Ambition: A Minuet in Power

About

"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?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 319 reviews

story59 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

Engaging and well-written storyline with interesting characters.
Unique gameplay mechanics that blend visual novel elements with resource management and political intrigue.
High replayability due to multiple endings and romance options.

Repetitive gameplay elements, especially in party interactions and romance routes.
Several bugs and technical issues that can hinder the experience.
Limited character development for some love interests and lack of a CG gallery.

story
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and historical depth, set against the backdrop of pre-revolutionary Paris. Players appreciate the intricate plotlines and the impact of their choices on the story's progression, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and that certain mechanics may disrupt the narrative flow. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of visual novels and interactive narratives.
- “The story itself is really good, to the point that I would prefer to play it in a pure visual novel form.”
- “The characters and the setting of pre-revolutionary Paris are engaging and well portrayed, with the political conflict serving as a brilliant way to push the story forward.”
- “The story is very well written and engaging.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I played through once and it was fine, then played through a second time and the romance plots inexplicably stalled with no way to fix it, so I restarted for a third playthrough and the same thing happened in addition to the main plot around Armand stopping before the end of one of the scenes and going dead on me.”
gameplay
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of time and resource management, political intrigue, and strategy, but it often becomes repetitive and lacks depth as players progress. While the mechanics are generally smooth and the writing engaging, many players find the gameplay loop dull after a few hours, with some mechanics feeling underexplained or ineffective. Overall, the game offers a unique experience within the visual novel genre, but it struggles to maintain player interest throughout its duration.
- “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.”
- “It has a brilliant and intriguing story, all the characters are immensely interesting, the music is grand, the art is expressive, and the gameplay was really fun - it pretty much had me hooked from start to finish, just an all-around excellent game.”
- “A great visual novel with fun gameplay mechanics and interesting choices to be made.”
- “Mechanically, there are some issues.”
- “The gameplay loop gets boring really fast, and I've noticed a few annoying bugs.”
- “My main issue is that a lot of gameplay is unclear and unpredictable.”
music
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and historical accuracy, featuring a charming soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the relaxing classical background and the way the music complements the game's setting, although some note it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic and storytelling.
- “The music is lovely and despite how repetitive it is, it never becomes jarring.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and so, so fitting for the setting and atmosphere.”
- “The original soundtrack takes inspiration and tries to follow the music of the period.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their charm and beauty, with a unique art style that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. While some players noted a lack of variety in artwork during special events and romance routes, the detailed character designs and appealing visuals contribute positively to the game's immersive storytelling. However, opinions on the art style are mixed, with some players expressing personal preferences that differ from the game's artistic choices.
- “The art style is amazing.”
- “The visuals in Ambition: A Minuet in Power are carefully—and utterly amazingly—executed, the level of detailing is quite impressive and it shows how much dedication was put into this aspect.”
- “The graphics are charming and the original period-appropriate music is very well done.”
- “The art style chosen for the sprites is not my favorite, and some of the sprites show the characters as unnecessarily aggressive or unnerving.”
- “Things that I wished the game had done better: more artwork during the romance routes, or even the main story.”
- “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.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
40%
12%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its diverse paths, unique endings, and the potential for varied experiences in multiple playthroughs. However, some feel that the repetitive nature of certain elements and a lack of additional content, like more playable characters or a CG gallery, detracts from the overall replay value. While some players find it highly replayable and exciting, others express a reluctance to return soon after completing the game.
- “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.”
- “I feel like the game has decent replayability, but if you're like me, you'll probably have to take a nice long break before replaying too many times.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay and enjoyment. Many players recommend waiting for a sale due to these issues, which have been ongoing since the game's initial release. Overall, while the premise is promising, the frequent technical problems make it difficult to progress reliably.
- “For now, buy when it's on sale as there are still occasional glitches and bugs.”
- “Overall the premise of the game is good, but the game is far too buggy to reliably progress.”
- “This game is an absolute buggy mess.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its witty and humorous writing, with players enjoying the exaggerated character expressions and funny interactions, such as gossiping NPCs and dramatic poses. The humor is described as light-hearted yet effective, often blending with the game's deeper themes, making it both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the comedic elements enhance the experience, particularly for fans of dating sims and visual novels.
- “The game also made me laugh quite a few times with its witty writing.”
- “My favorite part of the game was when people gasp and gossip at almost anything you do, which was quite hilarious.”
- “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.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development in the game is noted as somewhat lacking, with some reviewers highlighting repetitive narratives. However, the high-quality art and character designs, particularly for standout characters like Armand, along with strong writing and engaging plot elements, contribute to an enjoyable experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “I really like the writing and character design.”
- “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.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and randomly generated events that can lead to frustration. While some appreciate the unpredictability it offers, many express a lack of patience for the grind required to achieve all endings, especially in the late game where gameplay can feel overly easy. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who tolerate grinding, but it may deter others seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “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.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by well-written elements and a fitting soundtrack that complements the setting. Reviewers consistently highlight how these aspects work together to create a captivating experience.
- “They were well-written, and they did a great job building the atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere!”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and so fitting for the setting and atmosphere.”