a new life.
- May 15, 2020
- Angela He
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"A New Life" is a narrative-driven game where players help Angela, a socially anxious woman, navigate her daily life choices. Through branching dialogues and realistic scenarios, players assist Angela in improving her social skills, pursuing her passions, and discovering her self-worth. The game aims to promote empathy, understanding, and positive mental health awareness.
Reviews
- The story is very touching and beautifully written, exploring deep emotional themes.
- The artwork is stunning, with a soft and cozy aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- The game effectively evokes strong emotions, often leading players to reflect on their own relationships and life choices.
- The game is quite short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and character development.
- Many endings can feel similar, leading to a sense of repetitiveness in gameplay.
- The themes of loss and grief may be too heavy for some players, potentially leading to emotional distress.
- story402 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful presentation, combining touching themes of love, loss, and personal connection with stunning artwork and a captivating soundtrack. Many players found the narrative to be bittersweet and heart-wrenching, often leading to tears, while some noted that the brevity of the story left them wanting more character development and depth. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt, albeit short, experience that resonates with the complexities of relationships.
“The story is immersive and engaging, the artwork is fantastic, and the sound design is wonderful.”
“A beautiful game with a heartfelt but deeply emotional story, along with one of the cutest art styles I've ever seen.”
“The gorgeous art style and the amazing soundtrack will take you on an emotional roller coaster, the dialogue feels real and heartfelt, the characters really come alive and make you immersed in their lives and story.”
“The game lost a lot of value by being such a railroady linear story with barely any branching paths and shallow endings.”
“With how quickly the story is paced, there is no time to really form an emotional connection to the characters.”
“The story is sweet, but lacks so much depth.”
- emotional312 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players describing it as a profound and touching experience that often brought them to tears. The combination of beautiful artwork, heartfelt music, and a poignant narrative about love, loss, and personal connections creates an emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with players, making it a must-play for those who appreciate impactful storytelling. Despite its short length, the game effectively elicits strong feelings and reflections on life, relationships, and the bittersweet nature of existence.
“This game made me cry, I love the story.”
“It's a touching portrayal of love, loss, and loneliness that left a lasting impression on me.”
“The gorgeous art style and the amazing soundtrack will take you on an emotional roller coaster, the dialogue feels real and heartfelt, the characters really come alive and make you immersed in their lives and story.”
- music192 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, relaxing qualities, often described as lo-fi and heartwarming, perfectly complementing the emotional narrative and beautiful artwork. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a memorable and immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Many express a desire to listen to the music outside of the game, indicating its standout quality and emotional impact.
“The captivating artwork and the brilliance behind the music really drove my heart into a thousand pieces.”
“Angela's signature pastel and watercolor aesthetic shines brightly, complemented by a soothing lo-fi soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone.”
“The music is impeccable, and the art style is great.”
“I do think the music when transitioning could have been a little smoother as it sometimes jolted and ruined certain sections for me, but in saying that, there are also many parts where the transition is good and hits hard.”
“However the story, art and music will leave you wanting something...more, I wonder what I would have done in that situation.”
“The music is the soothing acoustic you would expect from a story like this, and the voice acting is the Animal Crossing 'blblblblblbl' beeps that are there only to pretend that actual talking is happening.”
- graphics152 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork, characterized by a beautiful pastel and watercolor aesthetic that enhances the emotional depth of the story. Players appreciate the calming visuals and how they complement the narrative, creating an immersive experience that resonates with themes of love and loss. Overall, the art style is described as cute, charming, and a significant highlight of the game, contributing to its overall appeal.
“The visuals and music come together to create a truly immersive experience.”
“The artwork is beautiful, like something you might see in a dream.”
“The art style is gorgeous, I love how the menu shows the previous ending you got, and also the soundtrack is amazing.”
“The graphics and music are well done and fit with the moods.”
