Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Disclaimer: I know the developer personally, which is why this review can be considered biased.
Still, I honestly had a great time with Lacuna and recommend this to everyone who enjoys games with a focus on narrative and detective-work.
I played through the game once and will likely play it again, since your choices really seem to have an impact on the story.
The game combines pixel art with several effects such as dynamic lighting and fog. Together with the soundtrack and an overall great sound design, it creates a very captivating and moody atmosphere.
– Real player with 16.9 hrs in game
Lacuna doesn’t miss much as the game’s investigation leads you through unfilled spaces and into a deeply compelling sci-fi noir story.
Lacuna - an unfilled space or interval; a gap or missing part - a very intriguing title choice. Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure moves beyond visual novel yet doesn’t really play like a point-and-click game; however, the story and overall feel are sure to please fans of the Blackwell series and similar investigative adventure games.
– Real player with 9.4 hrs in game
Lacuna: Prologue
I can’t wait for this game to drop. I played the prologue through and was excited. the game play was varied, there are alot of interactivity between the character and the environment. I really like how you can move through the game as the character talks to himself, most games you have to either skip the monologue or not hear it to continue playing. I never thought I’d like a game with this type of graphics but I’ve been finding more and more games like this that I really like. I saved the date on my calendar for this game.
– Real player with 2.2 hrs in game
This is going to be a gem! The prologue mainly is a tutorial of the game mechanics but it doesn’t feel like one at all. It feels like you are experiencing a story and based on the previews of the full game, the choices you make have an impact!
Also, the world just fits my taste perfectly! This is some modern scy-fi stuff mixed with noir elements, considering you play a detective anyways. Filled with so many details, you can’t help but feel like you were in another world for an hour :)
I also love that the game challenges you to use your brain and not just follow the instructions.
– Real player with 1.4 hrs in game
To Hell With The Ugly
In To Hell With the Ugly, you play as Rock Bailey, a blond and strikingly handsome young man who systematically refuses all advances made to him. And for good reason : he stubbornly saves himself until the day he turns 20.
One night, however, everything changes when he is drugged and kidnapped outside the Zooty Slammer jazz club and wakes up in a strange hospital.
Why would anyone want to abduct Rocky? Can you track down his kidnappers? Help Rocky get to the bottom of his kidnapping, and find out who is behind this horrible scheme.
Investigate Los Angeles in the 50s
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Boris Vian, To Hell With the Ugly is a turn-based combat and point & click adventure game set in a film noir atmosphere. Unravel the mystery surrounding your kidnapping by exploring some of LA’s most secret corners. Gather clues by interviewing locals, and interact with your environment to find the truth.
But some information won’t be delivered so easily. Use your fists to persuade the most stubborn to help you in your quest.
Read More: Best Interactive Fiction Adventure Games.
2064: Read Only Memories
Read Only Memories is very much a well crafted adventure game in every sense. You follow the developing plot in the role of a down on his luck journalist assisting your newly befriended self aware A.I. companion Turing. Deciding to set out on a quest together. In order to try and unravel the mysterious sudden disappearance of Turing’s creator. Set in Neo-San Francisco in late December of the year 2064.
You’re placed in a world where humans and implant enhanced hybrid humans share a shakey coexistence. Here you will encounter ominous, shady, corporate entities, a “pure human” activist group, along with a varied cast of other rough and tumble characters. Ranging from a young detective to some even younger street punks who can help aid you along. Helping to further fuel the intrigue and assisting Turing and yourself to piece together the puzzling situation as you progress.
– Real player with 46.6 hrs in game
2064: Read only Memories is a sci-fi point and click game set in the same universe as the Bartending Visual Novel as Va-11 Hall-A. I wouldn’t lie. At first i was drawn towards this game because it share the same setting with Valhalla. As i played the game, i came to realize this game can absolutely stand on its own with its own compelling story to tell.
Story
2064: ROM is set few years Before Valhalla. Aside from few references and cameos, it is absolutely its own stand alone stories. fan of valhalla will appreciate the little details put in the world, from a major news corporations to drink names in bars. if you aren’t, this game is still worth it to play as it offer a great story on its own.
– Real player with 11.8 hrs in game
Blake: The Visual Novel
Blake: The Visual Novel is the first VN I have played in a very long time, and I enjoyed it. To be fair it does start off pretty slow, but past the necessary introductions to everyone, and once the plot really begins, there is a lot to like!
The music is real cool and jazzy! I found myself really digging the ambient music in the ICC building! The characters are likable except for maybe Lee. Other than that the story that the game builds up in an intriguing one and the twist caught me by surprise!
– Real player with 6.3 hrs in game
I’ll be entirely honest that when I started this one I really wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. I am not really a huge fan of visual novels, and the game took a little while to hook me, but after getting in a little deeper, I found myself increasingly intrigued by the story. The game reminded me of games like Yesterday and The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker in terms of writing and characters. Overall I’m glad I played it, and I look forward to seeing what Ori Mees makes in the future.
