C14 Dating
- April 22, 2016
- Winter Wolves
"C14 Dating" is a visual novel/dating simulation game where you play as a young archaeologist named Melissa. She has just joined a dig site in England, and through conversations and interactions with her fellow archaeologists and townspeople, you uncover secrets about the town, the dig site, and perhaps even romance. The game combines elements of archaeology, history, and relationships for a unique and engaging experience.
Reviews
- The game features a diverse cast of characters, including those with disabilities and different sexualities, which adds depth and relatability.
- The art style is charming and well-made, contributing to the overall warm atmosphere of the game.
- The story is lighthearted and focuses on friendship and sweet interactions, making it a pleasant experience without heavy drama.
- The mini-games can become tedious over time, and while they are skippable, they may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- The romance elements are minimal until the end of the game, which may disappoint players looking for a more traditional dating sim experience.
- Some players found the stat-raising mechanics unnecessary and felt that they detracted from the narrative flow of the game.
- story46 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its simplicity and charm, featuring diverse characters and multiple routes that enhance the overall experience. Set in a unique archaeology context, it offers relatable narratives and genuine emotional connections among characters, making it a refreshing change from more dramatic visual novels. While not deeply complex, the writing is well-executed, and the lighthearted tone, along with the inclusion of relatable character traits, contributes to its appeal as a sweet summer romance.
“The storylines are beautiful, the characters are all cute, and emotions among them are warm-hearted and genuine.”
“It's a charming story and I look forward to playing through everyone else's route.”
“The depth of the story is nice, as is the length, and the mini-games/scheduling is a bit different from other visual novels.”
“The story is not deep, but to be honest, I think that's a nice change from visual novels and dating sims that spend too much time with overdone drama.”
“If you're in it just for the story, you can turn them off, which is a welcomed feature if you've already completed all of them.”
“I would learn about one love interest's story when on another's route.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the anime-inspired art style, cute character designs, and beautiful visuals, including sprites and CGs. While some users find the graphics to be merely "okay," the overall aesthetic appeal is highlighted as a significant draw for players.
“Yes, it's aesthetically beautiful - the art, the sprites, the CGs, everything is gorgeous.”
“The art styles are cute and great.”
“Graphics are ok, music is ok, stat raising is not too annoying, story is simple, characters are cute.”
“What initially attracted me to this game was the anime-like art style.”
“+ pretty artwork”
- music12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the catchy songs, particularly those by the LeetStreet Boys, others find the music to be generic and annoying. Overall, it seems to be a highlight for many, with even non-gamers appreciating its quality, despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness.
“The songs are also really great!”
“On another positive note, the music is fairly nice and the art is usually well-done, although some CGs look a little awkward.”
“Love the music (which is not so strange, since it's from the LeetStreet Boys and I also like their music in Roommates) and even my mother (who normally kind of hates the sounds from my games) said it wasn't so bad to listen to.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a blend of stat-raising mechanics, puzzle mini-games, and a diverse cast of characters to befriend and romance. While some players find the random stat-raising mechanics and luck-based elements frustrating, others appreciate the overall simplicity and charm of the visual novel format.
“It has some stat-raising mechanics, mini-games, and a very diverse cast of characters to befriend and romance.”
“This is a cute little visual novel with puzzle mini-games and stat-raising as the gameplay.”
“I generally dislike games with random stat-raising mechanics, but this one was easy enough to figure out.”
“I generally dislike games with random stat raising mechanics, but this one was easy enough to figure out.”
“Some of the luck-based mechanics for the games and stat raising are frustrating.”
“I have never liked their level up certain stats mechanic, but it is tolerable for the dialogue for me.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the mini-games enjoyable at first, but they tend to become tedious after multiple playthroughs. However, the ability to skip these mini-games without significant penalties is appreciated, allowing players to continue enjoying the game without being bogged down by repetitive tasks.
“The minigames are entertaining at first, but quickly become tedious.”
“The worst thing about the game is just that the minigames could be kinda tedious after a while, but given that you have the option to skip them without it affecting your game was very appreciated.”
“The mini games can get tedious, but you can disable them.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a warm, charming aesthetic that evokes a relaxed, summer camp vibe, featuring activities like cooking, partying, and festival preparations. The absence of drama or angst contributes to a simple, enjoyable experience that enhances the overall feel of camaraderie and fun.
“The characters are very charming and the art gives a very warm atmosphere to go with the story.”
“There's pretty much no drama or angst, instead just going for a simple relaxed atmosphere.”
“Its overall atmosphere is very summer camp-like: sleeping in tents, cooking together, partying & setting up a festival.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its lightheartedness and fun, contributing to a feel-good experience that complements the diverse and sweet story routes. Players appreciate it as a perfect choice for relaxing gameplay.
“The routes are all really sweet, the humor is fun, and it's very lighthearted - a nice game to play when you just want to zone out and feel good.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as lacking depth, with players noting that while there are cute moments and a wholesome atmosphere, the limited interactions between characters diminish the impact of key emotional scenes, such as declarations of love. Overall, it offers a light-hearted experience but may not evoke strong emotional responses due to insufficient character development.
“I recommend it if you want a wholesome slice-of-life dating sim experience with little to no negativity and decent diversity.”