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East Tower - Akio

67%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, music
67% User Score Based on 114 reviews

Platforms

iPadiPadiPhiPhoneMOMac OSPCPCPhoPhoneWinWindowsMPMobile PlatformTabTablet
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About

"East Tower: Akio" is a visual novel adventure game that follows the story of a detective named Akio who is investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in a tower. The game features a mix of narrative-driven exploration, puzzle-solving, and character interactions, with multiple endings based on the player's choices. As Akio, players must uncover the secrets of the tower and its inhabitants while dealing with their own personal struggles and relationships.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
East Tower - Akio screenshot
East Tower - Akio screenshot
East Tower - Akio screenshot
East Tower - Akio screenshot
East Tower - Akio screenshot

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 114 reviews
story32 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The concept of the dreamworld is intriguing and keeps players engaged with the story.
  • The character Akio is a well-executed archetype of the cold, rich love interest, and the female lead has a relatable character arc.
  • The voice acting is praised as great, and the pacing of romantic moments is well done, providing many funny and cute moments.
  • The game is very short, lacking depth and character development, which makes it feel rushed.
  • The art style is considered unappealing and amateurish, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The linear narrative and limited choices can lead to frustration, as wrong decisions result in immediate game overs, requiring players to restart stages.
  • story
    148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "East Tower: Akio" presents an intriguing concept set in a virtual reality arena, but many reviewers feel it lacks depth and character development, often feeling more like an outline than a fully fleshed narrative. While the execution is criticized for being rushed and superficial, some players appreciate its unique themes and potential for growth in future installments of the series. Overall, the story is seen as entertaining yet average, with a mix of lighthearted moments and predictable twists, making it a decent entry point for fans of visual novels.

    • “The story is what got me hooked on this game; I love a different story than your more standard otome game that it has.”
    • “The whole story is actually really interesting, and even though some things are predictable, I still found myself thinking, 'but... maybe it's actually not true?'”
    • “I recommend it to anyone, whether they like visual novels or not, because East Tower is a good, solid story that definitely deserves more praise.”
    • “It felt like the outline of one rather than a proper story.”
    • “Well, the visual novel has a promising storyline, yet its execution is a bit rushed - with little to no character development.”
    • “An rather mediocre novel with a promising overall virtual reality story; being an intro towards a quadrilogy, it does not provide too much information which makes the game look dull.”
  • graphics
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing the art style as amateurish and unappealing, likening it to junior high sketches. Despite the poor quality of the visuals, some players found the storytelling engaging enough to overshadow the graphics, indicating that the narrative and character development were more compelling than the artwork itself. Overall, the graphics are considered a significant drawback, with ratings averaging around 5/10.

    • “Even if the graphics aren't that varied and awesome, I enjoyed a lot the stories and all the choices and endings, and I'd definitely recommend the East Tower games to everyone who loves pure Japanese visual novels :)”
    • “I know some people make fun of/dislike East Tower's graphics, but I genuinely like them.”
    • “I was not big on the art style that East Tower has, but I grew attached to the characters anyway, which is a good sign as the likability of the character is not just based on the art.”
    • “The artwork is on the amateurish side alongside the story narrative.”
    • “I have nothing against anime style artwork, but these kinda seem like they were taken out of the sketchbook of a junior high schooler.”
    • “Graphics are not very good and mostly consist of a single screen/backdrop.”
  • gameplay
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a trial-and-error approach that many find restrictive, compounded by rigid scripting and a lack of engaging gameplay elements. Players navigate through seven stages without real-time mechanics, and the repetitive soundtrack detracts from the overall experience. Overall, these factors contribute to a gameplay experience that feels limited and frustrating.

    • “As gameplay, you are supposed to get through 7 stages of the virtual game.”
    • “No real-time mechanics.”
    • “The trial and error based gameplay is very restrictive.”
    • “The very rigid scripting and the lack of proper gameplay elements, however, really makes the experience suffer.”
    • “No real time mechanics.”
  • music
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some tracks are memorable and effectively enhance the atmosphere, others are described as repetitive and annoying, particularly during gameplay. The soundtrack is noted for its ability to complement the scenes, but the overall execution, including low-budget cutscenes, detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “The music is also really good; some of the tracks are still stuck in my mind.”
    • “Music also completes the picture; when I turned it off for a while, I felt like something was lacking and playing was less enjoyable.”
    • “On a positive note, the various mood music throughout the game does manage to hit its cues and set the atmosphere as it should.”
    • “The soundtrack is a bit annoying, and it being on loop during the gameplay cringes you a bit.”
    • “Poor graphics and nerve-wracking music.”
    • “The cutscenes are also the trademark of low-budget visual novels, a mixture of theme music with clippings from the game's character portraits and random quotes from the game passing by the screen (as seen in the Steam trailer).”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by numerous funny and cute moments that keep players engaged, though it lacks a serious plot and top-tier comedic writing. While the humor is enjoyable, it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound narrative or sophisticated jokes. Overall, it provides lighthearted entertainment without being groundbreaking.

    • “I never found myself bored throughout, and there were many funny and cute moments.”
    • “While the series is more of a funny one, I felt like the plot thickens and gets more interesting and deeper the more you play.”
    • “Nothing spectacular, but there are funny and cute moments.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through multiple endings and achievement hunting, appealing to players who enjoy exploring different outcomes. However, some users feel that outside of these elements, the game lacks substantial replay value.

    • “There really isn't much replayability, unless you're doing it for achievements.”
    • “There's quite a bit of replay value to this due to the different endings and achievement hunting.”
    • “There really isn't much replayability, unless you're doing it for achievements.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is criticized for the inconsistency created by a mute character among talking ones, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience. However, the soundtrack is praised for effectively enhancing the mood and contributing positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “On a positive note, the various mood music throughout the game does manage to hit its cues and set the atmosphere as it should.”
    • “I find this to be a very poor choice from the developers as not only could this be interpreted in the wrong way, but it simply destroys the atmosphere when one character is mute while others talk (GTA V anyone?). It makes the game feel incomplete.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the visual novel is criticized for being insufficient, as the promising storyline is undermined by a rushed execution that leaves little room for meaningful character growth.

    • “The visual novel has a promising storyline, yet its execution is a bit rushed - with little to no character development.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate significant frustration with the game's pricing and perceived deceptive advertising practices, suggesting that monetization strategies may detract from the overall experience.

    • “The biggest thing that really gets my frilly knickers knotted up is the price and the sly advertising behind it all.”

Buy East Tower - Akio

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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