Crimson Gray: Dusk and Dawn
- October 5, 2018
- Sierra Lee
Get on SteamIn "Crimson Gray: Dusk and Dawn," a direct sequel to "Crimson Gray," Lizzie, a college student with a dark past and a love for knives, struggles to balance her desires and maintain her sanity. With her boyfriend and college life as her only anchors, players must guide Lizzie through the ups and downs of her mental illness while preventing her from resorting to her old ways. This atmospheric visual novel features an unreliable narrator and subtle consequences, making every decision crucial in Lizzie's path to stability.
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Reviews
- Dusk and Dawn is a well-written continuation of the Crimson Gray story, providing a fresh perspective from Lizzie's viewpoint.
- The game features improved graphics and a polished presentation, enhancing the overall experience.
- Despite its short length, the game offers multiple endings and engaging character development, making it enjoyable for fans of the original.
- The game is significantly shorter than its predecessor, with some players feeling it lacks depth and variety in choices.
- To achieve the true ending, players must navigate specific dialogue options, which can feel restrictive and less rewarding compared to the first game.
- Some players found the story less compelling, with lower stakes and a more mundane narrative compared to the original's intense psychological themes.
- story54 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Crimson Gray: Dusk and Dawn" serves as a continuation of the original, focusing on character development and relationships, particularly through Lizzie's perspective. While some reviewers found it less compelling and shorter than the first installment, they appreciated the well-written narrative and character work, despite the story's lighter tone and occasional lack of impactful choices. Overall, it is seen as a satisfying, albeit brief, conclusion to the overarching narrative, with potential for future exploration.
“The crimson gray series manages to tell a story about mentally ill people without making a blanket negative commentary on real-life mental illness.”
“A perfect continuation of the story of Crimson Gray - it tied up the story but also left an opening for a sequel.”
“If you enjoyed the first game, you'll absolutely love this sequel, since it really expands the story and your understanding of the characters.”
“Unfortunately, I find the story lacking a lot... there's really not much happening for a setting this interesting.”
“The choices in this game seem to have no weight - you could get an immediate game over for killing someone... as if the story is done at this point?”
“There is just 'one ending' the true ending because if you pick the wrong option, the game literally resets to the title screen with zero context (you just lose, I guess?) zero kill screens, what a turn off... and the story... what story?”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in this title show notable improvement over the first game, with well-crafted visuals and beautifully drawn gallery scenes. While some users expressed dissatisfaction with certain character art choices and repetitive NPC designs, the overall graphical style and integration of music from previous chapters received positive feedback.
“The visuals are improved over the first game, and some of the soundtrack makes a return for this title, which is a nice touch.”
“Graphics were well made; I wouldn't agree with some choices for character art, but nonetheless, they were really well done. The only times you get to see Lizzie (if you don't pick 'review story' at the beginning) are during the gallery scenes, and those scenes were drawn wonderfully.”
“The graphical style was also a nice touch, complementing the great music with nods to the previous chapter.”
“The graphics do the job, and there are once again a few CGs that are unlocked in the gallery.”
“In my opinion, the graphics are better than the first game, even if I do not like the lazy artwork, such as the same NPC character graphics for females.”
“While the visuals are improved over the first game, I still have issues with some choices for character art.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been well-received, with many players appreciating the return of familiar soundtracks from the first installment, which enhances the sense of nostalgia. The soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay, with its dynamic changes in volume and intensity aligning well with the scenes, creating an immersive experience. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and fitting, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The visuals are improved over the first game, and some of the soundtrack makes a return for this title, which is a nice touch.”
“The music is the same as in the original game, but not only do I not mind - I loved the soundtrack there already, and having it again creates a nice feeling of familiarity.”
“The music felt like I’ve returned somewhere I used to be - the melody of calmness, the change of volume and intensity were great and used very well according to what was happening in the scene - overall it was a nice implementation and it wouldn't be the same without it.”
“The music is the same as in the original game, but not only do I not mind - I loved the soundtrack there already and having it again creates a nice feeling of familiarity.”
“The art has improved on the already nice illustrations of the first game and the music is something you can comfortably listen to for the duration of your playtime, without it getting annoying.”
“Music, while I had played chapter 1 music, it felt like I've returned somewhere where I used to be - the melody of calmness, the change of volume and intensity were great and used very well according to what was happening in the scene - overall it was a nice implementation and it wouldn't be the same without it.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of subtle wit and dark comedy, particularly through the lens of Lizzie's emotional struggles and insecurities. Players appreciate the clever references to the first game, which add a rewarding layer of humor, while the exploration of Lizzie's perspective offers both heartfelt moments and amusing insights into her relationship with the protagonist. Overall, the humor is seen as a thoughtful enhancement to the narrative, balancing lightheartedness with deeper themes.
“There are plenty of references to the first game which is kind of rewarding and often humorous.”
“One big difference to the original game is that we play Lizzie now and while John's depression is still an ongoing theme, the game focuses more on Lizzie's emotions, anxiety, insecurities, and fear of loss, which provides a nice change and even some elements of dark humor here and there.”
“It was subtle, funny, and heartfelt.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its sweet and heartwarming narrative, particularly highlighted by a satisfying true ending that resonates with players. While some endings may feel lackluster, the overall touching story and the emotional journey of the characters, especially Lizzie and John, provide a significant uplift, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the original game. The inclusion of multiple endings and emotional scenes adds to its replayability and depth.
“Sweet and heartwarming.”
“Overall, it was still a touching story, and watching Lizzie and John be happy together elevated my mood in the same way that watching everything fall apart in the first game soured it.”
“It was subtle, funny, and heartfelt.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is enhanced by unique mechanics that reflect Lizzie's decision-making process, offering a more immersive experience compared to the first installment. The effective portrayal of a yandere character through visual and gameplay changes adds depth and complexity to player choices, particularly influenced by different pill selections.
“Being able to see how Lizzie goes through her decision-making from her perspective was interesting, and certain game mechanics that weren't present in the first one were surprising and made for a better overall experience.”
“It changed the gameplay experience if you chose a different type of pill.”
“Writing from Lizzie's perspective can't have been easy, and yet Sierra Lee does an excellent job of conveying a yandere character's mindset and perspective through subtle (and not-so-subtle) visual changes and gameplay tweaks.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through its multiple endings and emotionally impactful scenes, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the original.
“There is some replayability due to multiple endings and lots of emotional scenes, so it's definitely worth it if you already liked the original game.”
