The idea of partial POV is an interesting one, but in HC3 it sounds like the implementation is flawed. If a similar mechanic is to be used in HC4 then I think it needs to be taken one step further and for it to be pure MC POV only. Three things need to happen.
I know that'll require N_Taii to build multiple versions of a lot of the scenes and therefore slow development down, but it'd be a better quality product and it would make the MC POV worth experiencing. It would give us a reason to play the game twice because playing the game only seeing what the MC sees first would give players more of a mystery to figure out and that would encourage a second play through to see if we're right about what exactly is going on.
- First, the hint board/orbs shouldn't be included, they're intended for the people who are going to see the free roams which should not be the case for MC's POV.
- Second, the free roams need to be shadowed out, no more seeing a zoomed in shot through a window, or seeing the characters fucking behind a building the MC can't actually see behind, no talking to people with a heart over their head to see scenes. The best you get get is muffled moaning and groaning because realistically that's all your character should be hearing.
- Finally, no scenes that are not important to the narrative should be shown if the MC isn't present. Using the update where Rose and the Duke first have sex as the example, we should have no idea what happened. We should know ahead of time that the Duke and Rose are doing something with the amulets to power up the peacekeeper towers and that's all, with the moaning and groaning free roam scenes and Rose's guilty behaviour in our presence as the only clues. We should be able to infer what happened but we should not be told explicitly.
I know that'll require N_Taii to build multiple versions of a lot of the scenes and therefore slow development down, but it'd be a better quality product and it would make the MC POV worth experiencing. It would give us a reason to play the game twice because playing the game only seeing what the MC sees first would give players more of a mystery to figure out and that would encourage a second play through to see if we're right about what exactly is going on.