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video game reviews

Interstate 35 is a Fantastic Visual Novel About the Apocalypses

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I was sent a free copy of Interstate 35 to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

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What is Interstate 35?

Interstate 35 is a short and creative visual novel out now on Steam.

After an atomic bomb was accidentally dropped on Northern Texas, people struggled to deal with the new normal. To the North, the land slowly rots away, eating at the remaining livable land. Some people have begun to settle in the many settlements that have manifested since the incident. But there are people like you who are crazy enough to venture into the blighted lands to scavenge what remains of the old world. What will you find on your latest run? What will you choose to keep? What secrets will you uncover?

Review

Interstate 35 is an amazing visual novel that everyone should read at least once. The narrative is well-written and captivating, the art is beautiful, and the soundtrack is amazing. If you aren’t blown away by end of this novel, you must have played something different.

What makes the game unique is the bits of optional exploration that are presented to the player. The story will have words that will evoke a memory or spark curiosity. It is a very cool and creative world and character-building technique that I haven’t seen done before. What I love most about this game is how it plays with format. The narrative blends its creative storytelling with beautiful poetry effectively, but also presents it artfully.

If you enjoy visual novels, Interstate 35 is a short, well written story that is Steam Deck compatible and need to be in your library.

Get your copy of Insterstate 35 for only $7.99, or at the very, least add it your wishlist.

video game reviews

Fledgling Manor Might Just be Your Next Visual Novel

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I was asked to cover Fledgling Manor on my blog. I understand the game is still in development and I will try not to be as critical with my initial impressions. These will be my honest impressions of the demo available now on Steam.

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What is Fledgling Manor?

Fledgling Manor is a visual novel coming soon to Steam.

It started as a normal delivery night for Rocky, until something strange lept out of the shadows. He wakes up in a strange house, but not quite his old self. Rocky has been turned into a vampire and is forced to participate in America’s hottest reality show, Fledgling Manor. Eight new vampires are forced to live in a remote house where they compete to stay alive. Will Rocky survive the manor, or will he be one of its many casualties?

Impressions

Fledgling Manor has a stunning art style that will rightfully earn its attention. I love the use of black and white and the overall character design. While the writing can be a bit cringe at times, the writer successfully captures the reality show vibe it aims to achieve. Each character feels unique, the stakes feel real, and the story is interesting enough to keep me invested. Although the demo is limited, the full version will have multiple endings for added replayability. This is a game where the choices made by the player matter and impact the outcome of the story. What characters die, what romances you make, and characters Rocky gets to know, and even Rocky’s fate are all tied to the player’s choices. Choose carefully.

I just finished reading The Long Walk, and this gives me similar vibes. Although the writing isn’t perfect, I need to know what happens at the end. I will be getting the full version on release, stay tuned for that. Until then, make sure you add Fledgling Manor to your wishlist, and don’t forget to check out the Demo.

video game reviews

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is a Solid Slice of Life Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

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What is SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky?

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is a visual novel coming to Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on October 23, 2024. This is the first time a memories game comes out in English, but you don’t need to play any of the other games to understand what is going on. The narrative is pretty self contained.

Follow Junya as he struggles with the grief of losing his brother. As Junya tries to lose himself in his work, the women around him don’t let him. Whether helping his childhood friend turn an old mansion into a cafe, supporting a new friend with research, or trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding his brother’s death, there is always something to keep Junya moving on his journey to self-discovery. What truths will he learn about himself and the women around him? What secrets will be revealed through his investigations? You will need to read to find out.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes, but I couldn’t get the save sync to work. It sucked having to start the story over, but I found the Steam Deck experience enjoyable. The words are legible at the native Steam Deck resolution, and the portability of the console makes it ideal for visual novels. Some may like reading their visual novels on a full-sized monitor, but I enjoyed reading in bed or on the couch after spending the day in front of my computer.

Review

SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is a solid visual novel with fantastic art, cool character design, and a solid story. That said, I did have my issues.

