DRAMAtical Murder
- April 6, 2021
- Nitro+CHiRAL
- 17h median play time
Get on SteamNow Released About the GameGet ready for the official English language version of Nitro+CHiRAL's most popular Boys' Love game! Set on an island ruled by a powerful megacorporation, DRAMAtical Murder paints a vivid picture of a world where the boundaries between the virtual and the real are breaking down. Dragged with his friends into a battle for the future, will our hero Aoba be able to regain …
Reviews
- The story is engaging and well-written, with complex characters and emotional depth.
- The character designs and artwork are phenomenal, contributing to a visually stunning experience.
- The game successfully blends dark themes with romance, providing a unique and memorable narrative.
- The Steam version is heavily censored, requiring an additional purchase for the uncensored content.
- Some routes, particularly Mink's, contain problematic themes such as sexual assault and abuse, which may be triggering for some players.
- The pacing can be uneven, with some routes feeling rushed or lacking in depth compared to others.
- story388 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Dramatical Murder" is widely praised for its depth, character development, and engaging world-building, often captivating players with its intricate narrative and emotional resonance. While some reviewers note issues with pacing and plot coherence, many appreciate the unique themes and the ability to explore different character routes that enrich the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a compelling story intertwined with romance and mature content.
“Dramatical Murder honestly really captivated me; the story and writing of the plot and its characters really just pulled me in from the get-go, and I wanted to experience more and more.”
“The storytelling is amazing; even within the first hour, I found myself incredibly immersed in a way that no other visual novel has managed to do so far.”
“The story is mind-blowing and overwhelming in the best way possible.”
“The main character was supposed to have street smarts, but suddenly he became a damsel in distress who makes stupid decisions because the plot demands it.”
“The story is a bit confusing and there are definitely glaring plot holes that you need to ignore to enjoy the action.”
“The story is absolute nonsense with massive plot holes, but the amount of spoken dialogue and nice visuals make up for it.”
- music106 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional impact, with many reviewers highlighting the catchy and immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Composed primarily by goatbed, the music blends genres like techno and electro-pop, creating memorable themes that resonate with players long after gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
“The combination of its vibrant art style and evocative music provides a sense of immersion that is hard to match.”
“The music is absolutely fire, and even though the bad endings absolutely crushed my heart, the songs they play for these endings still had me bopping my head to them.”
“The soundtrack is golden and I wish I could buy it and put it on a CD and listen to it until the heat death of the universe.”
“The music is a bit repetitive at times.”
“The music is the kind that makes you want to hear more but will also annoy you if you sit there too long lol.”
“The music is okay, not my taste, but it does suit the theme of the game very well.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning quality, vibrant art style, and intricate character designs, creating an immersive experience that enhances the storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and dynamic visuals, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's overall appeal, despite some content being heavily censored. Overall, the combination of impressive graphics, engaging sound design, and a unique aesthetic makes it a standout title in its genre.
“The visuals are top-notch quality; I would sell my left kidney for it. The sounds and voice acting snatched my voting rights away, and the characters are all likable.”
“The combination of its vibrant art style and evocative music provides a sense of immersion that is hard to match.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the characters are well-written, and the world feels real.”
“Text and audio are updated with the patch, but the visuals remain censored.”
“Some scenes are cut out, particularly all the sex scenes and any gory/graphic content.”
“Images are heavily modified in order to avoid showing the original explicit artwork in its entirety.”
- emotional65 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound and intense experience, with players reporting a wide range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. Many highlight the impactful character arcs and the ability of certain routes, particularly those of Koujaku and Clear, to evoke tears and deep emotional responses. However, the game also contains darker themes, including instances of abuse, which can create a stark contrast to the otherwise heartwarming moments, making it an emotional rollercoaster that resonates strongly with players.
“Even by today's standards, I don't think any other yaoi visual novel can surpass its heart-wrenching, gut-churning, and tear-inducing journey you take in Aoba's eyes to see through his world.”
“I have played all routes and achieved all good and bad endings, and I can say that personally, Koujaku and Clear's routes are my favorites, with some of the most emotional scenes I've ever witnessed.”
“Clear's route genuinely made me emotional, and I even cried when he was breaking, even though I knew he would.”
