The Freshman: A Comprehensive Walkthrough of Book 1 Choices
"The Freshman" is an interactive fiction romance game, the first book in "The Freshman" series developed by Pixelberry, the game was released on August 7, 2016. The game welcomes players to Hartfeld University, promising a journey of friendship, love, and self-discovery. This article serves as a comprehensive walkthrough, offering insights into the choices players encounter throughout Book 1.
The Genesis of "The Freshman" and Pixelberry
Pixelberry's origins trace back to the early 2000s when Oliver Miao, an Asian American Stanford graduate, founded Centerscore. Miao recognized the underserved market of high schoolers, especially girls, and in 2005, Centerscore released "Surviving High School," a subscription-based episodic story game. The team was acquired and transitioned between gaming giants before re-emerging as Pixelberry in 2013.
Pixelberry recognized the potential of story-driven games, especially after the success of "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" and "Episode." They assembled a team of writers, mostly women, with the goal of introducing interactive fiction to a broader audience. This strategy proved successful, with "The Freshman" reaching nearly 45 million plays by 2020, despite receiving little attention from mainstream gaming media.
Gameplay and Mechanics
"The Freshman" shares mechanical similarities with visual novels, featuring extensive dialogues punctuated by choices. Players can customize their character’s name and appearance and select outfits for important events. Choices can be aesthetic or influence the story through alternate sequences and invisible stats, shaping relationships and dialogue. Timed choices and memory checks occasionally break up the dialogue. Chapters typically end with cliffhangers, encouraging players to return for the next installment.
The game uses freemium mechanics. "Diamond choices" unlock story rewards, while "keys" unlock new chapters or allow players to replay previous ones. Players can earn diamonds and keys slowly through gameplay or purchase them.
Read also: "The Freshman" series: A detailed overview
Navigating the Choices: A Detailed Walkthrough
Below is a breakdown of some of the choices players encounter in "The Freshman," Book 1, along with their potential outcomes and implications.
Chapter 1
- Help me with my bag.
- Kiss my hand and make it better.
- Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness.
- I couldn't care less about your love life.
Chapter 2
- News flash… Chris is mine!
- Forget Chris!
- What about my clothes?
Chapter 3
- I am super pretty.
- You're super hot!
- I can tell we're going to get along.
Chapter 4
- Awesome!
- Horrible!
- Sexy!
Chapter 5
- I think a cute guy is into me!
- I'm happy to be here with you!
- SNOW CONE!
Chapter 6
- 'Accidentally' spill it on her!
- Take the high road.
- He's not my type.
- He's TOTALLY my type.
- If it's got a pulse, I'm interested.
Chapter 7
- Art: Appreciated!
- Where'd you learn to paint like that?
- Are you the girl in the painting?
- Now stop hitting on me!
Chapter 8
- It sounds like you know fashion!
- You don't look so bad yourself…
- Consider this match MADE!
- No way. I barely know them.
- For my sake!
- Because I'm just that nosy!
- I'm in!
- I'm out!
Chapter 9
- Tell us about your first kiss!
- What's your most embarrassing secret?
- What's the weirdest place you've ever hooked up?
- Have you ever been in love?
- Do you have a girlfriend?
- That's smart.
- That's idiotic.
- I'm open to love, but I'm not desperate.
- I fall in love way too easily.
- Love is just a chemical reaction.
Chapter 10
- I feel exactly the same way.
- You must think you're pretty smooth, huh?
- Let's go to my room.
- Hold me.
- I think it's time we call it a night.
- Don't you dare stop now.
- We should slow down.
Chapter 11
- Don't worry. I'll figure something out.
- This is so unfair!
- Enjoy the time I have left.
- Find a way to stay.
- I could use the pick me up.
- I'd better not.
- A kiss in front of the statue!
- My school ID!
- I'm a star athlete!
- I'm a scholar!
- I'm not special at all…
- I'm special.
- I'm desperate.
Chapter 12
- Professor Vasquez?
- A student?
- Single?
- Let's read that scene!
- Don't read it.
- Stroke Kaitlyn's cheek.
- Keep your hands to yourself.
- I can't wait to read more.
- I've read better.
- Want to join the 'reading'?
- I'm a fast learner!
- I'm willing to do anything!
- I'll actually stand up to you!
- No way!
- Smart is sexy.
- Try bleak.
- I'll never finish this task!
- Zero pages!
- Fifteen pages.
- Five pages.
- Twenty pages!
- Twelve pages.
- Two pages.
- A third of a page!
