Recent reviews by futaba-tian

To say that I’m disappointed about how this game turned out is to say nothing. The first chapters were so promising! The setting, the descriptions, the mystery, the hecking world building! They were all there, beckoning me with a sweet promise of a good vampire story with hot romance.

And what did I get in the end? A tiny piece of supposedly delicious jelly completely ruined by a chef who had only 10 minutes to cook the dish that usually takes 3 hours.

Anyway, let’s move away from flowery allegories and just talk like a casual gamer to gamer. Here are the traditional points that I use to judge text-based games: the plot, the writing, the characters, and the romance/relationships (if applicable).


I will start with the plot. There is so much missed potential! My heart bleeds at the thought what Vampire's Kiss could be if it got proper treatment. The game has a good start and presents an intriguing secret of your death and what you have become now. Find mysterious artifacts, discover the truth behind your creator, look for allies, gain power or search for the bits of humanity left in your still heart – all of these ideas could have worked so well if only they were properly developed. Sadly, the seeds were sown but the crops were never cultivated: the author tries to present the story as something grand and thrilling, but fails to do so because while most threads do find their endings and answers, they eventually become so underwhelming and rushed, that you can barely care about all those secrets and adventures. The events just happen without you and, to be honest, you do not really affect much. The attack on Alex’s house will happen no matter what, Saffron will start her coupe no matter how close you two are or how powerful her faction is, the artifacts will appear at the right moment even if you don’t really want to look for them, etc.

Second, the writing. All those beautiful descriptions of London streets are so well-written and vivid that you can’t but dive right into the story and its lanes full of vampiric lore. It was also interesting to meet Marky, your future guide, for the first time and get used to his accent and style of speech (the author did a really good job writing this part). Also, the general style is good, consistent. BUT! It is also rushed, terribly so. I’d say the story goes downhill right after the first meeting with court. Everything before it? Mwah, chef’s kiss! Everything after? Where are you running so fast, son?! Slow down a bit and let me enjoy my undead existence, sheesh. For some reason, the style also becomes worse in these parts – more repetitive words, less variety of vocabulary in general, etc.

Next, the characters, and this is the worst part, if you ask me. No, not because they are boring – quite the opposite, actually. There are lots of amazing personalities and each one is unique and distinct enough that you will never mistake one for another. But… yep, again this pesky ‘but’ in the form of rushed writing: barely anybody gets enough screen time to make you actually care for them, not to mention show more than two sides of their colorful personas. One chapter you are barely acquaintances, next you are already besties or even lovers. It does not work like this! This is lazy and boring; this is lack of attention to your own creations – something that a good author never does. And I do not even want to talk about our ‘creator’ who gets exactly two or three pages through the whole story and is barely even there!. Just warn you right away: if you expect anything interesting, abandon hope all ye who enter here. The only thing you get is the worst possible cliché that every second vampire story about ‘the chosen one’ suffers from.

The last but not least, what about the relationships? For a Heart's Choice title, which main focus *IS* the romance itself first and foremost, Vampire's Kiss is a complete failure. All romantic interests, as I have already mentioned, barely spend any time with you before falling head over heels for the person who they have know for less than a week. You want meaningful dialogues and exciting meeting under the moon? Ha! You will see one at best (if you are lucky) at the very beginning. After it, everything is so rushed that we jump from flirting right into bed. Oh, and speaking of the bed: the sex scenes are so, so lackluster and short that even mildly pron fanfics from AO3 can offer you hotter stuff. Almost all scenes felt like they were written by an amateur whose only experience with adult stuff are the bad examples of the said fanfics (I cringed so badly during Kurt’s scene that got myself a headache). Why Vampire's Kiss even has the three-chili-pepper rating on the CoG forum is beyond me.


What is wrong with Vampire's Kiss? Mainly its length. The story feels like it was set to be something grand and captivating, but then either the author hit a deadline or they just got bored with their own plot and decided, “Nah, I’m done. Let’s wrap it up ASAP and get some beer.” There is no other way to explain why the book’s second part turned out to be such a letdown.

Overall, if you are not experienced with text-based games in general, you might like this story for the several good things it offers: interesting characters, a proper setting, beautiful descriptions, and an actual mystery that you need to solve. However, more seasoned players will definitely be disappointed with all the downsides I described above. Buy Vampire's Kiss at your own risk and do not expect much to begin with - this way you will not be as disappointed as I was, at least.

I bought this pack for The Apotheosis track - God is it nectar for my brain!!!

Oh, and also to support the awesome developers that made one of the best visual novels of this year (or maybe even ever). Both the artists and the composer also did a fabulous job and deserve respect, love and a good financial bonus. Thank you! <3


There are 56 tracks in total of 320kbps MP3 quality. This is the full collection of all music available in the game.

As for the wallpapers, these include three folders: 1080p, 2k and 4k. Each contains 163 pictures, in all their black-and-white glory, with mostly but not all variations of art for each and every special scene.

