Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[yourstalkeroutside]

Seems like the thousand of us is back with a rewrite. Honestly, I could not complete it. It has a more defined MC and honestly don’t like it. The crying and such is a turn off for my enjoyment. Feels more forced.

Plus, godmode is the only reason I enjoyed it, was the brainless power fantasy I crave sometimes. And even though the demo does not get far it feels nerfed. Now I have to wait years just to get back to where we were I bet. The sad reality of WIPs, rewrite hell.

It's a whole bunch of nothing. If anything it's worse than the original because it strips player choice away in favour of a false complexity that just makes me wish that they had decided to write a novel instead. I liked the original choices where I could play as a poor but popular orphan rather than being forced into the shoes of an entitled, bratty child.

 

[Emtastic]

It's a whole bunch of nothing. If anything it's worse than the original because it strips player choice away in favour of a false complexity that just makes me wish that they had decided to write a novel instead. I liked the original choices where I could play as a poor but popular orphan rather than being forced into the shoes of an entitled, bratty child.

Also nodding in agreement to all this. It just feels like a novel. I can't choose my character's background, how they react, how they feel. I can't even choose most of what they do other than some very broad, easy branches. I am forced to blubber about my family. And, ignoring that some people just don't like their family, since we've gotten no real introduction to these people, why am I supposed to care, as a reader? I get wanting a driving motivation for a protag, but this feels so... limiting for character building to make "you" a spoiled rich brat who looooooves their family so much they're going to helplessly cry about things. Being able to choose "hello?" "helloooo?" and "helloooooooo????" (exaggerating, but not much) as options isn't, uh, very gripping.

Just write a novel. If this wasn't meant to be MY character, this might be interesting. But as it is, if you dont even want to write flavor-text versions of branches, this feels rather... eh.

 

[God]

Also nodding in agreement to all this. It just feels like a novel. I can't choose my character's background, how they react, how they feel. I can't even choose most of what they do other than some very broad, easy branches. I am forced to blubber about my family. And, ignoring that some people just don't like their family, since we've gotten no real introduction to these people, why am I supposed to care, as a reader? I get wanting a driving motivation for a protag, but this feels so... limiting for character building to make "you" a spoiled rich brat who looooooves their family so much they're going to helplessly cry about things. Being able to choose "hello?" "helloooo?" and "helloooooooo????" (exaggerating, but not much) as options isn't, uh, very gripping.

Just write a novel. If this wasn't meant to be MY character, this might be interesting. But as it is, if you dont even want to write flavor-text versions of branches, this feels rather... eh.

You just described my feelings. The texting part made me stop playing. Just because how cringe it was to me. The three choices were, hello??? Please???? Please I’ll do anything??? Like wth is this.

IFs lose me when they try to tell me how to feel. The first version did a good job to me making me pissed about Ari. This version is too much, just shoving the family down your throat. Less is more in this case.

 

[100Poems]

God of Chaos. It just released.

Human corruption and to an extent obsession. One could write a whole story about how 'the machine' is bad but the actual reasons behind it are given next to no thought. You'll have a story filled with people worshipping technology and efficiency, but the conclusion always ends with the technology is bad and not that the way we use it is bad. I find it a cop out because it puts the blame elsewhere instead of blaming ourselves. It's annoying reading these types of stories because it's usually written by people who have never lived anywhere rural or spent time in nature longer than a day trip so they have rose-coloured glasses about the realities of nature and how life was 'back then' when the truth is everything but. They have never carried a bucket of water from a stream or hand washed more than one item but they romantise it.

In God of Chaos You learn that the guy who killed you is the one running the machine that's running humanity, this gets very little screen time before he dies and humanity is set back to basically nothing. From the very beginning of the story, you get 'everything about this is bad and should be destroyed' there's little world building (though I have given up on getting decent world building in an IF these days) just an endless sermon. Even the route that is closest to 'technology and nature can coexist' basically ends like you didn't make that choice.

If you don't go in with the mindset that 'cities and technology is bad' then you will not enjoy the story because that's all the story is about.

I don't mind myself. I do hate stories like these though. The only purpose it serves is to stroke the authors ego and sense of morality rather than tell a story or even impart a message properly. Basically, I hate when things lack nuisance and this particular issue gets a lot of black and white thinking from 'grass always greener' syndrome.

Besides, there's a massive difference between 'I believe that this is better but recognise that certain things benefit me' and 'I believe this is better and everything that isn't that is bad, and I refuse to recognise the ways it benefits me because I solely look at the negatives and this is what I know.' The latter is annoying as hell to deal with.

