Along the Edge
- October 12, 2016
- Nova-box
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Along the Edge" is a narrative-driven adventure game where players step into the shoes of Daphne, a woman on the verge of inheriting her grandmother's house in a small rural village. The game features a branching storyline with multiple endings, inspired by historical and political events of the 20th century. Decisions made throughout the game affect Daphne's relationships, the town's dynamics, and her own personal growth.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and engaging story that draws players in.
- Choices significantly impact the character's personality and appearance, enhancing replayability.
- Interesting narrative with multiple endings that encourages exploration of different paths.
- Lack of a save feature and skip option makes replaying tedious.
- Some characters and plot points feel underdeveloped or clichéd.
- The story can feel short and may leave players wanting more depth and resolution.
- story174 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Along the Edge" is described as a mature and engaging narrative that combines elements of mystery and the supernatural, centered around a young woman inheriting her grandmother's estate. While the game features multiple choices that significantly impact the storyline and character development, some players found the overall plot to be predictable and the game relatively short, leaving certain narrative threads unresolved. Despite its clichés and occasional lack of depth in character development, the visual novel is praised for its beautiful artwork and immersive atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-driven games.
“In Nova-Box's debut, they create a short but enthralling story where a young woman gives up her life to inherit her grandmother's estate in a small village where the townsfolk believe in mystic happenings.”
“The story is well-written and really interesting; choices matter, and it features an excellent visual style and touching music.”
“This is a brilliant game; the story is great, even philosophical in parts.”
“The story ends somewhat abruptly - it feels like it's missing a third act, and in particular the globe-side endings leave the story ending on an unsatisfactory note, with a ton of loose ends that don't get wrapped up.”
“It's a story that doesn't deliver anything... there's no emotion, no fear, no curiosity, no surprises.”
“Very slow story that doesn't really seem to go anywhere until the very end.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Along the Edge" are widely praised for their stunning, impressionist-inspired artwork that enhances the game's atmosphere and narrative. Reviewers highlight the unique art style, which is reminiscent of French and Belgian comic books, and appreciate the effort put into the visuals, making them a significant draw for players. Overall, the beautiful graphics complement the engaging story and choices, contributing to a captivating gaming experience.
“The visuals are stunning; the more I've played visual novels, the more I've appreciated the alternative art styles they've beget, and 'Along the Edge' is a prime example.”
“Finally, 'Along the Edge' has some of the most beautiful artwork I have ever seen in a video game.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the atmosphere is wonderfully moody and creepy, and I love how your decisions alter the game, even in terms of your character's appearance.”
“Art styles in other visual novels have the problem of getting old pretty quickly.”
“It has a nice style and it's impressive how much effort they put into the rough but effective graphics.”
“The graphics fit the mood of the story.”
- music36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the visuals and narrative. While some players find the compositions beautiful and immersive, others note issues with repetitiveness and abrupt transitions between tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a fitting backdrop that enhances the storytelling experience, though opinions on its distinctiveness vary.
“The music is relaxing and not interfering.”
“The art and soundtrack are amazingly beautiful.”
“The abstract artwork and haunting soundtrack fit together beautifully.”
“Music is unobtrusive, but repetitive.”
“The music is pretty but unremarkable.”
“Unfortunately, the cuts between tracks and between music and silence/ambience are way too rough, which can kick you out of a mood.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by multiple endings, varied character appearances, and the impact of player choices on the storyline and relationships. Many players have completed the game multiple times, indicating a strong incentive to explore different outcomes, although some desire deeper narrative branching for even greater replay value.
“It also lends to these games being very replayable as you attempt to interpret why some choices get different results.”
“The protagonist's appearance varies due to gameplay choices, which gives you replayability options beyond a simple 'good run/bad run': 1 - Daphné's character/appearance; 2 - the overall plot; 3 - relationships with family/friends/romantic NPCs; 4 - minor conditions/achievements.”
“I like the multiple endings/variations that are given, as that increases the replayability of the game.”
“I do wish the choices branched the game even further, changing the narrative more deeply to increase replayability.”
“Towards the end of the game, the choices you made will have influence both the main character and the storyline in a major way, which should lead to a fair amount of replayability.”