- Thirteen pages.
- Thirty pages.
- Because of our friends!
- Because I need an education!
- Because of you!
Chapter 13
- Chris and I are kind of a thing.
- He's just a friend!
- I'm in!
- This isn't a good time…
- He's a hottie!
- He's out of your league.
- You can do better.
- The funniest guy you'll ever meet.
- A really good friend.
- Kind of a jerk, to be honest.
- Have a girlfriend?
- Have a boyfriend?
- A talk sounds great.
- We should really get back to work.
- To be more than friends.
- Well, I'm not sure what I want.
- Kiss Chris.
- Hug Chris.
- You should be way more grateful!
- Never mind…
Chapter 14
- I'll tell you everything!
- Nothing happened.
- I… have feelings for him.
- He's just a friend.
- He means nothing to me.
- How's the team's chemistry?
- Is it hard to balance football and school?
- Do you get a lot of girls?
- Talk to Chris.
- Get to my next class.
- College is more than just football!
- Use practice to prove yourself!
- Don't I give you a rush?
- That wise.
- That into you.
- Take Chris' hand.
- Pat Chris on the back.
- Let me talk to Abbie…
- I can't help you.
- Comic books?
- Nerdy guys?
- Just… someone you know!
- Tyler!
- I promise to go out with Chris!
- I promise to ask out… someone.
- I promise to stay single!
- Take my shirt off!
- Keep my shirt on.
- Kings!
- Queens!
- Knights!
- Chris belongs with me!
- Chris deserves better than her.
- They'd better stay away from him!
Chapter 15
- If you ask Kaitlyn to get you in, you get in along with Kaitlyn and Abbie.
- If you ask Zack to get you in, you get in, but Zack doesn't.
- I've been thinking about you, too.
- Don't waste your time on me.
- It's a party. Be more fun!
- Play the game.
- Walk away.
- Score!
- Miss.
- Drop…
- I love your outfit!
- You look so pretty!
- There's a stain on your dress!
- Frontspin!
- Sidespin!
- Backspin!
- If the timer ends, you miss the shot.
- Aggressive.
- Manipulative.
- Nice!
- Kiss him!
- Hug him.
- Do nothing.
- Keep kissing Chris.
- Have a conversation.
- Don't stop now.
- We should slow down.
- Don't do this.
- I understand.
- Football players' relationship drama.
- The party scene.
- The game itself.
- If you choose to write about relationship drama or the party scene, Vasquez loves it.
- That sounds like fun!
- That sounds horrible.
- Going?
- Yeah, it's going.
- Terrible!
- I can't believe he's making me do this!
- Really? You think he likes me?
- You're imagining things.
- We're just friends.
- Did we do something wrong?
- Are you homesick?
- Is on!
- May have to wait…
- Skulls!
- Hearts!
- Flowers!
- Smarts!
- Loyalty!
- A smokin' hot bod!
- When you know, you know.
- You never know until you try.
- Maybe you should check on Tyler!
- I'm sure they'll be fine.
- I guess it is kind of exciting…
- Does no one have any sympathy for me?
- I can't face Becca without you!
- Don't worry about Becca. We can handle her.
- Taking over your new girlfriend's stupid sorority.
- I… I can't talk to you right now.
- It does seem kind of fun…
- I find that very hard to believe.
- Do some snooping in Becca's room!
- Just stay here…
- The armoire.
- The vanity.
- The trunk.
- Leave it be.
- Read it!
- I mean, she's so awful!
- (Privacy?
- Admiring your gorgeous bedroom. We're still determining whether it's up to our standards.
- Please let us join! We'll do anything!
- The library!
- The dorms!
- The cafe!
- Zack likes music!
- Yeah, I've totally heard of him.
- One kilometer from where we are now!
- Somewhere in the computer lab!
- On the internet!
- Come with us!
- See you back at the suite!
- I'll see if I can make it up to you sometime.
- Wait… what are YOU doing here?
- At the campus fashion design studio.
- At the mall.
- At some kind of abandoned warehouse.
- I'm so down.
- Thanks, but no thanks.
- Professor Vasquez.
- Chris.
- Is your refrigerator running?
- Why are you such a jerk?
- I want to order a pizza.
- What are you wearing right now?
- The football and swim teams are swapping uniforms. Thoughts?
- Will you be the school mascot?
- Hi!
- You're born from The Future!
- That you love him!
- I'm over it.
- I'm pissed, obviously.
- I kind of just feel bad for Becca.
- Rules are rules, right?
- But maybe just on the cheek?