For a long time, I couldn’t understand why this game is about love. How is killing someone shows your devotion to them? How is eldritch horror haunting you in a small cabin in the middle of the woods the one person you can actually find solace with? But now, after seeing a version of the true ending, I can say…

This game is indeed about love.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3059020324


I don't usually write reviews after playing a game for less than two-four hours, but this one is an exception (plus, I have experience with the demo and Black Tabby's other gem of a game called Scarlet Hollow).

It's a masterpiece in the genre, plain and simple. Words fail me to describe how good everything is, from voice acting to writing to visuals to the idea itself. I LOVE games that play with my mind, that make me question everything, that actually force me to think. Maybe my love for philosophy is at play here, too, but Slay the Princess scratches just all the right spots in my cerebral matter. I’ve opened just one full ending so far and it has already blown my mind not to mention that the game closed itself after one of my choices and then recognized when I returned. How cool is that?!

If you are here for some light reading, close the game right away and look for something else. Slay the Princess wants to challenge your very understanding of reality and morals, and it does it beautifully. You ask questions, you get answers, but only your own mind can find interpretation for them, each one unique and precious. Whether it is violence that guides you or idealism, there is always a path to the truth. Would you want to see it, though? If you love her, you will.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3059275764

I have already mentioned that the visual and sound elements of this visual novel are just superb, but you cannot even imagine how magical they are. Each picture, each tune, whether broken, calming or terrifying, sets the scene for different Princesses and Heroes. They intertwine into threads that make the universe itself.

The choices matter, they really do. Even the smallest attempt at exploration can change your path completely, sometimes even locking you out of some. Most extra questions are just for flavor, of course, but you never know which one is not and it is fascinating.

I should also warn you that Slay the Princess is a very dark and heavy story. Do not expect a happy ending with a beautiful bride and all bad guys slain – you are not here for this. You are here to discover who you are and what you are ready to sacrifice on your way to freedom. There is also gore, blood, unsettling images and many other things that can make you feel uncomfortable. The game is a psychological horror, remember?

What else can I say? I think you can already understand how much I adore this little gem in all its haunting beauty. However, there is one thing, one spoonful of salt in the honey: the game’s length. For me, 4-5 hours for one playthrough are quite good. Perfect, even, as the game is rather heavy on the brain. However, some people will say that it is too short, not enough for the asking price. The important thing to remember, though, is the absolutely incredible replayability that this visual novel offers. Just check out the achievements – there are almost 100 of them, each a different choice, ending or death. To explore them all, even if the variations of the grand final are limited, will take your lots and lots of time, trust me.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3059272080


There are no wrong choices, no wrong paths – just the infinity. But also love, despair, fear, evil and good, horror, beauty. The Princess must be slain, but only you choose if you want to. After all, what is the end of the world in the grand scheme of things, right?

If you’re looking for a truly marvelous, one-of-a-kind game, Slay the Princess is a must-buy. It will lull you with its soft embrace and calm tunes and then smack across the face when you least expect it. If you have already played Scarlet Hollow, you know how good the writing can be. If you have not, then go and buy this brilliant title too. But do return to the Princess after it.
She is waiting for you…

TELEFORUM is one of those little hidden gems that you find completely by accident and then fall in love with.

I’m a sucker for the horror genre of almost all types (exorcism being the main exception), so when I saw the overwhelmingly positive rating and the screenshots… I knew this game was made just for me.


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3058180677

This is what horror games should be about! Not just simple jumpscares or monsters but a truly unsettling atmosphere where your every step can lead to something horrible. And you know what’s even better? The unknown. Your feel on your very skin that there’s something dangerous lurking behind the corner, but you can’t see what it is. Your imagination starts playing tricks on you: was it a huge shadow over there? Nah, just a black dog. Or was it…?

Yes, the atmosphere in TELEFORUM is just unparalleled, both thanks to its visuals and music. I swear if they ever release a paid DLC for the soundtrack from the main menu, I’ll buy it in a second. This eerie tune is the chef’s kiss the master leaves on his already delicious dish.

Speaking of the story itself, it’s very short but man does it keep you on your toes the whole time! You never know what might come next or which decision will kill you. Maybe none of your choices actually matter as you’re already doomed?

Another important plus, at least for me, is the found-footage element. I can’t tell you how many films I’ve watched in this genre but only few of them were really good. TELEFORUM is one of those rare species – it does absolutely everything right.

To sum up, there is nothing to complain about except for maybe the length of the game. I wish, oh how badly I wish it was longer! And that we could go through a really big investigation to get to the darkest depths of insanity. Detective and horror? Yes, please!

I also pray that Monumental Collab release even more games in the future, possibly in the same style as there is a hint at the possibly upcoming title about a lake in the end.

For now, let’s cross our fingers, folks, and watch some VHS. After all, nothing can go wrong, right?...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3058190289

A very, very, very, very tentative yes or a soft no – more so because I’m a pretty lenient person in general rather than anything special about the game, to be honest. If there was a neutral option, I’d choose it.

