Mission: It’s Complicated review: horny heroes save the world
While there might be some LGBTQ+ superheroes out there, Marvel, D.C. and the like aren’t exactly the pinnacle of representation. So what if you could control a whole team of sexy super heroes, pair them up in any way, and make them bang?
That is the premise of Mission: It’s Complicated, a dating sim visual novel. It was fittingly released on Valentine’s Day last month and, best of all, is available completely free.
As the leader of the hero group, you’re a mild mannered PhD candidate tasked with saving the world from an Earth-eating creature using a special stone and…basically you need to make the heroes fall in love. Only the power of love can save the day, of course.
The group consists of five heroes. There’s Riptide, a cocky dude with water powers and shark features; Nightgaunt, a mysterious assassin who disappears into the shadows; Wifi who can literally talk to electronics; Zirconia, a muscley woman made of diamonds; and Zael, an alien exiled from their home world and baffled by humanity’s obsession with gender binary.
There’s a set time before the world ends and each night you’re given missions to undertake in which your heroes build relationships. Eventually they’ll be able to date one another, increasing their bond.
It’s in the dating that the game really shines. The missions themselves are full of amusing writing that spoofs both heroes and villains. But in the dates we get to know these comic characters in more depth. It’s cute watching them warm to one another; in some cases it’s even educational.
As a whole, the game takes a fluid stance on sexuality, but most intriguing is Zael. Their people have three sexes and five genders, but they’ve been exiled for their interest in other species which their family claim is just a phase. Cue conversations around genderqueer and pansexuality that are genuinely enlightening.
In other relationships the game touches on mental health. Riptide isn’t so cocky after all and the moody Nightgaunt gives helpful advice on dealing with depression – the brooding hero with a heart.
Of course, these conversations might not even happen. All five heroes can date each other, so there’s plenty of replayability to experiment with different combinations. It’s simple stuff but well written with a fun comic book aesthetic. And for free? Download it now.
Get Mission: It’s Complicated on Steam or itch.io.
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