East Tower - Akio
- July 25, 2012
- ROSEVERTE
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"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.
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iPhone
Mac OS
PC
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Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features an interesting concept centered around a virtual reality world, which adds a unique twist to the otome genre.
- The character of Sakuya has a relatable character arc, and the interactions with Akio provide some funny and cute moments.
- The voice acting is well-executed, and the pacing of the romantic moments keeps the player engaged throughout the short playtime.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of about an hour, which feels lacking compared to its price.
- The artwork is often criticized for being amateurish and not appealing, detracting from the overall experience.
- The story feels rushed and underdeveloped, lacking depth and character development, which may leave players unsatisfied.
- story74 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as having an interesting premise but suffers from superficial execution and rushed character development, making it feel more like an outline than a fully fleshed narrative. While some players appreciate the unique setting and potential for deeper themes, many find the plot predictable and the artwork lacking, leading to a mixed reception overall. As the first entry in a series, it sets the stage for future developments but leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and engagement.
“The story is what got me hooked on this game; I love a different story than your more standard otome game.”
“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 getting all from the start as every game gives more depth to the story.”
“It felt like the outline of one rather than a proper story.”
“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.”
“The story looks like it has potential, but is not as in-depth as it could be.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing the art style as amateurish and reminiscent of junior high sketches. While some players appreciate the unique anime style, the overall consensus is that the visuals are poor and lack variety, often overshadowed by the engaging storylines. Despite the graphics being a drawback, several users noted that they still found enjoyment in the characters and narratives.
“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.”
“I would really say that the only (slight) drawback to this game is the art style, but it is still nice in its own way.”
“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.”
“Poor graphics and nerve-wracking music.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a trial-and-error approach that feels restrictive, compounded by rigid scripting and a lack of engaging gameplay elements, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the repetitive soundtrack can be distracting, further diminishing enjoyment. Players navigate through seven stages without real-time mechanics, limiting the dynamism of the gameplay.
“As gameplay, you are supposed to get through 7 stages of the virtual game.”
“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.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some tracks are memorable and effectively enhance the atmosphere, others can become repetitive and annoying during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to complement the scenes, though it may feel overwhelming at times, particularly in low-budget visual novels where cutscenes lack polish.
“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 becomes cringeworthy.”
“Poor graphics and nerve-wracking music.”
“The cutscenes are also the trademark of low-budget visual novels, featuring a mixture of theme music with clippings from the game's character portraits and random quotes from the game passing by the screen.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny and cute moments that keep players engaged, though it may not appeal to those seeking a serious plot or exceptional comedic depth. Overall, while the humor is enjoyable, it is described as light and not particularly 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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through multiple endings and achievement hunting, appealing to players seeking to explore different outcomes. However, some users feel that outside of achievement chasing, the game lacks substantial replay value.
“There's quite a bit of replay value to this due to the different endings and achievement hunting.”
“There really isn't much replay value, unless you're doing it for achievements.”
“There's quite a bit of replay value due to the different endings and achievement hunting.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is criticized for being undermined by a mute character among otherwise vocal ones, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience. However, the inclusion of well-timed mood music is praised for effectively enhancing 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 development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The visual novel features a promising storyline; however, many users feel that the character development is lacking and feels rushed, detracting from the overall experience.
“The visual novel has a promising storyline, yet its execution is a bit rushed, with little to no character development.”
“I felt like the characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real growth throughout the game.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the character arcs were underdeveloped and left me feeling disconnected from the story.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the game's pricing and perceive the advertising as deceptive, indicating a negative sentiment towards its monetization strategy.
“The biggest thing that really gets my frilly knickers knotted up is the price and the sly advertising behind it all.”