“However, there is some replayability because of the many choices that you have.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by meaningful decision-making that significantly impacts the narrative, offering multiple paths and high replayability with various endings. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics that go beyond traditional reading, although some feel the price may not justify the limited initial playtime. Overall, the game provides a unique experience with a personality system that influences character appearance and relationships.
“The feeling when playing is that there are enough forks, that the decisions made do matter (unlike what happens in other games), and offers a minimum of 3 or 4 hours of gameplay... obviously more if you want to try other paths.”
“The protagonist's appearance varies due to gameplay choices, which gives you replayability options beyond a simple 'good run/bad run': 1 - Daphné's character/appearance; 2 - the overall plot; 3 - relationships with family/friends/romantic NPCs; 4 - minor conditions/achievements.”
“But I don't think it's worth the price, and I would rather recommend Demon Heart - a much better, polished version of this game with a better plot, characters, and mechanics.”
“The primary game mechanic is the pair of alignments - globe/star (belief) and sun/moon (attitude), corresponding roughly to science/occult and nice/bitchy.”
“Actually feels that you are doing something instead of just reading, which is good for these types of games that are overcrowded with a style too close to books.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is richly crafted, featuring beautiful artwork and stunning music that enhance the overall experience. While it establishes a moody and immersive environment, some players feel that the light gameplay elements detract from the potential of the overarching story. Overall, the atmosphere is described as nuanced and engaging, with a charming portrayal of village life.
“The art is in a sketch paint storyboard style that is rich in atmosphere and pleasant to watch.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the atmosphere is wonderfully moody and creepy, and I love how your decisions alter the game, even in terms of your character's appearance.”
“The atmosphere has potential, the overarching tale could have been decent, but as it stands the game elements are so light they are almost immaterial even by the standards of the genre, and placing the story in service to them places a firm cap on its potential.”
“The story is good, though you have to be patient; it takes its time to get to where it's going, establishing atmosphere first.”
“It will delight you with its gentle, nuanced atmosphere and romantic conception of village life in France.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a well-written and engaging story that, while not groundbreaking, offers a heartfelt experience akin to a short novel or modest TV show. Players appreciate the dynamic visuals and touching music, which enhance their connection to the characters and plot, though some may find the emotional investment required to explore all options lacking. Overall, the game presents an intriguing blend of supernatural and mystery elements, addressing significant existential themes through its multifaceted characters.
“The visuals are very appealing, and the story is both thrilling and touching; I've come to really care for the characters.”
“It’s frankly beautiful, dynamic, and emotional.”
“The game has an intriguing and emotional plot that is not too dramatic and features a mix of supernatural and mystery.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the lack of a skip function and the inability to save before dialogue choices, which makes exploring options time-consuming. While the artwork and story flexibility are appreciated, repeated playthroughs can lead to boredom, despite some players being compelled to explore alternative endings.
“It was tedious, and there were times when I couldn't see how the story could be any more boring than it was.”
“One of my big complaints is that there is a lack of a skip option, and you cannot save before dialogue choices, which makes it very tedious and time-consuming to explore the game and its options.”
“The game does not have a skip functionality; it might be a bit tedious for some after multiple playthroughs.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, featuring well-written narratives and beautiful illustrations that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the variety of choices that impact the story, creating a sense of immersion in a unique setting with multiple endings. Overall, the combination of gripping storytelling and appealing character design contributes to a cinematic quality that resonates with players.
“Thrilling writing, gorgeous illustrations, nice character development.”
“Beautiful art, well written, very long and gripping story, lots of choices with effects, the real feeling that you have to deal with dark forces and that you are living in this strange but special town, lovely character design, different endings, a story as good as a movie (should be a movie!).”
“In this game, the art style and character design manage to stay fresh and pretty for the full duration of the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the game is criticized for its lack of coherence, as promoting certain metaphysical beliefs can negatively impact unrelated gameplay challenges, leading to frustration among players.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it often forces players to spend money to progress, rather than allowing them to enjoy the game at their own pace.”
“I find the in-game purchases to be overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without constantly being prompted to buy something.”
“The reliance on ads and microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, turning what could be an engaging game into a frustrating cash grab.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a dichotomy between two archetypes: the charming and humorous character versus the snobbish and unlikable one, suggesting a playful and engaging approach to character interactions.
“The choices are between Mr. Nice & Funny or Snobby Loser.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, making every interaction a joy.”
“I love how the witty dialogue keeps me laughing throughout the gameplay.”
