7'scarlet
- March 12, 2019
- IDEA FACTORY
"7'scarlet" is a single-player Romance Visual Novel game with an intriguing story, good graphics, and a compelling soundtrack. Explore the mysterious town of Okunezato to find your missing brother, uncover dangerous truths, and experience heart-racing twists. Choose your fate by exploring multiple character paths, and enjoy stunning artwork and beautiful character illustrations. The game features plenty of humor, a dense atmosphere, and high emotions.
Reviews
- The story is engaging and well-structured, with a mystery that unfolds gradually through each character's route.
- The artwork and voice acting are high quality, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The characters are interesting and well-developed, with each route providing unique insights into their backgrounds and motivations.
- The game frequently crashes, especially during scene transitions and saving, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- The protagonist is often seen as bland and naive, which can detract from the immersion and relatability of the character.
- Some routes feel rushed or predictable, lacking depth in the romantic development compared to the overarching mystery.
- story616 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is engaging and layered, featuring a mix of mystery, romance, and unexpected plot twists that keep players invested. However, many reviewers noted issues with pacing, plot holes, and a passive main character, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the narrative's structure encourages players to explore multiple routes to fully understand the intricate connections between characters and the overarching plot.
“I really had fun while playing it, and the story was interesting enough to keep me hooked most of the time.”
“The story is mysterious and intriguing.”
“The story flows between the different romance routes, culminating in two hidden endings that only appear after all of the happy endings have been seen.”
“At first, I was honestly expecting a sort of Higurashi-like work and I got excited for a potential plot twist, but sadly it wasn't the case. If you're on the fence for that particular reason, you'll be disappointed to know that it is painfully average.”
“So much I was furious throughout the whole thing because it wouldn't save well and you can't really just choose specific routes to see because some are locked unless you do certain routes. You can't fully understand the story unless you've done every route, which was done, and I wanted to know the full story, so I forced myself through it all and it was hard work.”
“Then they pretty much destroy the game by ending it with a cliché ridiculous romance plot that makes no sense, which made it hard for me to recommend.”
- music78 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to set the mood and enhance the atmosphere, particularly through beautiful piano melodies and an engaging original soundtrack. While some found the music repetitive or lacking in depth, others highlighted standout tracks and the emotional impact of the score, especially during key moments. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its visual and narrative elements effectively.
“Honestly, I loved pretty much everything this game had to offer; the music, the voice acting, the beautiful artwork (seriously, the background images were so pretty!), the engaging story/mystery, and the likable cast of characters.”
“The art is nice, the music is great and adds to the atmosphere a lot, and it did make me shiver a few times.”
“Music is very emotional at times and complements the visual and dramatic elements perfectly.”
“The game is a bit buggy; I finished it and never heard the ending song because for some reason it skips through everything (no, I don't keep my thumb on the skip button).”
“The songs and background music are decent.”
“The usage of atmosphere, transition animation, SFX, and music stings could've really built a distrusting environment.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beautiful artwork, including character designs and background images, which many players found engaging and aesthetically pleasing. While some noted that the visuals are good by visual novel standards, a few expressed disappointment in the lack of high-quality CGs compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the art style and soundscape contribute positively to the gaming experience, making it a standout feature despite some minor technical issues.
“The graphics look good for what they are, and I really enjoyed the animated bits, which is quite unique overall to see in an otome game.”
“Honestly, I loved pretty much everything this game had to offer; the music, the voice acting, the beautiful artwork (seriously, the background images were so pretty!), the engaging story/mystery, and the likable cast of characters.”
“Overall great artwork, including character designs, background images, and CGs.”
“Visuals were my biggest disappointment.”
“Overall visuals are decent, but lacking in the CGs department.”
“If you're after top quality visuals like Nightshade/Hakuoki/Amnesia - you'll be most likely disappointed by that game.”
- emotional42 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from laughter to heartbreak, with many players expressing deep attachment to the characters and their stories. While some found the narrative to be touching and beautifully crafted, others criticized it for lacking emotional depth and background, particularly regarding certain characters. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to provoke strong emotional reactions, though it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply profound experience.
“I love how the story all comes together at a point and is really heartbreaking sometimes...”
“The true ending and the secret route made me cry a lot; so sad, so painful, yet so beautiful.”
“I'm emotionally attached to these characters now, thanks.”
- humor38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying dry jokes, witty banter, and amusing character interactions, particularly from characters like Sosuke and Yuzuki. While some found the characters to be flat, the lighthearted moments and funny dialogue provided a refreshing contrast to the game's darker themes. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the narrative, making it engaging and entertaining for players.
“The game quickly caught my attention with its interesting story and funny characters.”
“Their banter is hilarious (especially the one about his father).”
