A Shot in the Dark – Part 1

A Shot in the Dark is an adult visual novel by ViM Studios.
It is choice driven.
It is still in early access.
I didn't encounter any bugs.
The graphics are great.
There isn't any mini-games.
There is a section where you can choose which rooms to enter in your chosen order, but it isn't a free roam area.
The back button works and the mouse-wheel works with controlling the text also.
The skip option works with both read and unread text.
The save game option works with the standard 6 slot with many pages.
The achievements all work.
To get all the achievements it will take a few runs to complete them all.
It is a good visual novel.

Great visuals, loads of choices giving different routes. Not a huge amount so far (May '24) so would wait for an additional update or two

The art is really good the story is ok but the main needs a few more choice options some of the ones you have really make you seem less educated.

1. I REALLY like the text function, for me, that's a really great touch that no other game of this type has offered.
2. Really like that the story was led, that I didn't have to go through walkthroughs to figure out how to get to the next phase, even though my choices affect my storyline, I didnt have to waste time looking online for puzzle solve...

Probably one of my favorite VN's I've played recently. The story is pretty good, the characters and renders are really nice. I'm just hoping the game actually gets updated, seems like the dev is more focused on another game and almost no progress is being made on updates.

A Shot in the Dark is an engaging visual novel that combines elements of mystery, romance, and eroticism, offering an immersive experience for players seeking something deeper than the average titles in this genre.
Story and Plot
The story begins in a familiar way, with the protagonist starting his college life, exploring parties, and getting involved in relationships. However, as the plot unfolds, the game reveals layers of mystery and psychological complexity, suggesting that the main character may be dealing with past traumas,possibly even bordering on schizophrenia—though this isn't entirely clear in the game yet. The plot is enriched by a series of choices that impact not only the romances but also the development of the story, significantly increasing the replayability factor.
Protagonist
The protagonist in this game stands out by not following the typical "Chad" archetype common in many visual novels. Instead, he is a shy photographer, with a demeanor that may surprise players used to more assertive or dominant characters. His internal dialogue reveals an introspective and, at times, insecure personality, which may lead some to see him as a "Beta." However, this characterization contributes to a more authentic and complex narrative experience.
Although he exhibits noticeable shyness, this doesn't seem to affect his ability to attract the female characters in the game. Almost instantaneously and inexplicably, all the girls become attracted to him, which might seem somewhat forced but is part of the fantasy that the visual novel offers. This contrast between the protagonist's personality and the reactions of the characters around him is interesting, and while some players may prefer to play as an alpha male, the portrayal of the protagonist as a more reserved individual works well within the story's context.
Characters and Development
The characters are varied and well-developed, surpassing the usual stereotypes in visual novels. While some assume traditional roles, such as the party-loving friend or the provocative milf, others offer deeper and more complex stories, like an enigmatic artist or a teacher with a hidden side. This diversity, both in terms of personality and romantic interests, keeps the player engaged and intrigued.
Graphics and Presentation
Visually, A Shot in the Dark is a delight. The 3D renders are meticulously detailed and realistic, with facial expressions that bring the characters' interactions to life. The erotic scenes, though short and without voice acting, are well-animated and offer variety, allowing the player to explore different fantasies and fetishes. However, the absence of sound effects, such as moaning, can make these scenes less impactful than they could be.
Sound and Soundtrack
The soundtrack is well-chosen, complementing the mood of each scene. However, the lack of voice acting for the characters and sound effects during the more intense scenes is a notable omission. This is an aspect that could be improved in future updates, especially to enhance the immersion in the sex scenes.
Replayability and Content
With four chapters already available, the game offers a significant amount of content, with the promise of much more to come. The player's choices have a real impact, altering events, unlocking exclusive scenes, and creating alternative paths that encourage replayability. Additionally, the game is set to receive subtitles in other languages, making it even more accessible to a wider audience. Although still in early access, the potential to expand the story and add more complexity to the characters and plot is evident.
Guide and Walkthrough
This game also offers a DLC that includes a fully integrated guide and walkthrough. This feature is extremely useful for players who want to explore all the options and unlock all the available content, ensuring that you don't miss any important scenes or routes. The interface is intuitive, and the guide is perfectly incorporated into the gameplay experience, making it easy to track your choices and plan your progress. I highly recommend purchasing this DLC, as it adds significant value to the experience, especially for those who want to maximize replayability and explore all the mysteries the game has to offer.
Conclusion
A Shot in the Dark is a promising visual novel that effectively combines mystery, eroticism, and an engaging narrative. Despite some limitations, such as the lack of voice acting and short animations, the game stands out for its captivating story and well-developed characters. At an affordable price, it is an excellent choice for visual novel fans looking for something deeper and more impactful. With the addition of subtitles in other languages, the experience will be even better for everyone.
Score: 7/10

I've played a few adult visual novels, and this game has already a massive leg up compared to the average quality of a VN. But I've started to notice how in the last two chapters, the game is deciding to abandon its mechanics for a more mundane experience, which could very easily tank this game.
Once I started to play around with the UI, this game had already won me over. The player feedback is excellent here, and I greatly appreciate how the game keeps the player informed on all their progress. All the intimacy scenes have great depth to them, and the branching path system was at the start also engaging. You're also getting a far more expressive art design, although for some parts it feels more like an epileptic seizure due to the excessive fidgeting from the camera cutting to two unnecessary poses repeatedly.
But a major problem that's cropping up now is the lack of exploration. I don't mean in a free-roam type of sense, but more in the sense of being excited at new elements being introduced into the game. Right away after chapter one, everything slows down in terms of novelty, and you find yourself more often than not stuck in very long and empty scenes. The game has the necessary know-how to give the player more stuff to interact with (just look at all the features that happen in chapter one) but stuff is slowing down far too quickly, and there needs to be more elements introduced.
I feel like the romance is a bit rushed in this game. People start to open up to you too early, and so you're stuck reading these long dialogue exchanges without feeling any sort of connection. I don't want to feel like a third person looking in, but so far the game has not built any rapport, so it's hard to relate to any of the dialogue. Nothing has been earned, and most of the time I don't even know what is going on with my character.
This game should try to adhere to the principles of a dating sim, where there are side activities while you build rapport with the romance option of your choosing. You already have a phone with stuff to do on it, so all that is needed now is way more non-romantic objectives to complete that serve to add SLOW context to the characters and the main plot line. I don't want to feel as if I'm boxed into this very small arena, where all I do is read long therapy sessions between people I don't even know well. There need to be way more unique scenes and locations you can come across so that the branching path system does its job and adds novelty to the game.