Blake: The Visual Novel

About

"Blake: The Visual Novel" is a choice-based psychological thriller set in a tech-driven city with a perpetual rainy climate. As the protagonist, Blake, you must navigate a series of events and make decisions that could either restore your sanity or lead to your downfall. Despite its incomplete narrative, this game offers a unique, immersive experience in a captivating sci-fi universe, available for free. Developer's Note: Due to personal circumstances, the originally planned episodic story remains incomplete, leaving open ends and unresolved mysteries.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews

story50 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features a compelling storyline with engaging characters and a well-crafted atmosphere, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack.
The art style is visually appealing, with a unique comic book aesthetic that complements the narrative.
Players appreciate the meaningful choices that impact the story, providing a sense of replayability and intrigue.

The pacing is inconsistent, with a slow start that leads to a rushed ending, leaving some plot threads unresolved.
Some players found the dialogue and writing to be poorly structured, leading to predictable outcomes and a lack of depth in character development.
Technical issues such as distracting text box designs and awkward character artwork detracted from the overall experience.

story
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its intriguing twists, memorable characters, and engaging writing, while others criticize it for being poorly structured and leading to a confusing or unsatisfying conclusion. Many appreciate the replayability offered by branching paths and choices, but some feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, leaving too many plot threads unresolved. Overall, the game presents a compelling psychological thriller experience, though opinions vary widely on its execution and effectiveness.
- “Great cast of characters, a well written story, and a twist that blew me away!”
- “It’s a great story about mental issues, mysteries, loss and hope.”
- “Wonderful writing, great characters, and a compelling story, all backed up by some lovely art and absolutely fantastic music.”
- “Starts out okay, but as the novel progresses, the random plot elements start to pile up dangerously high, eventually leading to a nonsensical ending that fails to explain much.”
- “It's a shame that this work wasn't more fleshed out, because it could've been much better; however, there are way too many dangling plot threads and extraneous character interactions for me to consider this work in any way finished.”
- “Horribly written story and dialogue.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The music in "Blake: The Visual Novel" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many praising its jazzy and synthwave influences that perfectly complement the visuals and storytelling. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is not only immersive but also enjoyable enough to listen to outside of the game, with some expressing a desire for a standalone release. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's engaging experience.
- “The visuals and the soundtrack work in harmony to set the atmosphere 'just right'.”
- “In fact, the ambient music is so pleasing I left the game running on my computer while cooking dinner so I could keep jamming out to it.”
- “The ambience it creates with music plus the visual style is impeccable, and gets you hooked really fast.”
- “The jazzy and synthwavey soundtrack fits the setting like a glove, and provides a lot for the immersion.”
- “The highlights have been discussions between Orlo and Max, the music, and the character art.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The graphics in the visual novel are highly praised for their striking blend of cyberpunk and film noir aesthetics, featuring detailed character artwork and vibrant colors that enhance the atmosphere. The combination of still and animated visuals, along with clever use of black-and-white CG art during key moments, creates a captivating experience that complements the narrative. Overall, the artwork is described as excellent and integral to the storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The visuals and the soundtrack work in harmony to set the atmosphere 'just right'.”
- “The character artwork was uncanny at a disturbing level, especially with the combination of stillness and blinking.”
- “The visuals are equal slices of film noir aesthetics with its stylish black-and-white CG art during pivotal moments and colored doses of advanced machinery for stills accompanying the everyday office drudgery turned outings!”
- “The bright colors and detailed graphics blend a cyberpunk vibe with a classic noir aesthetic.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
62%
The atmosphere in "Blake: The Visual Novel" is highly praised for its seamless integration of visuals and music, which work together to enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is particularly noteworthy, with some expressing a desire to purchase it as a standalone due to its effectiveness in setting the mood. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as immersive and well-crafted.
- “The visuals and the soundtrack work in harmony to set the atmosphere 'just right'.”
- “It fits in with the atmosphere and the story the developer is crafting seamlessly, and honestly, I’d just buy the soundtrack as a standalone at this point.”
- “I loved the atmosphere in Blake: The Visual Novel.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The gameplay is described as light yet capable of increasing in intensity when necessary, offering a varied experience over the course of two hours. Additionally, the game's presentation is noted for its classiness, complemented by a strong cast.
- “The gameplay is light but steps up the pace when required.”
- “The gameplay varies enough in the span of two hours, the presentation is classy and the cast is superb to boot.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers moderate replayability, with a playthrough lasting around 4-5 hours, as players are encouraged to explore multiple story paths, discover missed dialogue, and experience different endings. The intriguing narrative fosters curiosity, prompting players to revisit the game for a richer experience.
- “It will take around 4-5 hours to complete a playthrough, and as the story is very intriguing, it sparks curiosity about the multiple other paths, missed dialogue, and variations on the ending, providing significant replayability.”
- “It will take around 4-5 hours to complete a playthrough, and while the story is intriguing and sparks curiosity about the multiple paths, missed dialogue, and variations on the ending, the overall replayability feels limited.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness, often addressing the character Blake in a way that feels personal yet distinct from the player experience, creating a unique comedic dynamic.
- “The funny thing is, it's talking about you, Blake, but not you, the player.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it successfully balances humor with poignant moments, evoking both laughter and deeper feelings through its mix of cute and sad experiences.
- “What I can say though, is that this game brought me some really good laughs but also managed to deliver more touching moments - both of the cute kind and the sadder sort!”

100%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Blake: The Visual Novel Review
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100%

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