Ratings

Filters

Game

Daring Choices

Rating

4

Published at

Dec 9, 2024 01:04:42

Rater ID

2,150

Review

I love NeveN's VNs but that one was just ok.  Sorry

Game

Help Me Date Your Dad!

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 9, 2024 00:14:48

Rater ID

2,150

Review

Amazing VN!  I hope this will get developed more though, 'cause I need more.  It's rare to get such an original story.  I would've preferred the MC to be male but since the story is not about her it ends up not mattering at all.

Game

Bearony (Jam version)

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 9, 2024 00:03:13

Rater ID

44,988

Review

I enjoyed Bearony quite a bit, but the fact that there is not much of a story here yet leaves it in a very strange place for a review.

I think it did its job as a game jam demo relatively well - it is a prototype that shows off what the developer has learned in a month when starting from scratch. A lot of care was put in customising aspects of the UI, or giving some flavour depending on player choices (specifically the several outcomes of naming the player character). It has some neat tricks that I haven't seen even more experienced developers do. It also makes me wonder if code shenanigans ate up most of the development time and left us with such a short demo.

My favourite part about this entire VN is the art. The style is just so incredibly charming. The bright colours (on the bear character specifically), and the expressions are wonderful and the splotchy colouring, I adore everything about it! What I look forward to the most is just seeing more art and expressions of these characters.

My main gripe with the current build of Bearony is the flashing lights in the opening scene. There is a content warning on the game page, but I hope such effects will have a toggle or get toned down in future versions.

Of course Bearony's biggest problem is its length, or rather lack of said length. Even as a little prototype, it would ideally do more than give us just a very bear-bones premise. One would hope it would give us a strong hook, some more intrigue to gag us, or a clearer indicator where the story will go. This lack of substance is the game's biggest weakness, but one that can be fixed once more of the story comes out.

All in all Barony is disappointingly short, but the vibes are immaculate and just seeing the screenshots of the game causes my brain to dispense free serotonin. I am looking forward to seeing more of these boys and more of the story.

Game

Yet Another First Day

Rating

4

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 23:10:16

Rater ID

11,446

Review

Yet Another First Day offers a pretty good package. From its unique presentation and natural dialogue, this project engages readers in a straightforward story that still bears (heh) interesting idiosyncrasies. The biggest sore spot here is how much fat there is in the story (and I don't mean the large men). Yet Another First Day has an excellent and resonating emotional core that is buried in a lot of meandering and scenes that don't advance the plot. That said, its strong points are more than worth pushing through the slog. A fun, cute little story that will resonate well with its queer audience.

Game

Bearony (Jam version)

Rating

2

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 23:05:02

Rater ID

11,446

Review

Bearony is too short for its own good, presenting less than even an introduction to a possible story and leaving without much of an impact. The artstyle is enjoyable, but it doesn't have the time to stick in your head due to its extremely short duration. There's really not much to this one as it is.

Game

Remember the Flowers

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 22:56:17

Rater ID

724

Review

The Art Style is sooooo goooooood and the CG's with different art styles is really cool and great I really loved it so much. 

The Story is really great to next to my favourite Visual Novels i'ved ever read.

The Characters too is really great too with Canto's smile is really cute and Aaron's caring and kind personality. 

Game

Yet Another First Day

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 22:47:35

Rater ID

623,452

Review

Super cute! Love Charlie super much <3

Game

Yet Another First Day

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 22:37:31

Rater ID

44,570

Review

Good job! I think you made good use of your medium (of game maker). It's a well told story, and I think the constant anxiety throughout was realistic.

I think the major thing would be to have some more music variation, and maybe review the prose a bit more to see if you could punch it up further, but I think this is entirely the experience it wants to be, and it's an overall well written one at that.

Game

Hearthfire

Rating

5

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 21:48:45

Rater ID

608,859

Review

Great story, great characters. Loved reading it.

Game

Daring Choices

Rating

2

Published at

Dec 8, 2024 20:41:58

Rater ID

44,570

Review

I think there's some good stuff in here, like I enjoyed the animation, but I don't think either part of this piece worked (or at least, in not in tandem).

As a romance piece, it doesn't have much to get me invested. The relationship feels light and airy, with not too much substance. 

As a meta narrative commentary, you've stumbled into the same place as DDLC and other similar works.

And in tandem, we don't get to the point where we feel bad about the characters feeling bad for being fake.

DDLC does have those clichés in its opening, to lure you into thinking it's a trad romance, but it dives into the horror in the incrementation, I believe.

It feels like it's trying to tell a meta story for the sake of telling a meta story, but I think that the meta needs some sort of driving reasons to support the usage lest it feeling cliche in its own way at this point.

I do think it's certainly a daring choice, but I don't know if it paid off in terms of a result.