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
- Engaging story with a sense of mystery and interesting characters, each with unique backstories.
- Decent writing and immersive music that enhances the eerie atmosphere.
- Multiple choices that impact the story, leading to different outcomes and endings.
- Very short gameplay, often feeling more like an introduction than a complete game.
- Dialogue and grammar issues detract from the overall experience, making it feel unpolished.
- Lack of a skip function for previously seen dialogue reduces replayability.
- story12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and features a compelling tragedy with various choices that can influence the outcome, though some reviewers noted that it ends too quickly. While the narrative includes decent twists and well-written characters, it suffers from stereotypical character portrayals and unpolished dialogue. Overall, the story has potential and aligns well with players' moral choices, making it a worthwhile experience for its price.
“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
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % 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. Reviewers note the beautiful soundtrack, expressing a desire that it was composed specifically for the game, despite its short length.
“The music is very good and immersive; dark ambient tracks that build suspense.”
“Pretty short game with some beautiful soundtrack; I hope it was written especially 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
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience and immersion.
“The eerie atmosphere was fantastic, immersing me in a world filled with tension and suspense.”
“The haunting ambiance created a sense of unease that kept me on edge throughout the game.”
“The atmospheric design was stunning, with every detail contributing to a rich and immersive 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.”
