Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 15 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate Game Cover
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DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate - Dual Edition is a VR and non-VR investigation action adventure game where you play as detective Hal Scion with the power to rewrite the past. Solve an impossible murder case and prevent a city's destruction in seven days by diving into people's memories and altering reality. The game features seven award-winning VR categories and allows you to play in either VR or non-VR mode.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR2
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 15 reviews
story9 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a compelling narrative experience that spans 12-20 hours, making it one of the more substantial story-driven VR titles available.
  • The combination of visual novel elements with interactive crime-solving mechanics provides a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
  • The stylized anime graphics, while not groundbreaking, create an immersive atmosphere that complements the storytelling.
  • Gameplay is light and may disappoint those expecting more complex mechanics, as it often feels like a visual novel with minimal interactivity.
  • Some voice acting, particularly for key characters, lacks emotional depth, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The game suffers from pacing issues and technical glitches, such as awkward transitions and minor bugs that can disrupt immersion.
  • story34 mentions

    The game's story is a central highlight, offering a compelling narrative that spans approximately 10 to 20 hours, depending on exploration and collectibles. While it features engaging twists and emotional endings, some players note that the storytelling falters slightly towards the end and can feel a bit contrived at times. Overall, it is well-received, especially by fans of anime-style storytelling and visual novels, providing an immersive experience enhanced by VR mechanics.

    • “If you buy this game, you better be here largely for the storytelling experience and feeling like you're a character inside the world.”
    • “Playing through this story was like riding a roller coaster of emotion when diving into it.”
    • “The events of this story hit me in all of the right places, and it left me with a strong desire to play through again.”
    • “It's by no means perfect - the main gimmick is a bit contrived, and the further into the story you go, the more you need to suspend your disbelief to not notice some issues.”
    • “The game tells a pretty compelling narrative across an easy 12-14+ hours if you go hunting around for the story-relevant collectibles needed to hit the true ending, but hunting for them can get kind of tedious.”
    • “This story, as mentioned above, is quite the investigative experience; yes, it feels as if it's holding your hand for some of it, but once you get into it, you don’t really mind it at all.”
  • gameplay10 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a blend of visual novel elements and puzzle-solving mechanics, reminiscent of the Phoenix Wright series, but is criticized for being light and lacking depth. While it features engaging storylines and time-leaping mechanics, some players find the minigames distracting and the pacing awkward. Overall, opinions are polarized, with some enjoying the unique blend of interactivity and narrative, while others feel let down by the gameplay quality.

    • “This game has more story than Altdeus at about 20 hours to get the first ending versus about 15 hours to get all the endings in Altdeus. It features more interactivity by combining visual novel style cutscenes with crime solving along the lines of Phoenix Wright. It has time-leaping mechanics and memory diving to alter the past, and it presents a tangled web of a story that you unravel with the help of a virtual red thread board!”
    • “In terms of how smooth the gameplay ran on my rig, I was amazed at the quality of it.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's more or less a visual novel like Ace Attorney with a little bit more action built in. Some people either hate it or love it; there's no in-between.”
    • “It's very light on gameplay, but there are some puzzles you need to solve and a few key moments where you have to present your investigation evidence, sort of like a very watered down Phoenix Wright trial.”
    • “If you're here for any other reason and expecting high-quality gameplay, you will be disappointed.”
    • “As a cherry on top of all those issues, the resident consolation minigames start as a nice change of pace from the detective visual novel gameplay bits, but they quickly turn into distractions away from the game, making for awkward pacing in tenser moments, especially given you need to check (nearly) every room you enter for the patients if you want to 100% it.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics are generally well-received, with character models praised for their quality within the stylized anime aesthetic, though they don't stand out as award-winning. The simpler graphics contribute to an immersive experience, and the VR mode is optimized effectively, running smoothly even on mid-range hardware. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the visuals complement the game's art style and enhance gameplay.

    • “If you like the art style, you should find it easy to get immersed in the experience.”
    • “The graphics are more crisp and a bit more detailed than the Quest store, and more importantly, its VR mode is pretty well optimized; even my GTX 1660s can easily handle this without using full power.”
    • “Graphically, while the character models look quite good for the style it's going for, it's not winning any awards for graphics.”
    • “[i]commentary: nothing changed from quest graphics[/i]”
    • “The graphics are more crisp and a bit more detailed than the quest store, and more importantly, its VR mode is pretty well optimized; even my GTX 1660s can easily handle this without using full power.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when hunting for collectibles to achieve the true ending, which can extend gameplay to 12-14+ hours. Some users suggest that the effort required for grinding feels excessive, likening it to needing a second life to complete.

    • “It tells a pretty compelling narrative across an easy 12-14+ hours if you go hunting around for the story-relevant collectibles needed to hit the true ending, but hunting for them can get kind of tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, particularly during scripted dialogue scenes where characters experience freezing and blinking glitches. This disrupts gameplay, as players are often immobilized until the blinking resolves, leading to frustration.

    • “Every time you enter a scripted dialogue scene, your character blinks, which freezes you in place for the duration of the dialogue. You remain frozen until you blink again, which either frees you or jumps to the next scene.”
    • “What about the bugs or glitches? Did you encounter anything major?”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game features an outstanding story with highly emotional endings, complemented by the cute and humorous antics of the character Lily, which enhance the overall emotional experience.

    • “The story is just awesome; the endings are very emotional, and Lily's shenanigans are cute and funny.”
    • “The game made me feel a deep connection with the characters, and I found myself genuinely moved by their journeys.”
    • “I was surprised by how much the story resonated with me; it brought tears to my eyes during the most poignant moments.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the charming and amusing antics of the character Lily, which add a lighthearted touch to the otherwise emotional storyline. Overall, players find the blend of humor and heartfelt moments to be a standout feature.

    • “The story is just awesome; the endings are very emotional, and Lily's shenanigans are cute and funny.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love how the characters have such witty banter; it adds a delightful layer of fun to the gameplay.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing a preference for the original soundtrack of "altdeus" over the current game's score.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is praised for delivering crisp and detailed graphics, particularly in VR mode, which runs smoothly even on mid-range hardware like the GTX 1660s without maxing out its capabilities.

    • “The graphics are more crisp and detailed than the quest store, and more importantly, its VR mode is well optimized; even my GTX 1660s can easily handle this without using full power.”
    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game runs on various systems; the optimization makes it accessible to a wider audience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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