Chemically Bonded
- November 30, 2019
- ds-sans
Get on Steam"Chemically Bonded" is a puzzle-platformer game where you play as a sentient atom named Sans. Your goal is to navigate through various levels by forming and breaking chemical bonds to solve puzzles and avoid obstacles. With its unique mechanic and charming art style, Chemically Bonded offers a fresh and engaging take on the puzzle-platformer genre.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The visual presentation, including the art style and UI, is polished and aesthetically pleasing, showcasing a lot of effort from the developers.
- The story, while simple, is sweet and relatable, focusing on themes of friendship and romance that resonate well with younger audiences.
- The voice acting for some characters is well-received, adding charm to the overall experience, and the soundtrack complements the narrative effectively.
- The writing suffers from repetitive dialogue and awkward monologues, which can detract from the pacing and overall engagement of the story.
- Some voice acting performances, particularly for Kiyoko, are criticized for sounding unnatural and not fitting the character, which can be off-putting for players.
- The character development is seen as lacking depth, with some characters falling into clichéd archetypes that make them feel less relatable or engaging.
- story67 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Chemically Bonded" revolves around the themes of friendship and reconciliation, focusing on two former best friends and a passing student who helps mend their relationship. While the narrative is described as sweet and wholesome, it suffers from clichés, repetitive dialogue, and pacing issues, leading to mixed reviews on its depth and engagement. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a light, slice-of-life experience, despite its shortcomings in character development and storytelling consistency.
“This is simply a story about ex-best friends who had to cut off from each other due to an incident, and a passing-through student who may be the key to mending those severed bonds.”
“Chemically Bonded gives an entertaining story about pain and mending those who are hurt.”
“I really enjoyed the development of the story and the characters, and I also thought the story was paced very well, so good job.”
“As for the actual story, there isn’t that much to it.”
“Everything leading up to that point was basically just a lot of beating around the bush, repeating similar scenes and dialogue over and over again with little to no actual development in the story.”
“In conclusion, Chemically Bonded is a combination of badly written characters and a shallow, repetitive story.”
- music13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers noting that it effectively complements the visuals and enhances emotional moments. While some describe the soundtrack as decent and lacking in variation, others appreciate its ability to set the scene and support the narrative. Overall, the music is considered above average, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“I also found the art and music to be well above average; the sprites and backgrounds look great, and the music does an excellent job setting the scene for many of the more tender moments.”
“Outstanding harmony of visual design, music score, and writing.”
“The music is nice and seems to suit what is going on in the story nicely.”
“The soundtrack's decent too, though nothing special.”
“The music was decent, nothing over complicated and not much in the way of variation...but that isn't always a bad thing.”
“Also, the sound quality is noticeably worse than that of the music, with interference caused by what I can only assume is a lack of pop filter on the microphone during recording.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sweet and wholesome love story that, while lacking in depth and groundbreaking revelations, offers a simple narrative that can evoke warmth and nostalgia. Although some players desired more complexity and fan service, the game succeeds in delivering a cute and heartwarming experience, particularly through its additional content. However, it also faces criticism for repetitive and superficial emotional content.
“A sweet and wholesome love story.”
“Wholesome and cute story, and it's free.”
“While it does have some shortcomings, it delivers a wholesome narrative that is sure to hit you with a wave of emotions.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in this visual novel are a standout feature, showcasing aesthetically pleasing backgrounds with impressive lighting effects and charming character designs. While the artwork is described as good rather than exceptional, it effectively enhances the overall atmosphere of the game, complemented by thoughtful UI details and a fitting soundtrack. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, creating a delightful experience for players.
“There are a lot of backgrounds in this visual novel, and while they’re mostly used to depict yet another Japanese high school, they have some absolutely gorgeous lighting effects on them: it all looks very aesthetic.”
“The art style and backgrounds of Chemically Bonded are very visually appealing and add a lot of charm to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“On the other hand, the visuals and music were consistently very good, and I really liked the little details in the UI, like the smartphone screen used for calling and texting.”
“The graphics are quite underwhelming, lacking detail and depth, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the character designs are decent, the environments feel flat and uninspired, making the game visually uninteresting.”
“The visuals are disappointing; they seem outdated and fail to capture the immersive quality that modern games offer.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's voice acting has been criticized for its unnatural delivery, with characters sounding overly juvenile and frequently stuttering, which detracts from immersion. Despite the appealing high school setting and artistic quality, the repetitive writing and lackluster character portrayals further diminish the overall experience.
“Furthermore, the characters keep stuttering all the time, and the voice actors articulate every stutter, making the dialogue sound forced and unnatural.”
“Whatever immersion can be achieved with the high school environment, likable characters, or great artistic quality, it isn't quite enough to overcome the repetitive writing, complacent character archetypes, and below-average vocal performances.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is generally viewed as lacking depth, focusing more on lighthearted slice-of-life moments rather than complex growth or intricate storytelling. While the art and character designs are praised, players should not expect significant character evolution or dramatic plot twists.
“The art, visuals, and character designs are fine - that's probably this visual novel's biggest strength.”
“If you're able to enjoy the lighthearted slice-of-life antics without expecting complex developments and top-tier character development, I think you'll still manage to get the most out of this game.”
“If you're able to jell with the lighthearted slice-of-life antics without expecting insane 4D chess developments and top-of-the-line character development, I think you'll still manage to get the most out of this game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Chemically Bonded" is enhanced by its visually appealing art style and charming backgrounds, which contribute significantly to the game's overall aesthetic.
“The art style and backgrounds of Chemically Bonded are very visually appealing and add a lot of charm to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its ability to balance emotional depth with comedic elements, providing both heartfelt moments and lighthearted jokes. Players are encouraged to explore quirky references, such as checking the encyclopedia for a humorous twist.
“Pulls at your heartstrings and keeps up the humor. Also, check 'pervert' in your encyclopedia when you can... you will not regret it.”
