ok Update review:
Cafe:
Mixed-to-negative feelings, it’s a bit.... it doesn’t feel like a game: I built 2 in a game while having a high promotion level, and suddenly I barreled from having 150k fans to 500k in a matter of weeks, and had to self-impose a rule of not leveling up promotion too high and only keeping one cafe. Then in another game I put one cafe and had my unpopular, newest idols work it to try and boost their fans while they weren’t in singles: in a matter of weeks at promotion level +750 fans, I realized ALL my girls were working the cafe because the cafe had enabled my newest hires to catch up with girls who had been in singles for 2 years, and they all had the same amount of fans now.
I think the cafe fits into the game as a source of income: the fandom gain feels off. While i like the idea of another type of passive fandom growth (ie you can gain fans without having to release a single, like with media and drama shows), the fact it gains SO MUCH and is an overpowered, superior version of the regular promotion tool is what makes it too much (And personally I don’t think it’s a fun mechanic, it’s very clicker game-esque where the cafe is essentially clicking the promotion button for you and there’s really no sort of gameplay involved with it.).
Difficulty:
I’ve played through unfair mode 3 times, and honestly it was no problem using the same “start as a modeling agency” strat. Other than rent adjustments and loans, I don’t see what’s changed between regular mode and this one, to be honest (And like a few other mechanics, I do really think this mechanic should be explained in detail rather than just “various balance changes”.)
Events and Art
The new events are fun and break up monotony, and the new art is great. I have more to say about this (Partly there should just be more in general), but I think I might make one big IM review in a bit.... Anyways really enjoyed them, good job.