Before we start with the actual review, let’s make one thing clear: such games are always about money, one way or another. If people tell you that you can play it for free, they either embellish things a bit or spend tons of hours farming for stuff, or maybe even both. I’m not a completely free player myself, yet I do think that you actually CAN play Book Of Yog without spending a coin on it – while also suffering, waiting, collecting, and yep, you guessed it, grinding. This RPG is aaaaaall about grinding, hence my 1350+ hours in it. The good thing is that you don’t have to do everything yourself because it’s an idle game. Is it a good thing, though? Let’s see!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977774755

• The most attractive thing for new players is the gift codes. No, I’m not joking: you will rely on them a lot to build even a relatively normal team. When I first started playing, there was always a bunch of codes every week, which supplied all the diamonds I needed. Now, there are somewhat less, but still enough to help you stay afloat. This is the main reason why I claim that Book Of Yog can be played without investing any money for the most part (unless you’re aiming for leaderboards), but as soon as the developers stop posting them… then my opinion will change. For now, though, everything is good on the Eastern front;
  
  
• An interesting setting. It was what caught my attention the most when I saw the game for the first time, and it was also what kept me in the game through the first tedious months of playing. If only there were more story bits to it!
  
  
• Some time ago, the developers added a super speed function for all battles (double and triple acceleration), which made things far better.;
  
  
• Many modes; most of them are PvE ones – the only PvP option I can think of is the Arena, so you won’t be oppressed by high-level behemoths most of the time. Great thing for a newbie or a f2p guy! Plus a plethora of events every month;
  
  
• Good artwork and 3D models – though, IMHO, girls could use more clothes and, khm, underwear (*looking at Usilotti in particular*);
  
  
• A nice variety of units to choose from;
  
  
• Developers are constantly working on their product – not always for the best, but making games is all about trial and error;
  
  
• And last but definitely not least: idle gameplay. If you are like me – an overworked, always busy and constantly tired gamer who just wants to play something simple with anime girls from time to time – this game is a good enough choice. Just launch it at the beginning of your work day and close it at the end – voila, you have a bunch of stuff done and collected without lifting a finger. There is one issue here that I will talk about later, though.
  
  
• Extra: not a pro for me, but a huge one for others - big bazoombas, little clothes. Male brain go brrr.

• As in all gachas, some characters are unfairly overpowered. Go to the Arena to see it in all its glory. Don’t fool yourself and think that you can survive with just rare and S characters – you can’t;
  
  
• The gameplay becomes repetitive quite fast – something that all idle RPGs suffer from, sadly;
  
  
• Barely any story as of now;
  
  
• The quality of translation isn’t consistent. The main parts are pretty good as are some bonding stories, but others are still full of hieroglyphs and machine-translated sentences;
  
  
• I’m indifferent to skimpy outfits on girls, but some people do love them;
  
  
• Music. Can one track for all stages can be considered as one? You decide;
  
  
• Occasional bugs and freezes. You don’t lose any progress because of them, though.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977775848

• Too many currencies and resources. We have diamonds – the juice for spending-real-money-on-your-game aficionados; we have sanguine stones – for those of us who want to throw even more money at gacha; we have soul crystals to upgrade some skills and for equipment fusion; we have lura (gold coins) and echo (experience); we have glory, academy, guild and labyrinth coins for different shops; crystalized mist for one more and Blacktide medals for an even more advanced option; AP for events; onyxes (gems) to improve equipment; runes and talent manuals; the Commander’s job experience; and etc. and etc. It might sound like a good thing – many ways to get what you need, right? – but in reality, such a huge variety can overwhelm you rather fast. And if you’re a new player, well, I wish you good luck – you’ll need it to trudge through ALL of these;
  
  
• Speaking of overabundance, the equipment… oh God, the equipment! There is so, so much to look after! And woe is you if you didn’t use the right guide to dress your characters – I made this mistake, and trust me, the process of changing literally everything was a painful one. The stats are confusing for a less sophisticated RPG gamer and aren’t as obvious as they might seem. For some reason, class-specific equipment is more useless than random one more often than not, as it turned out;
  
  
• Grinding, massive amounts of grinding and farming and managing things. Want to speed up things? Take out your wallet;
  
  
• Your backpack has limited space, so be ready to invest several thousand crystals in its expansion as there is no way you’ll be able to keep all the necessary stuff without them. I find it partially annoying that we can’t get rid of onyxes to free some much-needed space;
  
  
• The difficulty curve can be steep. You’ll feel it in Ria’s tower and story chapters the most. Oh the story chapters… how much of my blood have you drunk over the first few months… I was on the verge of quitting at some point so infuriating the bosses were – you can upgrade your team through and through and still get obliterated by one of them withing seconds. Oh, and the new mode called Oblivion Places? Send F in the chat for your whole team and just go somewhere else. The very fact that you need to clear 750 (!) stages of another mode called Misty Mountains already tells you how much pain in the butt it is;
  
  
• After the recent update, the Commander has become a dead unit. If previously you were able to actually use him in single-mode of the story, now I doubt you’ll be able to get past the normal difficulty. Honestly, the new skill system is more confusing than useful;
  
  
• Surprisingly, a lot of clicking for an idle game. Caused by the issue I mentioned above – overabundance of stuff. Many processes are automated, but a lot still require your constant attention. You can’t play the game without micromanagement, in particular in terms of equipment.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3021618804


Can you play the game for free? Yes, you can. Will it be an enjoyable process? Not always.

