Ambition: A Minuet in Power
- August 18, 2021
- Joy Manufacturing Co.
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Ambition: A Minuet in Power" is a visual novel set in 18th century France. You play as a young widow seeking to rise in society by attending glamorous soirées, gathering information, and using your wit and charm to influence key figures. Navigate political intrigue, form alliances, and make choices that will determine your path to success. Will you play the game of societal advancement as a cunning minuet, or leave a trail of chaos in your wake?
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a well-written and engaging story set during the French Revolution, with interesting characters and a unique premise.
- The gameplay mechanics, including managing credibility and peril while navigating social events, add depth and strategy to the experience.
- The art style and soundtrack are beautiful, enhancing the immersive atmosphere of the game.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs, including issues with saving, unresponsive invitations, and glitches that disrupt gameplay.
- Many interactions and events can become repetitive, leading to a lack of variety in subsequent playthroughs.
- Some mechanics, such as the hired help, feel underutilized and do not provide enough benefit to justify their cost.
- story258 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and well-structured, featuring a rich historical backdrop and multifaceted characters that enhance the narrative experience. Players appreciate the variety of storylines and the impact of their choices, although some find the gameplay mechanics repetitive and the pacing uneven. Overall, while the story captivates many, some players express a desire for deeper character development and more cohesive plot progression.
“The plot writing is interesting and well done; you can tell some serious research went into this game.”
“The story is a delight and your choices truly determine where it goes.”
“It has a brilliant and intriguing story, all the characters are immensely interesting, the music is grand, the art is expressive, the gameplay was really fun - it pretty much had me hooked from start to finish, just an all-around excellent game.”
“I was able to play through it in 4 hours and it kept feeling like I was still missing the plot device for the story or game to take off.”
“The most frustrating being that many of the randomly generated interactions kept appearing 'out of order' in such a way that the story felt massively interrupted and disjointed.”
“The concept is fun and there were definitely elements I enjoyed, but I bought it on the basis of playing the demo and it definitely feels like they front-loaded the events to sell it as having more content than it does - the demo was filled with activities and seeming potential story avenues, but by mid-way through the game I literally had nothing to do but collect repetitive gossip at a faster rate than I had a use for it and passing in game time felt like a chore I was slogging through in the hopes that the story would resume.”
- gameplay132 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is characterized by a compelling blend of strategy and narrative, featuring a unique mechanic centered around social interactions and gossip. While many players appreciate the depth and replayability offered by the choices and consequences, some find the mechanics can become repetitive and occasionally confusing, leading to a less engaging experience in the later stages. Overall, the game is praised for its intriguing story and character development, though it suffers from some mechanical inconsistencies and a lack of clarity in gameplay elements.
“Well-written branching alternate-history Machiavellian French Revolution scheming simulator with a simple but compelling gameplay loop (where balls and soirées are a battlefield and your outfit choices are tactical) and a surprising depth of choice.”
“I find the gameplay to be in-depth but also really fun!”
“It has a brilliant and intriguing story, all the characters are immensely interesting, the music is grand, the art is expressive, the gameplay was really fun - it pretty much had me hooked from start to finish, just an all-around excellent game.”
“Once you figure out the basic game mechanic, it gets quite boring.”
“My main issue is that a lot of gameplay is unclear and unpredictable.”
“The bad: several mechanics are not explained, and you just discover them by chance: the café, how to set up rendezvous, etc.”
- music94 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and period-accurate soundtrack, which enhances the overall aesthetic and storytelling experience. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, it remains non-distracting and fitting for long play sessions. The combination of classical elements with modern sensibilities creates a captivating atmosphere that complements the game's art and narrative.
“The soundtrack is amazing and so, so fitting for the setting and atmosphere.”
“This music is awesome, you can tell it was recorded on mostly period instruments, which really adds a fun layer to the playing experience.”
“The art style and music are so appealing at all times, and I love the interactions with both important and generic characters.”
“The soundtrack can be a little repetitive after a while or out of context, such as being in an inn and hearing horses.”
“There are a few grammar mistakes and I don't think it makes much sense that the music effects for the street continue playing when you are inside a building - not sure if this is a bug or not.”
