Crimson Spires
- October 27, 2020
- Woodsy Studio
- 22h median play time
In Crimson Spires, players step into the shoes of a detective investigating a series of supernatural events in a secluded town. Through visual novel-style storytelling and strategic combat, uncover the truth behind the town's curse and navigate complex relationships with a diverse cast of characters. With multiple endings and deep lore to explore, Crimson Spires offers a gripping narrative and immersive world.
Reviews
- The game features an emotionally engaging story with well-developed characters and a captivating atmosphere enhanced by excellent voice acting and music.
- The unique blend of mystery, horror, and romance keeps players intrigued, with each route revealing different aspects of the overarching plot.
- The protagonist, Erika, is portrayed as a strong and complex character, making choices that reflect her growth and moral dilemmas throughout the game.
- Some routes, particularly Julian's, include controversial themes such as incest and non-consensual elements that may be off-putting to many players.
- The game leaves many mysteries unresolved, which can lead to frustration for players seeking clear answers by the end.
- Technical issues such as slow loading times, a cumbersome save system, and occasional performance problems detract from the overall experience.
- story66 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story is a complex blend of horror, mystery, and romance, featuring multiple routes that reveal different facets of the narrative and characters. While many players appreciate the engaging plot twists and well-developed characters, some express disappointment with certain endings and the forced nature of romantic encounters. Overall, the writing is praised for its depth and intrigue, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy plot-driven visual novels.
“The story is well told as the main character and her friends and enemies try to unravel the mystery of why they are trapped in the town while solving a few murder cases along the way.”
“The story and characters were great.”
“An intriguing story you don't get the full gist of until you've played all routes, with complex characters.”
“The idea was gross enough that it spoiled the remainder of the story, and I was too distracted by the thought of it to complete the game.”
“Story-wise, that didn't make sense to me, and on a personal level, I found it off-putting to be unwittingly railroaded into something a lot of people might find distasteful; I think that choice should have been separate and more transparent.”
“I played the game until chapter 6, and then I got utterly bored and started to skip the story.”
- music9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, fitting seamlessly with the narrative and maintaining a creepy vibe. Reviewers commend the soundtrack and sound design as excellent, with standout voice acting that adds depth to the characters and story. Overall, the combination of engaging music, art, and writing contributes to a captivating experience.
“The background graphics are a bit blurry but this concentrates the player on the characters and what they say, and the accompanying music is great; it's not intrusive and maintains the creepy atmosphere of the tale.”
“The soundtrack and sound design are excellent and the voice acting is overall great; special mention to August's voice actor who is not only perfectly cast but puts in a phenomenal performance.”
“The music fits the game perfectly, the art fits the story, and the characters are all very interesting and easy to become attached to.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some users noting issues like long loading times and blurry backgrounds, while others appreciated the unique art style and engaging visuals that complemented the game's atmosphere. Overall, the artwork and character designs were praised, contributing positively to the game's narrative and immersive experience.
“The background graphics are a bit blurry, but this concentrates the player on the characters and what they say, and the accompanying music is great; it's not intrusive and maintains the creepy atmosphere of the tale.”
“Great writing, engaging plot and characters, nice artwork and music.”
“Fantastic visual novel, artwork, voice acting, and engaging lore.”
“The loading screen takes way too long, and the graphics are kind of wonky.”
“The background graphics are a bit blurry, which concentrates the player on the characters and what they say. The accompanying music is great; it's not intrusive and maintains the creepy atmosphere of the tale.”
“It almost felt like there should be a DLC or something that would unlock more; just the way the visuals were presented.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding it both charming and unexpectedly funny, particularly in moments like the new game + ending and character designs. While some aspects may be frustrating, the overall comedic elements, including amusing character visuals, contribute to an enjoyable experience.
“It's worth the price! I even liked the art as well as the humor!”
“It's not hard to get the good endings, and the new game + ending is the most hilarious and interesting of them all.”
“The art is beautiful, although sometimes unintentionally hilarious. I am either charmed by the character graphics or cracking up.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive music, engaging voice acting, and moody ambiance that enhances the plot. While the background graphics may be slightly blurry, they effectively draw focus to the characters and dialogue, contributing to a creepy and captivating experience. Overall, players appreciate the atmospheric elements that complement the storytelling, despite some narrative ambiguities.
“I loved the game so much; the atmosphere with the music, the 3D searching sequences that were incorporated into the gameplay, as well as the voice acting!”
“If you're interested in the moody atmosphere and the plot, give it a whirl, but be forewarned, not everything is going to get explained.”
“The background graphics are a bit blurry, but this concentrates the player on the characters and what they say. The accompanying music is great; it's not intrusive and maintains the creepy atmosphere of the tale.”
“You know what this game reminds me of in atmosphere?”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, which detracts from the overall experience, despite its excellent soundtrack, sound design, and standout voice acting performances.
“However, the game is poorly optimized.”
“The performance issues make it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
“Frequent frame drops and long loading times severely impact the gaming experience.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its immersive atmosphere, enhanced by the music and engaging 3D searching sequences, along with strong voice acting that contributes to the overall experience.
“I loved the game so much! The atmosphere, combined with the music and the 3D searching sequences incorporated into the gameplay, really enhanced the experience, along with the excellent voice acting!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be emotionally impactful and beautifully crafted, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings.
“This was an emotionally beautiful game!”
“The story resonated with me on a deep level, making me feel a range of emotions throughout.”
“I was moved to tears by the character's journey and the choices they had to make.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly engaging and note its strong replayability, indicating that it maintains interest and encourages multiple playthroughs.
“This is a great game; it keeps your interest and is very replayable.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes makes every playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious due to repetitive dialogue and story elements, though the inclusion of a skip button alleviates some frustration. They appreciate the cleverness of having different puzzle pieces in each tangent, which adds a layer of engagement despite the grind.
“The grinding feels endless and often detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I found myself stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks that made progress feel more like a chore than an achievement.”
“The amount of grinding required to level up is frustrating and makes the game feel more like a job than a fun experience.”