Always the Same Blue Sky...
- May 21, 2015
- NeoNight
Get on Steam"Always the Same Blue Sky" is a distinctive visual novel that deviates from the norm, presenting a profound narrative focused on love, mystery, and humanity. As a resilient adolescent, you navigate a remote island, its unusual school, and life-changing events with stunning visuals and an immersive soundtrack. This seaside adventure offers a refreshing take on the visual novel genre.
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Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and a soothing soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
- The story, while short, is charming and has a nice emotional impact.
- Offers replayability with different choices leading to two distinct endings.
- The game is very short, often leaving players wanting more depth and character development.
- Many choices feel superficial and do not significantly affect the outcome of the story.
- The writing can be overly flowery, leading to confusion and a lack of clarity in the narrative.
- story83 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Always the Same Blue Sky" is described as charming and visually appealing, featuring a short, romantic narrative set on a remote island. While some players appreciate its emotional depth and intriguing plot twists, many criticize it for being disjointed, lacking character development, and having an abrupt ending that leaves crucial elements unexplored. Overall, the game offers a pleasant experience but suffers from a rushed and incomplete storytelling approach.
“Always the same blue sky is a very good visual novel game with a beautiful story.”
“Deep and gripping story that is well worth reading/playing several times to unravel some of the hidden intricacies in the game - it is a lot more complex than it appears at first glance, and a lot of work and love has clearly gone into it.”
“Although it was short, it's inexpensive and the story it tells is really moving.”
“The whole thing lasted 21 minutes, including credits and time I spent dicking around with the game open, which means this game somehow cost me fifteen cents a minute to play. It did have some good points — I liked that choosing your gender only affected your name, and the plot and romance proceeded the same either way — and the art was really very nice, but the writing was poor and the story was so unfinished.”
“However, I was expecting a deeper and heart-moving plot; the ending comes out of nowhere and makes very little sense.”
“The story feels like I was being rushed through it; it didn't take its time building the characters, and that makes it hard to feel much for them.”
- music35 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and charming qualities, effectively complementing the visuals and overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with many describing it as beautiful, relaxing, and fitting for the game's themes. While some found the music forgettable, the majority agree that it enhances the experience, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“The soundtrack is amazing plus the art is lovely!”
“It nails the 'laid-back isolated Mediterranean island' vibe with its excellent 'sea-side' style soundtrack and pastel color backgrounds.”
“This visual novel has one of my favourite soundtracks of all time.”
“This was an incredibly short, choppy visual novel with very (very) pretty art and soothing music that was basically a plot sketch of a visual novel.”
“Don't get me wrong, the story is okay (although honestly I was more interested in the 'hidden' side-story) and the artwork and soundtrack are also okay, but that's it.”
“The music was forgettable, but I didn't mind it in particular.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and attention to detail, with many reviewers highlighting the charming artwork and colorful visuals that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is also noted for being relaxing and well-composed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the combination of appealing graphics and music makes it a worthwhile experience, despite some critiques regarding the simplicity of the story.
“The graphics are nice and the soundtrack is chill and relaxing... I highly recommend it.”
“Plus, here we have outstanding graphics in my view, and an awesome soundtrack which can be bought as a €1/$ dlc - even if the game's short (two-three hours more or less if you want to read through it all), you'll hear almost 15 different songs and the dlc also contains non-published tracks and mixes :)”
“The artwork was beautiful, though at first I thought I was going to be underwhelmed by this part of the story, it really grew on me.”
“Always the same blue sky; it’s clear from the first sight that much work has been put into this novel, but the graphics feel repetitive and lack variety.”
“Don't get me wrong, the story is okay, but the graphics and soundtrack are also just okay, lacking the depth and detail I was hoping for.”
“While the visuals are quite pretty, they ultimately feel standard and fail to stand out in a crowded genre.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mixed experience; while the short storyline and character attachment to Kira evoke some touching moments, the execution and depth of the narrative leave something to be desired. Players appreciate the emotional impact of the ending, despite its rushed feel, and find the overall journey to be a brief yet poignant experience, ideal for those seeking a quick emotional trip rather than a lengthy narrative.
“The storyline is very short, but it's touching.”
“I actually got attached to Kira, and the ending was touching, although not amazingly executed.”
“If you want a short, emotional little trip, pick this one up.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers limited endings, with only two available, yet it maintains a strong replayability factor due to its engaging content and positive attributes. Players appreciate the opportunity to explore different outcomes, enhancing the overall experience despite the short playtime.
“There are lots of visual novels, like this one, with few endings (yes, just two!) and a short playtime, but it has a nice replayability value and many positive aspects - outstanding, too!”
“Several different endings provide great replayability.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is praised for its engaging content, providing around an hour of playtime, and featuring easy achievements that enhance the overall experience.
“I loved this visual novel; it provided me with a good hour of gameplay and featured easy achievements.”
“The gameplay was engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish.”
“I appreciated the variety of choices in gameplay, which made each playthrough feel unique.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the game lacks sufficient content and depth in character development, indicating a desire for more intricate storytelling and character arcs.
“There could be way more content and character development.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
