An Adventurer’s Tale
I tend to like games where there is no clear direction what to do or how to succeed. Not sure if this was intentional or not by the dev(s) but that is how it be. So I tinkered for about 25 hours going through it twice until I figured most things out. Some bugs are present as well as mysteries if the game is 100 percent achievable. The main thing to succeed is recruit two party members ASAP from the Tavern menu, then do all quests that are not minor from the quest board and from the ladies you court. Shoot for the good ending, get strong enough to defeat the final boss at the end of 30 days, and then go for all the extras in Free mode without the time limit. In terms of lewd, there is not much content but I was playing for the game anyways, the mechanics feel like a true successor to old school games which I liked. The character models were nicely drawn though. In terms of value, around a dollar would be good value since the game is not polished enough, two dollars is fair value.
– Real player with 26.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure JRPG Games.
Adventurer’s Tale is a mix between Visual Novel and RPG, unlike RPG Maker Games or similar, you decide on where to go by pressing Buttons and the World Map. I like the Fighting and there is quite a big Variety of Skills and Party Members. There is also a decent Amount of Quests and Things to discover. The Art is also really good and the Translation is nearly flawless. If you are interested in this Game just for its 18+ Content then I feel like you should probably get a different Game since the few Scenes that it has are good, but not enough, for it to make sense to buy it just for those. I just finished the normal StoryMode in around 6 hours and had Fun with it and just started the Grisette Mode, where you join her Army. That should be a big enough difference to the Main Story that it will be fun for another 6 Hours for sure. Edit: the Grisette Mode is around 2 hours long
– Real player with 10.2 hrs in game
Bard Harder!
We played this through on stream and had an excellent time - the first achievement was a struggle for us though since we won first time! :P
This game is absolutely wonderfully made and definitely deserves to cost more than it does. The art is beautiful, the music funky and the writing is great. Absolutely recommend for a couple of hours of fun!
– Real player with 3.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Visual Novel Games.
pros:
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funny
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unexpected choices and lines sometimes
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cool characters (especially the villain which has a great background)
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easy to understand (I’m french and got everything)
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not expensive
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Queer vibes (ace, trans and bisexual representation, and for once people getting that ace =/= aro, that’s nice)
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Plain flirt, so it’s not oversexualizing, it’s more romantic than sexual really
cns:
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really short game
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not a lot of choices, like you really can’t do much
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if you wanna win, you basically just have to read all the villain’s story and have a good memory
– Real player with 2.2 hrs in game
Courage for a Kiss
I’ve been given a pre-release copy of this game by the developer (I’ve experienced his previous two VNs, Jake’s Love Story and Nekokoro in similar circumstances) and I have to say, its definitely their best work yet. Like the previous ones, it’s a very simple high school romance story, spiced up by a few unusual gimmicks, but at its core very tame and by-the-numbers. What definitely improved, however, is the execution – the pacing of the story is very consistent and it doesn’t feel rushed despite frequent time skips. The heroines are likeable, even if their routes are too similar to each other and the setting feels alive thanks to the author’s usual attention to detail – many details you learn along the way and minor desitions you make gets referenced later down the line. The aforementioned gimmick, this time taking the form of a school play that evolves according to your choices – it’s very fun to observe both subtle and very-not-subtle differences in how it plays out for each path you take.
– Real player with 14.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choose Your Own Adventure Visual Novel Games.
A nice little VN. Contains a couple of gimmicks, such as the play, which admittedly does change depending on your choices, but it’s not that interesting IMO.
The other gimmick is the trademark telltale popup stating someone will remember that. It doesn’t really do anything, since you can tell what 80% of choices will lead to without it.
It has plenty of typos, but they won’t bother you unless you’re a grammar nazi. Characters in the game are nice and flushed out in their own routes. There’s plenty of jokes, some good some not so good, but none of them terrible. The writing overall is pretty good with some cheesy lines here and there.
– Real player with 8.9 hrs in game
TAISHO x ALICE episode 2
TL;DR: this is an okay at best game, so if you have to choose between this and anything else, you’re far better off choosing the other one.
I’ve disliked the previous episode. So why did I still buy this one?
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Kaguya.
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like everyone else on Steam I am starved for new Otome games and thanks to 2020 might as well change that to literally any type of game.
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Gretel memes.
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also Kaguya.
Do I regret my impulsive choice? Ehhhh… not really BUT …
Story
The previous game had Kaguya as the heroine’s butler that was secretly having feelings for her, if you liked that go away this game has nothing to do with that. What about Gretel’s life as pompous’s Cinderella’s brother? Also moot. Confusing? Welcome to Taisho Alice.
– Real player with 33.9 hrs in game
This is not the game for me. However, it may be the game for you if you are interested in psychological horror, traumatic relationships, and challenging stories. I’m giving this a thumbs up because the game is well-designed and well-written, and has lovely art and music. Please see my CAUTION before reading my pros and cons list.
CAUTION: This game (specifically Taisho x Alice Episode II) contains vivid descriptions of self-harm, suicide, violence, and addiction. It is very difficult to reach the Happy Ending for either of the two routes, because the line between love and insanity is drawn very fine in these stories. You have to choose perfectly all the way through or you will reach a bad ending. If you have played other otome games, then the best comparisons are the yandere routes in Amnesia (Toma) and Ozmafia (parts of the brothel route in particular), especially with respect to Gretel’s route.