The only reason this review is positive for now is the generous amount of gift codes. Book Of Yog is in Early Access for a reason – it has issues, bugs and untranslated parts. The gameplay needs more balance and more substance to it, as well as much less resources and currencies.

The developers have a long road ahead of them, but if you’re ready to wait, give their idle RPG a chance. Maybe you just want something lazy and simple, right? Just enjoy yourself and put a lock on your wallet. Less money spent, less tears shed.

And I still happily torture myself with the love triangle. My sweetest drug, my asngst-filled remedy, my vampire-themed passion…

And yet…and yet I cannot give this game a positive review, even though it pains me a lot to post a negative one after such a long wait, after all the excitement I felt when my mail was graced with one simple message “Wayhaven Chronicles: Book 3 has been released”. The story turned out to be too underwhelming to let me overlock the drawbacks this time. Not to mention that I did not get even half of the enjoyment from it that I experienced while playing the second title.

Ugh, I am getting sad again. Or angry. Have not decided yet. Anyway, here are my general thoughts – so far, - about the two routes I have completed (love triangle and Nat’s).


Once again, I would like to complement the characters in this series. I love them to bits – even Bobby and Douglas. The romantic interests have well-developed personalities and are unique in many ways. Not to mention that they are starting to show even more of their dark past.

There are also several important paths that you can take as side-stories. Did you tell Tina or Verda about the supernatural world in the second book? Did you kiss Bobby? Or helped Douglas? Well, you can now see the consequences of your actions – and enjoy a very special dinner along the way *wink-wink*. I loved these extra bits the most, to be honest, as they showed some new sides of our companions and friends along with just generally being a lot of fun.

Speaking of the general story flow, it is still quite good. Some parts did feel rushed, in particular the final confrontation (oh, I am gonna bash this part so much in the next part of the review…). But overall, the plot kept me hooked until the very end.

The writing…is the same as before. If you liked the previous books, you will not see any issues with it here. I still (and again) would like to point general repetitiveness of some structures and words, but none of them are too distracting, so it is not really a con – more like a personal complaint. And I must admit, there were far less of them that in previous books, which is a major improvement.


I will be honest here and say that I might have set my expectations too high after completing the demo multiple (read: almost a hundred) times. For example, I was ready for major angst in the love triangle, maybe even a grand confrontation between the guilty parties. Did I get it? Spoiler: nope! What I did get was again a ton of pining (I swear, thanks to this series we will be able to reforest the whole planet soon!), refusal to admit feelings, heart pains and yada-yada, the same old. This dynamic was OK in the first half of the book, but when I understood that this whole ‘will-they-won’t-they’ thing was going to last until the very end, the tendrils of cold despair caught my heart in their iron grip. This slow-burning drama is talking too much time already, even for me.

N’s route was more pleasant in this part as you can have an established relationship with them from the beginning. This brings some really sweet moments, as well as reveals some important stuff about N’s past (which is also covered in LT if you choose them at the right moments). Still, some part left me wanting more. Yep, N’s lovers can finally have some hot time with their Agent Suavewell, but it felt so…meaningless, to be honest? Like, it’s just one scene and it is brushed aside really fast.

In addition to the (somewhat) unfulfilling romance, the most unforgivable crime is the ending. And the villain connected to it. The book has been building up to the huge fight, showing the main antagonist as some super-uber bad guy who can trick anyone and kill you in an instant. And how does it end? If a complete flop, if you ask me. The whole ordeal is so ridiculous that I was left with an open mouth and a single loud thought swirling in my sleep-deprived brain, “What, is that actually all?!” No, seriously, how could all this potential have been screwed over so badly?! Compared to Murphy in the first book, the auctioneer is just a gaffe – we beat her with the simplest possible tricks during just one scene where she acts like a completely inexperienced buffoon. And this is supposed to be the woman who enslaves people, manipulates them and has somehow managed to force a bond on Anunnaki? Seriously? Oh, and speaking of the Anunnaki in question, his own conflict resolution is non-existent. Literally two sentences and 'hey, thanks and all, but I need to go. Or maybe I'll join you if you got enough points with me.' And that is it. I am not joking.

Either I have built my detective so well that he turned out to be a Gary Stu or there is something seriously wrong with these scenes. How can everything go SO perfectly well? One moment my guy was shown as completely broken and mentally drained and the next one he saves the day with a mere flick of the wrist. The author is trying so hard to show how difficult and strenuous these situations have to be for the protagonist – by constantly mentioning that we are tired and need sleep, and rest, and tea, and some hecking normal communication, - to then solve everything within seconds. All this build-up literally for nothing.

