ADULT GAME REVIEW:

HOUSE IN A RIFT

REVIEWED BY: NoxAeternae

There are a lot of harem games out there, some nothing more than fap-fodder with uninteresting characters, while others are something special. The first harem game to make me feel like I was playing something special, something that was made with a lot of love was Harem Hotel. A House in the Rift has given me the same feeling, the same impression of love and care being poured into the game. Which is not to say these two games are the same. Despite the similarities, they have a lot of different elements that make them distinct. So, let’s explore this a little bit, shall we?

One common thing I’ve found in successful, well-made harem games is the setting. They usually have a central location that either all the characters live in or visit regularly. This not only allows the MC to interact with the characters but also allows the characters to interact with each other. The shared space creates shared experiences, and helps the MC as well as the player to connect with the characters more easily.

It feels cozy, warm and wholesome

In the case of Harem Hotel, this space takes the form of a hotel that you run, and it works well. A House in the Rift however, takes this idea to the next step. After an unknown experiment goes wrong, you are transported to your childhood home which is somehow floating in the middle of nothingness. And as you go about playing, characters from different worlds are pulled into the house to live with you.

Despite their wishes however, there is no way for them and you to leave in the short term. And no matter if they like each other or you, everyone has to adapt and get along. And as you develop relationships with the characters, they do so with each other as well, becoming something like a slightly dysfunctional family. And I absolutely adore the found family trope.

Not all of the characters are fully fleshed-out as of the latest update. But the ones that are, feel like actual characters with distinct personalities. And it feels good to spend time with them, kind of like spending time with friends. There are a lot of quiet moments, inconsequential little chats and lots of banter. I realize that this aspect might not be for everyone. And don’t get me wrong, I like games that goes straight into action. But I think there are enough of those games, and it feels fresh when a game allows you to just hang out with the characters. It feels cozy, warm and wholesome.

Another aspect that supports this feeling is the abundant dialogue options. I’ve heard some criticism that most of these options are inconsequential; not really a choice. And while that is true, I disagree that it’s a bad thing. I think inconsequential choices are bad design only when they are presented as important. Lately I’ve spent an ungodly amount of time playing Final Fantasy 14, and none of the dialogue choices in that game matter. Yet despite that, you feel excited every time you are presented with one. It’s not so much that these options are choices, but they are a way for the player to express who their character is or perhaps who they are as a person. They allow you to express your attitude, to interact with others in the manner of your choosing. And I think that has a lot of value. But enough about that, let’s talk more details.

There is a lot of magical mumbo-jumbo thrown around

It would be remiss of me to not mention the quality of the renders and the scenes. The character models are all beautiful, but what takes it over the top is the animated scenes. Where most other games would use looped stock animations on a fixed camera, A House in the Rift goes the extra mile. The animations are all well thought-out and fluid. Instead of a fixed camera, the game spoils you with a dynamic one that follows the action. Every scene is a like a visual treat, and believe it or not, they get even better over time!

Finally, let’s talk about the story: my favorite thing to gush about in any game. But this time, I’ll be brief. The main story is pretty basic, what makes it interesting is the lore you discover as you play along. While there is a lot of magical mumbo jumbo thrown around to explain things, the game provides you with a few pretty solid rules concerning the universe the game inhabits. And as new things happen, and new information is brought out, these basic rules continue to apply, creating an internal consistency. I personally enjoyed the universe and the lore surrounding it, but I realize not everyone is interested in learning how magic operates in their adult game. Fortunately, this lore isn’t crucial to understanding and connecting with the characters so you can choose to skim or skip through it if you so desire.

Before I get to some negative points, there is one more thing that I want to talk about. As a developer myself, there are times when you come up with a super cool scene that you know the players will love. But either the scene doesn’t fit the story and the setting at all or it would push those in a different direction than you’ve planned. A House in the Rift deals with this problem brilliantly. There are optional dream sequences that explore those “what if” scenarios. What if you were in space, what if you were in a medieval world? Dream sequences usually get a bad reputation for being cheap, however they most definitely add something of value if done correctly. And this game definitely does them correctly, even incorporating it into the story. All in all, it’s an elegant solution that allows the player to explore alternate scenarios with the characters.

In terms of negatives, I think there is only one major problem that’s worth talking about: pacing. Especially the pacing of sex scenes. Rae is the first character you meet in the game (who also happens to be the best girl, fight me), and naturally she gets a lot of scenes back-to-back. But as new characters get introduced, she doesn’t get any scenes for a long time. While I understand newer characters require more time to be established, it feels quite jarring considering that Rae is also the most sexual character. Similarly, Naomi is the second character you are introduced to and as newer characters get introduced, she gets absolutely nothing. So much so that you’d be forgiven to forget she existed at all. I’ll concede that not every update has to have new scenes for every character, but it’s never a good thing to allow your players to forget a character.

I’ve mostly talked about the scenes in terms of pacing, but the story suffers from similar issues at times. The game starts out incredibly slow, and certain developments take forever to happen. While I believe these criticisms are valid, let’s not forget that the only reason I’m being this harsh on this topic is that with better pacing,

I think this game could be one of the best out there. That’s why I won’t mince any words, and plainly say that you should definitely give this one a try. If the game had no adult content at all, I think I would still play and enjoy it. And if that’s not the highest praise for an adult game, I don’t know what is.

DEVELOPED BY: ZANITH