Baldr Sky

About

In Baldr Sky, players explore a futuristic world where people use brain chips to access AI-crafted virtual realities, which can have dangerous consequences. As mercenary Kou Kadokura, players aim to uncover those responsible for the Gray Christmas tragedy while dealing with memory loss and forming alliances. The game combines the stories of Baldr Sky Dive1 “Lost Memory” and Baldr Sky Dive2 “Recordare” into one thrilling experience. Note: All characters are 18 years or older.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 670 reviews

story248 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Baldr Sky features an intricate storyline that captivates players and keeps them engaged for over 100 hours.
The game combines a compelling narrative with satisfying gameplay mechanics, allowing for deep customization and combo creation in combat.
The characters are well-developed and memorable, with a strong emotional connection that enhances the overall experience.

The pacing can be slow, with repetitive scenes and flashbacks that disrupt the flow of the story.
Technical issues, such as frequent crashes and a poorly designed save system, can detract from the overall enjoyment.
Some characters and plot points feel clichéd or underdeveloped, particularly in the earlier routes.

story
694 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The story of "Baldr Sky" is a complex and engaging sci-fi narrative that intertwines themes of memory, identity, and technology within a dystopian setting. While many players praise its intricate world-building and character development, some criticize the pacing and repetitive flashbacks that disrupt the flow of the narrative. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and compelling plot twists, despite some flaws in execution.
- “This is an absolutely superb cyberpunk visual novel with amazing characters, a story that kept me playing past 4am because I couldn't put it down, and gameplay that is simple but never boring.”
- “The truly phenomenal storytelling overrules the downsides though to deliver one of the best sci-fi visual novels on the market.”
- “I loved everything about this; the setting, the character, and especially the story and how it slow built up until it reached the final route which somehow stuck the landing perfectly leaving no plot points unfinished.”
- “That stuff is fine, and kind of interesting, but at about hour 3 or 4 the story just devolves into long, boring, juvenile flashbacks about the protagonist's past that completely break the pace and clash with the gritty tone it was trying to establish.”
- “The issue with the visual novel is that major story scenes or reveals are buffered by sometimes a half dozen or more battles against the game's somewhat annoying mooks.”
- “Tens of hours of explanations grow tiring in a story which is also riddled with repetitions, stereotypical dialogues made by stereotypical characters, and where many sections just drag on and on, seemingly forever.”
gameplay
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay in "Baldr Sky" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its depth and mechanics, particularly the combo system and RPG elements, which add a unique layer to the visual novel experience. However, some criticize the combat for being repetitive and unpolished, with issues like a frustrating lock-on system detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite these flaws, the gameplay is often described as engaging and rewarding, especially for those willing to invest time in mastering its mechanics.
- “Baldr Sky, originally released in 2009, continues to captivate players with its intricate storyline and satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay is the meat of the game, and it’s worth the entry price: structured as an isometric beat ‘em up, Baldr Sky offers a wide range of progressively unlocking weapons (for a grand total of just about 130 different weapons), which can be developed and chained in combos for massive style and damage.”
- “Baldr Sky is one of the best visual novels out there, one of the few instances where gameplay and story are both ace quality and complement each other.”
- “A very intriguing, compelling story, for the most part told in a good way, almost derailed by a terrible, forced, unnecessary gameplay addition in the form of its combat system.”
- “Baldr Sky suffers from some really finicky balancing and poorly tacked on/limited mechanics that make the combat segments less about difficulty because fights are well-balanced, and more about difficulty because you're having to fight with the actual interface.”
- “There's also a horrendous lock-on system, which is probably the most egregious mechanic out of this entire game, and honestly one of the worst mechanics in any video game I've played over the past 10 years.”
music
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the narrative and complement the gameplay. The soundtrack features a variety of standout tracks that fit seamlessly into combat and atmospheric moments, contributing to an overall immersive experience. While some users noted a few average pieces, the majority found the original score to be exceptional, making it a highlight of the game.
- “The game's soundtrack is another highlight, perfectly complementing the emotional intensity of the narrative.”
- “Baldr Sky's soundtrack has genuinely impressed me in multiple ways, with songs that fit so well into the combat and make for incredibly hyped fights, to ones that fit incredibly creepy atmospheres and wouldn't be misplaced in a game about exploring abandoned space stations.”
- “The art, music, and general atmosphere is a 10/10.”
- “The game has a wonderful mix of stellar storytelling, lovable characters and a solid soundtrack, but everything else is so poorly executed that this also turned out to be one of the worst gaming experiences of my life.”
- “I never thought it was possible for a soundtrack to make me feel slightly nervous or perturbed, and much less one paired with still images which just have some voice-acting over them.”
- “Although I really wish I could buy the OST so I don't need to open the game to listen to the soundtrack.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in creating emotional connections through its compelling narrative, likable characters, and a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the experience. While many players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the story, some feel it lacks a strong emotional climax, which could have elevated the overall impact. Despite this, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, making it a memorable and engaging adventure.
