KILL la KILL -IF
I don’t really enjoy fighting games but this is one I have really stuck with. It sticks very true to the style and animation of the anime, being just as bombastic. One thing you must keep in mind with this game is that it IS kusoge, so don’t go in expecting Tekken or Street fighter tier quality. But, for a kusoge, it has really impressed me. Each voice actor for every character going, Japanese and English dubs, have voiced hundreds of unique voice lines each for this game which really impressed me. It also features a decent soundtrack, with each character getting a few tracks each. The models look good and the game is very well animated during matches.
– Real player with 117.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Alternate History Singleplayer Games.
EDIT: Review was edited
The game itself is fan-freakin-tastic. It’s probably one of the most fun fighting games I’ve played in a quite a while and is miles better than My Hero One’s Justice, and eons above shovel ware crap like Jump Force. So why is the review marked “not recommended?” TLDR, it’s the port.
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VISUALS:
The visuals are incredibly damn good and faithful to the original show, recreating scenes, moves, and ultimates straight from the source. Just watch a video showcasing all of the ultimates in the game, because that will show you just how gorgeous it looks. My only problem with the visuals is the odd blur and pixelation the game has, it’s especially noticable when comparing gameplay to the UI, but it’s definitely nowhere near a game killer and doesn’t impede gameplay in any way; either way, I think this game looks grand. Not DBFZ level grand, but it gets close.
– Real player with 98.1 hrs in game
Genius! NAZI-GIRL GoePPels-Chan ep1
Amazing game, makes me laugh every time I open it up. There is one problem, and it is that the game is only like 20-40 minutes of gameplay, on all of the eps for all options. Still a good game though. I would expect it to be at least $2 each
– Real player with 2.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Alternate History Historical Games.
A short but sweet visual novel. Has a surprising amount of historical accuracy for a moe-styled retelling of the Nazis' propaganda efforts. I’d recommend not posting anything about it on YouTube if you value your channel (I’ve learned this the hard way).
You can reach an ending in about an hour if you don’t rush it and listen to the dialog.
Translations are very well done and everything is perfectly understandable.
One playthrough has me wanting to buy the sequels, if you’re interested then pick it up!
– Real player with 1.7 hrs in game
War of the Human Tanks
Battleships and chess with lolis.
Fantastic fun, interesting story with many twists and several endings, engaging gameplay that demands strategic thinking and an incredible soundtrack throughout.
The game’s story is told through visual novel format, which sets the state of affairs and the stage for the battle to follow. Battles are fought in real-time, but with a sort of turn-based system that runs on ticks, for example after giving a unit orders to move you must then wait for it to radio in asking for new orders before it can be moved again. Battlefields are presented as a grid of octagons, and before the round commences you must first place your units as in Battleships. Each unit has it’s own special properties and characteristics similar to chess, for example some may move 2 spaces at a time whereas others may only move 1, or one unit might only be able to attack horizontally whereas others must attack at least 2 spaces ahead of itself. The aim of each battle is to eliminate the opponent’s ‘Command Tank’ before they destroy yours which, regardless of how many units they have remaining, wins you the battle. The battlefield is covered by a shroud as seen in most real-time strategies with sight range varying between your different units, so early game tactics may usually consist of Battleships-esque artillery strikes into the dark hoping you’ll hit something, as your units gradually advance closer to the enemy, thinning out their ranks until their command tank is within firing range.
– Real player with 73.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Alternate History Robots Games.
The first time I saw War of the Human Tanks, I was put off by how obviously low-budget it is; that was a huge mistake. Apparently, the art style just needed some getting used to, because once I got into it, I thought the graphics were actually pretty good. There’s full voice acting, fun animations and even some really catchy music that makes me itch to buy the soundtrack.
But what about the meat of the game? That, for me, comes in two packages (or perhaps Amasson boxes): the story and the gameplay. Let’s get this out of the way: The story is awesome. I loved it. This is definitely not a “skip-the-dialogue” kind of game; in fact, after a certain point, the story became the main appeal. It’s simultaneously lighthearted and grim, with a really interesting setting that ends up being much more detailed than you might suspect at first. There are four endings (two main paths, with two endings each) that all end up being pretty radically different and are all fantastic in their own way. I’m really in love with the setting, and all the little things you can learn about the rather disenfranchised battle-androids they call Human Tanks; the story really exceeded my expectations in every way. The translation is great, and the writing is clever, funny and serious when it needs to be; some of the big twists were huge gut-punchers. I’d definitely say the story was maybe the best part for me, and it’ll stick with me and inspire me for other personal projects for quite a while.
