This review contains spoilers
Rance Quest, despite being perhaps the most straightforward RPG in the Rance series, is a bit of an oddball, in that it doesn't really have one main plot tying everything together like the rest of the games in the series do. Sure, it does have an overarching story with major antagonists and two different endings, but it mostly takes a backseat as the player is treated to a look into Rance's daily life. (And also how he copes without Sill, his slave/morality pet by his side.)
The story reads like a slice-of-life manga, and I mean that in an endearing way. Some nice, lighthearted antics may be just what a player needs after the back-to-back gut punches that were Rance VI and Sengoku Rance. Quest does have some dark moments of its own, but overall it's not nearly as much to deal with as the previous two games.
This is perhaps the most we see of Rance not just as an adventurer, but as a person. We see him running errands. We see him hanging out and even going on dates with the various woman he's wooed over the past seven games. We see him in his off-time. And also, with the birth of his second child, we see more of him being a dad.
In terms of overall story progression, it isn't a huge step other than the introduction of some important recurring characters, but it is a charming and much appreciated analysis of Rance's psyche... and also a last hurrah before Rance IX and X, the last two games in the series, in which the sexy stuff gets put on the back burner to properly conclude the saga. Quest knew this would happen, and so Quest goes all out with said sexy stuff.
In this game, Rance is cursed to be unable to have sex with most women, and while to him it's a huge mental burden, to the player it's a treat, because we get to see him come up with really creative ways to get around the restrictions of the curse, leading to a much greater variety in the H-scenes than any previous game in the series. If there is any Rance game to play for the porn, it may very well be Quest.
The gameplay however, while serviceable, is a bit bland, especially coming off of Sengoku Rance, a strategy game that rivals even non-H games in terms of depth. It isn't too difficult to break the game with Cheat Engine if you just want to read the story, though.
Bottom line: Rance Quest is a bit of a breather episode in the Rance series, but man is it a good read.
The story reads like a slice-of-life manga, and I mean that in an endearing way. Some nice, lighthearted antics may be just what a player needs after the back-to-back gut punches that were Rance VI and Sengoku Rance. Quest does have some dark moments of its own, but overall it's not nearly as much to deal with as the previous two games.
This is perhaps the most we see of Rance not just as an adventurer, but as a person. We see him running errands. We see him hanging out and even going on dates with the various woman he's wooed over the past seven games. We see him in his off-time. And also, with the birth of his second child, we see more of him being a dad.
In terms of overall story progression, it isn't a huge step other than the introduction of some important recurring characters, but it is a charming and much appreciated analysis of Rance's psyche... and also a last hurrah before Rance IX and X, the last two games in the series, in which the sexy stuff gets put on the back burner to properly conclude the saga. Quest knew this would happen, and so Quest goes all out with said sexy stuff.
In this game, Rance is cursed to be unable to have sex with most women, and while to him it's a huge mental burden, to the player it's a treat, because we get to see him come up with really creative ways to get around the restrictions of the curse, leading to a much greater variety in the H-scenes than any previous game in the series. If there is any Rance game to play for the porn, it may very well be Quest.
The gameplay however, while serviceable, is a bit bland, especially coming off of Sengoku Rance, a strategy game that rivals even non-H games in terms of depth. It isn't too difficult to break the game with Cheat Engine if you just want to read the story, though.
Bottom line: Rance Quest is a bit of a breather episode in the Rance series, but man is it a good read.