When I first opened this game, I was immediately impressed. I have yet to see a visual novel with as many small animations! Sarcasm aside, this is a very solid game. The concept is great, the worldbuilding is fantastic, the art is well-drawn, and the plot gets you invested. The main drawbacks to it are the length, the pacing, and the h-scene (yes, singular scene), but it's overall really well-made.
Upon starting the game, the player is immediately immersed in the universe. The combination of visuals, audio, and expositional text are a shining example of how visual novels can draw someone in more than most other mediums. The dark atmosphere is immediately apparent from the moment the game is booted up, and persists throughout. The worldbuilding is done in a way that doesn't feel forced, and allows the player to learn through observation.
The art in this game stands far above that of any cash-grab against which this game is competing. The style is rather unique, seemingly western in origin, and everything fits into the world. A small but fantastic touch is that everything in this is animated. Environments move, flames flicker, and characters blink. These tiny details really help to immerse the player.
The plot of this game is incredibly engaging. As the story progresses, the player becomes heavily invested. The author(s) did a great job of fleshing out the characters, turning them from 2-D drawings into 3-D people with lives of their own.
Where this game is lacking is in the h-scene. The scene can be skipped if the player doesn't make the right choice, and ultimately it feels a bit shoehorned in. This game has the potential to explore a wide variety of sexual situations, but in the end it only includes one which could be found in any genre, not fitting the atmosphere.
I have a couple more gripes with this game. First is the length. This visual novel is short, and can easily be completed in one playthrough. The shortness of the game feeds into the second issue: the pacing. It felt like this game was mostly exposition and rising action, with the climax coming prematurely and honestly doesn't last very long, leaving the player feeling rather unsatisfied. I felt as if it was all over the place, shifting from smooth sailing to suddenly falling into a nosedive.
This visual novel is good. It has a great story, a multitude of immersive aspects, and decent art. I feel like it would be better as just a "mature" visual novel though, as the "adult" aspects feel a bit out of place and pushed in where they didn't need to be. If you are looking for a strong storyline and narrative, and getting off is a lesser priority, then this game is for you.
Upon starting the game, the player is immediately immersed in the universe. The combination of visuals, audio, and expositional text are a shining example of how visual novels can draw someone in more than most other mediums. The dark atmosphere is immediately apparent from the moment the game is booted up, and persists throughout. The worldbuilding is done in a way that doesn't feel forced, and allows the player to learn through observation.
The art in this game stands far above that of any cash-grab against which this game is competing. The style is rather unique, seemingly western in origin, and everything fits into the world. A small but fantastic touch is that everything in this is animated. Environments move, flames flicker, and characters blink. These tiny details really help to immerse the player.
The plot of this game is incredibly engaging. As the story progresses, the player becomes heavily invested. The author(s) did a great job of fleshing out the characters, turning them from 2-D drawings into 3-D people with lives of their own.
Where this game is lacking is in the h-scene. The scene can be skipped if the player doesn't make the right choice, and ultimately it feels a bit shoehorned in. This game has the potential to explore a wide variety of sexual situations, but in the end it only includes one which could be found in any genre, not fitting the atmosphere.
I have a couple more gripes with this game. First is the length. This visual novel is short, and can easily be completed in one playthrough. The shortness of the game feeds into the second issue: the pacing. It felt like this game was mostly exposition and rising action, with the climax coming prematurely and honestly doesn't last very long, leaving the player feeling rather unsatisfied. I felt as if it was all over the place, shifting from smooth sailing to suddenly falling into a nosedive.
This visual novel is good. It has a great story, a multitude of immersive aspects, and decent art. I feel like it would be better as just a "mature" visual novel though, as the "adult" aspects feel a bit out of place and pushed in where they didn't need to be. If you are looking for a strong storyline and narrative, and getting off is a lesser priority, then this game is for you.