The translation is fine for the most part, but some bits don’t translate culturally. There are a few idioms that translate a bit awkwardly. There are also sections of this narrative that feel like filler, like when they are talking to the cafe owner about how to run the business when I just wanted to keep investigating the mystery. My biggest issue with the story was with the main character. He is frustratingly clueless, which makes sense in context, but makes the character seem less interesting. Every girl in this game flirts with him but he’s too dumb to pick up on the cues. I get that he is mourning and sees the women as friends, but some of the girls aren’t subtle.

Despite my issues, I found the story enjoyable. I enjoyed learning about each girl and unraveling their narrative, and I enjoyed the mystery. It isn’t the best visual novel I’ve had the pleasure of reading, but it was good enough for me to stick with it.

The biggest thing to consider when looking into SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky is how much you enjoy the slice-of-life genre. There are whole sections of this story where the characters talk about everyday things like work or relationships. There are also sections of this book you are going to skip. If you enjoy reading about people going about their everyday lives, don’t mind dipping into topics about grief, and enjoy anime, this is a solid addition to any library.

I found the characters unique and interesting, the relationships cute, the art fantastic, and the story good enough to make it to the end. I recommend it to anyone looking for a new visual novel. I don’t know how it compares to any of the others in the series, but I enjoyed SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky as my entry to the series.

You can pick up SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky on Steam, PlayStation and Switch on October 23, 2024. Make sure you add it to your wishlist.

video game reviews

Celestia: Chain of Fate is a Cozy Story of Magic, Power, and Love

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I was sent a free copy of Celestia: Chain of Fate to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

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What is Celestia: Chain of Fate?

Celestia: Chain of Fate is a romance visual novel coming to Steam and Swtich on September 12.

Aria lived her perfect life with her loving and devoted family. This all changes when she comes of age and is invited to attend the prestigious Academy of Celestia to learn how to harness her innate magical abilities. But fate has plans for Aria. The days leading up to the first day of classes seem to be filled with catastrophes, some even life-threatening. These days are also filled with chance encounters. She meets her rivals who are determined to make the rest of the year miserable, but she also meets the three boys determined to make it better. As the school year progresses, her relationship with one of these boys will develop into something deeper. Can she survive the year long enough to choose?

Gameplay

Celestia: Chain of Fate presents a compelling narrative with the occasional choice to make. These choices affect the narrative, and some will end the story early. Make sure you save often. The game allows you to save at any point in the story, and it allows you three separate save profiles. Most importantly, there is no voice acting, so be prepared to read. This game is like reading a cheesy romance novel, and that isn’t a bad thing.

Review

I am addicted to Celestia: Chain of Fate, and I am not embarrassed to admit it. This is one of the first visual novels where I felt the need to get all the endings. This was also the hardest because I didn’t know which character to choose as my romantic interest. They were all so cool.

The writing is cheesy and often predictable, but that doesn’t matter because the story is cute. I am not one for romantic novels, but this one hit the spot. I didn’t know how badly I needed to get swooned by a half daemon, but here we are on my 2nd play-through.

If you’re looking for a new visual novel and don’t mind it being a sappy romance novel, you need Celestia: Chain of Fate. The art is cute, the soundtrack is solid, and the story is comforting. It has a very cheesy tone with a predictable plot, but it doesn’t matter because it provides the coziest experience. I loved this game and recommend it to anyone looking for a new visual novel. Just make sure you save often. Magic school is dangerous, and I kept getting the bad endings. While it leans heavily on the cute tone, there is enough drama, conflict and danger in this story to keep things interesting.

Celestia: Chain of Fate releases on September 12 on Steam and Nintendo eShop for $29.99 ($39.99 for Physical), make sure its on your Wishlist. There is also a Steam demo available if you want to try it out first. I know it is not for everyone, but as a very old strait dude, I liked it a lot.

video game reviews

You Should Be Playing the Minds Beneath Us Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of Minds Beneath Us to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Minds Beneath Us?