– Real player with 53.0 hrs in game
Because We’re Here - Act I
War isn’t about middle grounds, and neither is Because We’re Here. It’s a game that may well prove to be polarizing (and I’m glad the dev took the risk). You could find this otome game a complete waste of time, or unusual but worthwhile. I’ll tell you why I’m in the latter camp as I go through different aspects of the game.
Older fans have probably played the demos (both super old and now defunct) that constitute what is now Act I, and might be wondering if it’s still worth it to buy this part of the game. Plot is the same but there’s been a pretty big glow up in other aspects. The biggest plus for me was how the other guys aside from August now feel much more fleshed out - nothing big, but little changes in the writing strengthen the characterization. There’s also longer ending scenes (with CG!) that make for better closure.
– Real player with 62.7 hrs in game
I first encountered this visual novel a day before it was released, and immediately I was excited – I love historical settings, and WWI doesn’t get nearly enough media attention, and the characters looked very varied and setting-appropriate, so I had high hopes. Having played the first act now, I can say that the VN delivered everything I wanted and more.
Firstly, this is a very well-researched story. Everything from the details of the trenches to the many different wartime roles that were available to the different kinds of reactions people had to the war – and how they changed over time – are replicated here perfectly. But it doesn’t feel either overwhelming or confusing – apart from a brief explanation of the political history of the war early on, there’s no exposition, instead allowing the reader to familiarise themselves with the world by watching it unfold. It’s worth noting now that this story isn’t technically based on the real WWI – the countries and their geography are different, with some interesting results – but if you want something that captures the spirit of WWI in a very personal, in-the-trenches way, I can’t fault it.
– Real player with 48.1 hrs in game
One Spirit
One Spirit is a coming-of-age visual novel set in an alternate timeline where the Cold War drags on into the 21st century. Exploring various political, cultural and philosophical themes, the game presents an engaging, thought-provoking thriller through the eyes of a group of marginal teenagers, their doubts, struggles and hopes.
In 2003, the Iron Curtain stands tall. The superpowers of the new age wage a silent war through the means of information, economy, culture and proxy. As the Cold War slows to a crawl, the Sysican Republic, a pro-Western satellite state in Eastern Europe, finds itself on the verge of political death as radicalism, conspiracy and war loom overhead.
One Spirit follows Yuri Danilin, an 18-year-old young man disenchanted with life, as he returns to his modest hometown in Nevilyovsk, Eastern Sysica. Having failed in his studies at the capital, he reunites with his sister knowing their time apart has changed both permanently. When news of a known local activist disappearing spread through the town, Yuri soon finds himself at the center of a downward spiral of violence.
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Uncover a deep and engaging story, set in an original world where the Iron Curtain hasn’t fallen, inspired by real events and reflections on them: experience the bleak feel of a war too long fought.
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See the world through the eyes of an alienated youth — casual but complex personalities set in a path of self-discovery and self-affirmation in a world that has robbed them of a future.
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Delve into six different subplots branching from the main story.
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Every subplot has a unique dynamic you engage with by making choices, efforts and sacrifices. Subplots develop a wide variety of topics stemming from Yuri’s fatal years of 2003 and 2004, from the intimacies of friendship to the secrecies of Sysica’s ideological underground.
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Decide carefully how to spend your time in Nevilyovsk: days are a limited resource. Your priorities and preferences will increasingly mark your journey.
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Enjoy high choice responsiveness, as the game’s slightest details react to your smallest choices.
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Explore over 30 different environments to reveal new details, points of view and events.
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Take part in a philosophical journey about human history, society, struggle and life, with roots in contemporary critical theory, psychoanalysis and existentialism, among other similar and dissident traditions.
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Dive into this grey world through a high-quality art style that evokes the melancholic, nostalgic feel of post-socialist Sysica.
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Explore hours upon hours of worldbuilding detail: a unique Slavic theme, a constructed language, a simulated history and a culture imagined from the ground up.
The Heroic Legend of Eagarlnia
First off: I can’t believe that this game is priced under $19.99. It’s $12.99 — that’s simply unreal.
As a player who has never really played any grand strategy games before, The Heroic Legend of Eagarlnia has been a very surprising and enjoyable experience considering it’s an early access game developed by a dedicated team of four. If you had been watching/following this game for some time, you’ll know that Eagarlnia has gone through some rocky periods throughout the years, as the development team had been very silent about the game’s progress and status despite hosting it on Steam’s platform around late 2019. There were some hints here and there that the game would be localized to English, but there wasn’t any concrete information to go on for several months. Fortunately, the team would resurface to announce that the localization for English was well under way, and that the demo and early access release would arrive soon. If it wasn’t for their decision to localize, I most likely would’ve never stumbled across this gem of a game simply because of the language barrier.
