Review: College Romance Rise Of The Little Brother
April 2nd, 2009
Rise of the Little Brother is a sequel that is loosely based on the earlier game “College Romance”.
This game blends one of those choose-your-own-adventure type books with a little bit of material from a dating sim game, to present a submission that is nearly entirely story-driven. The graphics are professional, and the game builds on that by showcasing the author’s writing skill with multiple story-arcs, and portrayal of various characters’ lives and personality traits.
For a game where a player reads, and occasionally clicks an item from a multiple-choice response menu, it is a surprisingly engrossing experience. The author paints a frighteningly familiar picture of a college student deciding what to do with his life, and influenced by the people with whom he wants to spend his life.
Right alongside our hero, there are four women, each a sharp contrast from one another, all with differently engaging life stories, and personalities and desires that stem logically from their backgrounds. No small feat given that two of them are twins! The multiple choice selections affect which women the protagonist encounters, and what happens, getting the player invested in each story. Rise of the Litter Brother has no “wrong” ending, but for each player, a different ending might seem better than the others; that’s all a matter of taste.
Fortunately this game runs on the Mac, Windows, and Linux, so you can recommend it to your friends regardless of what they run. It’s definitely worth spending time with this jewel of a game, and getting to know the women of Alta, Texas.
