Summer's Gone

I was not expecting what I got with Summer's Gone and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. While this is going to go down as a lewd visual novel. This is not a game that is full of sex. As a matter of fact, the “season one” that is out right now has no sexual content in it at all! I would say that an erotic visual novel is a way better way to think of this game. It is not just about some MC getting his rocks off, there is a real story here with a lot of depth that is being told and I thought that it was all done incredibly well.

Trauma Always Finds Away

I am going to be careful when talking about the plot of Summer’s Gone as this is an erotic visual novel that has some very well done storytelling. We play as an MC who is of college age and despite being a standout athlete, his life is not exactly going the way that he thought it would. The MC does take a while to warm up to as he is a bit of a standoffish kind of character at first. However, that is intentional as this is a game that is a very slow burn kind of experience and we grow to find that he had some troubles in his past that he cannot seem to shake.

Finding The Right Kind Of Love

With a title like Summer’s Gone, you know that there is some kind of mystery at play here. There is a girl that we like and just like us, she is dealing with some pretty serious stuff. There is a love interest called Bella who I feel the story is trying to push me towards, but you do chat with other characters as well. Some characters do get more time than others, but I do love how the writing feels more natural here and it is not just good looking young people trying to get laid all of the time. I do get that this slower approach to storytelling is not going to be for everyone, but I was really engaged and connected to what was happening here.

Fate Is What We Make It

Summer’s Gone is a visual novel so that should let you know what kind of experience you are in for as far as the gameplay goes. Most of your experience with this will be reading the story and then you get a few choices to make along the way. Some of these choices are quite interesting. You have some that are pretty obvious in the kind of thing that they will lead to. However, I liked how the game kept me on my toes with some choices that were a bit more on the cryptic side where you did not know for sure what consequences your actions or words would have. I feel it is this part of the game that could make a repeat playthrough a pretty fun experience.

Show & Tell

I was very impressed with how cinematic a visual novel Summer’s Gone turned out to be. The way that the camera will move and the very expensive facial expressions the characters have do a great job of helping you get even more invested in this story and world. The characters are all designed really well and while I do think that the MC needs to see a barber about what he has going on with his hair. The characters all have a realistic look to them which I like. The game does not have any sex scenes in it as I write this so it is certainly more erotic than fully lewd. However, this did not bother me at all and if we do get an actual sex scene in the next season/chapter, it will feel even more impactful.

Pros:

• I thought the MC was quite an interesting character
• There are some very interesting potential love interests
• I liked the cinematic flare the game offered
• The choices it gives you are very intriguing and make you second guess yourself

Cons:

• This is only season one and there is no word on when to expect season two
• This is not for those who just want hardcore sex in their visual novels

Summer's Gone is a visual novel in which you get to know a girl named Summer and her life story.

Plot

Summer, a former high school girl, was raped at her high school prom and ended up in the hospital. Physically she made a speedy recovery, but her mental health is not. But soon she will have to go to college, where her high school acquaintances will be attending. Will she be able to sort out her feelings and get on with her normal life as a student?

Gameplay

The classic bawdy novella offers you the following gameplay - you interact with the characters William, Nami, Victoria, and others who come to visit Summer at home and in the hospital. You choose the appropriate responses in order to develop the story in the right direction. A high school setting awaits you, and a discussion of forced sex with a virgin.

Pros:

• Great music
• Addictive storyline
• There is a mobile version

Cons:

• Night scenes are too dark