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.
- Intriguing narrative with mature themes and a unique setting in a rural village.
- Lacks a skip feature for previously read text, making multiple playthroughs tedious.
- Some choices feel insignificant or lead to abrupt plot developments, reducing immersion.
- The story can feel short and may leave players wanting more depth and resolution.
- story233 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Along the Edge" is a mature and engaging visual novel that explores themes of self-discovery and family legacy within a mystical setting. Players navigate a relatively short narrative filled with meaningful choices that significantly impact the protagonist's journey and the story's outcome, offering multiple endings and replayability. While some reviewers noted predictability and a lack of depth in character development, the overall experience is enhanced by beautiful artwork and a captivating atmosphere, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of interactive storytelling.
“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 beautifully thought out and well written, the art is gorgeous, the music is gorgeous... I could not have asked for anything more.”
“This is not a story to put yourself into; it is Daphne’s story, and Along the Edge's dedication to this fact helps make it an engaging and thought-provoking story where the choices you make really do matter, and have the potential to create entirely different narratives.”
“It was tedious and there were times where I couldn't see how the story could be any more boring than it was.”
“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.”
“The only bad thing is that it's a bit short and that it's just not deep enough like they intentionally keep parts of the story untold.”
- graphics65 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Along the Edge" are widely praised for their stunning, impressionist-inspired artwork that beautifully complements the game's narrative and atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique art style, character designs, and the overall visual presentation, which enhances the emotional depth of the story. However, some users noted the lack of an in-game gallery to revisit the artwork, which detracted slightly from the experience.
“The artwork is breathtakingly beautiful; I loved every scene of this game.”
“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.”
“There is no in-game section to view the artwork.”
“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.”
- music51 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and calming compositions that enhance the overall atmosphere, complementing the stunning artwork and engaging narrative. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, with occasional issues in the transitions between tracks. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset to the game's immersive experience, though it may not stand out as particularly varied.
“The music is relaxing and not interfering.”
“The soundtrack is simple, but likewise helps set the mood.”
“The music is hauntingly beautiful.”
“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.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by multiple endings and the impact of player choices on the narrative. Many players have enjoyed revisiting the game to explore different outcomes and interpretations, suggesting that the variety in choices enhances the overall experience. However, some reviewers expressed a desire for deeper branching paths to further increase replay value.
“It also lends to these games being very replayable as you attempt to interpret why some choices get different results.”
“This fact alone gives the game an incredible amount of replayability, as there are numerous narratives to uncover and explore.”
“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 on the main character and the storyline in a major way, which should lead to a fair amount of replayability.”
“I like the multiple endings and variations that are given, as that increases the replayability of the game.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by meaningful decision-making that significantly impacts the narrative, offering a minimum of 3-4 hours of playtime with high replay value due to multiple endings. Players engage with a unique alignment mechanic that enhances the experience beyond typical text-based games, though some reviewers feel the price may not justify the length of gameplay. Overall, while the mechanics are intriguing, comparisons to better-polished alternatives suggest room for improvement.
“The feeling when playing is that there are enough forks, and the decisions made do matter, offering a minimum of 3 or 4 hours of gameplay... obviously more if you want to try other paths.”
“Actually feels that you are doing something instead of just reading, which is good for these types of games that are overcrowded with a book-style of gameplay.”
“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 uncertainty of how the mechanics unfold and the opaque nature of the underlying story only enhance the overall game.”
“Mechanically, the choices you make in Along the Edge are selected from the screen, and then the impact of those choices is relayed back to you in the form of a four-pointed compass at the top of the screen.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, stylized artwork and moody soundtrack, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Reviewers note the blend of pleasant and unsettling elements, enhancing the storytelling while allowing player choices to influence the atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully establishes a captivating ambiance that complements its narrative, despite some critiques regarding the lightness of its gameplay elements.
“The art is in a sketch paint storyboard style that is rich in atmosphere and pleasant to watch.”
“I liked the scenery of the European countryside, and the soundtrack fits the atmosphere nicely.”
“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. Placing the story in service to them places a firm cap on its potential.”
“The art style is stylized and suits the atmosphere of the story, not creepy, but unsettling and menacing at times.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a well-written and intriguing story that, while not groundbreaking, offers a heartfelt experience with dynamic visuals and touching music. Players appreciate the character development and the emotional depth of the narrative, though some feel that the emotional arcs can be rushed. Overall, the game successfully blends supernatural elements with existential themes, creating a compelling emotional journey.
“Story is well written and really interesting, choices matter, excellent visual style and touching music.”
“It's frankly beautiful and dynamic and emotional.”
“The visuals are very appealing, and the story is both thrilling and touching; I've come to really care for the characters.”
- 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.
“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, which might make it a bit tedious for some after multiple playthroughs.”
“While the replays can get a little tedious, along the edge is one of the few games whose alternative endings I have been compelled to explore.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its thrilling writing and beautiful character design, contributing to a gripping and immersive story. Players appreciate the depth of choices that affect the narrative, enhancing the feeling of living in a unique and darkly enchanting world. Overall, the combination of well-crafted characters and stunning visuals creates a cinematic experience 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 organically.”
“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 microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, as it feels like the game is designed more to generate revenue than to provide a fun experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a dichotomy between endearing, humorous choices and snobbish, unappealing options, allowing players to engage with the comedic elements in a lighthearted manner.
“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.”
