Banu in the West

Midplayz
Jan 5
3 min read

Temptations Pro Max

Not gonna lie, this VN is the type that does way more than just throw nude characters and sex scenes and call it a day. You play as Banu, a woman who has a really complicated past and an even more complicated set of feelings, as she spends about a month in the “West” while her husband is very ill back home. This game immediately makes it clear that it completely revolves around the concepts of temptation, identity and choices that can really spiral out of control. It’s less mindless fantasy and more of a slow-burn moral chaos, obviously with some “sexy” visuals to accompany you along the way.

About This Game

Storyline

The story follows Banu while she’s dropped into a completely different culture, which is very far from the usual traditions and expectations she had been living with all her life. She just wants to be better, and she wants to stay loyal. But the world around her constantly tempts her towards choices she shouldn’t make.

That’s all I can say without giving too many spoilers. The overall story isn’t anything unique; it’s decent enough to do its job. There are some moments that hit us harder than others, especially when the cultural conflict & guilt collide, but this is not the main reason that you’ll remember the game for. It feels more like a framework that justifies all the situations you are in & choices you make rather than a deep and emotional narrative that actually sticks with you for a while.

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay is nothing different or special. It follows the classic Ren’Py VN style that most similar games follow. You read the dialogues, you make choices and finally, you deal with all the consequences. Every decision actually has an impact on the story, which is like a huge plus. You can end up in situations that are wildly unexpected based on the choices you make as Banu. Loyal, reckless, curious or completely off the rails…It’s all somewhat possible!

Different routes & multiple endings give this game actual replay value. It allows you to experiment with different choices, and this is especially where the majority of the fun is experienced. It’s pretty easy to get pulled into the “what if I picked that instead?” loop, which is actually a really good sign for a game that falls in this genre.

Visuals & Audio

So, in my opinion, this is actually where the game shines. All the renders are genuinely impressive. The character models look natural and believable, which is kinda refreshing to see in a genre that mostly goes way overboard with the body proportions. Banu herself looks attractive, and the meticulous attention to detail in the animations makes all the scenes feel alive and intriguing to witness. The animated scenes are well done, although I found myself wishing that the game had more scenes.

Now onto the audio...which is a mixed bag. There’s no full voice acting, but there are sound effects in the sex scenes like moaning, grunting and those random ambient noises. It works well sometimes, but at other times the looping sounds become really noticeable and a bit too annoying.

Pros-

Visually appealing character models which actually have realistic proportions for once
Strong atmosphere & mood thanks to the impressive visuals and decent sfx
Smooth and highly polished animated scenes
The choices do carry some weight

Cons-

The sound effects loops get pretty annoying at times
The story is decent but not really memorable
Wish there were more animated scenes

Conclusion

This is a solid VN, and it is well aware of its own strengths. It may not have the best and most memorable story, but it does make up for it with pretty stunning visuals, decent choices and a main character who feels human rather than a weirdo. Do I recommend this game? Absolutely! Since it’s still not out yet, depending on the game’s price, it definitely deserves a shot!

Rating: 8/10

Sinning is really tempting.