Aisling and the Tavern of Elves
- November 6, 2020
- VN House
Get on SteamIn "Aisling and the Tavern of Elves," become Aisling Whitehorse, a down-on-her-luck mercenary turned tavern owner in the Elven Kingdom of Eiredagh. Experience a humorous and enchanting story with stunning anime-style art and an orchestral soundtrack. Your choices will determine one of multiple endings in this fantasy dating sim visual novel.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features cute and well-designed characters with nice artwork and enjoyable music.
- The story is charming and has good banter between characters, making it an enjoyable read.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a pleasant experience with a romantic theme and potential for replay.
- The dialogue can be awkward and inconsistent, with characters switching dialects randomly.
- The game is quite short, with limited content and choices that don't significantly impact the story.
- Technical issues such as a lagging interface and lack of a gallery feature detract from the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story is generally perceived as short and linear, with a few branching paths leading to romantic or bad endings that feel arbitrary. While some players found it cute and enjoyable, they noted that the decisions made throughout the game have minimal impact on the overall narrative, and the pacing can feel rushed. Despite its simplicity, the story is complemented by fitting background music and appealing character designs, making it a pleasant, if not deeply impactful, experience.
“Cute and fun short story based on a cute but strong human and a very cute elf.”
“Not gonna lie, the story is actually quite good.”
“Good story and art, on the shorter side but very enjoyable.”
“The storyline is linear with branching into two routes for the romantic and bad endings, and I have no idea why there are bad ones. How can you possibly reject the feelings of these adorable girls?”
“While often being summoned on various quests by Baroness Roisin, you are already aware of her arbitrary way of managing agreements with you.”
“There's no time for anything to sink in before we're on to the next big plot point, resolving the last one's issues so it can be forgotten.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players enjoying the tracks enough to leave the game running in the background. However, there are notable drawbacks, such as the absence of music in the main menu and repetitive tracks, which detract from the overall experience. While the background music complements the story and visuals, the lack of a music gallery and some silence at the game's start are points of criticism.
“Enjoyed it enough to leave the window hanging in the background while working, just to listen to the music.”
“There are occasional good jokes and humorous situations, profound management of the tavern, and some interesting music tracks.”
“The background music fits well with the story, and the character sprites are nicely done.”
“The background music fits well with the story and character sprites are nicely done, but even there negative points do come to mind straight away.”
“For example, no music is featured in the main menu, and starting a game with a silent screen at the beginning felt quite odd.”
“Love the artwork and sprites, but the lack of a gallery and the repetitive music is annoying.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed feedback, with users appreciating the artwork and character models, but expressing disappointment over the lack of a gallery feature and repetitive music. While the art style is visually appealing, the dialogue box graphics detracted from the overall experience.
“The art style was also nice to look at, and the character models are good too.”
“What also prevented me from enjoying even the simplicity of the story was the choice of graphics in the dialogue box.”
“I love the artwork and sprites, but the lack of a gallery and the repetitive music is annoying.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by occasional clever jokes and amusing situations, complemented by charming characters and engaging music. Players appreciate the comedic elements as well as the immersive world-building that enhances the overall experience.
“There are occasional good jokes and humorous situations, profound management of the tavern, and some interesting music tracks.”
“Your backgrounds are stunning, the comedy is funny and charming, the characters are nice, and the world was a trip to learn about with the little you gave me.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Gameplay is criticized for overwhelming players with excessive choices, leading to a frustrating experience where decisions often result in unsatisfactory outcomes, such as two undesirable endings or forced romantic scenarios.
“The game presents way too many choices during gameplay, forcing you to choose between two bad endings or two so-called 'romantic' events.”
“The gameplay feels overly complicated and confusing, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
“There are too many mechanics to keep track of, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
