Bond Blues

About

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

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

story6 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 often criticized as poorly executed, with dialogue that feels tedious and unengaging, detracting from the overall experience.
Many players feel that the game lacks substantial gameplay elements, resembling more of an e-book than a traditional game.
Technical issues such as inconsistent voice acting and distracting background art further diminish the quality of the experience.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The game's story is praised for its compelling and heartfelt narrative, enhanced by unique character voices and hand-drawn artistry, creating moments of genuine humor and emotional depth. However, some reviewers feel that the story lacks completeness, leaving certain elements underdeveloped despite its engaging premise. Overall, it offers a memorable short experience with glimpses of brilliance amidst its imperfections.
- “One of the best short experiences I have ever played, with some actual laugh-out-loud moments and a compelling story.”
- “The hand-drawn artistry and commitment to storytelling shine through, offering glimpses of brilliance amidst the rough edges.”
- “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.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
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 inconsistencies in 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.”
- “However, the discordant notes of the music and occasional rough patches in voice acting detract from the overall experience, leaving a bittersweet aftertaste.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is largely criticized for its lack of substance, relying heavily on poorly written dialogue that detracts from the experience. However, the fully voiced narrative enhances the gameplay, as skilled voice actors effectively bring the characters to life, adding some depth to the otherwise simplistic interaction.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its dry humor, with players finding the dialogue options consistently funny and varied, ranging from playful insults to high praise. This blend of wit adds a unique charm to the overall experience.
- “I like the idea and the dry humor it has.”
- “Every dialogue option was funny, haha! Cruel bastard, disrespectful idiot, and absolute praise.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where players must click to progress through text, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative. This repetitive clicking can make engaging with the story feel laborious rather than immersive.
- “Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, where progress is painfully slow and repetitive.”
- “The constant need to grind for resources makes the gameplay feel more like a job than a fun experience.”
- “I found myself clicking through endless battles just to level up, which quickly became tedious and unenjoyable.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of "bond blues" are characterized by charming hand-drawn visuals that enhance its intriguing narrative and unique premise, contributing to an overall 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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players are captivated by the game's unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, which evoke strong emotional responses, even though it has some imperfections.
- “Like a bear navigating through a thicket, players may find themselves drawn in by its unique premise and heartfelt storytelling, despite its imperfections.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players are deeply immersed in a richly atmospheric world filled with mystery, featuring a diverse range of settings from shadowy alleyways to cozy cafes.
- “From shadowy alleyways to cozy cafes, players will find themselves immersed in a world rich with atmosphere and mystery.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is enhanced by a fully voiced narrative, which enriches the gameplay experience through the skilled performances of talented voice actors, adding depth and immersion to the characters.