Minds Beneath Us is a very pretty cyberpunk visual novel out now on Steam.

The World is run by AI, and this AI is powered by the poor souls who can’t afford to work anywhere else. You are an AI designed to infiltrate the mind of a target and gather crucial information. But your first mission doesn’t go smoothly. Suddenly, you find yourself in the body of a mysterious man and having to live his life.

You find yourself working for a company responsible for hiring the poor souls that power the city. As you work to make sense of this new world, you find yourself making the choices that will influence the rest of your life. This life is yours to live now. What choices will you make? What secrets will you uncover?

Gameplay

Minds Beneath Us is a beautiful point-and-click visual novel. While there is some action, you are reading a beautifully illustrated mystery. Exploration in this game is limited to two dimensions and is very important to the story’s development. Missing clues or interactions with the environment will close off story paths, so make sure you click on everything.

Player choices affect the outcome of the story. The choices you make in conversation will dictate the type of story you enjoy. You can always restart from a checkpoint if you don’t like the outcome, but this system gives the game its replay value.

There is no voice acting in this game, but I don’t think it needs it. Players who don’t like to read might find it difficult to stay attentive, but the story is well-written and enjoyable for those looking for a new sci-fi visual novel.

Review

I loved the Minds Beneath Us and recommend it to anyone looking for a visual novel. This is a very pretty game with some beautiful illustrations that you have to look through once. This game has a simple art style, but one that successfully captures the complexities and tone of its narrative. Aside from a few awkward translation issues, the story is well-written. The pacing is solid, the themes are great, and the choices get hard when they need to be.

My only real complaint is that the save points are too far apart. If you have to leave halfway through a scene, you’ll have to go through the entire dialogue until you find your spot. This is only a real issue if you’re not able to play continuously, so it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.

Minds Beneath Us is a cool story with some fantastically developed themes. This game should be in your library if it isn’t already.

You can pick up Minds Beneath Us on Steam for only $19.99.

video game reviews

Still Joking is okay at best, but a bit disappointing overall

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I was sent a free copy of Still Joking to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a fantastic budget gaming headset, check out the Fifine H9s using my Amazon affiliate link. Check out my full review of the headset. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Still Joking?

Still Joking is a mystery visual novel out now on Steam. Iris is the reflection of a famous actress, Selena, who only lives to emulate her prototype every time she steps in front of a mirror or reflective surface. Her last day as a reflection comes abruptly when she watches Selena get murdered in front of the mirror. Iris is now trapped between a journey of self-discovery and finding out the truth behind her primary’s murder. What will she uncover?

Gameplay

Still Joking mixes interactive fiction elements with its visual novel to create its story. Players read through the story and will on occasion be asked to make choices, ask questions, or interact with the world around them. There is no voice acting, and the game is pretty quiet compared to other games. The choices matter, but I recommend you choose for the story that is most interesting to you. 

Impressions

Still Joking was hard to get into, and even harder to recommend. The game has an interesting concept and cool art, but there are better visual novels, especially at the price point. Aside from a few sound effects and snippets of ambient music, Still Joking is a very quiet game. There is also no voice acting. I recommend you play your favorite reading music in the background if you don’t like reading in silence. I get that voice acting and music costs money, but a game like this needs something to set it apart from a book. One of the reasons I didn’t like Still Joking is that if felt like a book with extra steps. I enjoy reading books, I just don’t like having to click after every sentence to get through it. 

The few interactive moments presented feel like busy work. They don’t add to the story, and it feels like a distraction from the main story. The main story takes too long to take off. You watch the murder, and then it takes too long to set up the administrative structure of the world behind the reflection. By the time it begins to touch the mystery, I had lost all interest in the characters, motive, and anything that would have kept me engaged through the rest of the novel. I think the concept was neat, but the execution is lacking. 

