Wayhaven Chronicles: Book Three

Wow. Where do I even start? Big thumbs-down. It's just so....boring. Like another reviewer, I also regret my decision to purchase the 3-book bundle. I powered through the 3 books because of the praise it gets and just to see what all the hype is about. What a disappointment. I do enjoy romance in my games, but I dislike the romance dynamic in Wayhaven. I constantly felt that the plot and my MC's behavior were being sacrificed to serve tropes. My MC's personality also had no effect on how affection was expressed to the chosen RO. This is not a Choose Your Own Adventure game when it's already been chosen for you.

My MC didn't feel like mine. If you want to play a stoic, cold, calm, and/or competent MC, you're out of luck. Your MC will still react with shock and warmth despite having high Stoic, high Mind, high Intimidating, and despite always picking the most stoic option available. It seems the MC still gets the shocked Pikachu face upon reveals when things are so glaringly obvious it's painful. Being a detective, albeit an inexperienced one, should still give the MC some baseline level of intelligence and perceptiveness. It just seems the MC has a pre-written personality and characterization that's forced upon you. And it's not a pleasant one. It's worked into the narrative and every time it happened, which was frequently, I just had to ignore the out-of-character moments and forget that they ever happened to continue on with the story. I also dislike how much feelings, breathless melodramatic inner thoughts, and emotional vulnerability there are interwoven into the narrative, and how much of an annoying lovestruck simp push-over the MC is. I could of course pick the most cold and indifferent options when given the choice, but often times, all the options are unappealing and out-of-character for the MC I wanted to play, and I just had to pick the least offensive one.

My MC also had high Science and high Deduction, but this is like one of those stories where you're TOLD the MC is knowledgeable and competent rather than being SHOWN that they are. Choosing the Science & Technology option to solve problems often means just using their phone. For example, using their phone to download some blueprints, and M and N were impressed. Really? They've lived in the modern world for a while now and are two of the best from the Agency, and yet things that children could do still impress or surprise them. I also got really annoyed at how weak and incompetent Unit Bravo and the Agency started acting, especially when the Trappers started showing up. I get that they have specialized equipment, and even have supernaturals working for them. But really? Should they be giving you this much trouble? Really? The books rely too much on mandated incompetence that feel totally out of chracter in order to move the plot along. It seems with each book, it gets progressively worse. And the more the world gets expanded upon and the more the story progresses, the more the cracks show. Even with my brain turned off in an attempt to just enjoy the game, I just couldn't get past it.

There are much better IFs out there that you could play that don't force a pre-written MC upon you or railroad you into certain responses, where you actually get to CHOOSE your own adventure. One example of this is Tin Star. The narrative respects the character you've built. Another good one is Choice of Robots. A more recent one is Leas: City of the Sun.

The last of the games of the Bundle and my final review until the release of book four LOCK IN IMA GLAZE A AS USUAL MOST PERFECT WIFE HOW YOU HURT ME SO AVA. But first lets get the actual review out of the way, Book 3 is okay. It feels like a return to how book one was in alot of aspects. I felt like book two and book one where so diffrent and i was exspecting more difference when it came to book 3 however it seems like a return to how book one was which. In my eyes was a masterpiece i enjoyed book one alot more than book 2 however thats not saying book two was bad it was just good in a diffrent way than books 3 and one. Theres alot of negative reviews and i understand completely. If i was actually waiting for these games and not playing them back to back for the first time i think i would most likely be abit disapoined with book 3. (Note Anything with Ava is the best and you cant change my mind). It did end up feeling more like a set up for future events more than anything. Which i dont mind but if your waiting along time i can see how you would be disapointed with this book. Overall the game is okay and its setting up future things as well as exspaninding on relationships and characters that we all love. So i definetly recommend the game if only four you to play it before book 4. SPOLIERS HOLY ♥♥♥♥ WE ACTUALLY KISSED HER. I was actually screaming this is great everything is perfect ill live off this high for like two weeks minimum. If you find an A in RL Marriage Easy not elabration needed Crashinging out Im so happy even with the things that happened after we dont talk about it. Lock in Mcs its not over dont give up hope. On another note the picking a best friend was interesting i wonder if thatll matter in the future. This game series if nothing else has fundamentally changed me i definetly may have a type that ive figured out i didnt know i had before playing this series. I am curious if our decisions will ever come back to help or haunt us. Because in my playthrough muphey ♥♥♥♥♥♥ me up and actually got away and that was actually huge with how i continued the game. As for the second game the main antagainst. Falk WAS MY ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ BOY HOLY BASED MAN Like i hear you man just wanna do your ♥♥♥♥ and be away from people i get you. we had our differences on stuff but we worked it out. The third villan was Meh. Also i hope sin gets more development in general going forward. Anyway This review is so long but i had so much to say after finishing these games and i love them so much. Until Book 4 everyone!

Another absolute banger. 10/10

Still great, I really liked Book Three like its predecessors. Great writing and Wayhaven is my home now. :D
I can't wait for Book Four!

Mishka Jenkins continues the arc of our protagonist and their vampire compatriots. The various relationship pathways are well developed and unique to each others. Worthy of each replay as with all of these stories. The interactions are highly variable depending on player choices and the pathway your MC forges for themselves.
The "love story" aspect delivers with each LI providing very distinct character traits to the interactions. Relationships with side characters are also similarly influenced and can change dialogue and interactions greatly. This shows the time and care that Ms Jenkins has put in ensuring each play-through can offer a largely unique experience.
You do not need to have played the first 2 installments to get the rich full story experience. However as a fan of the series I can recommend all 3 books.

** side note the 4th installment demo is available at https://cogdemos.ink/