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
Read More: Best Story Rich Otome Games.
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
EMPYRE: Lords of the Sea Gates
I played a lot with this game because the victorian style steam punk world created in this game is very interesting. The quality of the graphics is not on the same level as the top games but it is well made with a good atmosphere.
The gameplay is the same old rpg feeling, with party, movement, action (fights and dialogs), collecting loot, get stronger. The story is interesting, the setting is exciting.
– Real player with 870.9 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Steampunk Games.
Borderline recommendation. The negative reviewers are not wrong - it is clunky and linear, the combat is unsatisfying, there is a lot hinted at but never realized. It’s not just poorly documented but a lot of the skills you’ll bother developing are never actually used. I suspect they planned a much bigger game and had to dramatically scale back. They aimed for Wasteland 2 and fell a bit short of Shadowrun.
Having said that I wasn’t actually bored and that’s my line for recommending. I finish all games in order to provide a fair and detailed review on my site and in this case I didn’t have to force myself. The story is cliche but well written and brisk, you get new guns and characters throughout and constantly change maps. The combat improves to passable and some of the missions are interesting. It did enough to engage me and with the lovely setting that gets a pass.
– Real player with 19.1 hrs in game
Fear Corporation
drop game no like
– Real player with 1.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Survival Horror Games.
So I am re-reviewing this after it has been updated. The game has immensely improved with the changes. I was actually able to complete the whole game. The clown improvement has actually made the first part a lot more scary since he can pretty much pop up anywhere. For the second part I would say the statue would be more threatening if she moved faster but she did jump scare me a few times when I would turn around not expect her to be that close to me. Also the highlighted items allowed me to find how to proceed past that section. The last section was creepy for the first few minutes but grew a bit old pretty quick. Overall I think the game was fun in this new state and worth a play through plus the developer was willing to listen to the feedback and improve the game which is a big plus. I still think $10 is a bit on the high end of a price for this though but if you want to spend that much or if it’s on sale then go for it. If you want to see my first play through before the update you can check out my video below.
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game
Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II
A charming visual novel with a dash of point&click, though don’t let this game’s(beautiful) visual mislead you, since it soon finds it’s roots in the mystery genre and could deceive when it dedicates its narrative to some heavy topics. Addressing all those it wishes to address with the necessary weight, without bashing it over your head with an anvil.
The narrative follows the “how-we-got-here” model, recounting the sea voyage of a man trying to reconnect with his roots. He finds himself instead being dragged into the mysteries surrounding his fellow passangers on the titular ship, while framing it in the form of a flashback that Devan himself is narrating.
– Real player with 26.6 hrs in game
Herald is a tightly woven dramatic interactive novel, which plays like a mystery play. Some beauty knows no language. But, this beautifully animated point & click choice based drama crosses language and race barriers with issues that we struggle with today like suicide, faith, racism, gun control, interpersonal relationships, & slavery; all set in the 19th Century.
It seems that, in Herald, I am everyman and every woman. The script draws us in to experience the motives & thoughts of each character. The narrative, characterizations, art, & voice acting are incredibly well done.
– Real player with 15.8 hrs in game
San Camillo II
Welcome to San Camillo II.
San Camillo II is a renowned orphanage for children with special needs. With dedicated staff and great accommodations, our home is open to those who doubt. Visit our accommodations, talk to our dear staff and discover our history.
Play as Janey, a journalist who sees her job go down the drain, who receives a call from her friend about a new story. An informant of the institution informs the precariousness that occurs in that home. This could not have come at a better time for Janey, her job may not be more at risk after this matter.
Collect information, talk to employees, and find out what really happens at this institution in this Multiple Ending Visual Novel.