“The only things I found a little 'off' were that 1) May openly showed me her artwork in the first scene, and then was inexplicably reluctant to show it to me in the second scene, and 2) towards the end of the game when May asked if I was scared, I wasn't given the option to say 'yes,' although I was feeling that way myself.”
“The artwork is a bit lighter than the previous game but delves more into the story (with a lot more chapters and alternative endings).”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its breathtaking art and soothing music, which together create a calming and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight how the visuals and soundtrack enhance character development and storytelling, evoking a range of emotions from joy to melancholy. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as charming, relaxing, and perfectly suited to its narrative themes.
“The game's simple, yet charming visuals and music create a calming atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.”
“The art to me was breathtaking and paired with the music created an atmosphere that made the game such a joy to experience.”
“First of all, the graphics are gorgeous, the music is gorgeous too, both work perfectly together and create such an ideal atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere that would match with a calm and peaceful rainy night.”
“The art style is extremely beautiful and the soundtrack hit me really hard with its reminiscent and melancholy atmosphere.”
“The emotion, sadness, desires, atmosphere is so well conveyed.”
“As usual, Angela's works not only present a modern setting with a cozy atmosphere and remarkable art style, but also very realistic story and dialogues showing quite delicate and important topics.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative and emotional engagement, characteristic of a visual novel, with simple mechanics that emphasize player choices and their impact on the story. While some players find the gameplay lacking in depth and brevity—often completing it in under an hour—others appreciate the meaningfulness of their decisions and the overall artistic presentation. The experience is described as more of an interactive story than a traditional game, with a strong emphasis on emotional resonance and character development.
“Even with its simple premise and gameplay, a new life manages to be consistently engaging and immensely emotional as it takes you through its narrative.”
“The gameplay is simple, choices affect the story's progression, with easy access to the chapters in order to complete different endings afterwards.”
“I loved the art and the story, and game mechanics (your choices changing as you progress, game taking into consideration your previous choices).”
“The point is: it can barely be called a game, due to the absence of the game mechanics.”
“Game finishes extremely quickly; I got all achievements in like an hour of gameplay without rushing.”
“You are missing out just on 10 minutes of gameplay and COVID stuff, not really a loss.”
- character development9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the depth and relatability of the leading characters, others criticize the rushed progression and lack of emotional attachment. Many express a desire for more substantial character arcs and longer narratives to enhance their investment in the story. Overall, the feedback highlights a significant divide between those who appreciate the existing development and those who find it insufficient.
“The character development is top-notch, with both leading ladies feeling endearing, relatable, and truly human.”
“The sad story of Emmeline Burns has much better character development and made me feel much more invested in the story.”
“I wish it was a little longer and more character development took place, but it still hit me in the feels.”
“I find the character development really lacking; you simply cannot get attached to the characters because it speedruns through their life (that is also really short, it seems).”
“There was no character development, and their relationship seemed a bit too unrealistic.”
“A bit too short and lacking in character development but appropriately priced for the experience.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, blending humor with poignant storytelling, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the small, funny moments that provide levity amidst the more serious themes, though some find the humor to be overshadowed by the game's sadness.
“A great, beautiful, sad, funny, and all-around emotional masterpiece of a game.”
“Satisfying to play through all the different stories and seeing small details or funny moments that make the story so much better and, of course, tear up through the stories.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length and easily achievable endings, but it encourages multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its unique narrative and fourth-wall-breaking elements. While some players may find it leaves a lasting impression, others feel that a single playthrough suffices.
“The game is one and a half hours long, with great replayability value, as it can't be considered complete without replaying it. The fourth wall is also broken in such a beautiful way.”
“The multiple endings and choices throughout the game encourage players to experience it again, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With various paths to explore and secrets to uncover, this game offers a high level of replayability that keeps you coming back for more.”
“One thing I will note is that it does not have much replay value, as the endings are easily achievable in one playthrough, but it will leave a lasting impression on you.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no glitches or technical issues noted.
