By Moonlight
- February 19, 2019
- SugarHyped
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam~ ~ A Comedic Mystery Visual Novel with Relationship Building ~ ~ Play as a paranormal investigator hired by the paranormal to investigate! Search for a headless horseman's missing head before the night is over.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features charming and cute character designs, with a fun and lighthearted art style that many players appreciate.
- It offers multiple story paths and endings, providing replayability and a variety of character interactions.
- The writing includes humorous dialogue and clever puns, making for an entertaining experience overall.
- The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more depth and development in the story and character relationships.
- There are technical issues, including bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- Some players found the writing to be reminiscent of fanfiction, which may not appeal to everyone, and the choices often feel limited or inconsequential.
- story36 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally considered interesting and enjoyable, featuring lovable characters and appealing artwork. However, many reviewers noted issues with pacing, a lack of mystery, and a feeling of rushed character introductions, which detracted from the overall experience. While the game offers multiple story paths and endings, some players felt that the linearity and repetitiveness of the narrative diminished its impact, leaving them wanting a more developed and cohesive plot.
“The artwork and story are so good!”
“I really love the art style, and the story is quite interesting.”
“The story in general needs to be longer; in-game time seems to barely pass any slower than real time.”
“Needs more mystery and plot build-up; it felt like characters were introduced too quickly, with too many bad endings before I got to learn more about each character or the world around me.”
“The plot has very weird pacing; it's not consistent, events will slow to a crawl but you'll be pulled off your feet so the next cutscene can start.”
“The story attempts to present endearing characters, though it is unable to present them as anything other than two-dimensional.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which effectively complements the overall tone and character designs. While some users noted inconsistencies and a lack of polish, many found the visuals to be endearing and fitting for the game's narrative. Overall, the art style is described as creative, nostalgic, and enjoyable, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“The artwork and story are so good!”
“The art style is creative and fits the game's overall tone splendidly; I adore each of the characters so much!”
“The art style was a charming blend of realistic and cute, and has a sort of western cartoon feel to it.”
“The art style can be a little unclear and confusing at times - and as mentioned before, inconsistent - but as a free game, and considering the artist and coder are the same person, I don't think this is a huge issue.”
“Whilst having an ambitious story, the uncoordinated art style and generally predictable characters in 'by moonlight' tainted the experience.”
“When dedicated, the game presents a playful and fun vibe, genuinely enjoyable, though this is diluted through a weak story line and somewhat lazy art style.”
- music16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its chill and enchanting qualities, while others criticize its repetitive looping and lack of synchronization. Many acknowledge that the soundtrack, primarily created using GarageBand, fits the overall atmosphere but could benefit from further refinement to enhance the gaming experience. Overall, while the music complements the charming art style, it occasionally detracts from immersion due to its shortcomings.
“This game is cool; the art is nice and so is the music, very chill overall.”
“It's a fun short game with nice music and a very charming art style reflective of the cast.”
“The music is enchanting and appropriate for each scene.”
“The music is decent although it was just made in GarageBand, and I still won't blame them for using GarageBand since GarageBand is fire, but the music won't fit some scenery, especially the kitchen and the library scenes.”
“That being said, there was only one problem that I actively noticed while playing: the music.”
“Every single track is not only very short, but loops very jarringly, and in some early cases, elements of the music don't stay in sync with each other.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its originality and wit, featuring a mix of clever puns, meta jokes, and relatable character interactions that resonate with players. Many reviewers found the comedy to be both funny and endearing, complementing the game's charming art style and emotional depth. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate quirky characters and a blend of lighthearted and poignant humor.
“It's very respectful of pronouns, its comedy is very funny, and its characters are very original and likable.”
“A funny visual novel with some quirky characters.”
“The art style was awesome, the characters were funny and adorable, the dialogue was hilarious, and it hit all of the emotional beats.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
While the character designs are praised for their nostalgic and visually appealing qualities, with specific mentions of characters like Mer and Iris, the overall character development and writing are considered lacking compared to other free visual novels. The game features memorable designs but falls short in delivering a compelling narrative and character growth.
“Love the characters and character designs.”
“The character designs were nice to look at; the art style has a nostalgic DeviantArt OC feel to it.”
“I really like the character designs, specifically Mer and Iris's.”
“There are other free visual novel games that have better writing, better character development, and better plots than this.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple character routes and various endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and relationships. With five distinct paths and numerous options, players are likely to return for new experiences even after extensive playthroughs.
“The game is definitely very replayable as there is a plethora of characters to learn more about and build relationships with.”
“The five different character routes make it replayable, and even if I tried every single option available in one sitting, I'll definitely come back to this gem.”
“While the game offers multiple endings, the lack of significant differences between them makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to replay it, as the choices felt superficial and didn't lead to meaningful changes in the story.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent crashes, persistent bugs, and unresponsive buttons that often require a restart to resolve. Players have reported instances where the game fails to launch or becomes unplayable due to these glitches, highlighting the need for frequent saving.
“It constantly crashed, was extremely buggy at times (for example, the window with choices was stuck on the screen while the dialogue kept going) or does not even start at all.”
“The game is pretty buggy, with unresponsive buttons that can only be fixed by restarting the game (save often).”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome story centered on friendship, complemented by charming art and humorous dialogue, which effectively captures a range of emotional moments. Players find the characters endearing and the overall experience enchanting, making it resonate on an emotional level.
“Yet the wholesome story of friendship, sprinkled with good puns and a few anime nods, just enchanted me.”
“The art style was awesome, the characters were funny and adorable, the dialogue was hilarious, and it hit all of the emotional beats.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to a lack of player control, leading to a frustrating experience over time.
“I don't mind reading in games, but I feel like there's very little player control, and it becomes tedious after a while.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly drawn out, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by lo-fi tunes typical of visual novels, which effectively support immersion without being distracting. However, some users feel that the original soundtrack, created with GarageBand, lacks the polish needed to elevate the overall experience.