– Real player with 636.5 hrs in game
If you’re a lover of oldschool strategy games of this kind then do not hesistate and acquire this title for yourself. The game features a truckload of detailed artwork (so many heroes…), beautiful music and enjoyable game mechanics. The weak part is definitely the translation but I think they are working on it. It’s functional but at times it can be difficult to understand the correct meaning of a skill (example: a skill says that it is good against fighters but there are no fighter units… the closest would be soldiers but it might also refer to warriors or spearmen).
– Real player with 127.2 hrs in game
Crimson Gray: Dusk and Dawn
Very fun and interesting little VN. Like the first game, your perception of the world and even your decisions are influenced by your characters mental problems, this time Lizzie’s instead of John’s, allowing you to see some parts of Lizzie’s character you only got hints of in the first game. Whereas the Crimson Gray had a lot of action segments, Dusk and Dawn is very heavily Slice of Life based in genre which builds into the life John and Lizzie are trying to develop for themselves. If you enjoyed the first game, you’ll absolutely love this sequel, since it really expands the story and your understanding of the characters. If you’re concerned with playtime, my initial playthrough was between 3 and 3.5 hours, and I’ve spent an extra 2 hours or so trying to sort out all the alternate routes, of which there are many due to this games high level of variance. Given the extremely reasonable pricing, I’d recommend this game to anyone who enjoys warped romance or psychological games, though I’d play the original Crimson Gray first so that you understand John’s character.
– Real player with 9.8 hrs in game
Honestly, I was actually somewhat disappointed by this one. After wracking my brain for hours trying to find the correct path(s) in the original, this sequal was just too easy. When I read that there would be “an emphasis on unreliable narration”, I expected to story to be more unhinged: that I would be seeing the world from Lizzie’s deranged perspective and and be unable to tell what was real and what was Lizzie being her normal unhinged self. I thought it would be much like the first game, where I was making life-or-death decisions on woefully-lacking information, except that in this game, instead of being unsure what Lizzie was thinking or how to best respond to that, I wouldn’t ever be sure if I was responding to the circumstances I thought I was.
– Real player with 5.0 hrs in game
Genius! NAZI-GIRL GoePPels-Chan ep2
germanobots, roll out!
– Real player with 14.8 hrs in game
“There’s only one way to deal with this, and that’s to stomp it flat.” – Adolfus Prime
– Real player with 1.5 hrs in game
I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator
This game, in a mere 100 hours, has taken everything from me…
I have sacrificed everything I know and love, just to look at that colonel smile.
My wife left me with full custody of the kids. My parents no longer talk to me. Im a mere month away from being
Evicted by my landlord. Ive stopped working, just to play this game. This game has ruined my life, but still, I love it. That sweet sweet colonel. The story is Immersive, and a roller coaster of emotions to play through. Ever since helen left me, this has been the one thing that I still find love in. This game shields me from the cold that is this planet. More importantly, the colonel protects me from the world. The sweet colonel. I never needed helen. All I need is right here, flexing his big muscles, making his next exquisite dish, and being the man I always craved.
– Real player with 256.6 hrs in game
With stage 5 terminal cancer, the doctors told me it couldn’t be cured. I seen this game come up on my recommended list. I thought to myself “With only hours left to live, I might as well spend my time doing something I enjoy” Starting the game I was filled with immediate joy. The characters were absolutely lovable. The story line has the depth that can only be rivalled by very few AAA titles out there. Every click left me guessing “What’s going to happen next?” and “Will I get to try another one of the Colonels chicken wings of pure ecstasy?” Before I knew it, I was in the kitchen, cooking with the Colonel, helping him create Nan’s potato and gravy. It was absolute bliss!
– Real player with 10.8 hrs in game
Panzer Hearts - War Visual Novel
After finishing this game, I felt an overwhelming sense of emotional gratitude to the creators of this wonderful game. In the beginning, it sets you up for a somewhat odd premise but simple love story. As you continue, however, you are not only drawn into the world that has been set up, but you also start to get a sense that something isn’t as it seems. Without spoiling anything, the reveal of what truly is at hand is handled beautifully, and the emotional journey I was taken on brought me to tears.
– Real player with 10.7 hrs in game
I was fortunate enough to pick this game up a few months back in an IndieGala bundle and I must say it’s a crying shame that this game is ridiculously under-appreciated here on Steam. For this game to only have 17 reviews at the time I write this review is utterly ridiculous. ..Still, 100% of those 17 purchased game reviews are positive and there’s good reason.
Much like the 1995 movie Braveheart with Mel Gibson, this visual novel deals with love, war, and freedom. It is a story written passionately from the heart, and while being a lower budget visual novel, it is one that shouldn’t be ignored. I enjoyed it very much and it had unexpected plot twists and sad moments that made the tender love scenes all that more memorable.
– Real player with 8.8 hrs in game