- That wasn't bad at all…
- That was definitely a good dare.
- He's definitely hot…
- I just don't see him that way.
- Definitely something between us.
- Nothing between us.
- We're just coworkers.
- Nothing between us that's any of your damn business!
- Don't be silly, you look great!
- Yeahhh, you need that eyeshadow!
- You look gorgeous.
- I'm kind of starting to wish YOU were my date…
- Doesn't she look great, Tyler?
- Look, she's blushing!
- You look amazing!
- It's… definitely you!
- Don't worry about it, Abbie. Just stick with us.
- I don't know if Becca and Madison will let you in…
- I think I'm starting to like him too…
- He's all right I guess.
- You can stand closer if you want…
- Ready to get this over with?
- He's looking good.
- But I'm over him.
- Focus on being with James.
- Rub it in Chris's face!
- Kiss James.
- Just focus on dancing.
- But I'm sure Chris didn't mean it like that.
- I'll make this fast.
- I'd love to talk somewhere more… private.
- There's nothing to talk about, Chris.
- But I don't believe you.
- I guess we should go back inside, then.
- That's terrible!
- I guess that's fair.
- Kiss Chris.
- Take a step back.
- Tell Kaitlyn about my talk with Chris.
- Press Kaitlyn about how she's acting.
- Boyfriend material.
- A nice guy, but I'm not sure how into him I am…
- Let's see what we can find out!
- But let's just stay inside.
- Feel the same way.
- I just don't know if I'm ready to tell her…
- Need some time to figure this out.
- Don't feel the same way.
- I'm starting to see the appeal.
- I'm pretty pissed at Vasquez for making me put up with this.
- Then you can forget about me joining your stupid sorority.
- I quit.
- Sorry, Abbie…
- "Worth It" if only Kaitlyn got in.
- Is so hot!
- Definitely seems nice…
Chapter 16
Note: this choice includes premium or free outfits from earlier chapters.
- Perfect!
- Not my best…
- Forget it. I'm not going anywhere.
- Fine! You want me to go? I'm going.
- Family should stick together.
- It might make Vasquez less cranky.
- I won't have any fun if you're not there.
- Feel free to stop by.
- Chris.
- James.
- Someone else…
- I'm a little mad… and a little heartbroken.
- Why would I be?
- I'm calling him.
- Give me that phone! (💎17)
- (Operator?
- Maybe next time?
- And we'd all love it if you stopped by!
- And Zack won't shut up about you!
- I'd like that…
- Are we still roleplaying?
- Working up the confidence to actually ask him out.
- Getting back at Leila instead.
- I'm not the one who’s making it weird.
- I guess we should just steer clear of each other.
- Ask Tyler to dance while Leila's gone!
- Just checking in…
- Abbie's telling the truth.
- You only like Leila because she likes you.
- Now quit thanking me and go dance!
- Just make sure you take good care of him, okay?
- I feel the same way.
- Is there something you want to tell me?
- Kiss her.
- Pull away.
- I'm not, no.
- I don't know…
- Something like that…
- No, just as friends.
- I don't know.
- Thanks for coming with us. It means a lot.
- What the hell are you even doing here?
- You were honest.
- You were cruel.
- Hug Kailyn.
- Kiss Kaitlyn.
- Can I just say that this is going to be the best night ever?
- I need to get a blanket to hide behind.
- Could we maybe talk first, Kaitlyn? Alone?
- But we can have plenty of fun without Chris!
- It won't be the same without him.
- But I wouldn't mind staying up late with you…
- But I could stay up and talk for a little while.
- Junior gymnastics.
- The regional spelling bee.
- Changing the subject.
- Kissing you.
- Sleep…
- I'm actually really tired, after all.
- Don't you dare stop…
- Let's just kiss, okay?
- No, it wasn't.
- With a girl, yes.
- Actually… I'm glad it was with me.
- I did NOT expect that.
Chapter 17
Note: this choice includes outfits from earlier chapters.
- Just right!
- Not right there yet…
- Play along.
- Fumble.
- Stutter.
- My professor.
- My grandfather.
- My yoga instructor.
- That must be a lot of pressure on you.
- You are so screwed.
- If Vasquez says I have to do it…
- I would be honored to be James's fake fiancee.
- You wish we were engaged for real.
- Youuuu think I'm prettyyyy.
- My crazy mother lives in the attic.
- My father pays people off not to talk about my incestuous twin siblings.
- I killed a man when I was fifteen.
- A good friend.
- Very special to me.
- Higher.
