RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project

A player-focused look at RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project, its story, style and adult visual novel gameplay

RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project is an adult visual novel that blends late-80s USSR aesthetics, pin-up style art and light sci‑fi elements into a quirky story about a young graduate starting work at a garment factory. From the moment I booted it up, the mix of retro fashion, clunky computers and cheeky humor hooked me far more than I expected. In this article, I’ll walk you through the setting, characters, story structure, adult content and overall gameplay experience, sharing what it’s really like to play the Ithaca Project from a personal, hands-on perspective.

What Is RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project?

So, you’ve seen the name RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project floating around and you’re wondering what on earth it actually is. Is it a history lesson? A quirky art project? A… underwear simulator? 😅 Let me pull up a chair, pour you a virtual glass of kvass, and break it down. I recently dove into this game myself, and it’s one of the more uniquely charming experiences I’ve had in a while.

At its heart, the RSSU adult visual novel is exactly what it says on the tin: a story-driven game set against the backdrop of the late Soviet Union, with a dash of humor, a pinch of sci-fi strangeness, and a healthy serving of adult encounters. But to call it just an “adult game” sells it short. It’s a time capsule, a workplace comedy, and a light investigation all rolled into one. Think less about intense mechanics and more about settling in for a good, quirky story where your choices nudge the narrative.

If you’re curious about what is RSSU Retro Style Soviet Undies, this first case is your perfect entry point. Let’s get into the specifics of the Ithaca Project game overview.

Story Premise: A New Job in Late-80s USSR

You play as Artem, a guy who’s just graduated and landed his first real job. The year is 1988, the place is Maryino, a district in the Moscow region. The air is thick with that specific late-Soviet feeling—the sense of everyday routine peppered with the bizarre optimism of perestroika. Your new office? A seemingly bog-standard garment factory that produces, you guessed it, underwear. 🩲

I remember starting my playthrough thinking I was in for a dry, bureaucratic simulator. Artem walks in on his first day, all nervous energy, ready to tackle the thrilling world of textile production quotas. The Maryino Moscow USSR story immediately nails the aesthetic: the slightly drab but functional office, the period-appropriate decor, and a cast of colleagues who feel plucked right out of that era. It’s all very normal.

But here’s the hook—and it’s a brilliant one. This “Retro Style Soviet Undies” factory isn’t just about stitching fabric. It’s a front. A weird, wonderful, and slightly off-kilter front for something else. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that your mundane tasks of filing paperwork and running errands quickly become gateways to investigating strange phenomena. One minute you’re discussing production lines with your stern but oddly captivating supervisor; the next, you’re piecing together clues about unexplained events that feel ripped from a dusty Soviet sci-fi paperback.

This blend is the game’s secret sauce. The retro Soviet setting visual novel doesn’t just use the USSR as a wallpaper. It lives in it. You feel the weight of social dynamics, the specific humor, and the mundane reality of life, which makes the flirty encounters with the women you meet—from the no-nonsense boss to the more free-spirited colleagues—feel grounded and surprisingly engaging. The “adult” elements aren’t thrown in randomly; they weave into the story of a young man navigating his first job, new friendships, and the weird secrets lurking in the filing cabinets.

My tip: Don’t rush. Soak in the atmosphere. The game’s strength is how it builds this very specific world before turning it on its head.

At a glance, here’s what you’re signing up for:
* Genre: Adult visual novel with light investigative elements.
* Setting: Late-1980s USSR, in and around a Maryino garment factory.
* Your Role: Artem, the new guy, part office worker, part accidental investigator.
* Tone: A quirky mix of everyday Soviet realism, workplace comedy, light sci-fi, and romantic encounters.

Visual Novel Structure and Core Gameplay Loop

If you’re new to the genre, let me demystify the RSSU adult visual novel structure. This isn’t a game of reflexes or complex puzzles. RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project is a narrative experience. You’ll spend most of your time reading dialogue, observing beautifully drawn character sprites and scenes, and making choices that influence the story.

