BAPTISM | Game Brain — video game discovery

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Baptism is a short kinetic novel about a madman, a child, and a lake.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

BAPTISM screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

story18 positive mentions

The artwork and character designs are stunning and unique, contributing to the game's atmospheric quality.
The writing is well-crafted, with a lyrical style that enhances the dark and intriguing story.
The game effectively creates a moody and immersive experience, with a gripping narrative that keeps players engaged despite its short length.

The game lacks interactivity, as it is a kinetic novel with no choices or branching paths, which may disappoint players looking for a more engaging experience.
The story feels incomplete, with a lack of a memorable climax and an abrupt ending that leaves players wanting more.
The visuals can clash at times, with static character sprites and background images that may not blend well, detracting from the overall immersion.

story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The story of "Baptism" is praised for its intriguing premise and well-written narrative, drawing players into a dark, surreal world with strong character designs. However, many reviewers noted that the lack of choices and a brief runtime of 30-55 minutes left them wanting more, particularly due to an abrupt ending that fails to deliver a memorable climax. Overall, while the story is engaging and enjoyable, it suffers from pacing issues and a sense of incompleteness.
- “I find this one of the strongest aspects in this visual novel, that the story is very enjoyable and pleasant to read.”
- “Very well written story that keeps you hooked until its short ending.”
- “Both the story and writing are very well done, and the character design is distinct and striking, capturing the weight of the characters and their situations quite well.”
- “Baptism is a kinetic novel; there are no choices, no dividing paths, you only need to read the story to complete it.”
- “As a strong and frequent advocate of walking simulators and such, even I'd opine that a product in which you click through a linear story and never once make anything resembling a choice is not really a 'game'.”
- “This clearly also came from time and budget restraints, which is unfortunate, as with more material it could have expanded the story further or offered differentiating narrative decision paths for the reader to choose between, much like other visual novels might.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the visual novel is praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience alongside the artwork. While the soundtrack is generally well-received, some reviewers noted that it falters slightly in the final act. Additionally, the absence of voice acting and sound effects is seen as a missed opportunity for greater immersion.
- “A short atmospheric visual novel with great music and artworks.”
- “The art, the pictures, and the music really bring it alive.”
- “The music, though sparse outside of the ending, does its job well, expanding the mood created by the images and words to a satisfying end.”
- “And a voice cast or addition of any sound effects outside the music would have added further immersion and truly completed a couple of already great moments.”
- “For me, the tone reads much like an Esben and the Witch song - eerie, self-fulfilling, and prophetic in feel.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics in the game are characterized by stunning artwork and atmospheric visuals that enhance the storytelling experience, although some users note a clash between the sprite and background art styles. While the animated designs of characters are well-received, there are mixed feelings about the use of photographs for backgrounds, which some feel could benefit from photobashing to create a more cohesive aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are described as suitable for the ambiance, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “A short atmospheric visual novel with great music and artworks.”
- “Absolutely stunning artwork.”
- “I did like the animated design of the personas a lot (including the ‘eyes’ and ‘sun/light’ signs – I think I fully understand their meaning), and the mansion.”
- “The photographs for the backgrounds serve their purpose well, but I wonder if photobashing would have removed the complaints about the sprite and background art style clashing mentioned in other reviews.”
- “The thing about visual novels is that they're basically books, or at best, comic books, when they feature enough artwork.”
- “The visuals are just 'okay' and suitable to the ambiance, but while I liked the animated design of the personas, including the 'eyes' and 'sun/light' signs, the overall graphics could use improvement.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
12%
13%
The atmosphere of the visual novel is highly praised for its captivating music, striking artwork, and compelling writing, all of which contribute to a dark, religious theme. The use of faceless characters enhances the emotional depth, making their innermost feelings feel distant and unreachable, further enriching the overall experience.
- “A short but atmospheric visual novel that has beautiful writing and interesting art direction for the dark religious theme.”
- “Cool art, atmosphere, and writing.”
- “The facelessness totally works for the atmosphere, making the innermost feelings of the characters unreachable.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is highlighted by unique and striking human character designs that are a trademark of Sam Arehart, contributing to a one-of-a-kind experience. The well-crafted story and writing enhance the depth of the characters, effectively capturing their emotional weight and leaving a lasting impression through memorable visuals. Overall, the combination of distinct character design and compelling narrative creates a gripping and immersive experience.
- “Both the story and writing are very well done, and the character design is distinct and striking, capturing the weight of the characters and their situations quite well.”
- “As well, the serene yet off-putting character designs and beautiful background photographs fill the story with memorable images and imaginings that stick in the mind past completion of the game.”
- “Great character designs, and a gripping story.”

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