Athanasy
- April 13, 2022
- Wirion
Get on Steam"Athanasy is a single-player Horror Visual Novel game set in a dystopian, biopunk City. Play as Josiah Kaviani, a young mathematician, as he encounters something monstrous and secretive, challenging his solitary life. With a dark, intriguing story based on real science, Athanasy features complex characters and a good soundtrack for an immersive, bone-chilling experience."
Reviews
- Athanasy features a masterful blend of rich storytelling and philosophical themes, immersing players in a hauntingly detailed dystopian world that challenges their perceptions of society and technology.
- The game boasts exceptional art and music, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact, making it a visually stunning experience that captivates players.
- With multiple endings and complex character choices, Athanasy offers high replayability, allowing players to explore different narrative paths and deepen their understanding of the intricate lore.
- The game's heavy reliance on reading and dialogue may deter players seeking more interactive gameplay, as it lacks significant action elements.
- Some players may find the unrelentingly dark tone and mature themes, including body horror and existential dread, to be overwhelming or off-putting.
- The English translation, while generally good, contains some inconsistencies and minor errors that can disrupt the reading experience for some players.
- story42 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a complex and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of enforced immortality, moral ambiguity, and the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world. Players encounter deeply developed characters and are faced with challenging choices that enhance replayability, though navigating different story branches often requires revisiting earlier sections. The writing is praised for its depth and philosophical undertones, creating an immersive experience that blends horror with emotional resonance, making it a standout in its genre.
“The game features captivating storytelling with complex, morally gray characters, and presents players with tough, morally challenging choices that add depth and replayability.”
“The story is marvelously written, and the plot will touch even a person distant from tech.”
“Athanasy is a truly exceptional tale worthy of praise for the story it tells and the ideas within.”
“The result is something disturbing and oppressive, akin to Cronenberg nightmare fuel blended with a pervasive, Kafkaesque sense of dread and despair that never lets up as the story continuously gets worse with every turn of the page.”
“It's just a story; most of the time you just click 'next, next, next'.”
“The story is also as thought-provoking and philosophical as it is uncomfortable.”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality and emotional depth, with many reviewers noting its ability to enhance the overall experience and complement the visuals. Composed specifically for the game, the soundtrack is described as magnificent, well-paced, and varied, drawing favorable comparisons to other notable works like "The Song of Saya." Overall, the music is considered a standout element that significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
“My delight in such a magnificently composed music is beyond words.”
“The music is well paced and makes the fantastic visuals even better.”
“Immersive soundtrack that is completely in line with the story.”
“For dessert, I saved an important element of 'athanasy' - the music, which was written specially for this game.”
“If you were looking for a comparison point, it has similar tones to the song of 'Saya, Saya no Uta.'”
“Third: music”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as hauntingly immersive, with detailed environments that create a sense of unease and curiosity. Players appreciate the unique ambiance and character interactions, which enhance their overall experience, even if some elements are not perfect. The effective use of music and the ability to personalize character voices contribute to a deep sense of immersion in the game's world.
“The game’s atmosphere is hauntingly immersive, with detailed environments that evoke a sense of unease and curiosity.”
“It is far from perfect; however, strangely enough this enhances the strange atmosphere and ideas, and I stopped noticing it after an hour.”
“All the compositions fit perfectly into the atmosphere of the game, adding to the feeling that you are immersed in this world, in a situation, you are there, in that universe, so close and so far away.”
“It is far from perfect; however, strangely enough, this enhances the strange atmosphere and ideas, and I stopped noticing it after an hour.”
“For all 6 hours, I read aloud in order to better immerse myself in the atmosphere. The voice acting of the characters is probably not enough, but on the other hand, I invented the voices myself and got used to them, which gave me a feeling of immersion.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their beautiful and striking art style, which effectively complements the dark biopunk aesthetic of the game. Reviewers highlight the exceptional artwork as one of the standout features, enhancing the overall experience despite the narrative's shortcomings. The visuals, paired with well-paced music, create a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
“Beautiful art style.”
“This is an extremely dark visual novel and while not having the usual 'dark' tropes, the biopunk aesthetic really shows just how grim society can get.”
“Have to note absolutely amazing artwork, it's probably one of the best looking ru-lang visual novels of recent times.”
“This is an extremely dark visual novel, and while it doesn't have the usual 'dark' tropes, the biopunk aesthetic really shows just how grim society can get.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its intricate storytelling, morally complex characters, and multiple endings that encourage players to explore different narrative paths. Players often find that subsequent playthroughs enhance their understanding of the subtext, making each run feel fresh and rewarding.
“Various endings and story routes explore different aspects of the world of Athanasy, making it highly replayable.”
“The game features captivating storytelling with complex, morally gray characters, and presents players with tough, morally challenging choices that add depth and replayability.”
“Replayability; the game only gets better after finishing all the endings once, because you're able to understand all the subtext on the second playthrough.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant character development, allowing players to shape their characters' identities through meaningful choices, such as being a coward or a revolutionary. This stands in contrast to typical visual novels that often lack depth in character progression, focusing instead on shock value. Overall, the character designs are grotesque, aligning with the game's horror theme.
“There are a lot of choices in character development; do you want to be a coward, a traitor, a visionary, or a revolutionary? It's entirely up to you.”
“I'm used to cheap visual novels that barely have any character development, or that are simply gore-focused like the Saw movies.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“While there are choices available, they often lead to predictable outcomes, diminishing the impact of character development.”
“The character designs are grotesque and off-putting, which detracts from any potential depth in their development.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players found the game unexpectedly emotional, highlighting its ability to evoke a sense of belonging and connection despite its horror elements. The blend of heartwarming storytelling with gore and monsters created a unique experience that resonated deeply with many.
“This game really made me feel like I was a part of something bigger.”
“I expected a horror story, but I got a heartwarming tale with gore and monsters.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is not suited for those looking for lighthearted adventures or straightforward mechanics, suggesting a more complex or serious experience.
“Those seeking lighthearted adventures or a focus on direct gameplay may want to look elsewhere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing personalities of the hell citizens, with Gabriel being particularly endearing and likened to a "cinnamon roll," suggesting a charming and wholesome quality.
“The hell citizens are very funny, and Gabriel is just a cinnamon roll.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the quirky characters and their ridiculous antics.”
