Dates & Wires: Augmented Edition
- November 11, 2024
- Cryo & Io Black
![Dates & Wires: Augmented Edition Game Cover](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/891/dates_wires_cryo_2024_1_xl.jpg)
"Dates & Wires: Augmented Edition" is a single-player game set in 1995, where you navigate the Stradanian nightlife to meet eligible bachelors. The dysfunctional micronation's elite candidates include Dan, a Rimbaud-loving intellectual; Fixer, a opinions-driven dataphile; Sandman, an anti-flea smelling hacker; Shitparade, a purveyor of terrible VR trips; and NoK00l, the techwear king. Seize the evening and avoid radioactive souvenirs while pursuing romantic connections.
Reviews
- The game features a rich and atmospheric world with well-developed characters, making it engaging and immersive.
- The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience, and the addition of voice acting brings the characters to life.
- The gameplay offers a unique approach to dating sims, allowing players to explore multiple routes and outcomes, which adds to its replayability.
- The game is relatively short, with playthroughs averaging around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- The font used in the game can be difficult to read over extended sessions, which may detract from the experience for some players.
- While the game touches on sensitive topics, some players may find the lack of explicit romantic or sexual content disappointing.
- story32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and well-crafted, featuring a customizable main character, Ashley, who navigates a vibrant world filled with complex characters and rich backstories. Players appreciate the meaningful choices that significantly impact the narrative, allowing for varied experiences and replayability. While it addresses sensitive topics like substance abuse and suicide, it does so thoughtfully, enhancing the overall depth and immersion of the storytelling.
“The game’s storytelling is a real highlight.”
“The characters are rich and complex, with detailed backstories that make the world interesting. It's also very different from our own, but it's very well explained through the game so you don't feel lost while playing or when the characters talk about something that only exists in the story.”
“Each choice you make actually impacts how the story unfolds, so it's entertaining to replay and see what else you can uncover.”
“Although the story does touch on sensitive topics, such as drinking, drug abuse, and suicide, I think it does so in a realistic but careful manner.”
“The original version was rather linear; now there are completed storylines with less obvious ways of getting there.”
“Being divorced from the plot of the comic it’s based on means it’s quite self-contained, but also that it gives a deeper view into a bunch of characters who don’t get as much time dedicated to them in the main work.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its careful crafting, featuring a varied soundtrack that enhances the cyberpunk atmosphere. Players appreciate the quality of the voice acting and the ability to listen to all tracks in the main menu, contributing to an overall immersive experience. The combination of well-drawn art and engaging music adds significant value to the game.
“In regards to the music, I enjoyed listening to the tracks, giving off that cyberpunk feel.”
“You can listen to all the tracks in the music area in the game's main menu.”
“Well drawn, good music, great voice acting.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich and immersive world, filled with intriguing characters that leave players feeling deeply engaged, akin to experiencing a "book hangover." Overall, the setting contributes significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the player's emotional investment.
“Love the world this is set in; it's very atmospheric, and the characters are so rich and interesting that I'm left with something resembling a 'book hangover.'”
“Great atmosphere; I really hope Lin won’t show up to steal my character's implants.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their art style, which remains as impressive as remembered, complemented by the addition of voice acting that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to explore every route from the start, showcasing the game's visual appeal.
“I love the art style and was surprised that you could check out every route during day 1!”
“The art style and writing are as great as I remember, and the added voice acting is a nice touch.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players generally find the game to have high replayability due to its captivating nature and depth, suggesting that multiple playthroughs can offer new experiences and insights.
“Overall, it’s a captivating game with lots of depth and replayability.”
“Only done one playthrough so far, but the replay value seems pretty high.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as charming, witty, and funny, contributing to an enjoyable and engaging experience for players.
“Very charming, witty, and funny.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by multiple choices that players can make throughout the story, allowing for a dynamic and engaging experience.
“The gameplay offers several choices that significantly impact the story.”
“The gameplay is engaging, with multiple choices that enhance the narrative experience.”
“The gameplay features a variety of choices that keep the story dynamic and interesting.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a diverse range of music, featuring both steady beats and slower, more poignant melodies that enhance the overall experience.
“There's a good variety, from the steady beat to the slower and more emotional.”