And the last, very personal complaint: I did not like how certain emotions were forced on my character. In my first playthrough I had a very mind-focused detective who was supposed to be cool and collected most of the time with very few things that could rattle him. However, the story constantly told me how sad he was, how guilty he felt, how he blaimed himself for everything. This is not the kind of personality I was going for, at all. It also contrasted heavily with the conversation choices I made and the general image I was trying to create. Which was annoying, very.

However, I add this complaint to the 'Lucy's things to b i tch about' and not a major con because these kind of emotions worked for my other detective (Lorelei, the heart-focused and sarcastic girl boss) really well and helped to develop her even further. So, to sum up, the narrative works for some characters but not for the others, and depending on what you want, you will either get a perfect boost or an irritating issue.


To be honest, Book 3 feels more like an interlude between the solid second part and the potentially groundbreaking forth/fifth (as hinted by the author). For me, the story started going downhill somewhere after the middle – there was one very good and intense moment that could have led to amazing bits and drama, but…but hardly any of it was utilized later on. Compared to the second book, it reeks of wasted potential.

I still have three more routes to complete – M’s, F’s and A’s, - and I hope that I will enjoy them more, but so far, the story has been too sour for my taste. Not enough is given, not much is developed, too many repetitive scenes, actions and words. I was expecting more, I wanted more.

Will I wait for the fourth book? Yep, because I am a maniac (and a fangirl). And I want that LT angst to finally come to fruition, damn it! Will I set my expectations as high as before? No, I have learned my lesson. Better this than feeling so dissatisfied in the end.

When I first saw the description for this game months ago on the Choice of Games forum, it struck me as something that might be a mix of Wayhaven Chronicles and Heart of the House. And if you have read my reviews for these two titles, you should know how much I love both. If you have not, then the answer is simple: I. FREAKING. ADORE. THEM. I would sell my whole collection of manga for the chance to read the third book of WHC right now.

Did The Fernweh Saga manage to satisfy my cravings for some trilling mystery, hot guys and smartass banter? Without further ado, let us find the answer to this interesting question!


So, the four pillars of any good text adventure: the story, the writing, the characters, the relationships (and romance, if applicable).

Speaking of the general plot, I was hooked up from the very beginning to the end. The mystery is elaborate enough to make you think of literally any possible conspiracy theories that might be going on in the sleepy town of Fernweh: from more magical ones to something creepier. The triller is also present in abundance as the unknown is constantly haunting the protagonist and you get far more questions than answers. There is a small issue here as you literally cannot die even if you do your best to act stupid, but this is just the first book in the series, so it makes sense. Anyway, I think that this game still delivers what it promises in the description pretty well.

What about the writing, you ask? Well, let me start with some critique: some scenes were just too long. There was no need to water them down so much, IMHO. I cannot say that I was bored out of my mind, but constant walls of descriptions were tiresome at times. More action would be welcome. However, the general narration is quite pleasant. It has a good start, series of exciting events, enough interactions with different people, collection of mysteries and tips, and a proper ending. I did not find any parts rushed or illogical, which is a plus. Also, just some small random typos here and there. Oh, and there were very interesting changes of perceptive from time to time! Not full-blown retelling of events by other people (like in WHC, The Golden Rose, The Midnight Safa, and The Shadow Society, for example), but small glimpses into their thoughts and feelings.

Now, the characters and their relationships. I liked all of them (and Verner in particular)! There is a good range of personalities, which include both the main cast and people in the background. I vividly remember most of them after completing the first playthrough. You get a good feel of who you are dealing with from the very beginning and learn more about many characters by the end of the book. There are also a lot of chances to build proper relationships with four potential friends/romantic interests, plus one love triangle option (I think it is also a potential poly one) and a special secret option. Mind you, all these budding feelings are only beginning to bloom in this part of the story, so do not go into the game with dreams of any grand confessions or even kisses (which pains my heart a lot, but oh well…). What you should expect, though, are very obvious signs of minor affection – from meaningful glances to light touches. The romance in Fernweh is a very slow-burning affair. If this is your cup of tea, then you will enjoy such dynamics quite a lot.

And the last part: the protagonist and their personality. You have an abundance of options in this pasrt. Build literally anybody you like - from a shy wallflower to a sarcastic bastard to a silent sceptic. It is up to you to decide how your characters interacts with others and the world around them.


As some people have already mentioned in other reviews, there are indeed problems with some railroading and choices. You are always forced to participate in events no matter how your character reacts to them. But I think there is actually a legitimate reason for this. Let me explain (but careful: lots of spoilers ahead!): the game tells us several times that something or somebody is playing with us. We are part of some grand machinations that are destined to lead to some specific outcome. Even in the end we cannot leave because the town forces us to come back to complete the play. So, in my opinion, this is not as much railroading as just part of the story itself. The game master has challenges for us that we must always complete, and currently the protagonist is not strong enough to go against their wishes.

If we take my theory into account, it makes sense that most choices focus on building relationships and our character’s personality rather than giving a branching story like the various beginning of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, for example.

However, I also acknowledge that what I find logical and acceptable will irritate other players. If you are you looking for lots of meaningful choices, The Fernweh Saga is not something you should purchase unless you are ready for possible disappointment.

