Cold Verdict
- December 17, 2021
- Astronomic Games
Get on Steam"Cold Verdict" is a 1-2 hour visual novel where five strangers awaken in a dark room with no memory of how they got there. Players must work to build trust with others, make choices, and uncover the mystery behind their abduction. With multiple endings based on who survives, each playthrough offers a unique experience. The game features atmospheric 3D rendered images and encourages players to shape the story through their choices.
Reviews
- The game features an engaging story with a mystery element and interesting characters, each with unique backstories.
- Choices throughout the game significantly impact the outcome, allowing for multiple endings and replayability.
- The music enhances the atmosphere, with dark ambient tracks that build suspense effectively.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around an hour, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There are issues with grammar and typos in the writing, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The lack of a skip function for previously seen dialogue makes replaying the game less enjoyable.
- story12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and features a compelling tragedy with various choices that can influence the outcome, though some players feel it ends too quickly. While the narrative includes decent twists and well-written characters, it suffers from stereotypical character portrayals and unpolished dialogue. Overall, it offers an interesting premise with potential, but execution could be improved.
“There are choices and there is a very good story here.”
“The story is easy to follow, involving a tragedy that happened in the past, and as you play, everyone's part is revealed.”
“Very good thriller, well written characters, story and conversations.”
“For 2 bucks worth for a 1 hour story, it's 'ok'.”
“The dialogue could have used some work as well as the plot and art.”
“Cold verdict started off grabbing my interest with its story.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality, though some users noted the presence of typos and orthographic errors that may detract from the overall experience for native English speakers. The game utilizes OpenGL for its graphics, allowing players to explore at varying speeds, but it lacks voice acting.
“The graphics are great; you can either fly through the environment or take your time to explore it.”
“English is not my native language, but I found several typos and orthographic errors. I guess native English speakers would find it quite horrible.”
“Graphics API: OpenGL”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its immersive quality, featuring dark ambient tracks that effectively build suspense. While the game is relatively short, the beautiful soundtrack enhances the overall experience, with players hoping it was composed specifically for the game.
“The music is very good and immersive; dark ambient tracks that build suspense.”
“Pretty short game with a beautiful soundtrack; I hope it was written specifically for this game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while the game is generally stable with no significant bugs or glitches, there are issues with the Steam achievements, as many players have experienced problems receiving them despite completing the game.
“Steam achievements are buggy; despite completing the game, I only received one achievement.”
“I didn’t notice any other bugs or glitches.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's eerie atmosphere as a standout feature, effectively enhancing the overall experience and immersion.
“The eerie atmosphere was fantastic.”
“The game's atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel intense.”
“The haunting ambiance adds a layer of depth that enhances the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, primarily because players cannot skip previously seen dialogue, which can make repeated playthroughs feel tedious.
“Not very replayable due to being unable to skip previously seen dialogue.”
