A Hand in the Darkness
- May 1, 2017
- Ertal Games
- 10h median play time
"A Hand in the Darkness" is a single-player visual novel set in a 1910 British boarding school, offering around 10 hours of gameplay. The intriguing story follows four main characters' bonds, romances, and a thrilling investigation as they uncover threats to Alex's life. With a suggestive CGs, love scenes, and multiple endings, the game contains adult content and invites players to explore a suspenseful school story.
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Reviews
- The game features engaging characters and a well-written story that keeps players invested in the different routes.
- The explicit content is described in a way that balances romance and intimacy, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The game offers multiple endings and routes, allowing for varied experiences and replayability.
- There are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that can detract from the overall experience.
- The game lacks a gallery feature for viewing CGs, and the quality of the artwork is inconsistent throughout.
- Some routes contain harmful tropes related to consent and possessiveness, which may be off-putting for some players.
- story63 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its engaging characters and varied routes that cater to different relationship dynamics. While some found the narrative to be a bit short and lacking depth in certain areas, many enjoyed the blend of romance and mystery, along with the unexpected plot twists. Overall, the writing is described as charming and addictive, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels, despite some minor translation issues and pacing concerns.
“Overall an enjoyable game with an interesting storyline.”
“The story is well written and addicting, not to mention the four main characters, which I have grown attached to during my time of gameplay.”
“Each ending is different along with the paths you follow, unbelievably great storytelling, and very relatable characters.”
“The story is easy to guess.”
“That would be less of an issue if the story and relationships didn't feel so half-baked and rushed.”
“They each have pretty big issues that are never properly addressed, and while I don't expect a perfect resolution to everything in this setting, there was just so much potential that was wasted in not using these issues to build the story some more and make the game longer through meaningful interactions with the boys.”
- music23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack for its creativity and emotional impact, while others find it inconsistent and occasionally mismatched to the scenes or time period. There are moments where silence feels awkward, particularly in visual novel contexts, and some tracks are noted for being out of place. Overall, while many enjoy the music, there are notable critiques regarding its fit and presence throughout the game.
“I like the soundtrack in every scene.”
“Amazing music/soundtrack!”
“Good story, sympathetic-looking characters, and excellent music.”
“There are times where there isn't music for some scenes, and it just felt weird to me to not have music playing, maybe because I'm so used to it when it comes to visual novels.”
“The music doesn't really fit the time period or setting at all, honestly.”
“There is very little choice, and the music tends to go silent suddenly and often doesn't fit the atmosphere of the scene.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered decent, with some users appreciating the cute artwork, particularly the achievement mugshots. While the visual elements are not particularly spectacular, the game effectively balances its graphic writing with a sweet and innocent tone, especially in the context of its school setting. Overall, the artwork is satisfactory, though some players wished for more illustrated elements, like chibi speech boxes.
“The artworks are good, especially the achievement mugshots are adorable. I wish they had illustrated the speech boxes with the chibis.”
“I also love how, even despite the graphic descriptions, the scenes still manage to keep it sweet and almost innocent, which is perfect for the school setting!”
“The artwork is ok.”
“There is some graphic text during sex scenes, but it's not over-the-top pornographic style; it's just to give you a bit of an idea of what's going on and to keep you interested.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes emotional connections through its well-developed characters and touching romances, despite some pacing issues. Players find themselves invested in the fates of multiple romance options, leading to genuinely emotional moments, particularly in the context of the story's historical backdrop. Overall, the narrative's blend of charm and tension creates a compelling emotional experience.
“The story is nice, the romances are cute and touching, even if they seem a little rushed.”
“And the three romance targets are fleshed-out characters with whom you, as the player, can form an emotional attachment - you want to see what happens to them; and, although you may only choose one romance option, as you take different paths, you still want every one of them to be happy.”
“Some of the endings are genuinely a bit emotional if you're feeling a bit soppy.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players find the gameplay engaging and immersive, with a well-written story and relatable characters that enhance the experience. Many report exceeding the estimated 10 hours of gameplay, indicating a strong value for the time invested. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its addictiveness and depth.
“The story is well written and addicting, not to mention the four main characters, to whom I have grown attached during my time of gameplay.”
“The gameplay was said to be around 10 hours, and I needed a little more than 10 hours, of which I regret not a minute, so the price-performance ratio is in perfect balance.”
“I have no idea where this 'around 10 hours of gameplay' comes from.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as cute and hilarious, appealing to fans of visual novels and BL genres. While there are spooky elements like creepy laughter and eerie music, these are seen as fitting for a mystery game, adding to the overall experience rather than detracting from it.
“I admit I bought it mainly for the name, which sounded cute and hilarious, and somewhat potentially spooky. So good choice there! :) However, I am a visual novel player and BL fan anyway, so the game is to my taste.”
“I wouldn't consider this next critique a con necessarily, but there are some spooky moments in the game, such as creepy laughing and eerie music. This is also a mystery game, so it is to be kind of expected, and I am probably just a wuss.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's optimization, noting that the gameplay duration aligns well with expectations, providing a satisfying experience that justifies its price.
“The gameplay was said to be around 10 hours, and I needed a little more than 10 hours, of which I regret not a minute. The price-performance ratio is in perfect balance.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is criticized for its lack of choices and inconsistent music that often fails to match the scene, leading to a disjointed experience. Additionally, the use of blurred photo backgrounds and confusing character designs detracts from immersion, while the romance feels abrupt and out of place for the time period.
“There are very few choices, the music tends to go silent suddenly and often doesn't fit the atmosphere of the scene. There were three route-specific CGs, all backgrounds are just blurred photos. The CGs can be really confusing, as the protagonist doesn't resemble himself, and the romance feels a bit sudden, especially given the time period.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed, with abrupt changes in music that disrupt immersion. The backgrounds lack detail and the character designs don't align with the narrative, making it hard to connect with the story.”
“Overall, the atmosphere is lacking; the visuals are unengaging and the sound design fails to enhance the experience, leaving the player feeling disconnected from the game world.”
