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.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Beautiful art style and music that create a captivating atmosphere.
- The story effectively portrays the complexities of love, loss, and the impact of choices.
- Multiple endings encourage replayability and exploration of different outcomes.
- The game is very short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and character development.
- Some endings can feel repetitive or similar, leading to a sense of predictability.
- The themes of loss and grief may be too heavy for some players, especially in the context of current events.
- story425 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, often described as bittersweet and heart-wrenching, particularly in its exploration of love and loss. While many players appreciate the stunning artwork and music that complement the narrative, some feel that the brevity of the game leads to rushed character development and a lack of depth in the storytelling. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a touching, albeit short, experience that resonates with themes of romance and personal growth.
“Bittersweet story told through beautiful visuals and cozy music, a great short game to make you cry on a rainy Friday afternoon.”
“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.”
“A beautiful, moving slice of life about love and loss featuring adorable art, a mellow soundtrack, and multiple ways of unfolding the story based on the choices you make.”
“The whole story relies on you feeling emotional when key events happen, but I found that hard.”
“You can't build a connection with either August or May with the pace the story is going and how sparse their dialogues and backstories are.”
“While I like and enjoy this visual novel, I can't help but feel that it rushes the story way too fast without taking proper time to develop the characters involved.”
- emotional336 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting intense feelings of sadness and joy, often leading to tears. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to tackle heavy themes such as love, loss, and personal struggles, all while delivering a heartfelt narrative supported by beautiful artwork and music. Overall, it is described as a deeply moving experience that resonates with players on a personal level, making it a must-play for those who appreciate emotional storytelling.
“This game is 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.”
“It's an emotional ride about our own deepest desires and fears.”
- music206 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, lo-fi quality that complements the emotional depth of the story, creating a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and how both elements work together to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears during poignant moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's bittersweet narrative and aesthetic appeal.
“Angela he's the master of soft pastel colors, relaxing lo-fi soundtracks and stories that can take you from cute and funny to serious and tragic in a snap.”
“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 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.”
- graphics167 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning watercolor and pastel art style, which beautifully complements the emotional narrative. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and calming music, noting how they enhance the overall immersive experience. The artwork is described as both cute and heart-wrenching, effectively conveying the game's bittersweet themes and emotional depth.
“Bittersweet story told through beautiful visuals and cozy music, a great short game to make you cry on a rainy Friday afternoon.”
“Angela has such a beautiful art style, and I hope we get more games like Missed Messages and A New Life soon.”
“The art style is gorgeous, I love how the menu shows the previous ending you got, and also the soundtrack is amazing.”
“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.”
“I really hope Angela He develops more games, because I love her aesthetics, but for the new game I wish for more story and character development and fewer different endings.”
“The creepy tunes she uses in this game and visuals all gave me chills; I can't imagine what a full-fledged horror game made from Angela would look like!”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel experience, characterized by simple mechanics and a focus on narrative and emotional engagement rather than traditional gaming elements. Players navigate through the story via choices that significantly impact the outcome, despite the overall short playtime of around 20 to 45 minutes. While some reviewers found the gameplay lacking in depth, others appreciated the emotional weight and artistic presentation, making it a compelling experience despite its brevity.
“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.”
“Gameplay is simple; it's a visual novel after all, but your choices matter, even the ones you didn't expect to matter, and it will make you think 'what did I do wrong' each run of the story. You can even feel August's pain each time you go back.”
“The gameplay is simple, choices affect the story's progression, with easy access to the chapters in order to complete different endings afterwards.”
“The gameplay or routes are purely found by trial and error, and in the end, the result is almost the same.”
“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.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its breathtaking art and soothing music, which together create a powerful and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight how the visuals and soundtrack enhance emotional storytelling, evoking feelings of nostalgia and tranquility. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as charming, relaxing, and beautifully crafted, making it a joy to experience despite varying opinions on the story itself.
“As always, the atmosphere is so powerful with gorgeous OST and art that in a very short time, you are immediately charmed by the characters and their personal 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 emotion, sadness, desires, atmosphere is so well conveyed.”
“The art style is extremely beautiful and the soundtrack hit me really hard with its reminiscent and melancholy atmosphere.”
“As usual, Angela's works not only present a modern setting with cozy atmosphere and remarkable art style, but also very realistic story and dialogues showing quite delicate and important topics.”
- character development11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the relatable and human qualities of the characters, others criticize the brevity and lack of depth in their arcs, making it difficult to form attachments. Many reviews highlight that the character growth feels natural and well-paced, but the overall experience is often described as too short, leaving players wanting more substantial development and emotional investment.
“The character development is top-notch, with both leading ladies feeling endearing, relatable, and truly human.”
“The character development is well-paced; all the growth is natural.”
“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.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional themes, often transitioning from cute and funny to serious and tragic. Players appreciate the small, humorous details that enhance the storytelling, though some moments may evoke sadness rather than laughter. Overall, the game balances its emotional weight with instances of humor, creating a rich and engaging experience.
“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.”
“Angela is the master of soft pastel colors, relaxing lo-fi soundtracks, and stories that can take you from cute and funny to serious and tragic in a snap.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability due to its short length and easily achievable endings, but it compensates with a unique experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate its depth and narrative. Players note that while it can be completed quickly, the engaging storytelling and innovative design elements enhance its replay value.
“I got all the endings and I love the amount of replay value it has for just one developer.”
“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 being broken in such a beautiful way.”
“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.”
“I got all the endings, and I love the amount of replay value it has for just one developer.”
- 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.
