Community College Hero: Trial by Fire
- December 4, 2015
- Hosted Games
- 21h median play time
Get on SteamIn Community College Hero: Trial by Fire, you play as a student at a community college who discovers they have magical powers. The game is a visual novel combining elements of fantasy and humor, with choices that affect your relationships interaction with the world. Your goal is to balance your academic and magical life, all while trying to save the world from a looming threat.
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Reviews
- Engaging and well-written story that immerses players in a unique superhero college setting.
- Diverse character options and relationships, allowing for various play styles and romantic interests.
- High replay value due to multiple choices and outcomes, encouraging players to explore different paths.
- Many choices feel railroaded, with little impact on the overall plot, leading to a sense of futility in decision-making.
- The game lacks a save feature until completion, making it frustrating to replay specific sections or choices.
- Some characters and plot points are underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth and resolution.
- story200 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its linearity and lack of meaningful choices that affect the overall plot, leading to a feeling of being railroaded. While some appreciate the engaging writing and character interactions, others find the pacing awkward and the narrative uninteresting, often describing it as incomplete and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a decent story with potential for character development, but many players express a desire for more impactful decision-making and a more satisfying conclusion.
“The story is well written and engaging, and never drags; you're making decisions all the time, which change how you do and how others view you, giving you different options.”
“I couldn't stop immersing myself in what I quickly realized was a very interesting in-depth story.”
“The story is immersive, the choices seem mostly natural albeit a tad bit limited to major personalities, and the ending leaves me wanting for more.”
“The story and choices were all completely railroaded, with every decision leading to the same conclusion no matter what you do.”
“The pacing is awkward (huge time-skips), the writing is mediocre at best and - the most important - your character doesn't affect a single thing in this story.”
“And the worst bit: none of the choices you make actually affect the course of the main story; basically, your choices only affect which relationships and skills are advanced, there are no multiple possible storylines.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of deep connections and poignant moments, with players experiencing a range of feelings from sadness to attachment. While some found it challenging to connect with certain characters, others were moved by the story's emotional weight and character backstories, leading to genuine emotional responses, including tears. Overall, the game effectively engages players' emotions, making them feel invested in the narrative and their characters' journeys.
“There's action and mystery and romance and humor and some moments of genuinely affecting emotional heft.”
“As sad as it was to have it end so suddenly, the story itself pulled on my emotional strings more than anything.”
“Community College Hero easily has some of the best writing out of those types of games along with very gripping emotional scenes!”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and capable of eliciting real laughter, while others criticize it as inappropriate or childish, likening it to kindergarten-level jokes. Despite the uneven quality of the humor, many appreciate the blend of comedic and serious moments, suggesting that the storytelling and character dynamics can elevate the experience. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it contributes to a uniquely engaging narrative.
“There's action and mystery and romance and humor, and some moments of genuinely affecting emotional heft.”
“It is as bare bones as it gets, plain old text, but the storytelling, the characters, the atmospheric immersion of reading, and the fact that your choices matter (up to a certain point) will make up for a surprisingly dark yet at times funny story which unravels as you click on the choices appearing on the screen.”
“There is some good humor to be found in the story which made me laugh out loud for real :)”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with many players noting the appeal of exploring branching paths, unlocking dialogue, and mastering character types. While some mention a limited scope due to "right" choices, the overall consensus is that the game provides hours of entertainment and encourages multiple playthroughs to fully experience its content.
“Has a lot of replay value and you can spend hours going through your story.”
“This game has incredible replayability - with branching paths and mutually exclusive options, you'll have to play it about a (diabolical) dozen times to get all the information.”
“It also allows great replay value to see more dialogue and learn more about the characters, the story and aim to make your superhero stronger.”
“The replay value is therefore somewhat limited, because there is a 'right' choice for most cases.”
“Even though this is pretty cheap, with a lot of replay value, I don't know if I'm going to be able to complete the whole story when it's available.”
“This game is really refreshing and certainly has replay value even though only a third of it is out right now.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and innovative mechanics, though some players found it lacking in depth. While the mechanics are functional and visually appealing, the absence of a save feature was a notable drawback. Players experienced varied enjoyment, with some finding significant improvement upon re-exploring the game with different character approaches.
“Good mechanics.”