If you enjoy visual novel, you have better options. I feel like if I hadn’t just finished reading something better, I would have had a better time with the title, but it would still be a hard one to recommend. If you enjoy the art and are curious about the story’s lore and concept, I would wait for the sale. 

You can pick up Still Joking on Steam for $18.99 (currently $17.09 until May 23). 

video game reviews

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is Fantastic!

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I was sent a free copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my review, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is The Hungry Lamb?

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a terrific visual novel out now on Steam.

A human trafficker has hired you to escort four girls to a lord looking to adopt an heir. Compared to the usual jobs you take, this promises to be the easiest and most ethical. As you get to know the girls on your journey, you discover there is a sinister motive behind these adoptions. The lord is actually a demon in disguise looking to feed on these girls. What will you do with this knowledge? How will your story play out?

Impressions

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is your typical visual novel. Players read through a story, listen to some voice acting, and occasionally make a choice that impacts the story. The story has some voice acting for the other characters, but you will read through most of the events. There are a few grammar mistakes, but it’s not a huge deal. Some of it even feels intentional in context.  If you’re trying to find a game where you can sit back and enjoy the narrative, this is a great place to start. 

The main draw to this game should be its art. This game is filled with beautiful art that helps capture the flavor of the story. The story is fantastic, and one of the most compelling things I’ve sat through. The pacing is great, the themes are serious but well-developed, and the characters are interesting. It does get dark, and you might cry. This is your warning. It’s going to be hard to pull away, but you can save at any time if you need a break. The game allows for multiple saves, so you can test out all the endings, and backtrack if you need to. 

There are little things this game does with sound effects and ambient music that help bring this story alive. If you’ve never played a visual novel, or are looking for a new one, you need to play through The Hungry Lamb at least once. I’ve only played a few visual novels in my short time as a reviewer, but it is easily my favorite so far. 

You can pick up your copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty on Steam for $9.99. At this price, it is more than worth it!

video game reviews

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a Quirky Horror Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’ll be opening some Wixoss on my TikTok and YouTube. 

What is Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel out now on Steam.

A mysterious note brings you back to your hometown of Sacramencho. Your parents have gone missing, but it seems like they aren’t the only ones. A demonic presence has taken root in your childhood home, and it is up to you to uproot them. But this won’t be an easy task. Demonic creatures and a misguided cult hunt you down. Can you survive the horrors of the Black Woods long enough to reverse the curse? Will you find love in the process? You’ll have to play to find out. 

Gameplay

A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel with some light dungeon-crawling elements. While the trailer may suggest this game is a dating sim, it isn’t. The game is a horror story with some flirty tones, but not a lust-filled story about demon girls it appears to be. 

The game is split into story and exploration. There are different stories, each with a true ending, and choices matter somewhat. The stories have a solid cast of voice actors, and the stories are all entertaining. The story deals with topics of human sacrifice, murder, and demons. This is your official content warning. 

Exploration has players crawl through this decrepit house in a retro-style dungeon crawler. Players click through this creepy 3D space in search of materials to perform rituals and avoid danger. Once a player collects the right materials and meets the correct circumstances, rituals are cast by dragging the mouse. If a player dies, they’ll have to restart from the last checkpoint, but the checkpoints are pretty generous. You can even go back to try for a different ending at any point. 

Impressions

I enjoyed A Date to Die For, but I understand it isn’t for everyone. I think the tones, themes, and art will scare off some folks, but it is a solid horror game with a decent story if you can get past the waifu art. 

What this game excels at is creating a creepy atmosphere. The music, the sounds, the map design, and the jump scares all come together to create a very cool horror environment. I never felt like I needed to play with the lights on, but it did make me jump a few times. 

The story is pretty good. It is quirky, dark, and a lot of fun with some interesting twists. A Date to Die For is a sequel, but it exists as a stand-alone story. I didn’t feel lost by the events or feel it necessary to play the first game. People who have played the first game might not like it as much, but I don’t have that point of reference and can’t compare the experiences. 