Also, the detective parts are not very strong as they fall prey to the same issue as in case with Wayhaven Chronicles – no matter how you investigate things, you will always end up in the same place. So, there is no actual chance to fail except for the final battle where you actions may harm Milton (the trapped boy).

What else…well, I have already mentioned the pretty lackluster romance. It is really just the beginning, so be ready for very limited interactions. To address this drawback a bit, I made some extra characters fall for my girl, so she had more than enough attention to mostly satisfy my need for attractive admirers. Do not judge my guilty pleasure, please, - sometimes it is good to be a bit of a Mary Sue ^^

And the last but not least: a major cliffhanger in the end. Hate those? Better wait until the other books in the series are released years later.


Considering my high expectation combined with the status of the first game released by Hosted Games in 2023, The Fernweh Saga: Book One has quite a task on its hands: to set the right tone for the genre and to truly impress a person who has 90% of the whole HoG, CoG and Heart’s Choice catalogue.

In the end, I would say that it managed to do both pretty well. I cannot wait to find out more about the dark secrets of Fernweh! Despite the obvious railroading, there is still good replayability as you will want to experience different romances and create multiple protagonists with unique personalities. The mystery and suspense hold you through the whole story, and writing is overall pleasant despite some excessive descriptions.

I hope you will enjoy The Fernweh Saga: Book One. And if you are still in doubt, the demo is always available to check out first.

Short story: I was left severely disappointed. And you can read the long story down below.

Now, a very important note before we start with the actual review: Teahouse of the Gods is this type of story that you either hate or love – no in-between. Even though my own experience was negative, other people found the game very enjoyable, even brilliant. So, instead of just reading what others have to say, play the demo first. It will give you the general idea of what you get in the full version (except for the romance and its problems).


TL;DR for pros: beautiful descriptions of Chinese traditions and culture, interesting personalities of the main cast (with some reservations), mouthwatering dishes, great attention to environmental protection, Chinese phrases in dialogues, LGBTQA+ friendly, many choices, an easy-to-understand stats system, and very meta lore.

• Some moments were honestly good – the author is brilliant at writing about Chinese traditions and culture, for example. You dive right into the rich story of China and when you get past the initial culture shock, you are treated to some of the most beautiful myths;
  
  
• Many interesting characters with fleshed out personalities. You get to spend at least some time with almost all of them;
  
  
• Do not play the game if you are hungry. No joking, food descriptions here are just next level and get an abundance of attention (sometimes even too much);
  
  
• Environment is the core motive of the whole story. The game talks about our negligence towards nature, which is an important part of our life that we, sadly, often forget about it;
  
  
• Three options to choose from in terms of language: if you know Chinese well, make your character a fluent speaker and enjoy special dialogues. Or go for the middle ground and get some bits that you can easily translate with Google. Or you can always be that clueless foreigner and speak English and English only;
  
  
• Romance anyone you like – almost all your partners are open for any options, including one poly. How good the romance will be is another story, though;
  
  
• Not all choices are meaningful, but they help you shape your character’s personality well enough. For the most part. The stats are also very easy to navigate;
  
  
• Stylish heaven and programming in hell. Be ready for the craziest things.

TL;DR for cons: very questionable writing style that does not go well with the story flow which is jumpy at best and very inconsistent at worst. Many things you do have zero affect on anything and serve just as a background that is easily forgotten. The same goes for people around your character, even the main cast that I praised in the previous section. Romantic options are set in stone and cannot be changed, so offer very little actual choice. Several coding errors and grammar/vocabulary mistakes.

• Hit-or-miss writing. I do not like styles that favor short sentences and repetitions. I see more than enough of them in essays of my elementary level students. And the strangest part is that the author actually CAN write beautiful long paragraphs presented in an elaborate way. So I just do not understand why others are so… underwhelming. You will also encounter some mistakes and errors;
  
  
• Very inconsistent story flow. I will be short and blunt here – this part is the weakest in the whole book. There are a lot of watered-down descriptions between the actions, while the actions themselves are too fast-paced most of the time. As I have said before, there are genuinely good scenes that were interesting to explore. However, there were way more that ended abruptly and left a lot of questions. And last chapters feel rushed to a fault.
  
  One more problem: jumping between scenes. You are in a restaurant with Qin? Well, do not be surprised if next second you find yourself in the forest with A’Li. Or shopping with somebody. Or doing literally anything else anywhere in the region. Sometimes, it felt like I was reading ten stories at once that were connected just by the main character and one of their friends.
  
  
• Too many places, too many people, too many events. And most are generally insignificant. And why are we forced to spend so much time with Xingtu? I stated my dislike for them several times and yet still had to go to many places with this person and deal with their attitude. And enjoy it???
  