Ohh i understand now, yeah that makes sense, it definitely does get a little annoying when things are simplified like that

Thanks for going into more depth with it!

 

[Raijin_01]

God of Chaos. It just released.

Human corruption and to an extent obsession. One could write a whole story about how 'the machine' is bad but the actual reasons behind it are given next to no thought. You'll have a story filled with people worshipping technology and efficiency, but the conclusion always ends with the technology is bad and not that the way we use it is bad. I find it a cop out because it puts the blame elsewhere instead of blaming ourselves. It's annoying reading these types of stories because it's usually written by people who have never lived anywhere rural or spent time in nature longer than a day trip so they have rose-coloured glasses about the realities of nature and how life was 'back then' when the truth is everything but. They have never carried a bucket of water from a stream or hand washed more than one item but they romantise it.

In God of Chaos You learn that the guy who killed you is the one running the machine that's running humanity, this gets very little screen time before he dies and humanity is set back to basically nothing. From the very beginning of the story, you get 'everything about this is bad and should be destroyed' there's little world building (though I have given up on getting decent world building in an IF these days) just an endless sermon. Even the route that is closest to 'technology and nature can coexist' basically ends like you didn't make that choice.

If you don't go in with the mindset that 'cities and technology is bad' then you will not enjoy the story because that's all the story is about.

I don't mind myself. I do hate stories like these though. The only purpose it serves is to stroke the authors ego and sense of morality rather than tell a story or even impart a message properly. Basically, I hate when things lack nuisance and this particular issue gets a lot of black and white thinking from 'grass always greener' syndrome.

Besides, there's a massive difference between 'I believe that this is better but recognise that certain things benefit me' and 'I believe this is better and everything that isn't that is bad, and I refuse to recognise the ways it benefits me because I solely look at the negatives and this is what I know.' The latter is annoying as hell to deal with.

Peak argument. Especially on the part of the romanticism.

It's more like a try hard than actual good story. I mean like when someone made a story about managing business banana plantation, what they thought they're gonna have workers to do it, when the reality is you must cut down those banana trees killing your back and being roasted by the sun.

Hell, it was my experience having a freaking plantation like that, it's basically crazy work for a day

 

[BiscuitB]

I know it's been said before but I really wish El from Love after Death had really died, I just feel like it would've been more heartfelt and the story would've had more meaning to the name. Like I story that actually deals with grief perfect. Instead got this "amnesiac" urgh.

 

[Vanya]

I know it's been said before but I really wish El from Love after Death had really died, I just feel like it would've been more heartfelt and the story would've had more meaning to the name. Like I story that actually deals with grief perfect. Instead got this "amnesiac" urgh.

I've talked about this before and yeah, when the demo first came out the author talked about being a story about overcoming grief and the loss of a loved one, and finding love again (that's why the IF was named like that) and then... I've seen this type of plot so many times (especially in my country's soap operas) and it's so cliché, I really hate it, but I guess a lot of people like it so...

I can't even bring myself to romance anyone else to tell you the truth, I lost my interest in all of the RO after knowing the twist and even the story itself became really boring to me.

 

[BiscuitB]

I've talked about this before and yeah, when the demo first came out the author talked about being a story about overcoming grief and the loss of a loved one, and finding love again (that's why the IF was named like that) and then... I've seen this type of plot so many times (especially in my country's soap operas) and it's so cliché, I really hate it, but I guess a lot of people like it so...

I can't even bring myself to romance anyone else to tell you the truth, I lost my interest in all of the RO after knowing the twist and even the story itself became really boring to me.

For me it's the when are we gonna see him, that what the whole story has become it's not about finding love it's about El and his family drama.

 

[Emtastic]

I've talked about this before and yeah, when the demo first came out the author talked about being a story about overcoming grief and the loss of a loved one, and finding love again (that's why the IF was named like that) and then... I've seen this type of plot so many times (especially in my country's soap operas) and it's so cliché, I really hate it, but I guess a lot of people like it so...

I can't even bring myself to romance anyone else to tell you the truth, I lost my interest in all of the RO after knowing the twist and even the story itself became really boring to me.

Ah, same here. It reminded me of my mom's soaps.