“In the first half of the game, monotonous and peaceful music is mainly played, but in the second half of the game, there is a lot of tense and fast music.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple yet beautiful, with a charming art style that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. While some players appreciate the lively artwork and appealing character designs, others express mixed feelings about specific art choices, particularly regarding character sprites. Overall, the graphics, combined with music and storytelling, contribute to a captivating and immersive gameplay experience, though some repetition in designs is noted.
“Graphics are simple but beautiful.”
“The art style and music are so appealing at all times, and I love the interactions with both important and generic characters.”
“Overall, I think that 'Ambition' is a fine example of the developer's efforts and it blends graphics, music, story, and choice to make a wonderful game and a fine work of art.”
“The art style chosen for the sprites is not my favorite, and some of the sprites show the characters as unnecessarily aggressive or unnerving.”
“I've definitely had a few people in the server comment that they don't like the art style, but the art on the store page is absolutely representative of the style throughout the game.”
“I get very easily turned off by writing and art styles in visual novels, so I don't play them very often.”
- replayability44 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its numerous branching paths, unique endings, and the potential for varied experiences in each playthrough. However, others express frustration with repetitive dialogue and encounters, suggesting that while there is high replay value, it may not be engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs without a significant break. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it may depend on individual player preferences and the desire for exploration of different storylines.
“There's tons of replayability in it as you can go extremely different directions in any one playthrough.”
“Much more nuanced and complex than it appears at first glance, and it has replay value due to the different possible paths, relationships, and endings.”
“There is clear replayability with the different endings where each is unique and each playthrough feels different.”
“The problem is that there is virtually no replayability.”
“The randomization doesn't make the game more replayable, it just makes the game more frustrating.”
“In my opinion, the replayability of a visual novel should come from following the various story paths and making divergent choices.”
- stability24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous glitches and bugs, making it a frustrating experience for many players. Despite a promising premise, the instability hampers reliable progression, with issues persisting since 2021. Players are advised to wait for patches or purchase the game on sale due to its current state.
“The game is buggy as hell.”
“This game is an absolute buggy mess.”
“Overall the premise of the game is good, but the game is far too buggy to reliably progress.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its light-heartedness and cleverness, with players enjoying exaggerated character expressions and witty dialogues that evoke laughter. Many found the interactions, such as characters gossiping about your actions and the absurdity of the game's roulette wheel theme, to be particularly amusing. Additionally, the ability to manipulate love interests adds a humorous twist to the narrative, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“My favorite part of the game was when people gasp and gossip at almost anything you do, which was quite hilarious.”
“A lot of the parties you'll attend in this game feature roulette wheels, which is funny because the entire game is a roulette wheel.”
“I found it really funny that you can choose (and you're even encouraged!) to two-time people, to get close to multiple love interests so you can manipulate them to get the outcome you want.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and the randomness of events, which can lead to frustration when trying to complete quests. While some appreciate the unpredictability and complexity that keeps the gameplay engaging at times, many express a lack of patience for the repetitive nature of conversations and the grind required to achieve different endings. Overall, the experience can feel overly easy and monotonous, especially in the late game.
“I know there are more endings, but I don't know if I have the patience to go through all the tedious and sometimes meaningless conversations again.”
“In full transparency, it does become a bit tedious after a while, and the fact that events, parties, and NPCs are randomly generated can make completing certain quests frustrating.”
“My problems with the game are with how the gameplay can get a little tedious and even overly easy once you reach the late game of your first playthrough.”
- character development12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with many reviewers noting that while the character designs are visually appealing and high quality, they tend to be repetitive. Despite this, the engaging plot and action, along with strong writing and music, contribute to a fun experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“The character designs are unique and the art is of high quality.”
“Good characterization and character designs.”
“The background and character designs are also excellent.”
“I would say character development is lacking, but the plot and action surrounding it are loads of fun.”
“The character designs are same-y, but the art is high quality.”
“While these parties can become a little repetitive, the writing, music, character design, and the sheer number of different ways events can play out make it good for at least two or three play-throughs.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, significantly enhanced by an exceptional and fitting soundtrack that complements the setting perfectly. Reviewers consistently highlight how these elements work together to create a captivating experience.
“They really are the cherry on top and make the atmosphere complete and immersive.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and so fitting for the setting and atmosphere.”
