Review of "Race of Life" (As of Episode 3.2)
An Engaging and Intelligent Narrative
"Race of Life" has an interesting story that effectively captures your attention from the very beginning with a compelling initial incident. Without revealing any spoilers, the narrative maintains your emotional engagement throughout the unfolding events.
One of the elements I genuinely enjoy is the unique twist of incorporating a college background with the theme of racing. This blend offers a refreshing take on a well-known setting. The characters are intelligent, which significantly enhances the story for me. Both the love interests (LI) and the protagonist character (PC) exhibit high levels of intelligence.
In contrast to many other visual novels that follow the school life trope, which often feels overdone, "Race of Life" presents a pleasant change by focusing on intellectual and engaging discussions rather than stereotypical fraternity parties and shallow characters. These discussions align perfectly with what the PC is striving to achieve academically and personally.
Even though I may not be intelligent enough to fully grasp every detail, the general gist is sufficient to appreciate the research and thought put into these topics. While the conversations might not be as intricate as they would be in real life, the text addresses these subjects adequately without being overly complex for the average reader.
Other aspects of the story are still forming. There seems to be quite a few things going on, so we'll see how this all comes together, and whether it ends up working well, or degrades from what I feel are the strong points of the AVN. The LIs themselves seem varied, and mesh well with the PC. I am also curious to see if there ends up being meaningful consequences due to the various relationships. I'm willing to say there is already one major turning point in the story of LI. It is weirdly nice to see normal human relationship "drama." Too many AVNs try to have a harem root. While it is nice for anyone to fantasize and escape, it gets old quickly.
The way I put value into the story is if it has me reading the dialogue or has me skipping to the next decision. I'm happy to say this one kept me reading. Not only do the story’s LI get time, but the PCs friends get their time too. The dynamic feels genuine and is a nice break from the rest.
Visuals
Onto the visuals. This AVN has particularly good visuals, and the LIs have their time to shine. Backgrounds seem to be well thought out, and don't feel out of place. It seems we are at the point where care is taken not only with the characters, but with what’s around them too. This does a lot for telling the story, and making it feel as if you’re a silent observer, rather than staring at a computer screen.
Overall, I'm hooked on the story, excited to see where these relationships go, and curious about where this all culminates. I would be willing to replay for different routes. In my opinion, that says a lot, as I usually find one LI that works best with the PC and stick to it. So, any AVN that can make me replay for different LIs is already a win in my book.
In summary, "Race of Life" stands out with its thoughtful narrative, intelligent characters, refreshing take on a college setting, and impressive visuals, making it a captivating and enjoyable experience.