“Some of the dialogue is hilarious and I love how lighthearted it can get sometimes; I really needed it to compensate for how things go down in the later routes.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its mystical and suspenseful qualities, enhanced by gorgeous background illustrations and effective music that evoke nostalgia for thriller and horror genres. However, some reviewers noted a disconnect between the stunning watercolor backgrounds and character art, as well as moments where the atmosphere felt diluted by less engaging slice-of-life elements. Overall, while the game successfully creates an immersive and atmospheric experience, there are calls for more detailed storytelling to strengthen the mood and lore.
“Although, I liked the mystical atmosphere and the background illustrations are gorgeous.”
“The atmosphere and feel of the story was nostalgic to me, reminding me of my many years of watching creepy thriller/horror movies with the way it is set up and told.”
“Those genuine surprises and suspenseful moments were integral in adding to the mysterious atmosphere of this novel, and were so perfectly balanced out by the carefree sequences in between where you get to know your love interest and the other side characters better.”
“So instead of the main character searching for her brother, we have these random fluff, boring slice of life moments, no sense of urgency, and a watered-down atmosphere.”
“I do wish there were more details; sometimes things felt like the stories could be a little more descriptive with slightly more developments because some actually felt a little too flat. The mood and atmosphere, as well as the lore behind the story, could have been better elaborated, as the story, while good, did not always resonate strongly enough and some developments felt abrupt.”
“The usage of atmosphere, transition animations, sound effects, and music stings could've really built a distrusting environment.”
- character development20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players found it lacking in depth, others were pleasantly surprised by unexpected plot twists that enhanced their experience. The character designs, though initially perceived as cartoonish, were ultimately deemed charming and contributed positively to the overall visual appeal. Despite some reservations, most players felt that the character development did not detract from their enjoyment of the story.
“Did some instant 360 plot twists in my brain with the character development.”
“On the surface, the characters look averagely interesting, but the plot twists in the character development are impressive.”
“The character designs, while simple, were still charming.”
“I would say as far as art and character designs, it's kind of underwhelming.”
“I feel that character development was a bit lacking in some areas, but not to the extent where you feel unfulfilled or that you can't enjoy the story itself.”
“I mean these are the characters and yeah on the surface it looks averagely interesting but boy the plot twists on the character development though.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on visual novel mechanics, which some players found lacking due to issues with port quality and performance, including crashes and lag. While the overall flow is typical for the genre, the absence of choice-based route unlocking simplifies the experience, and the controls are noted to be somewhat awkward and hard to remember. Despite these drawbacks, the character designs received praise, particularly for their appeal as potential romantic interests.
“I'm jumping straight into gameplay because it needs to be discussed urgently.”
“So for the rest of the gameplay, all things are perfect but the controls are a bit weird and perhaps much more difficult to remember.”
“If only the mechanics in the port and quality of life features were better.”
“I looked it up and, sure enough, I wasn't the only one who had problems with this game crashing and lagging in the middle of gameplay.”
“The overall gameplay would follow a normal visual novel type of flow except you don't have to use choices to unlock the true routes or secret routes, which makes the game way too easy.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent crashes and severe glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players found enjoyment in the game, many recommend it only for those willing to endure these persistent bugs, hoping for future fixes from the developers.
“On the more trivial side, due to how buggy the port is and how it kept crashing on me; on the more important side, I was so invested and loving it until we got to the final route and ending.”
“Now there are some problems that you need to know you will face; the number one is severe glitches.”
“Recommended only if you're really willing to soldier through the buggy issues, or if the developers ever figure out a way to fix them first, I guess.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The PC version of the game has been criticized for its poor optimization, resulting in a clunky experience despite being playable. Many users expressed disappointment, especially given the long wait for its release on Steam, which raised expectations for a smoother performance.
“The only thing I might feel as a negative is that it was rather poorly optimized for PC.”
“But the PC version is still workable, just very clunky and obviously not optimized.”
“The only thing I might feel as a negative is that it was rather poorly optimized for PC.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the need to explore different routes, many find the game too short and lacking in engaging content for multiple playthroughs. The difficulty in navigating the game mechanics further detracts from its replay value, with some users rating it as low as 2/5.
“Replayability ∞: you will need to play it over to explore different routes.”
“The game offers a lot of replay value, encouraging players to try out various paths and choices.”
“Each playthrough reveals new elements, making you want to dive back in for a fresh experience.”
“The game is way too short and has little replayability; I've finished all routes except 1 in 21 hours.”
“I know this was originally a PS Vita (PSP?) game and they had to make it for the PC, but come on, make it a little easier for people to figure out how to do basic things for replay value.”
“[b] Replay value: 2/5 [/b]”