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a great visual novel. It has a solid cast of voice actors, cool art, and a fantastic creepy retro vibe. If you can get past the waifu art, it isn’t as shameless as it seems. Aside from some of the main characters, the game is pretty tame. This isn’t a dating sim. If you are looking for a quirky horror story about cultists and demons, A Date to Die For is what you’re looking for. 

You can pick up Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For on Steam for $12.99. There is also a demo you can try if you don’t believe me. 

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Preorder Interactive Mystery Novel: Death Trick Double Blind

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I was sent Death Trick Double Blind early to test. The game releases in a few days, and while I didn’t receive explicit embargo terms, I won’t be reviewing the game too deeply until after its release just in case. This will only be my honest first impressions of the game. 

If you enjoy my reviews or any of my other content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you also follow the socials!

What is Death Trick Double Blind?

Death Trick Double Blind is a mystery visual novel coming to Steam (3/11/24) and Nintendo Switch (3/14/24). I was sent the PC version for early testing.

Morgan’s Traveling Circus has lost its star performer, and it is up to you to figure out what really happened. Take control of a detective and a replacement magical are called in to investigate the disappearance. As you switch between both unique perspectives, you’ll search for clues, interrogate the suspects, and piece together your own conclusion. Can you solve this case and bring peace and justice to the big top?

Gameplay

Players switch between the two investigators and use their turn to gather clues and information. Each turn gives players a limited number of action points to conduct their investigation. You do have to ask questions in the right order or risk angering a suspect and losing your leads. This type of freedom leaves the game open to multiple endings and gives it a lot of replay value. Death Trick Double Blind is a mystery book where you affect the outcome. 

Impressions

I was first drawn to this title because the art is fantastic and the concept is interesting. So far, I am impressed. I love the aesthetic and I always appreciate a good visual novel. As far as the writing goes, Death Trick Double Blind is a solid mystery. It has nice pacing and good characters, and I enjoyed reading it. There is no voice acting, so people who don’t like reading should stay away. For everyone else, it’s worth checking out.

You can preorder Death Trick Double Blind on Steam and Nintendo Switch for $15.99. At the very least try the Switch demo, or add it to your wishlist. It is currently on 10% off on the Nintendo eShop until the games launch on the 14th. 

video game reviews

KONOSUBA:Love For These Clothes Of Desire! is for the Fans

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UPDATE: So I watched the Anime immediately after playing this game and I have to say, this game does a fantastic job at adapting the characters to this new adventure. If you’re a fan of the anime, you’re going to enjoy the game.

I was sent KONOSUBA – God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

What is it?

KONOSUBA – God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! is a visual novel based on the anime of the same name available now on Steam, PlayStation and Switch. . I haven’t had a chance to see the anime yet, but it is on the list/ Kazuma and the gang have found a mysterious black slab that curses them with desires contrary to their personality. They must now use it to create outfits to fulfill those desires and break the curse. What quirky adventure awaits our heroes?

Gameplay

This is a visual novel where you’ll read a non-cannon quirky story about characters from the anime. There is some job management mechanic in between used for gathering materials, but you’re mostly reading a story. This means you either like the anime and want more stories in the universe or don’t like the anime, and the game isn’t for you.

Thoughts

KONOSUBA – God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! is a well-produced game with fantastic voice acting and terrific artwork. The art and tone are a bit on the fan service side, but they are pandering to a specific audience. This means that this game is niche and unless you’re a fan of the anime, I wouldn’t touch it until you are. 

I haven’t seen the anime and couldn’t get engaged. I didn’t catch any of the nuances or references. The production value makes me assume that the characters are truly represented in this quirky adventure, but there is no way of knowing without watching the anime first. There is nothing essentially wrong with the game, but its not for everyone. This is for the fans of the series who want to see their favorite characters go on another adventure and don’t mind the fan service. 

If you’re looking for a web novel and love the series, you can pick up KONOSUBA – God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! on steam for $49.99 on Steam, PlayStation and Switch.