I probably wouldn't have minded it as a twist later (by later I mean, like, once the relationships were well established). Then the premise of working through grief and finding love could have remained, but then still presented the twist the author (and apparently readers) liked so much of having to confront what was lost, but make it more meaningful. My biggest argument with it is that you now have the MC, deeply in love with El for years, not over them, with a situationship/newly developing feelings at best with their RO, so it just feels like drama for the sake of it. I suppose the author could surprise me, but what motivation is there for the MC now to not want to go back and at least wait and see how things turn out with the amnesia stuff? See what they both end up wanting once they re-get to know eachother? It just feels illogical for the MC as written to continue on with their fledgling romance with this change. I am a sucker for consistency in a narrative.

I get that, like, the sibling's path probably wouldn't have worked without the early reveal since the farce was already stretched thin, but with everyone else? I can see why the author wouldn't want to make one path have the twist long before other paths, but it still disappoints me.

 

[Vanya]

I get that, like, the sibling's path probably wouldn't have worked without the early reveal since the farce was already stretched thin, but with everyone else? I can see why the author wouldn't want to make one path have the twist long before other paths, but it still disappoints me.

I haven't played the sibling's route, because I was beginning to like T's route and dating my dead lover's sibling is too weird to me personally, but I've seen some asks about them and the author always says they always knew the truth about El and they just thought that MC also knew but was just heartbroken over the amnesia part or whatever, but I don't get it! Nothing makes sense to me. Why would they want to date their sibling's partner who they know is still not over them? What if turns out El regains their memory and remembers everything about MC? What then? I don't get it but I'm too afraid to ask the author on tumblr, because apparently Athiel is the readers favorite and we all know how people on tumblr act.

Anyway, I'll probably still read it because I'm too curious and I want to know how it will all end, but I'll never gonna try another route because El was by far my fave and now that I know the truth I (as a reader) can't go back and try to date anyone besides them, I feel too bad about MC (who I actually like)! Also I feel bored half the time with all the unnecessary plots and characters and also I can't stand our parental figure no matter how many times I try.

 

[Emtastic]

I haven't played the sibling's route, because I was beginning to like T's route and dating my dead lover's sibling is too weird to me personally, but I've seen some asks about them and the author always says they always knew the truth about El and they just thought that MC also knew but was just heartbroken over the amnesia part or whatever, but I don't get it! Nothing makes sense to me. Why would they want to date their sibling's partner who they know is still not over them? What if turns out El regains their memory and remembers everything about MC? What then? I don't get it but I'm too afraid to ask the author on tumblr, because apparently Athiel is the readers favorite and we all know how people on tumblr act.

Anyway, I'll probably still read it because I'm too curious and I want to know how it will all end, but I'll never gonna try another route because El was by far my fave and now that I know the truth I (as a reader) can't go back and try to date anyone besides them, I feel too bad about MC (who I actually like)! Also I feel bored half the time with all the unnecessary plots and characters and also I can't stand our parental figure no matter how many times I try.

I was in a particularly dramatic mood when I tried it out for funsies, haha. Neither Athiel or El are my types of ROs so I'm a little biased against them, to be fair.

Specifically though, I read it because I was wondering exactly as you said: how would this even work? Who wouldn't feel like a replacement or a second choice in that situation? To give the author credit, that's exactly how it is written. Athiel is just like 'wtf, really, you're acting all nice to me now that my sibling isn't an option?' (and obviously has trash self esteem despite their bluster) all through the route despite their obvious toxic-tsundere crush. Even just before the reveal in their route, as they two kind of dance around what's happening between them, Athiel's reaction is a giant 'this is a stupid and awful situation, and I hate that I'm falling for it' kind of vibe.

And yes, the gimmick is that Althiel, in all routes, is never around when anyone says El is dead. People say 'gone' or other euphemisms and they link it back to the cover story, that the disfiguring accident and amnesia was somehow too much for the MC and they bailed immediately on El, unwilling to help with recovery. Which, really, adds another layer of who would want to date this person who did that?

But you can only run with 'oh, he isn't actually an insensitive jerk, he just doesn't know the MC is being made to think their lover is dead' schtick for so long, so I feel like it is this route, specifically, that made the reveal happen now. Also, thinking about it, perhaps it is the fact that Athiel is the favorite that makes this twist necessary... because even if El was actually dead, I feel those emotional hurdles are tooooooo high without resolution that the MC is choosing them with the option to have the golden child back.

 

[bdatzmr]

I haven't played the sibling's route, because I was beginning to like T's route and dating my dead lover's sibling is too weird to me personally, but I've seen some asks about them and the author always says they always knew the truth about El and they just thought that MC also knew but was just heartbroken over the amnesia part or whatever, but I don't get it! Nothing makes sense to me. Why would they want to date their sibling's partner who they know is still not over them? What if turns out El regains their memory and remembers everything about MC? What then? I don't get it but I'm too afraid to ask the author on tumblr, because apparently Athiel is the readers favorite and we all know how people on tumblr act.