– Real player with 5.7 hrs in game
Choices That Matter: And The Sun Went Out
Incredible, a definite must play if you enjoy CYOA books and games. While not literally every choice you make is going to change the course of the narrative, they hel immerse the player into the main character’s role, this paired with the intresting story and characters, and the intriguing mysteries make for an amazing experience if you like this kind of game
– Real player with 16.1 hrs in game
I’m just starting arc 5 i think and wow has it been a cool ride so far. i googled it and apparently on any given play through you only read 150,000 of a total 600,000 words which leads me to believe that these choices that seem like they really change whats going on, really do. Which also inspires anxiety but hey that’s all in the fun of making serious choices. so far solid 8/10 8.5 because canada eh
– Real player with 6.6 hrs in game
Mothmen 1966
Mothmen 1966 is set during the Leonid meteor shower of ‘66.
You are Lee, a college student obsessed with the American Civil War. Someone at school told you about Holt’s gas station outside town, just the spot to watch the upcoming meteor shower for a perfect date with your girlfriend. But at Holt’s you’ll meet Lou Hill, a writer investigating the link between these meteor storms and sightings of human-size winged creatures with red, glowing eyes. It seems to Lou that whenever these ‘mothmen’ are spotted, bad things happen…
Created by novelist Nico Saraintaris and artist Fernando Martinez Ruppel, ‘Pixel Pulps’ are a fusion of exceptional writing and stunning illustration, inspired by mid-20th century pulp fiction and 80s home computer graphics. Mothmen 1966 is the first of three Pixel Pulps coming in 2022.
Mothmen 1966, like all the Pixel Pulps, is made to be played by anyone who enjoys fine storytelling:
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Rich, branching narrative
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Evocative illustrations fuel your immersion in the story
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Accessible, ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style gameplay, with life and death consequences and many mysteries to unravel
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Multiple endings, and many paths to reach them - repeat playthroughs will continue to surprise
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER
Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER, the next mystery adventure set in the world of MidBoss’ 2064: Read Only Memories. Return to the vibrant cyberpunk world of Neo-San Francisco from 2064: Read Only Memories, filled with friendly and familiar faces including Jess Meas, the gene-spliced, hybrid lawyer, TOMCAT, the notorious hacker, and Lexi Rivers, former police officer turned private eye.
The NEURODIVER
Use the Neurodiver to search the memories in which the rogue esper, Golden Butterfly hides. Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER’s Deep Dive mechanic enables ES88 to identify, manipulate, and repair fragments found in her subject’s memories.
Diverse characters
NEURODIVER will introduce new characters, locations, and mechanics, including the ability to dive into and repair other characters’ memories, as well as overhauled art and an unsolved case to crack with multiple endings.
You are a telepath
Take on the role of ES88, a telepath with the ability to delve into memories employed by MINERVA, a powerful organization specializing in neurotechnology and extrasensory projection phenomena. Tasked with tracking down the Golden Butterfly, a naturally gifted psychic on the loose and wreaking havoc through the subconscious minds of Neo-San Francisco.
Retro inspired soundtrack
Original retro-inspired FM music by Scarlet Moon artist, coda.
The Slaughter: Magdalene
Very short, but still does the job
– Real player with 2.1 hrs in game
The Slaughter: Magdalene is super short and definitely won’t scratch the itch for those still waiting for the second installment of The Slaughter. But still, it’s a compelling burst of a game. The dialogue is interesting and thoughtful and as per usual Alex does a great job with the soundtrack. Give it a chance.
– Real player with 0.6 hrs in game
Deep Night Detective - Chapter One
A very fun and addicting game so far. I can say for certain though, there were a couple of times where I couldn’t progress due to some bugs.
The pros. it’s a great and charming game! The dialogue is amazing and charming, and with very funny observations from the Detective that adds to their personality. The music is great and how it’s used in this game is well done, especially with the interrogation segment with Mrs. Bordeaux. The controls, though a little confusing in the beginning, is comfortable to use when you get used to it and when you do it controls well.
– Real player with 8.2 hrs in game
im honestly hyped for chapter 2
The pixel art, the story, the gameplay… it’s all just so god damn good.
I’m a sucker for any sort of 2D platformers, so I’m kinda biased, but this game is amazing. It can be a bit buggy, and I’ll list all the bugs I found later on, but other than those bugs (one which made me have to reset and play the whole chapter from the beginning) every part of this game is perfectly executed.
Anyways, here’s some feedback:
Every character is interesting and so are the relationships between them. I hate reading through stuff and I tend to just mash through all of the dialogue, but I can’t in this game. Reading about how supernatural stuff works in this game is so much fun and so is asking people questions. The whole thing with the case book (I don’t remember what it’s called) makes it really easy to keep track of what’s going on and really keep you interested in the case.
– Real player with 4.9 hrs in game