Cardinal Cross

About

Cardinal Cross is a single player action game with romance and science fiction themes. It was developed by LarkyLabs and was released on July 9, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

Cardinal Cross is a sci-fi cyberpunk themed otome visual novel game. The game features 80+ backgrounds, 50+ side characters, and 70+ CGs. Lana has 3 different personality choices, as well as 2 male and 1 female romance options, with multiple endings. Will Lana emerge as hero or villain?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 147 reviews

story75 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Engaging and well-written story with a captivating sci-fi universe that draws players in.
Strong character development with relatable and diverse personalities, making it easy to connect with them.
Beautiful artwork and a high number of CGs enhance the visual experience, alongside a fitting soundtrack.

Some characters exhibit problematic behavior that is not adequately addressed, which may make players uncomfortable.
The pacing can feel rushed towards the end, with some plot points and character arcs feeling incomplete.
The complexity of the lore and terminology can be overwhelming, making it difficult for players to fully grasp the story.

story
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
65%
1%
The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging and intricate narrative, featuring well-developed characters and a rich world that encourages player choices with significant impacts on the outcome. While some reviewers noted occasional pacing issues and convoluted plot points, the overall consensus is that the story is compelling, with a mix of humor, emotional depth, and a satisfying blend of romance that complements rather than overshadows the main plot. Many players express a desire for a sequel, indicating that the story leaves room for further exploration and development.
- “The story is exceptionally well-written, with characters and their relationships believable to the point that I felt emotionally attached to them.”
- “If you want to explore a complex story filled with themes of order and chaos, rebellion and compliance, friendship, family, and trust, where your choices have a tangible impact on the storyline, this game is for you!”
- “The story captivates you from the very first moments, the art looks absolutely gorgeous and the romances flow so naturally.”
- “The plot is convoluted and drags in the middle, but it was interesting enough I wanted to see how it played out - even though my choices ended up in the 'preserve the status quo' option.”
- “For starters, the story clearly suffers from overambition.”
- “The story itself also has some flaws; nothing too big and I never truly was lost about what happened, but at the end it does get quite convoluted with so many layers which are not really all that well explained.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
27%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its high quality and atmospheric fit to the narrative, enhancing the overall experience. Some players appreciate the sparse use of music during key scenes, while others feel that the absence of background music in certain stretches detracts from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and storytelling.
- “Hands down the best OST for any of the VNs out there.”
- “Moving on to the aural presentation, Cardinal Cross's soundtrack is wonderful and blends in quite well with the science fiction narrative.”
- “Next to the detailed encyclopedia, amazing artwork, and thrilling plot, music is a great asset of this game, bringing the feeling of immersion to new heights.”
- “When it comes to music, however, I found it somewhat lacking.”
- “Music is on the sparcer side but I don't mind; sometimes I get sick of hearing the same songs over and over in games. I thought only having music for more important scenes made more sense.”
- “The music is kinda eh, but I guess it didn't bother me at all, so it's not a negative.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
28%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning artwork and high-quality character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. The visuals are described as beautiful and detailed, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and overall enjoyment. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and worth the price.
- “The graphics/art is well done, helping you get gripped into the story.”
- “Just one look at the spectacular artwork on display here will immediately tell you that the visual presentation of this novel is of the highest quality available.”
- “The artwork is stunning.”
- “The overall technical quality has gone up, the graphics, user interface, and overall way the game runs has improved by leaps and bounds.”
- “Everything we learn comes from the dialogue and artwork, almost as if we were watching a movie or TV show.”
- “There is a lot of detail in the artwork, characters, and story; there are lots of cliffhangers that keep the audience in suspense for each part.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and relatability, with players highlighting the well-developed characters and their funny interactions. Many reviews note the balance of humor with emotional depth, making for laugh-out-loud moments that enhance the overall experience. The witty dialogue and unique personalities of the characters contribute to a rich, engaging narrative that keeps players entertained throughout.
- “Lana is exceptionally well fleshed out, realistic, and both funny and relatable.”
- “The characters are hilarious and each one of them has their own unique personality.”
- “It's witty, it's funny, and it's just downright addictive.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised for its depth and complexity, often evoking strong feelings such as joy and sadness, with many players reporting moments that made them cry. The well-written characters and their believable relationships create a strong emotional attachment, while the intertwining of humorous and heartbreaking moments adds a bittersweet quality to the narrative. However, some players noted that certain relationship dynamics, particularly the lack of trust, could detract from the emotional intimacy they sought.
- “It added a whole new depth to the story, and fully made me cry.”
- “The story is exceptionally well-written, characters and their relationships believable to the point that I felt emotionally attached to them (I shed even a tear from time to time).”
- “The story and the characters are complex and heartbreakingly beautiful.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay features a customizable and smooth experience with multiple choices that significantly impact the outcome, encouraging replayability. However, some players find the trivialization of serious themes like abuse and the simplistic nature of relationship dynamics to be off-putting, suggesting a need for a more nuanced approach to these elements. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging, it may not resonate with everyone due to its handling of sensitive topics.
- “It's definitely worth a play, and a replay as there are multiple choices, and your choices will affect your gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very customizable and it's pretty smooth running.”
- “Though could craving more of the gameplay be named a disadvantage?”
- “I found the way characters and game mechanics trivialized physical abuse and abusive behavior to be so off-putting that I had no desire to finish the game.”
- “In a game based on choices, where actions have consequences, it would have been better to have a more realistic approach to the romantic side since it is part of the gameplay (jealousy, the will to clarify the kind of relationship, anger, sadness...).”
- “These small popups aren't really useful to me or my gameplay.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for players interested in exploring different story alignments and paths. While some players may feel satisfied with their initial experience and not feel compelled to replay, others appreciate the engaging writing and narrative depth that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, the potential for varied experiences enhances its replay value.
- “There's quite a bit of role-playing value to be had here, which could lend itself to replay value if you care to re-experience the story with a different alignment.”
- “I have only played through once, but I am planning on playing again to see all the paths to take, so the replayability is good.”
- “I love the writing style (recognizable if you played the Ascension), the story is entertaining and it's definitely replayable.”
- “There's quite a bit of RP value to be had here, which I imagine could lend itself to replay value if you care to re-experience the story with a different alignment.”
- “Replayability is also there if this is important to certain people, but I overall liked the ending of my story, so even though I will replay the game sometime in the future, I might not even change that much.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted as a strong point, particularly through the unique designs and personalities of the raons, which are inspired by zodiac traits. However, some users express a desire for deeper character growth, suggesting that while the designs are impressive, the narrative could benefit from more substantial development of the characters themselves.
- “Beautiful artwork, character development, and a creative/interesting plot.”
- “I really liked his design, but I think it would be awesome if we got to see some character development from him.”
- “The character designs are amazing, especially the Raons; each of them is named after the zodiac signs, and their personalities and clothing reflect the traits of each zodiac, which I was very impressed with.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its well-fitting and enjoyable music, which complements the scenes effectively and enriches the overall reading experience.
- “The music is always nice and atmospheric, nearly always fitting the scenes very well; it complements the reading experience.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every location feels alive, with a rich ambiance that enhances the storytelling and keeps you engaged.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the grinding aspect of the game is engaging, as it allows for meaningful choices that significantly impact the gameplay, making replaying enjoyable rather than a chore.