I played El and Athiel's route since the beginning of lads and i can confirm he always knew lol. That guy always was wayyy too suspicious whenever someone would mention El

I have to say, i think that the author maybe just invented this idea that "Athiel thinks mc and El broke up" bc honestly that shi makes no sense at all and it seems more like a quick way to ease the burden of him knowing the truth so that his route and him wouldn't be hated or that author had no idea how they would make them work. The last I can say (before the rewrite and everything) because I was always breaking head thinking about how him and mc would work with this huge betrayal on his part, letting MC suffer like that.

But now it seems the situation has reversed (referring to before MC recently finding out about El) because, from what I remember seeing on Tumblr, Athiel thinks mc was the one who broke up with El, not only because of the amnesia thing but also bc he is.. ugly? now. So.. yeah, I couldn't see how would he like mc if that really is what he thinks of them now. I remember being kinda pissed when i saw that instead of the betrayal, he suddenly is just dumb making things up in his head and believing his crazy mother instead of simply asking mc.

 

[Serpent]

Seems like the thousand of us is back with a rewrite. Honestly, I could not complete it. It has a more defined MC and honestly don’t like it. The crying and such is a turn off for my enjoyment. Feels more forced.

Plus, godmode is the only reason I enjoyed it, was the brainless power fantasy I crave sometimes. And even though the demo does not get far it feels nerfed. Now I have to wait years just to get back to where we were I bet. The sad reality of WIPs, rewrite hell.

Yeah I played it as well, and I was so ****ing disappointed, because the original one was cool, and it was a power fantasy while also being entertaining in terms of a story (even though now in hindsight, I understand that the plot revolved solely around characters and not plot itself).
Hell, God mode was OP as ****, and I liked how it was done, but now it's just ****. It doesn't even feel like the power fantasy from before, regardless of the power.
And while it is better written, I don't give a **** about that. I don't need to read ****in Shakespeare, I just need a story that's engaging and that I'll like.
Also atp it's false advertising, because the story became much more linear, and is not "choose whatever and that you can branch forever and is aiming to be the biggest IF work ever", since that is what it still says in the pinned post.

Overall the story went on a more linear path, which would be alright if it wasn't literally completely changed. Characters changed, concepts changed, everything changed. Now it's not just power, now everyone also gets physical enhancement power, and sure, it's short so you can't see much, but even when you get your power you're still a little ***** that you were when you woke up! I get wanting to make Big Red feel threatening and all, but I liked how you used your powers in the first game to deal with it, especially in the God Mode route. Now not only do you not wake up with powers, but now it needs some time to pass in order for you to get them, and even then if you pick God mode you are still acting like the same brat of a teenager that you woke up as. Which makes zero sense btw.
The first game had it right, if you had God mode powers, your mind would change, but in here, you don't even understand wtf is going on, other than the fact that you're now branded.
Now it's just you being big sad, pre set MC, whose family/something story is being forced onto us for no reason whatsoever, with also zero explanation. My MC is a "Nirvana" now, whatever the **** that is supposed to mean, and that's why some people hate us and all, and maybe I just skimmed over that or something, but I am genuinely not sure wtf is up with that whole plot line, and also Ari Ari, where is Ari, is she safe, is she alright, like okay Darth Vader, I don't really give a **** because I have much more pressing matters to attend to other than where is my family.

All in all, I will give it a little bit more time, basically another update, and if it doesn't become semi okay by then, I'm dropping that ****, since it's not worth it anymore. Went from a cool power fantasy to some dumb **** due to a rewrite...

It's a whole bunch of nothing. If anything it's worse than the original because it strips player choice away in favour of a false complexity that just makes me wish that they had decided to write a novel instead. I liked the original choices where I could play as a poor but popular orphan rather than being forced into the shoes of an entitled, bratty child.

As I said, false advertisement atp

Also nodding in agreement to all this. It just feels like a novel. I can't choose my character's background, how they react, how they feel. I can't even choose most of what they do other than some very broad, easy branches. I am forced to blubber about my family. And, ignoring that some people just don't like their family, since we've gotten no real introduction to these people, why am I supposed to care, as a reader? I get wanting a driving motivation for a protag, but this feels so... limiting for character building to make "you" a spoiled rich brat who looooooves their family so much they're going to helplessly cry about things. Being able to choose "hello?" "helloooo?" and "helloooooooo????" (exaggerating, but not much) as options isn't, uh, very gripping.

