Review of HELIORISE v0.0.1 – though I’d rather call it Introduction and Chapter 1
Graphics: 5/5
The developer is what I call an “HS2 virtuoso ”. His mastery of that program is excellent, and it shows in the graphical quality of the game. The light/lighting is excellent. Although the theme of the game is dark by nature, the contrast of light and shadows is very well done. What needs to be dimly lit due to the scene’s context is handled that way, but everything else has appropriate lighting. The daytime scenes are bright and luminous, the indoor scenes not so much (as they should be) but they have good lighting, the night scenes are low light and even some scenes with neon lights and nigthclub lighting are also well done. There is no excessive ambient occlusion (shadows), and post processing is abundant and adequate. HS2 virtuosos tend to get lost in their virtuosity, but this time I don't get the feeling that the graphics are overcooked.
Animations 4/5
Personalized and well done. In the sex scenes you can see how the penis goes in and out, something that doesn't always happen in other games.
Music and sound N/A
I almost always mute the game I play, and this time was no exception.
Gameplay 4/5
The developer has used graphic elements from a UI that can be found for free online. That doesn’t really matter—it’s well made and properly implemented, with no bugs, just like the rest of the game. However, there are quite a few writing errors. The game doesn’t have a main menu; instead, it immediately starts with a video of one of the characters. After a “click to start” prompt, the game begins, and only then you can access the in-game menu. It’s a visual novel, so choices matter—although it’s still too early to tell if the current ones truly have meaningful impact. Beyond that, there are the usual choices to earn points with the girls, along with four MC stats (structured, savage, rebel, wholesome) that reflect how you behave with the characters and influence different dialogue options. You may miss certain scenes depending on your choices. The game’s humor is on par with the MC’s sense of humor: nonexistent.
Plot 4/5
Half vampires, half young people living their college lives. The MC appears to be (or was) a powerful vampire who doesn’t remember who he used to be, whose powers are dormant, and who seemingly got tired of being a vampire and now wants to live a normal human life. His former partner—or mistress—another vampire, of course, is trying to make him return to who he once was. Meanwhile, the MC continues his mortal life. Suddenly, he finds out he has a sister and goes to live with her adoptive family. In his new city, several important subplots unfold: power struggles among humans—including mobsters, politicians, and businessmen—on one side; vampires on the other; and the typical family life, with the MC caught up in all of it one way or another, sometimes without even realizing it. The plot overall is original and not something you see too often—setting aside the college and family life aspects, which are common in visual novels. There’s also a police and vampire hunter subplot.
Characters 3/5
Overall, they’re fine. The MC is generally decent, though he does have the occasional creepy moment. Sometimes, though, it’s not really his fault—it’s his friend’s. The typical lifelong buddy, as expendable as usual, who tends to show up in these types of games and, as is often the case, doesn’t disappoint in terms of being a walking cliché. You’re left wondering if he’s an idiot because he only eats what he poops, because he’s spent his life getting hit in the head, or because he was simply born with clear signs of mental retardation—or maybe all of the above and then some. Completely disposable like most of these characters, he adds nothing to the plot other than embarrassing himself—and, by extension, the MC. The humor he supposedly brings is on par with his quality. In real life, no one would want a friend like that, but in visual novels, it seems to be a staple to have a dumb friend. Your supposed sister doesn’t really act like someone you haven’t seen in your 19 years of life. The rest of the cast serves their role. With the exception of a few characters whose only purpose seems to be playing unfunny clowns—I have no idea why they’re even in the game.
Final thoughts
The game is high quality overall. Maybe the theme—vampires, blood, death, etc.—won’t appeal to everyone, and tags like female domination, graphic violence, and horror might also turn some people away. Personally, the most horrifying thing in the game for me is the humor. But overall, it’s pretty good, and if the player isn’t put off by those themes, it’s definitely worth playing.