  
• As a result of the previous point, criminally little time is given to some very important characters. For example, Qin is barely even there after the event with pandas. She appears only when it is convenient for the plot. The King of Hell? Well, he is grumpy, but a good guy in general. But what else? What is your character’s opinion about him? Do you even have anything but a shallow understanding of his actions and personality? The Origin of the Universe? Oh, he has a crazy fashion style. And he likes changing accent. That’s it. But the main offender is Xingtu – there is SO much build-up for them being a possible villain that goes to NOTHING! Literally nothing!! Argh!!! Instead, everyone is constantly eating something, which, for some reason, gets more attention than the crazy things going around them;
  
  
• Unfulfilling and limited romance. There are three options and all three of them are locked in very specific ways. You have an ancient being who is your past lover and who still loves you unconditionally oh, sorry, there is actually one "small" condition - you can't be you – and she is always a woman. You have a fox spirit who is cute and bashful and sees you as nothing but a friend. AND YOU WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING BUT A FRIEND TO HIM!!! Because he is already in love with Victoria. Why A’Li is even offered as a romantic option is beyond me; to say that I found his route wanting is an understatement. And he is always a man. You also have a local businessperson who is tricky and devilish and wants to date you for some unknows reason. And they are always a nonbinary who doesn't know how to love;
  
  
• And the worst crime – extremely abrupt and unsatisfactory ending. The journey was good while it lasted, but you get next to nothing when it finishes. You move somewhere for 20 chapters, accumulate a lot of lore and hints and suspicions, prepare for an epic battle, and then receive only half of what was promised if not less. Are you happy?

I tried to like Teahouse of the Gods - I gave it all my heart even before I started playing. However, in turn I got only a strange mush of…something. Was it because of the confusing story flow? Or questionable writing? Or maybe my failed romance affected my attitude towards the game?

So, in the end, I settled on the negative review. It saddens me because there are seriously awesome cultural bits in the game. And the ideas about nature and its protection reminded me of Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, two of my most favorite movies. But ultimately, there was too little pay off to my efforts, which, in turn, left me too frustrated to overlook all the shortcomings.

However, I once again recommend giving the demo a go. Judging by other reviews, there is a good chance that you will have a completely different experience.

Despite my undying love for horror, I have somehow completely missed out on its hide-and-seek subgenre. Which, in turn, also means that I have not actually played the original Evil Nun games. Quite a loss, as I understand now.

Currently, The Broken Mask is in Early Access (the dreadful curse of many fine and not so fine games nowadays), so I am basing my judgement on what is currently available. If something changes in the future, I will add this to the review, of course.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2886738557


So, let’s begin our journey into the crazy school.

I was thoroughly impressed with this game’s design. Yes, some facial expressions of our ‘cute’ nun are actually a tad goofy – no offence, m'lady, - but overall, she can be pretty scarry. The school itself is beautiful, as well as the nature surrounding it. Screenshot aficionados will have a field day there…if they do not die first. Luckily, there is a special mode (with extra editing tools) that allows you to take pictures undisturbed even during the hunt, so get those stellar shots, folks!

But I digress. Returning to the topic of visuals, the computer version shows some great improvement in this part compared to the mobile one. I compared screenshot from both and the differences are obvious. However, I cannot guarantee that your computer will be able to process all this beauty properly. Even my rather decent PC with nVidia GeForce RTX 3070 had noticeable freezes more than once. I cannot say that they make the game unplayable, but they sure are annoying. It is still a performance issue that, hopefully, will be optimized in the future.

Speaking of more positive aspects of the game, its atmosphere is doing a good job of scaring you. The hellish fire is burning in the middle of your prison, and mysterious handprints are your only guide to freedom. The evil nun is running along the ruined corridors, waiting for even the smallest mistake on your side. And is it somebody crying softly in the distance?

I can also see that developers pay close attention to details – from blood streaks on the floor to flowers on wallpapers. You can find symbols of the evil religion everywhere – and be careful, they tend to fall on you from time to time. There is also one easter egg hidden somewhere in the dark, but I am not going to spoil it for you :)

Oh, by the way! I have almost forgotten to talk about the music! I really enjoyed it – the composers did a great job setting the moods for various scenes, and sound designers did not disappoint either. My only complaint here is that the piano track was a bit distracting while I was listening for footsteps. Other than that, it is truly beautiful and relaxing. (A DLC with music collection from the game, pretty please? I would gladly pay for it just to get this track.)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2886737831


Hmmm, what else…ah, the gameplay! That is what you are most interested in, right? Well, as a person who knows barely anything about digital hide-and-seek, I was not expecting much. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed tricking the nun.

I recommend starting on the easy difficulty. This way you get enough time to look around. It takes some time to learn the school’s layout properly as there is no map, but as soon as you run through it several times, you start noticing hiding spots reflexively. Does not mean the nun does not spot them too, though. Depending on the settings you choose, this woman can be very, very perceptive. Good thing that she does not hear you breathing, at least.

There are several endings (with achievements), so the game actively encourages you to explore it. Some escape plans require a lot of effort, but they are oh so worth it! You will also need to think smart and solve some puzzles. And there is a very special secret that you can find if you…shhh! It is a secret, after all.