Just write a novel. If this wasn't meant to be MY character, this might be interesting. But as it is, if you dont even want to write flavor-text versions of branches, this feels rather... eh.

Facts

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

My MC is a "Nirvana" now, whatever the **** that is supposed to mean, and that's why some people hate us and all,

Basically our family is like Bezos or Musk or whatever billionaire family with far too much money there is. It's the rich family background from the original but now without the optional murder cover up and daddy issues that made playing that route interesting.

 

[Serpent]

Basically our family is like Bezos or Musk or whatever billionaire family with far too much money there is. It's the rich family background from the original but now without the optional murder cover up and daddy issues that made playing that route interesting.

Ohhh, now it makes sense why Olivia hates us! It's not like out family is dead and there was basically an apocalypse so it literally doesn't matter what we were ffs

Yeah, the plot has gone to ****. From being an op monster to a bratty rich teenager. Generational aura loss just so the story can be "better"

 

[Emtastic]

I don't mind myself. I do hate stories like these though. The only purpose it serves is to stroke the authors ego and sense of morality rather than tell a story or even impart a message properly. Basically, I hate when things lack nuisance and this particular issue gets a lot of black and white thinking from 'grass always greener' syndrome.

Besides, there's a massive difference between 'I believe that this is better but recognise that certain things benefit me' and 'I believe this is better and everything that isn't that is bad, and I refuse to recognise the ways it benefits me because I solely look at the negatives and this is what I know.' The latter is annoying as hell to deal with.

(Re; God of Chaos. This is just ranting, plz feel free to ignore)

Ugh.

I decided to read despite your warning because I am insatiable for reading material. I regret this.

[For fairness sake, I didn't finish out the story yet. But I've gone up to chapter 8/10 so I don't see my issues being resolved, lol. I need a break from my irritation before slogging through the rest.]

I don't even mind the premise so much. Yes, it is very 'if only the good old days came back!', as you said. But the lack of nuance really is the kicker, especially alongside how... rapid-fire it is paced. Everything is so black and white and extreme, and not even just in the morality! Every path feels either extreme or so inconsequential that you wonder how well it would even turn out.

(On that note: Sure, either being a terrorist and exploding your way to victory or trying to improve the existing power structure? Both reasonable options in the face of how the plot is structured. But the hippiesDruids? Kay, so the plan is to get this vial of Tears and start bringing nature back. Great. Why... why is that a third path? Why wouldn't you, I dunno, focus on the main problem AND want to bring nature back since the Big Evil Bad Guys decided trees suck for some Big Evil Technology reasons? There is nothing about this path that, from what you know when you must choose it, tells me that it is so urgent to make one (1) square of dirt nice and plant-filled again that it must come before the societal reform the plot is pushing? Wouldn't the Big Bad Guys just come stomp your plants? Or that it somehow does the reform with greenery? I haven't done this path, to be fair, so I am just judging it based on the (minimal) information you are given before you need to lock in.)

The romance/friendship mechanic feels tacked on. You speak to these people for maybe 30 minutes in total over the course of days, 90% of which is about lore/worldbuilding/plot and the other 10% establishing their backstory. But then you get the choices to, like, 'Dance, but dance sexy' vs 'Dance as buddies' then a page or two later you can go kiss the RO who, frankly, you don't even know the hair color of let alone anything about them. There isn't any buildup for friendship, even, let alone romance.

Your stats/choices don't really seem to matter when it comes to your solutions? Like, they start so high and so few things actually adjust them that you can just do what you want, it seems. Tbf, I could have just been lucky, but with how the stat spread is started at 70 and seems to cap out at ~80, it doesn't seem like what I do/what my strengths are matters. I don't mind power fantasies, but when you can literally just do whatever, what's the point of stats?

Everything goes at a breakneck pace. It just feels like they wanted to tell an elaborate story but didn't want to write it, so there's no time spent existing in this world, talking to people, understanding things, seeing others interact, planning, etc. It is all "go, go, go, go, go" from minute one: cause a scene, break in here, now go there, now raid this, and whoo, here we go to the end! Like, mortals, these problems have been happening for a thousand years now, yeah? Why do we need to dive in within 24 hours of reviving a god and jump all the way to whatever endgoal you've chosen to align yourself with?

Eh, I am just disappointed because I love trickster gods and was psyched to play one. So don't take me too seriously. The writing wasn't badly done, the plot is just incredibly rushed and descriptions/scenes/events lacked detail. The idea of the setting and world is interesting... but that just makes it sadder that you don't get to actually interact with it much.