- Lower.
- Through our professor.
- At a meet-and-greet.
- Uh…
- Look at your menu!
- Sip your wine!
- Hold James's hand!
- Shadler-Johnson Fellowship Program.
- Sherman-Jones Fellowship Program.
- Articulate.
- Well-dressed.
- Kind.
- Smart.
- Passionate.
- Hard-working.
- "Ms.
- I like you too.
- I don't know what to say…
- Vasquez won't be very happy with you helping me.
- That's really nice of you.
Chapter 18
Note: this choice includes outfits from earlier chapters.
- Just what I had in mind!
- Not what I was hoping for…
- Friends and coworkers.
- Maybe more than friends.
- Not up for discussion.
- Sad.
- Weird.
- Telling them the truth was the right thing to do.
- You shouldn't have told them.
- I'm not the best person to ask.
- Hold James's hand.
- Do nothing.
- You're not talking just because he wrote you into a story?
- I can see why you stopped talking to him. It must've been upsetting.
- Sure. I have nothing to fear.
- Not really.
- I would definitely quit.
- I guess I wouldn't quit.
- Kiss him.
- Hug him.
- Pull away.
- I sit in your lap?
- We take this to the backseat?
- Such a gentleman.
- Nuts. I can respect that. But I can't wait.
- I need time to think.
- I can't forgive you.
- Okay, let's hear it.
- No, you listen!
- I knew what I was getting into. But you used me.
- What's THAT supposed to mean?
- How much do you know, exactly?
- Having Chris back!
- Never seeing Becca again!
- Me! I’m the best!
- Of course!
- No thanks.
- Dark and Stormy.
- Tom Collins.
- Shirley Temple.
- I'm proud of you.
- Now we can PARTY!
- Jump on Kaitlyn's back!
- Hug Kaitlyn!
- Kiss Kaitlyn!
- Part of the advanced, late-night tour.
- Off limits.
- Love.
- Just… normal college stuff.
- You're making a mistake. Go talk to Abbie!
- Just go, I'll make sure Abbie's okay.
- I've been working to get them together all quarter! Took them long enough!
- But this isn’t over!
- Sometimes things just don’t work out.
Chapter 19
Note: this choice includes outfits from earlier chapters.
Read also: Do Colleges Care?
- Perfect!
- Almost there, but not quite…
- It's okay. It's in the past.
- You really hurt me.
- Kiss Kaitlyn!
- Hold Kaitlyn's hand.
- Excuse me? 'Guys like that'.
- Thank you for your concern, Leila. But I trust Chris.
- Maybe you will…
- I think we're better off as friends.
- Kiss Chris.
- Hug Chris.
- Show me what you have planned, then.
- Let's not waste any more time.
- I want you… now.
- I don't know if I'm ready for that… at least not right now.
- Kaitlyn IS my date.
- I don't have time to explain this to you.
- Let's go somewhere we can talk.
- All I can say is that I'm sorry.
- Kiss Kaitlyn!
- Hug Kaitlyn!
- I'll be there. But I don't think I can stay um that late…
- Then take me. I want you, too… but let's just kiss tonight.
- If I were you, I’d mind my own business.
- I’m pretty sure James will be just fine on his own.
- I know just the place.
- Let's just take things slow.
- To us.
- To making the most of college.
- To the future.
- I'm stubborn.
- For some reason, I care about you.
Character Specific Choices
Chris:
- Born in Maine
- Last name Powell
- Ultimate Fantasy, save a girl from a burning building.
- Song : Heart, Day, Love.
James:
- Grew up in New York
- Ultimate Fantasy, Victorian something
- Last name, Ashton
Romance Options and Player Preferences
The game presents players with three primary romance options: James, Kaitlyn, and Chris. Player opinions on these characters vary widely.
- Chris: Some players find Chris endearing, while others are annoyed by his indecisiveness and constant pursuit, even when rejected.
- James: Many players appreciate James's kindness, intelligence, and genuine interest in the main character. Some consider him the most mature and stable option.
- Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn is often seen as a close friend, though some players appreciate the opportunity for a romantic relationship with her.
Professor Vasquez
Professor Vasquez plays a significant role in "The Freshman." His acerbic relationship with the player character evolves as she learns about his terminal illness. Choices related to Vasquez include:
- Whether to encourage him to reconcile with his family.
- How to assist him with his novel, "The Freshman."
- How to react to his emotional vulnerability.
Read also: A Prequel's Party Problems
tags: #the #freshman #book #1 #walkthrough #choices