- character development29 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting the depth and growth of the main character, Aoba, as well as the side characters, each offering relatable themes and personal journeys. The character designs are described as stunning and intricate, contributing to the overall narrative and emotional engagement, while the diverse routes allow players to explore different relationship dynamics that significantly impact character progression. Despite some criticisms regarding certain plot elements, the overall consensus highlights a strong connection between character design, development, and the immersive world-building.
“Aoba has so much character development, as well as the side characters, and I related so hard to the main character needing a break.”
“You can tell that love and effort were put into everything from character designs to voice acting, to relationship dynamics, the music, and backgrounds.”
“I played every route when this game first came out, and the story is actually really interesting. The best part is playing different routes and seeing the effect of the relationship you picked on Aoba's character development.”
“The character development is nothing to laugh at either.”
“Clear did grow to be more mature, but I felt that his character development was somewhat sudden.”
“Noiz’s route touches somewhat upon the big picture but is mostly focused on his character development rather than the overall story plot, thus it leaves quite a bit out but gives more than Koujaku’s route.”
- humor17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of hilarity and emotional depth, with players enjoying the quirky characters and their interactions. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter alongside more serious themes, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the comedic elements, particularly through character dynamics and unexpected moments, contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“If you want to play a hilariously iconic BL game that is well known in otome game and anime communities, go for it.”
“I love this game so much and the comedy actually made me laugh.”
“But after playing the first 3 hours, I felt like I already fell in love with it: the music is a banger, the random silly funny moments that happen randomly kill me every time, the voice acting is amazing... and the story is really well written from what I could tell!”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative choices typical of visual novels, offering around 30-40 hours of playtime with multiple routes to explore. While some players appreciate the engaging story and cyberpunk theme, others feel that the lack of significant gameplay mechanics and the age of the game contribute to a sense of limited interactivity. Overall, it is a story-driven experience with minimal gameplay elements beyond player choices.
“I'd recommend this game if you want to play a cool visual novel with engaging mechanics.”
“There is a ton of gameplay and varying routes, the sort you can't stop playing until you find them all.”
“In terms of gameplay, it's basically the usual visual novel in which certain routes are determined by the choices you have made, along with a few mini-games.”
“It takes nothing away from the story, but it did make the gameplay feel as if the choices didn't really matter.”
“That being said, this is a strictly story-based game with no gameplay mechanics other than your choices.”
“In terms of gameplay, it's basically the usual visual novel in which certain routes are determined by whatever choices you have made along with a few mini-games.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and distinctive qualities, enhanced by unique visual elements, engaging music, and a fitting art style. Reviewers highlight how these components contribute to an engrossing narrative and overall experience, making it a must-play for fans of visual novels and otome games. While some noted minor issues with the writing, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere remain a standout feature that captivates players.
“The game uses a series of unique elements that help create a distinctive and immersive atmosphere.”
“The visual effects throughout the game really add to the atmosphere.”
“It is truly a wonderful game, the story is engrossing, the music is catchy and the art style fits the atmosphere just right!”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its lengthy story and multiple endings, with players likely to forget details upon completion, making subsequent playthroughs enjoyable. However, some users noted that certain themes may detract from the experience, impacting their desire to replay. Despite this, it stands out as a heavily story-driven game with significant replay value.
“The length of the story, for me, also adds to replayability after completing the whole game—you're bound to forget some details, so it still feels nice to redo the route of your favorites.”
“Anyway, this is probably the first heavily story-based game that has actual replay value in my library.”
“As a result, it has a high replayability rate, which is good considering there are 12 endings total to achieve.”
“It is a beautiful game most of the time, and I did manage to enjoy some moments in certain routes, but there was little replay value for me because of the near-rape issues.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find certain grinding elements, particularly related to glitching and obstacle scenes involving scrap, to be tedious and frustrating. Additionally, the process of purchasing and applying the uncensored DLC is seen as cumbersome, detracting from the overall experience.
“Some of the 'glitching' or 'obstacle' scenes when scrap is used can be tedious.”
“It is annoying to have to buy the 18+ uncensored DLC from a website that isn't Steam, and the process of applying the DLC is tedious.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's voice acting is commendable, as players appreciate the genuine investment of the voice actors in their performances, though some users express frustration when reading too quickly and missing lines.
