A Summer with the Shiba Inu
- August 23, 2019
- Quill Game Studios
While it wasn’t what I was expecting, A Summer with the Shiba Inu has enough working in its favor. Instead of hitting a crowded beach, why not spend part of your summer respecting social distancing by curling up with this visual novel. Plop on your reading glasses, overlook the pacing inconsistencies, and be charmed by Syd and her canine friends. Keep an eye on
Get on Steam"A Summer with the Shiba Inu" is a visual novel where Syd, a Shiba Inu, returns to Shiba Island after a decade. She reconnects with Max and meets Quei-Li, a mysterious Labrador, as she confronts her past. The game features 3 main endings for Syd, over 10 endings for other dogs, 70,000 story wordcount, dog facts, 30 achievements, and a dog bark button. Experience the emotional journey and impact your choices have on Syd and her canine companions.
Reviews
- The writing is engaging and thought-provoking, with a strong protagonist and well-developed characters.
- The art style is cute and well-drawn, complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game offers a deep and complex story with multiple endings, providing good replay value for players.
- Some players found the story to be darker and more complex than expected, which may not appeal to those looking for a light-hearted experience.
- The game could benefit from a visual overhaul and more varied character animations to better illustrate its concepts.
- A few endings felt abrupt, and the game is considered too short by some players.
- story27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is a captivating blend of cyber-thriller and social commentary, featuring a well-constructed world where shiba inus navigate complex themes and moral dilemmas. Players are drawn into a rich narrative filled with intriguing characters, unexpected twists, and a mix of humor and depth, making it both engaging and thought-provoking. The interactive choices enhance the experience, allowing for a personalized journey through a beautifully crafted storyline that challenges initial expectations of a light-hearted adventure.
“The story is superbly arranged: a variety of doggo characters with a satisfying array of personalities, good doggos, bad doggos, shades of gray doggos, and even some weird doggo named Monukai; jumps in the timeline are carefully deployed to help fill in Syd's backstory and are well executed to also add intrigue and suspense in the current timeline.”
“The story is deep and provokes a lot of thoughts.”
“The story is really well-written: entertaining throughout, gripping at times and humorous at others, with the odd hidden joke, pun, or reference here or there that I very much enjoyed.”
“After playing for an hour, I had to circle back and read up on it to figure out that this is actually a cyber-thriller/mystery story, where the characters just happen to be dogs, and all the terminology is switched up to be relevant to them ('humanly possible' becomes 'caninely possible', 'Canada' becomes 'canine-da', etc).”
“I came for cute dogs and to unwind while reading something light with not too much interaction, but instead I was yanked into quite a dark and complex story, chewing my nails like, 'Oh god, what's gonna happen next?' and ended up breaking the planet.”
“The storyline isn't cute at all and I wouldn't say this is a game for children.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cute and well-drawn art style, which complements the engaging soundtrack and enhances the overall experience. However, some critiques mention the use of stock images with Photoshop filters, suggesting a lack of originality in certain visuals. Overall, the artwork and music significantly contribute to the game's charm and storytelling.
“The art style is so cute and well drawn, and the soundtrack fits perfectly!”
“This game's story is amazing; I was itching to keep playing until I finished. The artwork was beautiful, and the music was perfectly fitted to the game.”
“Both the music and the artwork very much added to the vibe of the story, especially the fast-paced fight scenes and light-hearted scenes exploring the rich culture of the island.”
“There's not so much an 'art style' as there are lots of stock images with Photoshop filters on them.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its perfect fit with the story and art style, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers note its diversity in mood, memorable themes, and how it complements both intense and light-hearted moments, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enriches the gameplay.
“This game's story is amazing; I was itching to keep playing until I finished. The artwork was beautiful, and the music was perfectly fitted to the game.”
“The music was also a highlight for me, with plenty of diversity in mood, yet consistent style.”
“Both the music and the artwork very much added to the vibe of the story, especially the fast-paced fight scenes and light-hearted scenes exploring the rich culture of the island.”
“The music was repetitive and quickly became annoying.”
“I found the soundtrack to be bland and forgettable.”
“The background music often clashed with the gameplay, making it hard to focus.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and thought-provoking dialogue, complemented by good graphics and audio. Players appreciate the well-written story, which maintains entertainment through humor, hidden jokes, and clever references, making for an engaging experience.
“The dialogue is both funny and thought-provoking.”
“Good graphics, audio, and funny moments round out this 5-6 hour read.”
“The story is really well-written: entertaining throughout, gripping at times, and humorous at others, with the odd hidden joke, pun, or reference here and there that I very much enjoyed.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, as players are encouraged to explore multiple routes to uncover all the secrets and satisfy their curiosity, ensuring that a single playthrough does not reveal everything.
“This game has a significant amount of replay value, as exploring different routes reveals secrets that a single playthrough doesn't uncover.”
“The replayability is impressive; each playthrough offers new insights and experiences that keep you coming back for more.”
“With multiple endings and hidden content, this game encourages you to replay it to fully appreciate all it has to offer.”
“This game has quite a bit of replay value in order to find all the secrets, as a single route does not answer everything you are curious about.”
Critic Reviews
A Summer with the Shiba Inu (Nintendo Switch)
While it wasn’t what I was expecting, A Summer with the Shiba Inu has enough working in its favor. Instead of hitting a crowded beach, why not spend part of your summer respecting social distancing by curling up with this visual novel. Plop on your reading glasses, overlook the pacing inconsistencies, and be charmed by Syd and her canine friends. Keep an eye on
65%Anything is paw-sible if you believe --- A Summer with the Shiba Inu review
A Summer with the Shiba Inu has an intriguing premise with a curious story. However, because of the engine limitations and limited nature of presentation and choices, it might only appeal to those who want a short visual novel with an interesting hook.
60%- 59%
