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
- The game features impressive graphics, a captivating story, and a unique atmosphere that surprises players as they progress.
- The art style and music are highly praised, contributing to a whimsical and engaging experience.
- Despite some flaws, the game shows great potential, especially considering it is the developer's first visual novel, and players appreciate the commitment to updates and improvements.
- The game suffers from a lack of basic quality-of-life features, such as a skip option for previously read text, making replaying routes tedious.
- The writing can feel immature and clichéd at times, with some characters lacking depth and development, leading to a predictable narrative.
- Many players noted abrupt endings and a rushed conclusion, which detracts from the overall experience and leaves some storylines feeling incomplete.
- story31 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of "Departed Away" is praised for its captivating and intriguing elements, particularly the character-driven narratives like Marcel's and the Loretta/father storyline, which add depth but require further development. While players appreciate the multiple endings and plot twists, many feel the overall execution is somewhat unfinished, with superficial character interactions and predictable plot points that could benefit from more exploration. Despite these criticisms, the storytelling and atmosphere are generally well-received, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“The story of the game is superbly captivating and intriguing; I eagerly look forward to new games with impatience!”
“Just finished my first playthrough; I think I may have gotten the best ending, but I'm interested in other routes to understand more of the overarching story.”
“The characters are so interesting and they play an important role in making the story engaging.”
“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.”
“The rest of the characters receive nothing of development, nor a fleshed-out backstory.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 27 % 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 genre. Reviewers noted the impressive artwork, vibrant aesthetics, and how the visuals complement the game's storytelling and music, with ratings averaging around 8 to 8.5 out of 10. Overall, the game's visuals are considered refreshing and engaging, making a strong impression on players.
“At first sight, I didn't think Departed Away was going to be a good game, but then I played it. Good graphics, storytelling, and atmosphere in general.”
“The game's aesthetic is simple yet detailed, and it pops so much more than most games of this genre.”
“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 graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the story.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking the detail that would make them immersive.”
- music10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its whimsical and funky vibe, perfectly complementing the art style and overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with ratings ranging from 7/10 to 10/10, indicating a strong appreciation for its ability to enhance the gaming experience. Overall, the combination of engaging music and appealing visuals contributes significantly to the game's charm.
“The music in it fits perfectly with the vibe the game gives off.”
“The fun music and the pixel artwork give it a very whimsical feeling.”
“The OST is also good; it manages to complement the game well.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features multiple choices that influence the narrative path, along with mini-games, but some players may find the repetitive nature of spamming the enter key for extended periods tedious. While the game is noted to be somewhat incomplete, the developer is responsive in addressing issues and adding content, contributing to a positive overall experience rated at 8/10.
“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 8/10”
“The game has several choices that determine the route you will follow, but features sections of 'gameplay minigames' that require simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route, which is not something everyone will do.”
“The game is fairly incomplete, both in terms of story and gameplay, although the developer fixes and adds content really quickly.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its effective balance with creepiness, creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the quirky art style, funky music, and clever references, contributing to a soulful and funny atmosphere. Overall, it offers a distinctive blend of humor that enhances the indie visual novel experience.
“This game does an absolutely masterful job of balancing its humor and its creepiness.”
“If you want a soulful, funny, and unsettling indie visual novel experience, you definitely cannot go wrong here.”
“Really loved the art style, funky music, humor, references, and characters.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Departed Away" is highly praised, with players noting 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.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the pixel art style of character design and environments in indie visual novels, finding it a refreshing approach that enhances character development.
“I'd love to see more indie visual novels adopt this pixel art style of character design and environments in the future; it was very refreshing.”