– Real player with 21.9 hrs in game
Tales From The Under-Realm: Hazel
great story with likable characters. 2 thumbs up !
– Real player with 17.0 hrs in game
Not a bad Yuri VN,
Fairly choice driven but not at the Level of Volley Ball Heaven or Room Mates, Those 2 are great VN’s (Though the later of those has Non Yuri options. Though Loren and Cursed Lands are the world of this VN and great to with Yuri and/or Non Yuri. But it is not in their league.
Enjoy it for what it is.
– Real player with 16.1 hrs in game
After School Murder Club!!
it may look a bit different but let me tell you: this was the most exciting and fun visual novel game I’ve played in a while and it’s 100% worth trying!
and yes, with 9 hours I’ve only got one ending so far (still gotta get the other one’s!) so.. if you take your time with reading the dialogues, you get a lot for a free (!!) game.
ps. Pain(t)-kun still haunts me in my dreams (and I ain’t complaining)
– Real player with 9.7 hrs in game
I wasn’t sure about this title at first, but I ended up enjoying it in the end.
Apparently this started out as a practice/joke visual novel, and it definitely shows, but it knows what it is: a satirical jab at anime tropes with an overall silly plotline. There are references to popculture and memes throughout. Heck, one of the first things the main character says is “Gotta go fast!”
The artstyle isn’t really anything to write home about. The characters seem to have been made with some kind of anime dress up doll programs, which causes a bit of whiplash when the actually drawn scenes show up thanks to how different they look.
– Real player with 6.8 hrs in game
Gravekeeper Academy
Join us on the official Discord!
About the Game
Inspired by 999, Steins;Gate, and gothic horror.
A hand breaks out of the earth, dragging its mud-coated body out with it. She has no recollection of who she is – and has the misfortune of dragging herself out when a Gravekeeper was there to see it. Become a Gravekeeper’s apprentice and join our shattered protagonist in a one-of-a-kind visual novel where a sociopathic murderer stalks your footsteps as you make your way in this academy; though they won’t harm you, they’ll go after anyone they think is ‘close’ to you. But beware as if you get too distant from your allies and friends, they will cut themselves off from you or abandon you in your time of need.
Walk the tightrope as your classmates help – and sometimes hinder – you on your path to discovering the truth about not just yourself, but their true identities and what’s really going on behind the scenes at the once-prestigious Aeston GrandTomb’s Gravekeeper Academy. Destiny itself will conspire against you and try to lock you in to a fixed path; to break free, you’ll have to dive deep – not just into yourself, but into your allies and enemies alike.
Abuse your power as a player to remember everything our hero experiences and help them break through their fixed fatal fate!
🔹 a kinetic novel – or at least that’s what Fate wants it to be
🔹 a reactive story that takes notes on who you like and who you don’t
🔹 layered, detailed, hand-drawn and animated characters
🔹 over 40 CGs in Verse One!
🔹 an epic told in six parts
🔹 multiple endings!
Gravekeeper Academy will be developed in a series of Books and Verses which will become available to you and be directly added as they are completed. Your saves will carry over between each Verse and Book as they’re released and be automatically upgraded when you play.
📕 Book One: Fire in the Sky (Semi-kinetic Route)
💠Verse One: Burial Shroud (Under development!)
💠Verse Two: Active Decay (ETA Dec 2022)
💠Verse Three: Miasma (TBA)
💠Verse Four: Rot (TBA)
💠Verse Five: Bone (TBA)
💠Verse Six: Dust (TBA)
📙 Book Two: Prayer Answered (xxxxx Route) (TBA)
📙 Book Three: The Last Cry (xxxxx Route) (TBA)
New Meaning
So I played this because I’ve been in a weird move lately. I suppose technically it wasn’t a great idea to play considering the mood but I figured that it would help because I would be able to show the character (and initially myself) that there are things worthwhile still.
Now.
spoiler?
It seems you can’t save Luke. Even when I say that he’s feeling okay it goes to “are you suuurrreeee?” and then the ‘yes’ option vanishes. This is not the right way to go about this type of game. If we’re supposed to have the ability of choice to drive the story then we need to be able to make that choice instead of the choice being made for us.
– Real player with 1.0 hrs in game
I would recommend this game to people with Family or friends who are going though the themes of this game.
Spoilers
The Game it self I liked the story and the message It was trying to say,
! But the way it was Pro-trade wasn’t Great. I know the One Ending is being the Mean negative so far in most of the reviews but I feel the fact Having your choices Matter should have a impact, not having a choice is good way to Show Depression, but I feel that the things that luke would Say too Other Characters should Have Proved His Death. Like he says Something off to his friends or to his Mother and that One of them would show up to stop him. I feel That would be a good way to show Someone in need of help, but also having a good Support System can help you.
– Real player with 0.6 hrs in game
One Night on Halloween
Have only achieved one ending so far and i’m already excited to see the rest of them, the visual style is unique and the dialogue/options you’re presented are aplenty.
If you like VN’s please do yourself a favor and pick this one up, the asking price is that of a cheeseburger and it is 100% worth your time.
– Real player with 1.1 hrs in game
Rectitude
Very interesting story, great art and fantastic music. I like that some of the choices can greatly impact the story. Look forward to playing more!
– Real player with 2.6 hrs in game
Great game to play when bored. Has an amazing story line which keeps you entertained for long. Easy to navigate menu and good endings.
– Real player with 2.4 hrs in game