A summer promise to forever
- September 16, 2017
- SoraPrayer
Get on Steam"A Summer Promise to Forever" is a visual novel set in the Chinese countryside, following high school student Jiajun Lin as he explores Tangxia village. The game features a rich portrayal of Chinese rural culture and a story that uncovers secrets behind the friendly facade of the villagers. Jiajun becomes close with his childhood friend and a tsundere farm girl, and must confront social abuse and oppression within the community.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique setting in a rural Chinese village, providing cultural insights and a bittersweet narrative that explores serious themes.
- The artwork and music are well-received, enhancing the overall experience with beautiful visuals and a pleasant soundtrack.
- Despite its flaws, the game offers multiple endings and replayability, making it a decent choice for a short visual novel experience.
- The translation has numerous errors and awkward phrasing, which can detract from the storytelling experience.
- Character development is lacking, with many characters feeling flat and their backstories failing to create a strong emotional connection.
- The gameplay is criticized for having limited choices that feel insignificant, leading to a predictable and sometimes boring narrative.
- story36 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is a short, romantic narrative set in a rural Chinese village, exploring themes of mystery and tragedy, with a focus on cultural traditions. While it features multiple endings and some engaging twists, many reviewers found the writing basic and the characters underdeveloped, leading to a predictable and sometimes dull experience. Despite its flaws, the story offers a glimpse into a different mentality and has moments that resonate emotionally, though it suffers from translation issues that detract from its overall impact.
“This is still a romantic story, but with a tragic undertone.”
“It's a sweet summer story with a dark past and an adventurous present.”
“The story has multiple branching storylines, and some really touching scenes.”
“The story itself isn't particularly well written or interesting, and neither are the characters you meet or the protagonist himself.”
“While it covers a serious topic involving kidnapping, forced marriages, and murder in rural China, the story is somewhat let down by an English translation that derails near the end of the game and the super flat character you play as - I spent half my first trip through wanting to smack the guy.”
“It was exceptionally dull, and had no real grip to the characters before just dumping your typical tortured backstory in to try and make you interested, characters that they can't really define outside of what tortures them.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, evoking a relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of a summer breeze, particularly the title track. While some users appreciate the quality and variety, noting the ability to relisten to soundtracks, others find it somewhat basic and repetitive. Additionally, the visual presentation of the music can be hindered by readability issues due to font blending with backgrounds.
“The music reminds you of a summer breeze, and the colored fonts are a nice touch, even though it can sometimes be difficult to read a couple of lines due to how the letters blend with the background or when it's very bright.”
“The music is another great aspect, especially the title music.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Music - just basic, just like the game.”
“Music - nicely done, if a little repetitive.”
“The music reminds you of a summer breeze and the colored fonts are a nice touch (even though, at times, it can become very difficult to read a couple of lines because of how the letters blend with the background or when it's very bright).”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are not heavily emphasized in gameplay, as much of the narrative is conveyed through text rather than visuals. However, the artwork is praised for its quality, particularly the well-executed cut scenes.
“The artwork was really well done on all fronts, with especially impressive cut scenes.”
“This is only told and never shown, so the game isn’t graphic.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it features multiple branching storylines and some genuinely touching moments, characters often come across as caricatures rather than deeply heartfelt representations.
“It has multiple branching storylines, and some really touching scenes.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being shallow and unengaging, with character backstories feeling more like a mechanic to elicit player sympathy rather than adding depth to the experience.
“The gameplay of this game is boring.”
“They end up appearing shallow and their tragic stories are just a mechanic to make us like them.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is uneven, with the most compelling character being an abusive older man who receives more attention than the rest of the cast. Overall, while the game lacks depth in character arcs due to its brevity, it does include some intriguing twists that maintain player interest.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey.”
“I was amazed at how each character evolved throughout the story, making their arcs feel authentic and engaging.”
“The depth of character development really sets this game apart, as it explores complex relationships and personal growth.”
“Ironically, the most interesting character was a super abusive older guy who seemed to have received half the character development that should have been divided up amongst the rest of the cast.”
“While lacking in much character development, especially since it is so short, there are some twists and turns to the story that spark an interest and keep you invested.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling story that enhances its replayability, although some players express mixed feelings about certain elements, such as character design.
“The game offers a rich story that encourages multiple playthroughs, making it highly replayable.”
“With various choices and outcomes, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“The different character paths and endings provide a compelling reason to dive back in.”
