Deadlands Noir: That Old Time Religion

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 29 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Deadlands Noir: That Old Time Religion Game Cover
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A Visual Novel set in the Deadlands Noir RPG Setting from Savage Worlds. * Now updated to include Episode 1 and 2 * New Orleans, 1935. Whoever called this "The Big Easy" sure got that one wrong. Things are tough all over. Honest work is hard to find, and even dishonest jobs are getting scarce. The one thing that's not in short supply is trouble. From shady thugs to crooked cops to mafia soldiers,…

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Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews
story12 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game offers an enjoyable short noir visual novel experience with a unique supernatural detective story set in 1935 New Orleans.
  • The artwork and music create a nice atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
  • At a low price point, it provides decent entertainment value, especially for fans of visual novels and the Deadlands RPG universe.
  • The game is very short, with minimal gameplay and choices that often do not significantly impact the story.
  • The writing and art quality are inconsistent, with some reviews describing the visuals as subpar and the narrative as lacking depth.
  • Technical issues, such as problems with fullscreen mode and a lack of character development, detract from the overall experience.
  • story33 mentions

    The story is generally viewed as simplistic and underdeveloped, consisting of two short episodes that offer limited choices and a linear narrative. While some players appreciated the noir aesthetic and supernatural elements, many criticized the plot for being forgettable and lacking depth, with minimal impact from player decisions. Overall, it serves as a basic introduction to the Deadlands Noir setting, but fails to deliver a compelling or immersive storytelling experience.

    • “I didn't realize this was a couple of short stories with sporadic choices in story paths, but when I started it, I wanted to find out more.”
    • “I tried to like this game; I loved the premise for the story, New Orleans noir.”
    • “Overall, the game feels more complex but in a good way; it makes you feel more invested in the characters and the story.”
    • “The story is too short with no substantial gameplay.”
    • “Too much of the text consists of descriptors, which makes no sense if you are going to use images in your storytelling medium.”
    • “Mixing of themes that do not blend well, with a forgettable plot and too few art assets.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, with elements of moody jazz and orchestral influences that enhance the atmosphere. However, some players noted issues with interactivity and narrative coherence that detracted from the overall experience, suggesting that while the music is enjoyable, it doesn't fully compensate for other shortcomings in the game. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated but not groundbreaking, serving more as a backdrop to the story rather than a standout feature.

    • “The artwork was amazing, and I thought the music was great too.”
    • “It has a good amount of irony and wit, and together with the music and pictures, it creates an enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “I would have preferred more decisions to change the plot, but I enjoyed the story and especially the music.”
    • “Everything about it points to being an illustrated short story shoved into Ren'Py, given a rolling music track from the main product and a few choice points.”
    • “The options that ultimately don’t lead to consequence, the art being a handful of stills, the narration sometimes not matching the art, the narration intruding on the dialogue, the music not entirely suiting the action, the default Ren'Py UI, the default resolution, the lack of sound effects, and a bunch of things that come down to taste just gets in the way of any experience you could have.”
    • “Unless your mother is especially into a mix of moody jazz and pseudo-orchestral horror movie soundtracks (in which case she'll probably appreciate your letter).”
  • graphics8 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the noir artwork and visuals as impressive, while others find them lacking and merely "okay." Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated by some, but there is a sentiment that it falls short compared to the high standards set by modern video games.

    • “The artwork was amazing, and I thought the music was great too.”
    • “I would like to give a middle rating rather than a 'recommend' or 'not recommend', because as mentioned, the artwork is pretty good.”
    • “And I loved the visuals.”
    • “Being a short story, it's quite barebones, but serves to show the noir artwork.”
    • “Well, the visuals themselves are... well... they're okay.”
    • “Bad graphics”
  • gameplay3 mentions

    The gameplay is criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with simple mechanics that do not enhance the overall experience. Many users feel that the short story fails to compensate for the lack of substantial gameplay elements.

    • “The story is too short with no substantial gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics are simple, and although I don't get too hung up on that in a visual novel, the story hardly compensates for it.”
    • “And 'gameplay'?”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players note that while the game may not lead to frequent deaths, there is some replayability through the option to restart and make different choices, offering a slight incentive to explore alternative paths.

    • “Sure, none of those led to me dying, so maybe you get a bit more bang for your buck if you do manage to snuff yourself at some point; and perhaps there's even a teeny, tiny bit of replayability if you start all over again and make a few different choices here and there.”
    • “Replayability feels limited; once you've seen the main story, there's not much incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found that the choices I made didn't significantly change the outcome, which really hurt the replayability factor.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by a blend of irony and wit, enhanced by the accompanying music and visuals, resulting in an enjoyable and engaging experience for players.

    • “It has a good amount of irony and wit, and together with the music and visuals, it creates an enjoyable atmosphere.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a generally positive experience with stability, noting only minor glitches such as having to replay certain scenes if a wrong choice is made.

    • “There are some minor glitches; for example, if you choose the wrong path in the second episode, you will need to go through the scene at the police station twice.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling like a blatant advertisement for a tabletop game, leading some users to question its value and suggest it might only be worth a minimal price.

    • “Oh, and it ends with an advertisement for the tabletop game, so if its main purpose is to be a shameless advertisement for an altogether different product... maybe it's worth a buck, if that?!”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is criticized for being rushed and lacking depth, with a tendency to rely on exposition rather than organic storytelling, resulting in events that unfold without clear motivation or connection.

    • “It feels really rushed; character development is largely tell, not show, and things mostly happen one after the other for no apparent reason.”
    • “The characters lack depth and their growth feels forced, making it hard to connect with them.”
    • “There are missed opportunities for meaningful character arcs, leaving the story feeling flat and unengaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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