Sadly, due to the current EA status I mentioned before, a lot of locations are still closed. More often than not you will find those pesky locked doors along your way and to tell you the truth, I am dying to open them as soon as possible. The wait is killing me faster than the hyper sensitive nun with a sledge hammer. If you are not a big fan of that, you might want to put Evil Nun on your wishlist first and return to it on the full release.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2886737612


Do not know much about the genre? Neither did I and still enjoyed the game quite a lot! If you are looking for something new and want to try your hand at hiding in a closet or a cupboard, Evil Nun: The Broken Mask is a very good choice.

Skeptical about Early Access? Understandable, but do not skip the game because of it. True, the most interesting parts have not been added yet, but the ones we already have are more than enough to keep you entertained for at least 10 hours (maybe less, if you are a faster learner than me). They give you a good taste of what you can expect from the full game, too.

Is it worth the full price? To be honest, I think yes, it is. A good discount is always nice too, of course, and I am a huge fan of those, but judging by the amount of content and its quality, I would say that the developers are doing a great job and should be rewarded for it.

To sum up, I wholeheartedly recommend Evil Nun: The Broken Mask and will be looking forward to its full version. I still have a bone to pick with this woman for that time she made we work in the laundry….

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2889540822


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🌸 An interesting and touching story about rabbits and their society. Did you know that they have their own language? And are hiding a Bunniversity from us? Most probably it is so advanced that its fees do not cost them blood, tears and the life of their firstborns;

🌸 Actual lore and proper world-building – nothing too extensive, but lots of curious stuff to read;

🌸 Extremely cute and well-drawn art – from rabbits’ sprites to literally everything around them – which makes the adventure truly magical. Also, no blood and gore;

🌸 Beautiful backgrounds with animated and interactive elements;

🌸 Lovely music that fits the mood;

🌸 Smooth platforming and lots of interesting levels with different mechanics. Easy to learn but quite hard to master;

🌸 Puzzles!

🌸 Secrets and hidden paths plus various collectables – seeds, statues with messages, presents, and many others;

🌸 You can talk to your bunny friend and learn more about them to get side-stories with special pictures (Early Access note: currently, only one is available).


💮 Occasional typos and mistakes in translation;

💮 When jumping between levels, the rabbit can sometimes freeze for several seconds (or her movements become really slow);

💮 Currently in Early Access.


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https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2889541735


Look me in the eyes and tell me that you never wanted to play as a cute rabbit. I bet my first student’s salary that you can’t! So, get your credit card and pay to our mighty furry overlords for the drop of their wisdom and glory. And some wholesome platforming with gorgeous art, of course.



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🐰17 November 2022. Afternoon.🐰

Dear Diary,

Big rabbits…oh, sorry, Captain says we should not really call them that. Humans are destroying Alfa, our home. We have been living under the park for ages and I do like my room. But it is time to leave…

Before us, there were other rabbits that ventured outside. Jorge and friends started their own expedition years ago and they even left us a map. Where does it lead, you ask? To the rabbit paradise! Will it have carrots, blueberry pies and soft pillows? Who knows. But what we do know is that the way to this sweet place is a dangerous one.

OK, I think I have gathered all my things. I really should not forget anything…this time. Others are already waiting for me, so I’d better go now. Hop hop hop!

🐰17 November 2022. Evening.🐰

WOW! Wow!! I have already forgotten how big the outside world is! There are so-o-o-o many strange things! Did big rabbits bring all of them here? What is this ominous looking stone? Oh, and what about this rabbit statue? He must really like carrots (bleh, I hate them!).

My friends are also interested in the new things – Captain and Bianca know so much about everything. They are so smart! Montblanc…he seems to be really nervous. I can understand him. The Outside can be really dangerous for us rabbits. Well, at least Jose is enjoying himself as much as I do.

By the way, Captain said that we can find Seeds somewhere around here. If I plant them, I can get messages left by Jorge's Expedition. Some are really well hidden, though. Well, now I am definitely going to jump to all these platforms! It will be my own mini-adventure. Hope I don’t land on those thorns…they seem to be quite sharp.

🐰17 November 2022. Night.🐰

Phew! I must say, this journey is turning out to be A LOT OF FUN! I jump and I jump and I jump and there are still more things to explore! My friends are always with me, so I am not afraid of the Outside anymore.

We have already found some secret technologies left to us by other rabbits. They must have been very smart too because even Montblanc does not know how some of these work. But I found a secret message on one of the statues. It looks like a puzzle. Hm… I must solve it!

Anyway, we are coming close to the bridge. Soon Alfa is going to be completely left behind us. It is sad…but also exciting. I am finally moving to new places. Maybe I will find Jorge and him team? That would be awesome! And maybe there will also be new friends among other animals?

I think that is all for today, Dear Diary. It is time for me to join others on our path to the new home. Wish me good luck!

P.S. Thank you. I love you and all my sweet memories that you keep for me. The smell of that delicious blueberry pie, the petals of the white flower that Jose presented me on the first day, the picture of my room, the notes on your yellow pages…Everything is so dear to my heart. And I promise to add even more precious memories to you in the future. You’ll see!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2889543620