Dear RED: Extended

About

Dear RED: Extended is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Lee Sang and was released on April 12, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Dear RED: Extended" is a 2D side-scrolling shooter game with a dark, dystopian atmosphere. As the player, you control a character named RED who fights against various enemies and bosses using an arsenal of weapons. The game features challenging gameplay, pixel art graphics, and a storyline that unfolds as you progress through the levels. Note: This summary was generated based on general information available about the game and may not include the latest features or updates.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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54%

Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews

story40 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting concept with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
The pixel art and music create a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Despite its short length, the game offers a unique storytelling approach that can provoke thought about choices and consequences.

The game is extremely short, with most playthroughs taking less than an hour to complete all endings.
The writing is often clunky and lacks depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters or the story.
Many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content it offers, with some suggesting it should be free or significantly cheaper.

story
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing premise and multiple endings, while others criticize it for being disjointed, vague, and lacking depth. Although it offers moral dilemmas and emotional moments, many reviews highlight that the character development and overall narrative coherence fall short, leaving players unsatisfied with the storytelling experience. Overall, while some find value in its experimental approach and replayability, others deem it a missed opportunity for a more compelling and fleshed-out narrative.
- “Story is interesting and gives you multiple endings depending on your choices.”
- “Dear Red is a testament to the power of storytelling, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of life and the importance of connection.”
- “The game does have an interesting story; it takes multiple playthroughs to put the pieces of the story in order.”
- “The storyline was lacking.”
- “Unfortunately, that mechanic requires a deep and stimulating story, which just isn’t the case here.”
- “The story is absolutely terrible and basically gibberish.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The gameplay is primarily focused on dialogue and choice-making, resembling a visual novel with minimal interactive elements, leading to a short overall experience of around 10-45 minutes. While the branching story and multiple endings offer some intrigue, many players find the mechanics shallow and repetitive, with little depth or challenge. Overall, it appeals to fans of narrative-driven games but may disappoint those seeking substantial gameplay.
- “Dear Red – Extended is a good idea and uses a really cool mechanic that could have a lot of promise.”
- “Basically, the gameplay of this game is to test every possibility to see all endings and discover the story behind it.”
- “Red explores pretty effectively the mechanics and the narrative possibilities and outcomes of a branching story that relies completely on the player's actions.”
- “It tries to emulate depth with a 'choices matter' approach, but the gameplay is too shallow for any of the choices to carry any weight.”
- “The game's mechanics are poor and every 'ending' is completely without explanation or resolution.”
- “I thought I'd at least get two or three hours of gameplay, because I heard it was short, but all the endings can be found in 45 minutes or less, with some playthroughs being less than a minute long.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and haunting qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive or mismatched with the game's themes. Some players found the soundtrack calming and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's ambiance, while others felt it detracted from the emotional weight of certain scenes. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though its effectiveness varies among players.
- “From the first moments, the game's stunning pixel art and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack create an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and gentle melancholy.”
- “The soundtrack is good.”
- “I enjoy the piano music in the background and the attention to detail in each frame.”
- “The game has a few cons; repetitive music, the save mechanic, and skipping mechanic.”
- “We have a girl speaking about her mother's murder and the music in the background is annoying and not fitting at all; it's not dark nor sad.”
- “Even though in most games music is not that important, in horror games, especially smaller ones like RPG Maker, it's crucial to building the right atmosphere, and this game is failing on that from the very beginning.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and clean retro aesthetic, with many reviewers appreciating the beautiful sprites and artwork. However, some criticize the limitations of the RPG Maker engine, which affects fullscreen display and lacks modern graphics options. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, they may not meet the expectations of dedicated modern gamers.
- “The aesthetic is beautiful and daunting.”
- “Neat retro (16 bit?) style graphics.”
- “On a positive note, though; the sprites and artwork are beautiful, the music is nice, and the additional content they've thrown in is neat.”
- “As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
- “Graphics: 4/10”
- “Well-made for something which can have all its endings cleared in 10 minutes; clean graphics, smooth camera, horrifying and eerie music to fit the mood, and no true satisfying ending.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply engaging narrative that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to heartache, despite its brief playtime. Players appreciate the game's ability to convey emotional vulnerability and depth, making it a standout in independent game development. However, some feel that the short duration limits the opportunity for deeper emotional investment in the characters.
- “A deeply emotional journey that pulls you in with its captivating narrative and leaves you wanting more.”
- “Dear Red weaves a tapestry of emotions, from the joy of rediscovering your past to the heart-wrenching pain of losing loved ones.”
- “It's rare to find a game that embraces emotional vulnerability with such honesty and grace.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
43%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by stunning pixel art and a haunting soundtrack that evokes feelings of contemplation and melancholy, with some scenes featuring voice acting. While many players appreciate the unique and intriguing atmosphere, some critiques highlight that the music fails to effectively enhance the experience, particularly in the horror genre. Overall, the atmosphere is a significant draw for players, reminiscent of other successful RPG Maker titles.
- “From the first moments, the game's stunning pixel art and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack create an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and gentle melancholy.”
- “The soundtrack is pretty and atmospheric, dark even at some scenes, and the game features some voice acting in several scenes.”
- “It has many endings and a unique atmosphere.”
- “Even though in most games music is not that important, in horror games, especially smaller ones like RPG Maker, it's crucial to building the right atmosphere, and this game is failing at that from the very beginning.”
- “The lack of ambient sounds and music makes the game feel lifeless and dull, which completely undermines any potential for immersion.”
- “The visuals are decent, but without a compelling atmosphere created by sound and music, it feels more like a chore to play than an engaging experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as silly and often poorly executed, with dialogue that detracts from the overall experience. However, some moments, like the overtly named "murderer," provide unintentional comedic value, leading to a mix of frustration and amusement among players.
- “The fact that it spoils who killed her father by having his name as 'Murderer' was hilariously terrible to me at first, and I thought it could have been a good twist. But after playing enough, I found a cutscene that revealed why, and it's a good twist.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for being lacking, with players noting that while the beginning is engaging, it fails to deliver a satisfying narrative or meaningful character growth by the end.
- “The start of the game is very intriguing, but none of the endings feel satisfying; the story and character development are also non-existent.”
- “Character development is shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional, and their growth throughout the game is minimal at best.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has limited replayability, with players noting that once all endings are unlocked—typically within about 74 minutes—there is little incentive to play again, as the experience does not offer new content or challenges.
- “It took me about 74 minutes to unlock all the endings, and once done, it had no replay value.”
- “There's no replay value in it.”
- “I enjoyed my time with it, but the rest of the time spent was just idling for cards as there is no more replay value in this one.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on advertising, to the point where it feels like the ads dominate the gameplay experience.
- “Well advertised game, but the advertisement is essentially the entire game.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel pressured to spend real money just to keep up with other players, which ruins the experience.”