Departed Away
- January 29, 2024
- Alperen Torun
Get on Steam"Departed Away" is a narrative-driven game about a high school student who becomes the target of blame for a misunderstanding on their first day. Struggling to survive in a hostile environment, the player must navigate the school's secrets and conflicts while dealing with a complicated family situation. The game is currently in development with Turkish, Japanese, and Chinese translations in progress.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Departed Away features beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The story is intriguing and encourages multiple playthroughs to uncover different endings and character arcs.
- The developer shows promise and commitment to improving the game, making it a worthwhile experience for a first visual novel.
- The lack of a skip button for previously read dialogue significantly detracts from the replayability and enjoyment of the game.
- Character development is shallow, with many characters feeling underwritten and lacking depth, which makes it hard for players to connect with them.
- The writing can be immature and contains numerous typos, which affects the overall quality of the narrative.
- story42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of dark humor and engaging character arcs, with many players appreciating its depth and the need for multiple playthroughs to uncover all plot twists. However, some critiques highlight that certain storylines feel unfinished or underdeveloped, and the pacing can be hindered by repetitive text prompts. Overall, while the narrative has strong elements and potential, it could benefit from more cohesive execution and character development.
“The art is beautiful, the characters are well written, and the story writing is absolutely top tier.”
“There's a lot of story to uncover in this game, and that's why you have to play it through multiple times to find the whole truth and solve mysteries from other playthroughs.”
“The story of the game is superbly captivating and intriguing; I eagerly look forward to new games with impatience!”
“So for me, the story is entirely unclear and made this whole experience one of the most unsatisfying visual novel playthroughs I've had.”
“My biggest criticisms though are to do with the story; it feels a bit unfinished. There are a couple of areas where you're hit by a game over screen, where I was kind of hoping for an alternate path in the story, and it just feels like there could have been a bit more to it.”
“Even though most of the game happens in the school, your interactions with the characters there are extremely superficial and they don't contribute anything to the narrative of the story.”
- music18 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its whimsical and fitting nature, reminiscent of titles like Doki Doki Literature Club and Undertale, though it diverges from those influences. While the soundtrack complements the game's vibe effectively, some players noted issues with abrupt music cuts during gameplay. Overall, the music is considered enjoyable, with ratings ranging from 7/10 to 10/10, highlighting its positive impact on the overall experience.
“The music is enjoyable, though apparently not composed by the dev, but it was all still fitting.”
“The music in it, too, fits perfectly with the vibe the game gives off.”
“The fun music and the pixel artwork give it a very whimsical feeling.”
“This game is clearly inspired by DDLC, with some of the music tracks sounding like they were modeled after the ones Toby Fox composed for Undertale, but somehow managed to be the complete opposite of those two games.”
“However, there were some parts of the game where the music abruptly cuts off if you take too long to get through the text.”
“Some positive aspects of the game are the soundtrack and the writing of Mr. Davis, in my opinion at least.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Departed Away" have received high praise for their unique pixel art style, which is both simple and detailed, creating a whimsical atmosphere that stands out in the visual novel genre. Reviewers noted the impressive artwork, vibrant aesthetics, and the overall charm of the visuals, often rating them around 8 to 8.5 out of 10. The combination of good graphics, engaging storytelling, and a fun soundtrack contributes to a refreshing experience that many hope to see more of in future indie titles.
“First, the game's visuals are very good; it's simple but well detailed, and it has a unique charisma, something that few visual novels, even few AAA games, still have.”
“Although the art is amazing, it's been a while since I've been this impressed by a pixel art style, and the developer is really open to feedback, which is also really good.”
“The game's aesthetic is simple yet detailed, and it pops so much more than most games of this genre.”
“I'd love to see more indie visual novels go for this pixel art style of character design and environments in the future; it was very refreshing.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The gameplay features multiple choices that influence the narrative path, along with mini-games, though some players may find the repetitive nature of spamming buttons tedious. While the game is described as somewhat incomplete, the developer is responsive in addressing issues and adding content. Overall, it has received positive ratings, averaging around 8 to 8.5 out of 10.
“The game has several choices that determine the route you will follow, featuring sections of gameplay minigames. Simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route is not something everyone will do.”
“But the game is also fairly incomplete, both in terms of story and gameplay. However, the developer fixes and adds content really quickly.”
“Gameplay: visual novel”
“The game has several choices, which determine the route you will follow, and even features sections of 'gameplay minigames.' Simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route is not something everyone will do.”
“But the game is also fairly incomplete, both in terms of story and gameplay. Although the last part is inconsequential, the developer fixes and adds stuff really quickly.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its satirical and parodic elements, particularly in relation to visual novels, high school themes, and mental illness. Reviewers appreciate the balance between humor and creepiness, highlighting the game's ability to deliver a soulful and funny experience alongside unsettling moments. Overall, the humor is seen as a standout feature that enhances the game's unique charm.
“I also think it should have been tagged as humor, since there's no way the entirety of Departed Away doesn't come off more as satire or a parody of visual novels, high school, and mental illness.”
“Really loved the art style, funky music, humor, references, and girls.”
“This game does an absolutely masterful job of balancing its humor and its creepiness.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by the protagonist's transition to a new school, set in a Japanese environment, which contrasts with the predominantly English names of the characters. This inconsistency raises questions about cultural authenticity, but the pixel art style and character designs are praised for their refreshing appeal, suggesting a desire for more indie visual novels to adopt similar aesthetics.
“I'd love to see more indie visual novels go for this pixel art style of character design and environments in the future; it was very refreshing.”
“Our character (I will refer to him as MC after this) starts going to a new school. We can clearly tell based on the world-building and character designs that our character is in a Japanese school, so please explain to me why the characters all have English names except for two of them?”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth; I couldn't connect with any of the characters on an emotional level.”
“I expected more growth and change from the characters throughout the story, but they remained static and uninteresting.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Departed Away" is highly praised, with users highlighting its impressive graphics and engaging storytelling that contribute to an immersive experience.
“At first sight, I didn't think 'Departed Away' was going to be a good game, but then I played it. The graphics, storytelling, and atmosphere in general are impressive.”
“The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged and on edge.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be genuinely touching, indicating that it resonates with them on a personal level.
“This is actually kind of touching.”