- “The game's soundtrack is another highlight, perfectly complementing the emotional intensity of the narrative.”
- “The emotional value brought by all of its endings is truly well written even when it's supposedly the 'bad' ending, but this is why I really like Baldr Sky.”
- “There were times when I laughed, I cried, I felt anxious and demoralized due to the proceedings of the story, and times when I genuinely felt lost even when not playing the story.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
40%
27%
The graphics of Baldr Sky are a mixed bag; while the visual novel elements feature a unique and appealing art style with great character and background designs, the gameplay graphics are often criticized for their outdated look, reminiscent of 80s arcade games. Despite being released in 2009 and considered ahead of its time, many players find the resolution and overall graphics to be lacking by modern standards. However, the mecha designs and the aesthetic choices align well with the game's hard sci-fi themes, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience overall.
- “Baldr Sky is a visual novel with some fairly unique world-building, fun sci-fi concepts, interesting enough mystery, an overall great setting, an amazing OST, and one of my favorite art styles for both its background and character visuals.”
- “The mecha design is also nice because they're going with the real robot aesthetic, which is truly fitting for a hard sci-fi theme.”
- “The gameplay visuals also look great, with what appears to be pre-rendered 3D assets for its sprites.”
- “The graphics of the game look like they were made for an arcade in the 80s... the visual novel looks fine, but this is unplayable to me and I will refund.”
- “Since it uses game engines and graphics from 10 years ago, it's a bit outdated.”
- “The graphics and engine of this game are outdated, but this is fun enough.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding mechanics in the game to be tedious and cumbersome, particularly due to the clunky controls and lengthy visual novel segments that interrupt battles. While some recommend starting on harder difficulties to level up weapons, the necessity to grind for significant damage points can become frustrating, especially when better skills are not yet developed. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “The issue with the mech action RPG is that all battles are story battles broken up by long scenes, and the game has some grindy mechanics. The only ways to grind are to finish the entire game and unlock scene select, or start a new game plus on a route you've already completed so you can fast forward or skip scenes that aren't new to you.”
- “Grinding millions of points of damage, especially during the harder parts of the game, is an enormous pain.”
- “It can become tedious and difficult, especially when you don't develop or can't develop the better skills yet.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
Character development in the game is praised for its engaging interactions and distinctive character designs that stand out from typical visual novels. While some minor issues are addressed through dialogue, there are criticisms regarding the quality of the adult character designs. Overall, players appreciate the depth and uniqueness of the characters.
- “Character development and interactions feel great.”
- “Character design is surprisingly good, and some of the smaller gripes are explained away with a throwaway line here and there.”
- “It is so distinctive from other visual novels' character designs that I fell in love with the art.”
- “The 'adult' character designs are really bad.”
- “The character designs are so distinctive from other visual novels that I fell in love with the art.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by its comically evil villain, Gilbert, whose antics provide a blend of adult and juvenile humor that resonates well within the context. Characters like Gregory and Anan also contribute to the comedic experience, offering moments that range from hilarious to face-palm worthy, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the beat 'em up gameplay.
- “One villain in particular, Gilbert, is so comically evil and scummy that you end up finding him hilarious.”
- “It also has a good mix of some adult and some a bit more juvenile humor which works in context.”
- “Gilbert, Gregory, Anan, and the true villain were all either hilarious or face-palm worthy with how they were executed.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The atmosphere in Baldr Sky is highly praised for its immersive post-apocalyptic setting, enhanced by a dynamic soundtrack that complements both intense combat and eerie exploration. Reviewers appreciate how the music elevates the overall vibe, creating a compelling experience that resonates with the game's themes.
- “Baldr Sky's soundtrack has genuinely impressed me in multiple ways, with songs that fit so well into the combat and create incredibly hyped fights, as well as those that evoke an incredibly creepy atmosphere, perfect for a game about exploring abandoned space stations or the like.”
- “The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is immersive and captivating, drawing you into the world.”
- “The overall vibe of the setting, combined with the world and combat, creates a truly engaging atmosphere.”
- “Post-apocalyptic atmosphere”
- “Baldr Sky's soundtrack has genuinely impressed me in multiple ways, with songs that fit so well into the combat and create incredibly hyped fights, as well as ones that evoke incredibly creepy atmospheres, which wouldn't be out of place in a game focused on exploring abandoned space stations or the like.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse gameplay options and engaging mechanics, making it a fun experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Really fun mecha game with a wide range of variety.”

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Baldr Sky
$49.99
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80h Median play time

60h Average play time

20-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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