Features
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Resolution: 1920x1080 (Window and Full Screen)
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Genre: Mystery/Thriller
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4 Endings (1 good, 3 bad)
The Night Fisherman
I found The Night Fisherman a bit underwhelming on its own, but I liked it as a prologue to its follow-up, The Outcast Lovers. Given it’s so short and free, I’d be inclined to recommend it, except… If you read other negative reviews for The Night Fisherman, you’ll see a few accusations that the scene you play through is plagiarized from the opening of the movie Inglourious Basterds. The dev claims that it’s just an “homage.”
So, is it plagiarism or homage? Considering the art is extremely minimal and there is no game play outside of one decision at the end, the dialog that plays out in this scene is all The Night Fisherman really has going for it. I think that makes the question of whether that dialog is original work or not pretty important.
– Real player with 0.3 hrs in game
The Sacrifices – Politically Charged Game Series
Amongst the alternate history of The Night Fisherman exists the English Protection Group, vigilantes who keep a watchful eye on the Smuggler’s Run, a renowned crossing for vessels bound from Calais containing illegal immigrants. The player takes on the role of the fisherman in the middle of the ocean, during an encounter with another boat and its shotgun-wielding passenger. The fisherman must direct the conversation and the camera angle in a bid to escape the situation safely.
– Real player with 0.2 hrs in game
America is Doing Great
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Immersive RPG. A narrative-driven role-playing game. Unite the region as a post-nuclear drug-running god… guinea pig for science and scavenge as a peaceful vagrant… or experiment as some third kind of person so indefinable you upset the elderly
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Freedom of Exploration. Navigate by landmark as you explore the dilemmas of this rich, open world’s factions and inhabitants. Try to help, ignore them outright, or play both sides as you see fit
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Unforgettable Encounters. A cast overflowing with unique characters, each with secrets to uncover and problems to solve. Have deep conversations, philosophize on society, investigate, rant, provide therapy, or manipulate
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Intricate, Branching Stories. Secrets are devastating in the wrong hands and actions taken at the wrong time can be catastrophic. Numerous endings differ drastically based on player behavior
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Imagination Fuel. An ambient, unobtrusive soundtrack provides each location with a unique theme and underscores the lonely spaciousness of the open prairie
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New World. Discover dozens of bizarre post-apocalyptic locales as you trek the barren landscape. Piece together the connections that tie this world together
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
Tombeaux
A short and (bitter)sweet dive into the American history mostly from nature’s point of view. You’ll get to watch how the last few centuries have treated a beautiful river area that is full of tiny, easily missable details. Your main objective is just to wander around and pick up items that trigger story snippets that - as far as I understood - were written or said by real people of that age. All in all the game seems to put a lot of value on historical accuracy, which is certainly a refreshing thing to see in a video game. And when all of the profits made from this game are even donated to environmental charity, I can only recommend giving this walking simulator a try!
– Real player with 2.5 hrs in game
No. Sorry. As much as Tombeaux tries to be an atmospheric walking simulator and simultaneously perform as an educational title it succeeds only in the lastly mentioned and barely. Despite of delivering some quite interesting though general knowledge how indian and western culture clashed in the past and how mankind’s ignorance can lead to the disaster, it is very short, thin and one-sided. While I acknowledge the sins of the white man, this game makes me ponder that should I be ashamed of myself for what happened or should I just shake my head and ignore the game’s far too naive and pious statement.
– Real player with 2.4 hrs in game
1971 PROJECT HELIOS
I just have finished the game.
Is easy to see that the developers have given everything to make this game a very good one. The plot is incredibly good, the mechanics agroup all what you wish and even more in a strategy game, and the levels are really immersive (I love the cold effect in the screen).
I really recommend to play it, this game absolutely deserves the price that it has.
– Real player with 20.1 hrs in game
A title that could serve as a welcome to new players to the strategy 3D turn-based combat. Encounters are short and sweet, requiring a decent amount of strategic thinking, without reaching desperation or those odd “I’m lost” moments.
Story is quite engaging, and the characters that go along with it are charming and interesting. Recommended!
– Real player with 18.8 hrs in game