Bond Blues

Christopher has started his new job as an assistant, others would say, an enforcer, for a bail bondsman in Burlington, Vermont. Does he take a gentler, or more forceful touch? When he begins to notice things beyond his pay grade, how does it play out? Learn what a bail bondsman is Small town intrigue Fully voiced Hand-drawn art 12 emails 29 music tracks A visual novel made for the Ca…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

45%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

story3 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Bond Blues offers a unique premise and an engaging narrative that immerses players in the world of a bail bondsman in Burlington, Vermont.
The hand-drawn visuals and fully voiced characters add depth and charm to the storytelling, showcasing the developers' passion and effort.
Despite its flaws, the game has moments of humor and intrigue, making it an entertaining experience for fans of visual novels.

The writing is poorly executed, with dialogue that feels amateurish and lacks depth, detracting from the overall experience.
The voice acting is inconsistent and can be distracting, with varying quality that undermines the immersion.
Many players feel that the game does not fully deliver on its story, with a lack of engaging hooks and one-dimensional characters.

story
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its compelling narrative and humor, enhanced by charming hand-drawn artistry and unique character voices. However, some players feel that the story lacks completeness, leaving certain elements underdeveloped despite its engaging premise and heartfelt moments.
- “One of the best short experiences I have ever played, with some actual laugh-out-loud moments and a compelling story.”
- “Like a bear navigating through a thicket, players may find themselves drawn in by its unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, despite its imperfections.”
- “The story just isn't fully there.”
- “The hand-drawn artistry and commitment to storytelling shine through, offering glimpses of brilliance amidst the rough edges.”
music
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its charm and specific tracks like the grass airship theme. However, some users note that discordant elements and uneven voice acting can detract from the overall experience.
- “It's a very charming little game; I love the humor, love the music, and the grass airship music.”
- “The music adds a delightful charm to the overall experience, enhancing the game's whimsical atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is beautifully composed, perfectly complementing the game's enchanting visuals and narrative.”
- “However, the discordant notes of the music and occasional rough patches in voice acting detract from the overall experience, leaving a bittersweet aftertaste.”
gameplay
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on clicking through dialogue, which many users find poorly written and lacking in substance. However, the fully voiced narrative enhances the experience, as skilled voice actors effectively bring the characters to life, adding depth to the otherwise minimal interactive elements.
- “The fully voiced narrative adds an extra layer of depth to the gameplay, with talented voice actors bringing each character to life with their nuanced performances.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its dry wit and clever dialogue options, which range from sarcastic to absurdly complimentary. Players appreciate the variety and sharpness of the comedic elements, making interactions consistently entertaining.
- “I like the idea and the dry humor it has.”
- “Every dialogue option was funny; haha, cruel bastard, disrespectful idiot, and absolute praise.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a mouse click, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels and e-books can be tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature). Now, translate that into a format where the words dribble out, and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “Grinding in this game feels like an endless chore. The repetitive tasks drain the enjoyment out of what could have been an engaging experience.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming. It turns what should be a fun adventure into a monotonous slog.”
graphics
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "bond blues" are highlighted for their charming hand-drawn visuals that complement the game's intriguing narrative and unique premise, creating an engaging aesthetic experience.
- “Sip 'n' Savor: 'Bond Blues' serves up a cup of intrigue with its short and sweet narrative, hand-drawn visuals, and unique premise.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players are captivated by the game's unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, which evoke strong emotional responses, even if the game has some flaws.
- “Like a bear navigating through a thicket, players may find themselves drawn in by its unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, despite its imperfections.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, featuring a diverse range of settings from shadowy alleyways to cozy cafes, all contributing to a sense of mystery and depth.
- “From shadowy alleyways to cozy cafes, players will find themselves immersed in a world rich with atmosphere and mystery.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is enhanced by a fully voiced narrative, where skilled voice actors contribute to a richer gameplay experience through their nuanced performances.