Review
Developer: Acerola (Published by Kagura Games)
Store: Steam, Kagura Games store, DLSite (only in Japanese)
Reviewed version: 1.03
Censored: No, except for the DLSite version
Patch Needed: No, except for the Steam version
OS: Windows
Language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese
Monica's Newlywed Life is an NTR-focused JRPG that puts players in the shoes of Monica and her now-husband Kyle as they and their two female companions discover that the Demon Lord who razed their hometown kicked the bucket and that settling in Clymenia requires them to have a high rank in their Adventurer's Guild or an excessive amount of money to pay their living expenses. They are left with no choice but to make a deal with the shady innkeeper of a luxury inn to work for him for 60 days to get enough money to pay for their stay, unaware that he and every guy in town have set their eyes on Monica's hot body.
The plot is serviceable, featuring a few unexpected twists and over ten endings that add a lot of replayability to the game. Which one you get depends on your progress, whether you managed to remain faithful, Kyle kept his dick in his pants, you got railed by everyone and their brothers, etc.
Gameplay-wise, it's different than the typical JRPG in that there are no levels, every skill in the game is available from the start, and you recover the HP and limited SP you lost in combat after it ends. Moreover, there are two different ways to beat an enemy: by dropping their HP to 0 like in your everyday JRPG or seducing them so they pass out from having a massive orgasm. The combat becomes surprisingly easy once you get used to its mechanics, as recovering your SP after every battle gives you room to use your strongest attack right from the start, and the ample time limit gives you more than enough room to grind enough money to get the best gear available.
Outside combat, which job you can take and the H-scene you get from it depends on how high or low her Guilt meter, which works the same as Shame in Treasure Hunter Claire, her Desire meter, which measures how pent up Monica is, and her Suspicious meter, which pens up riskier tasks for Monica, are. Some tasks add special requirements later on, such as acquiring a specific outfit or triggering an event. On another note, pregnancy also works differently since, rather than leaving it to chance like in Meltys Quest and many other JRPGS, a meter fills up every time she’s creampied, and she only gets pregnant once it’s full.
The game is a feast for the eyes, as it features gorgeous hand-drawn character portraits and still shots, a few fluid animations that add to the experience, and many sex scenes available involving the female protagonist, her equally beautiful female companions, and occasionally her husband. Moreover, the game allows you to choose whether Monica has a huge rack or a more modest chest size, which is a neat detail.
Verdict: Great
Despite its heavy focus on NTR, Monica's Newlywed Life is a game that anyone can easily enjoy, as long as non-fans of NTR games don’t put themselves in the shoes of the male protagonist. The combat is enjoyable despite how easy it is to win, the game’s many endings add a lot of replayability, and its huge variety of high-quality sex scenes makes it possible to find something that leaves you hot and bothered.
Fun game indeed.