The core gameplay loop is satisfyingly straightforward. You progress through “days” or segments, advancing the plot by:
1. Reading through story segments and conversations. The writing has a distinct, charmingly imperfect personality. The English localization isn’t slick corporate translation—it’s got quirks and turns of phrase that, honestly, add to the charm and the sense of place. The character banter is often genuinely funny. 🤣
2. Making key dialogue choices. These aren’t always earth-shattering, but they shape how characters perceive Artem and can open up (or close off) certain story paths and intimate scenes.
3. Passing occasional skill checks. Artem has stats like Knowledge and Logic. Sometimes, during conversations or when examining clues, you’ll need to pass a check based on these to unlock special dialogue options or gain deeper insight into the factory’s mysteries. It makes you feel like you’re genuinely solving things, not just clicking through.
4. Unlocking new scenes and CGs. As you build relationships and investigate, you’ll unlock special illustrated scenes that reward your progression.

I lost track of time more than once because of this loop. I’d tell myself, “Just one more day at the factory,” and suddenly an hour had vanished because I got so absorbed in a conversation with the head of the technical department, trying to figure out if she was giving me a hard time or flirting with me (often, it was both). Or I’d be meticulously combining clues from my notes, feeling like a proper detective despite my character’s primary job being to file reports on cotton blend ratios.

The Ithaca Project game overview wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the visual style. The art embraces a softcore, pin-up inspired aesthetic that fits the ‘retro’ vibe perfectly. It’s playful and stylish, not overly graphic, focusing on suggestion and character appeal. This, combined with the text-heavy, choice-driven gameplay, makes for a relaxing yet engaging experience. You’re an active participant in a story, not just a passive viewer.

How the Ithaca Project Fits Into the RSSU Series

This is where the bigger picture comes in. RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies isn’t just a one-off title. It’s conceived as a series, an adult Soviet visual novel series where each major release is a new “Case.” Think of it like episodes of a TV show set in the same universe.

Case#1 Ithaca Project is the pilot episode. Its job is to introduce you to this world, its tone, and its core cast of characters. It establishes the “formula”: take a mundane slice of Soviet life, inject a dose of strange, sci-fi-adjacent mystery, and mix it with character-driven stories and adult relationships. The factory in Maryino is just one location in what could be a much broader USSR.

As the first major installment, it sets the baseline for what you can expect from future RSSU stories. The blend of comedy, light erotica, and quirky investigation that you experience here is the series’ signature. Future cases might follow Artem on new assignments, or perhaps even introduce new protagonists in different Soviet cities and workplaces, but the foundational feel—that unique retro Soviet setting visual novel charm—will likely remain.

So, if you’re wondering where to start with what is RSSU Retro Style Soviet Undies, the answer is simple: start right here. The Ithaca Project is designed as the perfect onboarding point. It doesn’t assume you know anything about visual novels or Soviet history. It just invites you into its oddly compelling world and lets the story do the work. You finish this case feeling like you’ve completed a satisfying story arc, but also with a curiosity about what other strange secrets the late USSR might be hiding in its other, seemingly ordinary, institutions.

Quick FAQ Before You Go

Q: Do I need to know anything about the USSR or Russian culture to enjoy it?
A: Not at all! While knowledge of the era might add an extra layer of appreciation for the jokes and setting, the game explains everything you need within its own story. The universal themes of starting a new job, meeting new people, and uncovering mysteries are front and center.

Q: How much of a “reading game” is it really?
A: It’s a text-heavy visual novel, so reading is the primary activity. If you don’t enjoy reading dialogue and narrative descriptions, it might not be for you. But if you like getting lost in a good story and making choices that shape it, you’ll feel right at home. Think of it like an interactive book with beautiful illustrations and a great soundtrack.

After spending time with RSSU – Retro Style Soviet Undies – Case#1 Ithaca Project, I walked away surprised by how much the late-80s Soviet flavor and quirky humor stuck with me. The game leans heavily into its visual novel roots, asking you to slow down, read carefully and enjoy the mix of workplace drama, light sci‑fi intrigue and cheeky adult moments. If you like narrative-driven experiences and you’re curious about a playful twist on everyday life in the USSR, Ithaca Project is an easy recommendation. Give it a shot when you’re in the mood for a slower, story-first adventure with a distinctly retro attitude.