Cerulean Days

About

Cerulean Days is the third original visual novel by developer LeafCascade. It had a successful campaign on Kickstarter and is now here on Steam! 2016. Inre Island. A seemingly idyllic, modern island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. A constant tranquil breeze along a mild climate, and a well-off society embracing a harmonious way of life. Its citizens often refer to the island as their ver…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

47%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

character development3 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

The concept, setting, character design, and art are visually appealing and interesting.
Some characters are well-written with their own motivations, adding depth to the story.
The writing has moments of playful undertone and varied sentence structure, making some interactions entertaining.

The writing feels dry and lacks emotional depth, often presenting long walls of text with little meaning.
The plot is poorly executed, with significant pacing issues and underdeveloped storylines, particularly the government conspiracy aspect.
There are numerous technical issues, including grammatical errors, continuity problems, and a lack of engaging animations or sound effects.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
79%
11%
The story of "Cerulean Days" centers on Michael, a typical visual novel protagonist, and his relationship with Séverine, a wealthy pastry chef, featuring elements of light S&M roleplay. While the narrative includes an intriguing government conspiracy about life without the internet, it is overshadowed by comedic elements and lacks depth, leading to a disjointed experience filled with plot holes and continuity issues. Overall, the creator's passion is evident, but the execution leaves much to be desired, making the story feel uneven and underdeveloped.
- “I’ll give the visual novel a thumbs up because there is some good content here, and it’s obvious the creator put a lot of work and passion into the story, but it wasn’t wholly to my tastes.”
- “If the story took itself less seriously, its sillier aspects would have been even more entertaining.”
- “We’re given some backstory at the beginning of the visual novel about why the internet was banned in Inre, but it’s all very vague.”
- “The government conspiracy plot line, by contrast, feels pretty under-baked.”
- “We’re given some backstory at the beginning of the visual novel about why the internet was banned in the narrative, but it’s all very vague.”
- “The supposed crux of the plot (how do we live without the internet after being so dependent upon it?) isn't given much screen time when compared with all the funny jokes about masochism, and the fact the story keeps switching between the two so much in the common route feels disorienting.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The music in the game is generally considered fine, lacking any standout tracks but also avoiding anything unpleasant. Reviewers expressed a desire for additional features, such as a gallery and an OST list, to enhance the experience after completing the game.
- “The music is fine, nothing ear-grating, nothing particularly memorable.”
- “Music is fine, nothing ear-grating, nothing particularly memorable.”
- “I only wished they added a gallery and an OST list after clearing it.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the game's concept, setting, character design, and art style, suggesting that these elements contribute positively to the overall character development experience. However, there is no specific mention of character growth or depth in the narrative.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The lack of insight into the test that Michael and Séverine must pass diminishes the emotional weight of Michael's failure, as readers are left without a sense of his effort or struggle. This absence of context undermines the potential for emotional engagement with the characters' experiences.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a focus on jokes about masochism, which often overshadows the central theme of living without the internet. This shift between comedic elements and the main plot can create a disorienting experience for players.