"Scars of Summer After" follows the story of Ryoka Enomoto, the ace of the women's basketball team and the protagonist's childhood friend. Growing up together in a small rural village, the protagonist secretly harbors feelings for her. However, over the course of the summer, Ryoka finds herself caught in a web of unwanted and disturbing events. While the protagonist remains unaware, Ryoka's body is slowly taken by other men—ranging from lecherous middle-aged men to rebellious schoolboys—under circumstances that seem to unfold of their own accord. As these men infiltrate her life, the protagonist is left helpless, unable to stop what is happening to her, as Ryoka’s once innocent summer becomes an irreversible nightmare.
This visual novel is a prequel to the previous work "Summer Colors of Broken Things" and offers players a unique experience of exploring various "betrayal" routes during school events like the coastal field trip. Players must navigate through this dark narrative and witness Ryoka's tragic descent, while managing the complex dynamics with the men who slowly take control of her life.
Game Features:
Multiple Betrayal Routes
"Scars of Summer After" introduces dynamic and evolving routes, where the protagonist must witness and react to the slow but inevitable transformation of Ryoka. Players will be exposed to different male characters, each with their own corrupt desires and personalities, who gradually take advantage of Ryoka’s vulnerability.
Real-Time Event Tracking
Like the previous title "Summer Colors of Broken Things," the game incorporates a system where players can track the progression of Ryoka's relationships with various men in real time. This system allows the protagonist to become more aware of the escalating events, making each decision and its consequences feel more urgent.
Immersive Visual Novel Experience
Using RPG Maker MV, the game focuses heavily on detailed scenes and situational drama. The immersive, intense atmosphere and animation system make every event feel like a natural progression of a summer gone wrong, capturing the emotional turmoil experienced by the protagonist and Ryoka.
Gameplay:
Choice-Based Narrative
As you progress through the story, you will be presented with key choices that will influence Ryoka’s fate. Your decisions will determine how her relationships with various male characters evolve, and whether or not the protagonist will ever learn the full truth about what has happened behind his back.
Strategic Observation
Similar to its predecessor, this game uses a system that allows players to keep track of the evolving relationship between Ryoka and the other men. This system offers hints and clues about the ongoing betrayal events, giving the player an opportunity to intervene—or perhaps deepen the tragedy.
Character Exploration
Dive deep into the different characters that interact with Ryoka. From the sleazy middle-aged men to the shy, socially awkward schoolboys, each has their own distinct motivations and desires, adding complexity and variety to the story’s unfolding.
Game Tips:
Play the Prequel First
To fully understand the context and narrative weight of the events in "Scars of Summer After," it is recommended that players finish the prequel "Summer Colors of Broken Things" before starting this game. It sets the stage for the darker events that unfold here.
Monitor Settings
If you are playing on a high refresh rate monitor, please note that animations may appear unusually fast due to the nature of RPG Maker MV’s engine. The game developers have addressed this issue in version 1.03, but if the problem persists, adjusting your monitor’s refresh rate might improve your experience.
Save Often and Experiment
As this game involves complex and branching narrative paths, make sure to save frequently and experiment with different decisions to uncover all possible routes and endings. However, note that save data from the demo version cannot be transferred to the full game, so it's best to start fresh when playing the full release.
