Arisen
- September 21, 2021
- Homecoming Studio
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Arisen - Chronicles of Var'Nagal" is a single-player fantasy role-playing game with an interesting plot and pretty visuals. You play as a slave seeking freedom on the island of Maccialatt, where your choices and interactions with various characters will impact the world around you. With 360,000 words and multiple paths, the game offers a rich and immersive story-driven experience.
PC
Reviews
- The game features stunning artwork and character designs, particularly the unique card system that represents emotions.
- The storytelling is engaging and well-written, with interesting character development and the potential for complex relationships.
- The innovative gameplay mechanics, such as the choice-based card system, provide a fresh take on narrative-driven games.
- The game is unfinished and has numerous bugs, including issues with save files and soft locks that hinder progress.
- There is a lack of options for skipping previously seen text and navigating back to earlier points in the story, making replayability frustrating.
- The relationship dynamics feel superficial, with choices often leading to predictable outcomes and limited character interactions.
- story42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and intriguing, with a mix of dark themes and positive elements, though it suffers from bugs and incomplete content due to its early access status. Players appreciate the character-driven narrative and the impact of choices on relationships, but some express frustration over the lack of depth in character interactions and the feeling that choices may not significantly affect outcomes. Overall, while the story shows great potential and captivates players, many hope for further development and completion in future updates.
“It tells an amazing story following a character that is purely built on your reactions to events.”
“The story is dark, but there's also beauty and positive aspects in it, and I've had a lot of fun replaying it in different ways.”
“What a wonderful story and great set of characters.”
“My save file doesn't load the dialogue and can't continue the story.”
“I wish I would've known that so I didn't invest my time and emotions in the story that are not going to be completed now.”
“The story feels like there is no quick bad end, just seemingly unimportant mission failures making it so that it feels your choices do not have much weight.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and beautiful character designs, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, some players noted that the lack of NPC animations during dialogues can be off-putting, detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, while the animated backgrounds enhance the visuals, they can cause performance issues at times.
“Overall, I say get the game to enjoy the visuals and the overall atmosphere.”
“First and foremost, a game with beautiful artwork.”
“The graphic part is really gorgeous; the characters are nicely designed, the small animations on the backgrounds work really well, and the designs of the cards are wonderful.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its innovative mechanics, including the potential for complex relationships like nemesis or enemy-to-lover dynamics, and a unique card system that enhances player experience. However, many users note that the game is still unfinished, with insufficient content and bugs, suggesting it may be better to wait for a full release before purchasing. Overall, the combination of intriguing story and character development makes it worth trying for those who appreciate dark narratives and engaging gameplay.
“The gameplay of this game is amazing.”
“If you enjoy a good story (even if it is dark), innovative gameplay, and interesting characters, I would highly recommend giving this game a try.”
“As for the gameplay, I'm in love with the card system; the fact that you can win cards that match the mood you've been following really tailors an experience that enriches your playstyle.”
“Otherwise, I suggest just adding it to your wishlist and waiting for the full release since there's currently not nearly enough gameplay and too many bugs to warrant the price tag.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“The controls are unresponsive at times, which leads to frustrating moments during gameplay.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its loveliness and complementing the intriguing characters and story. The art and soundtrack work together to enhance the overall experience, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The characters and story are intriguing, and the art and music are amazing!”
“The soundtrack is lovely, and the game is interesting.”
“The setting and story have me intrigued, and the art and music have been good thus far.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is generally well-received, particularly in terms of romance, but some users feel it lacks depth, making it challenging to form strong connections and decide on a final romantic partner.
“The character development and romance are great!”
“Character development is not very deep, so deciding who to finally settle with is not easy when you can't spend more time romancing them.”
“Character development is not very deep, making it difficult to decide who to ultimately settle with since you can't spend enough time romancing them.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional, lacking the depth needed for meaningful development throughout the game.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which made it hard to connect with them on any level.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the story and visuals are praised for their emotional depth, the lack of animated NPCs during dialogues detracts from the overall experience, creating an uncomfortable disconnect that undermines the intended emotional impact.
“It's honest, emotional, and painful.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game is relatively stable, with only minor glitches such as character version issues and occasional character freezing. However, a significant concern is that the bug reporting feature causes the game to freeze, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Apart from some minor glitches with the wrong version of characters and some characters getting stuck on screen, I really enjoyed this.”
“I'm playing in early access and my only real issue is that the report bug feature freezes the game when I try to report anything.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game incorporates humor, it often lacks depth and nuance, with players expressing a desire for more complex and varied comedic elements that reflect real-life situations.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's impressive visuals and immersive atmosphere, suggesting that these elements significantly enhance the overall experience.
“Overall, I say get the game to enjoy the visuals and the overall atmosphere.”
