Blood Nova

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In Blood Nova, Princess Love and her best friend Kel are stranded on an interstellar lighthouse after conspirators try to prevent Love's ascension to the throne of the peaceful Velayan Empire. They must expose the threat and save the empire in this modern point and click adventure game, set in a unique science fantasy universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story26 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and gripping story with intricate world-building that keeps players engaged throughout.
The puzzles are well-designed, intuitive, and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult or obtuse.
The visuals and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the game.

Some puzzles can be frustratingly obscure, requiring players to resort to walkthroughs for solutions.
The main character may come off as unlikable at first, which could detract from the player's connection to the story.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it could benefit from additional content or a longer playtime.

story
59 mentions
44 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its unique and gripping narrative, featuring a spoiled princess who uncovers a deadly conspiracy while on her journey to coronation. While the writing and world-building are often described as strong and engaging, some reviewers note that the linearity and lack of dialogue choices can detract from the experience. Overall, the story combines grand themes of intergalactic intrigue with personal struggles, creating a captivating and immersive adventure.
- “The story is gripping, and the princess's love has a nice character arc.”
- “The story tells the tale of a spoiled princess traveling to her coronation to become the empress of a galaxy-spanning empire, who stumbles upon a deadly conspiracy and is forced to become the heroine and save the day.”
- “The writing is witty and strong, and the story itself is very well-paced.”
- “The story is a little facile and derivative, and it strains credulity that the protagonist is simultaneously flighty enough to be oblivious to the circumstances and grounded enough to solve all the puzzles required to advance the action.”
- “At some point I had to resort to a walkthrough to continue, mainly because I could no longer bother exploring and clicking on everything, as the big onscreen text and general weirdness of the plot became unbearable.”
- “Some of the story delivery feels a bit forced with characters overexplaining or breaking the fourth wall, since there's a lot of dense worldbuilding and plot per square inch of the game.”
music
30 mentions
70 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth, memorable melodies, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Several players noted that the soundtrack is so impressive that it stands out as a highlight of the experience, with some even expressing a desire to purchase it separately. While a few found the music irritating, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's aesthetic and storytelling, making it a compelling aspect of the overall package.
- “The true highlight of the game is a soundtrack that I would pay a great deal of money to have a copy of.”
- “The soundtrack was excellent, with multiple pieces that evoked subtle emotions.”
- “What really stands out is the music that features some cool and memorable melodies; the soundtrack is worth buying on its own.”
- “The music really stands out.”
- “The music made the whole experience especially aesthetically pleasing.”
- “A gripping soundtrack....2D pixel art visuals that are so strong.”
graphics
26 mentions
65 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel-art style that effectively utilizes a limited color palette, creating a nostalgic yet immersive atmosphere reminiscent of early 90s point-and-click adventures. While the visuals feature mostly static screens with minimal animations, they are well-drawn and contribute to the game's overall aesthetic, complemented by engaging character designs and a cohesive art style. Players appreciate the delightful combination of visuals, music, and storytelling, which together evoke a sense of depth and charm in the game's world.
- “The game is done in a retro-style first-person view, with pixel-art graphics using a limited color palette but to maximum effect: character portraits are nicely drawn, and the designs of the screens make them appear quite realistic.”
- “The graphics are well drawn, and I liked the very consistent palette of the ship interiors that switched between a tad bit claustrophobic abandoned spaceship rooms and more lush garden settings.”
- “Very good pixel art graphics, with a style emphasizing a few strong colors, interesting and slightly disturbing locations, and nice character portraits.”
- “The graphics are static screens with minimal animations, similar to old graphic adventures, but with a point and click interface.”
- “Blood Nova is a throwback to early 90's and even late 80's graphical point & click adventure games but with a modern design on both theme and gameplay.”
- “The graphics are static screens with minimal animations, similar to old graphic adventures, but with a point and click interface.”
gameplay
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring engaging puzzles and a nostalgic design reminiscent of early point-and-click adventure games, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours. While some players appreciate the unique worldbuilding and modern twists, others find it a one-time experience that may not appeal to everyone, suggesting potential players try the demo first to gauge their interest. Overall, the gameplay offers good value for its price, despite its brevity.
- “The puzzles and gameplay are good.”
- “Gameplay length is on the shorter end, expect something around 3-4 hours without any major stuck points, and for the offered price it’s well worth it.”
- “Blood Nova is a throwback to early 90's and even late 80's graphical point & click adventure games but with a modern design on both theme and gameplay.”
- “I played it once and am glad it's over. I will never play it again and cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone -- unless you are willing to take a big risk and step out of your comfort zone: if you download the demo (by the way, great for providing that!) and realize that the first couple of gameplay minutes are your cup of tea, then you might be able to take the plunge.”
- “Gameplay length is on the shorter end; expect something around 3-4 hours without any major stuck points, and for the offered price, it’s well worth it.”
- “So much of cool worldbuilding and story packed just in about 3-4 hours of gameplay.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong atmosphere, characterized by an epic world setting and engaging writing, despite a linear storyline and lack of dialogue choices. The music enhances the futuristic and eerie vibe, contributing to an overall enjoyable aesthetic and thematic experience.
- “A very vibe-heavy and atmospheric game.”
- “The writing is good, the world setting and atmosphere are nothing short of epic, and the story is engaging.”
- “Fantastic music - creates a futuristic eerie atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The environments are bland and forgettable, which detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with witty and emotional dialogue that enhances character development and storytelling. However, some players find certain comedic elements jarring, suggesting that a more cohesive approach could improve the overall experience. Notably, specific moments, such as a humorous puzzle involving a quirky alien, stand out as highlights.
- “However, the dialogue itself is great; funny, emotional, and relates the personalities of the characters while keeping the story moving.”
- “I think I consulted a guide once (in the puzzle involving a humorous alien animal, which made me laugh pretty hard), although I'm not sure if I'm being honest with myself here.”
- “Great humor.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being rushed, with minimal exploration of motivations before plot twists like betrayals or redemptions occur. While some praise the overall character writing and world-building, others find the character design lacking, resembling mere photos of ordinary people with superficial sci-fi embellishments.
- “Blood Nova is a masterpiece of aesthetics, world-building, character design, character writing, and story.”
- “Character design was weak as it just looked like photos they took of normal people and then they added sci-fi-looking adornments to them.”
- “Everybody's character development happens in fast-forward, and you only get the tiniest glimpses of what motivates them before the inevitable betrayal or redemption arc.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging dialogue that effectively conveys character personalities and drives the story forward. Players appreciate the blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with some sharing personal experiences that enhance their connection to the game, such as interactions with the development team and discovering touching easter eggs.
- “However, the dialogue itself is great; funny, emotional, and relates to the personalities of the characters while keeping the story moving.”
- “Trippy sci-fi with a great emotional core.”
- “I started talking with one of the team who seemed really nice, and then all of a sudden I found myself playing all of part 2 with most of the team alongside me, giving me little tidbits and even a really touching easter egg they included.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to the absence of a toggle for interactable spots, leading to frustrating "hunt the pixel" scenarios where essential interactions can be easily overlooked.
- “The game really suffers from the lack of a toggle to flag interactable spots; the 'hunt the pixel' mechanic gets tedious very quickly, and some mandatory interactions are really easy to miss.”
- “Grinding feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game, making progress feel slow and frustrating.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding tasks makes it hard to stay motivated, as it often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real reward.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific information about the stability of the game "Blood Nova," but they suggest a strong emotional connection to the studio, indicating that players may be inclined to support it regardless of any stability issues.