narratively-driven

I’m back once again playing visual novel roulette and the latest bullet for me is C14 Dating by Winter Wolves. My previous knowledge of the dating simulator genre is fleeting but the slimmed down stat tracking and emphasis on friendship does make this more palatable to me. Set amid the […]

C-14 Dating – PS4 Review

April 11, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged archaeology / belgium / c14 dating / dating simulator / geology / narratively-driven / picross / puzzles / visual novel / winter wolves by Mike

As my last review involved dreaming, I might as well keep this existential train rolling. Coming from FFT Games, Into A Dream is a narratively-driven puzzle-platformer about a man’s depression. With some obvious cues from games like Limbo, this game manages to keep the gameplay fairly light whilst delivering some […]

Into a Dream – PS4 Review

March 16, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged depression / fft games / into a dream / narratively-driven / platforming / puzzles by Mike

Can I level with you guys? I don’t think I like the way visual novels play out. I don’t like the stereotypes they conform to, the fact they seem so reluctant to play a straight story. How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered is another one of those. Developed by […]

How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered – PS4 Review

February 20, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged anime / cat girls / creepy japanese / how to take off your mask remastered / narratively-driven / ratalaika / romance / roseverta / visual novel by Mike

It’s another day in the visual novel dungeon and this time Vera Blanc: Ghost in the Castle is my quarry. Ian reviewed Winter Wolves’ last effort Full Moon back in November, to be honest, not much has changed. Our titular heroine is back in the mood for some paranormal investigating. […]

Vera Blanc: Ghost in the Castle – PS4 Review

February 3, 2021 in PS4 / Reviews tagged hangman / narratively-driven / paranormal detective / ratalaika / spot the difference / vera blanc ghost of the castle / visual novel / winter wolves by Mike

As maligned as the visual novel genre is, I keep wondering if I’m going to come across one with a genuinely good story. They do exist but I find the majority I encounter land in the same trappings that stifle my enjoyment of a good read. The latest to cross […]

Autumn’s Journey – PS4 Review

December 15, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged apple cider / autumn's journey / dodgy parenting / dragons / friendship / narratively-driven / romance / visual novel by Mike

The visual novel deluge shows no signs of stopping although at least A Hero and a Garden is more of a clicker than a choose your own adventure. Coming from npckc, this knight’s story features some green thumb gardening and some charming life lessons. Simple in its approach, there’s a […]

A Hero and A Garden – PS4 Review

September 9, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged a hero and a garden / clicker / idle / knight / monsters / narratively-driven / npckc by Mike

I’m having a hard time with the visual novel genre. There’s something about the writing in general that puts me off. It’s a very wordy genre and it’s all very geared towards telling, rather than showing. The next one on my docket is Cinders, from MoaCube. It’s a retelling of […]

Cinders – PS4 Review

August 29, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged choices / cinderella / cinders / fairytale / godmother / moacube / narratively-driven / visual novel by Mike

It’s a stone could fact that there are more visual novels born than people these days. Sure enough, another one has crossed my path asking me to look at some anime artwork whilst trying to pay attention to some dialogue. It’s Nicole‘s turn. Coming from Winter Wolves, this dating simulator […]

Nicole – PS4 Review

August 6, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged college / dating life simulator / mystery / narratively-driven / nicole / visual novel / winter wolves by Mike

Jisei the First Case HD is a visual novel focused entirely around a murder mystery. Centred around a killing at a diner, Sakevisual’s focused narrative provides some simple investigative thrills whilst lacking in some longevity and nuance. The story concerns a murder mystery held entirely within a diner’s premises. A […]

Jisei: The First Case HD – PS4 Review

August 1, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged detective / jisei the first case hd / Murder mystery / narratively-driven / sakevisual / visual novel by Mike

Now I’ve done it. I’ve opened the Pandora’s box on visual novels now and another one has been sent my way. It’s not a genre I’ve ever been enamoured with but at least A Summer With the Shiba Inu offers a decent mystery on paper. It’s a genre where the […]

A Summer with the Shiba Inu

July 5, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged a summer with the shiba inu / dogs / military laser tag / mystery / narratively-driven / quill game studios / spying / visual novel by Mike

Say the words visual novel to me and I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Just through osmosis, I’ve gained a perception of a genre that has a rather uneasy underbelly to it. Strawberry Vinegar manages to punch this home every step of the way. Coming from […]

Strawberry Vinegar – PS4 Review

June 6, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged anime girls / children / choose your own adventure / ebi-hime / feeder fetish / narratively-driven / romance / visual novel by Mike

Her Story‘s a game I completely missed the boat on. Sam Barlow’s attempt at a narrative experience focusing entirely on a police interview raised many eyebrows and critical acclaim. Sam now returns with another desktop detective thriller in Telling Lies. Following up in spirit and structure of its predecessor, this […]

Telling Lies – PS4 Review

May 3, 2020 in PS4 / Reviews tagged espionage / fmv / full motion video / narratively-driven / sam barlow / telling lies / voyeurism by Mike

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