“A really simple game in terms of mechanics and gameplay, but it sure is innovative.”
“The mechanics are flashy, but they are perfectly functional, so it comes down to the story.”
“There was some decent writing, and some powerful moments, but gameplay-wise I feel this part of the game was lacking.”
“I hated my first gameplay and I played again with a new idea behind my superhero and did a 180 flip with my character, and he's at a place where my first character was not even remotely close to.”
“The only thing you need to do in the next one is make the save mechanic accessible much earlier in the game, and you've got a hit franchise!”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are minimal or non-existent, relying heavily on text and narrative rather than visual representation. While some players appreciate the focus on storytelling over graphical fidelity, those seeking high-quality visuals or less reading may find the experience lacking. Overall, the game emphasizes narrative depth over graphical appeal, making it more akin to a choose-your-own-adventure book than a traditional video game.
“Now it may not have tons of guns, explosions, or even 4K graphics, but if you're looking for a good narrative adventure that makes you feel attached and involved with the characters, this game delivers.”
“A great deal of skill is required to bring a world to life with graphics, but it is just as skillful to paint it in words while still leaving enough mystery for the reader to fill in the blanks with their own interpretation.”
“Less of a video game and more of a run-of-the-mill choose-your-own-adventure type of game, 'Community College Hero: Trial by Fire' is a delightful experience which goes to show that neither graphics nor pre-order bonuses will make a game good.”
“There is no sound or graphics in this game, just text.”
“If you are not up for a lot of reading and no graphical representation of what's going on, then this is not for you.”
“Less of a video game and more of a run-of-the-mill choose-your-own-adventure type of game, Community College Hero: Trial by Fire is a delightful experience which goes to show that neither graphics nor pre-order bonuses will make a game good.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features minimal music and visuals, primarily relying on text with only a few images at the beginning. Reviewers note that the lack of a musical score may detract from the overall experience, especially given the challenges of producing multiple endings with voice talent and graphics.
“No music or images.”
“Text-based, with only a few images at the start and no music.”
“I think the problem with Life is Strange is that producing a bunch of endings when you have voice talent, music, and graphical images, and a lot of overhead, is very difficult.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a minimalist presentation, relying heavily on text to convey a darkly humorous narrative filled with engaging characters and meaningful choices. It evokes a Harry Potter-esque vibe, albeit with adult themes and a fanfiction-like plot, creating an immersive experience that captivates players despite its simplicity.
“It is as bare bones as it gets, plain old text, but the storytelling, the characters, and the atmospheric immersion of reading, along with the fact that your choices matter (up to a certain point), will make up for a surprisingly dark yet at times funny story that unravels as you click on the choices appearing on the screen.”
“The game creates a Harry Potter-esque atmosphere, infused with adult themes and engaging plot development.”
“The game tries to create a Harry Potter-esque atmosphere, but it ends up feeling more like a fanfiction with adult themes and poorly constructed plotlines.”
“While the visuals aim for a magical ambiance, the overall atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks the depth needed to immerse players.”
“The setting has potential, but the atmosphere is undermined by inconsistent tone and a lack of engaging storytelling.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is perceived as minimal, with the protagonist Nil lacking depth and complexity. Players feel that the narrative teases intriguing secrets but ultimately falls short, offering only a meager amount of character growth in exchange for their efforts.
“The most interesting thing about the characters are the secrets that the game keeps hyping up, but I always felt the game was shortchanging me by making me fight for even a sliver of character development that the secrets provide.”
“Nil has as much character development as his name suggests.”
“The most interesting thing about them are the secrets that the game keeps hyping up, but I always felt the game was just shortchanging me by making me fight for even a sliver of character development that the secrets provide.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is criticized for leaving players with an incomplete experience, as the game ends abruptly and pushes for a sequel, effectively serving as a promotional tool rather than providing a satisfying conclusion to the character's story.
“You start developing a character and following his/her story, but in the end everything is just left hanging in the air and you get an advertisement for the sequel – you are told merely the opening chapters here.”
“The game feels more like a cash grab than a genuine experience, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items.”
“It's frustrating to see that progress is heavily gated behind paywalls, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report some potential glitches affecting stability, though opinions vary on whether these issues qualify as true glitches.
“I did notice a few potential glitches, though it might be debatable if it's a glitch or not.”
