East Tower - Kurenai | Game Brain — video game discovery

About

This is the Dream World, a place where your wishes will come true. But a dream is not real. Or, is there a way to make it real?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

story13 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The story is unique and engaging, with a strong overarching plot that ties up the series nicely.
Kurenai is a well-developed character, and the game features multiple endings and replayability, enhancing player engagement.
The game explores themes of gender identity and sexuality in a thoughtful manner, which is a refreshing take for the genre.

The art quality is inconsistent, with some questionable design choices that detract from the overall experience.
The writing can feel shallow at times, with characters that lean towards stereotypes rather than being fully fleshed out.
The game can be frustrating due to abrupt endings and a lack of clear build-up to the plot's stakes, leaving some players unsatisfied.

story
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The story of the game is praised for its complexity and unique elements, particularly in the character development of Kurenai and Hisui, and it effectively ties up the overarching narrative of the series. However, some players noted issues with unresolved plot arcs and clichés that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many found the story engaging and a significant improvement over previous installments, making it a worthwhile play for fans of visual novels.
- “The story is really unique and interesting - otome games don't usually have such a strong story.”
- “The story is very well designed and has a lot of surprises in itself.”
- “I feel like it wraps the game up in a nice bow, and grants a feeling of completion to a story that has more complexity and depth.”
- “Too many unresolved plot arcs.”
- “The story is set up in such a way that it could lend itself to an interesting discussion of gender identity and digital sexuality but it instead chooses to do cliché 'oops, I tripped and grabbed your boob' moments.”
- “Boring story, poor branching plot.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The graphics of the game have received mixed opinions, with some players expressing a lack of preference for the art style while others appreciate its charm and how it complements the engaging plot. Despite initial reservations, many found themselves growing attached to the characters, indicating that the graphics, while not universally loved, do not detract from the overall experience.
- “I know some people make fun of or dislike East Tower's graphics, but I genuinely like them.”
- “East Tower captures you with its plot and completely overshadows its graphics.”
- “I think only in Akio I was frowning at the art, but East Tower captures you with its plot and completely overshadows its graphics.”
- “I was not big on the art style that ET has, but I grew attached to the characters anyway.”
- “I usually pick games for how pretty they look in part; this art style isn't quite my preference, but I'm glad I found it and played it through as it's an absolute gem!”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is highly praised, with many tracks being memorable and enhancing the overall experience. Players note that the soundtrack is well-suited to each scene, and turning it off diminishes the enjoyment of the game.
- “The music is also really good; some of the tracks are still stuck in my mind.”
- “The music is very good too, very well adapted to each scene.”
- “Music also completes the picture; when I turned it off for a while, I felt like something was lacking and playing was less enjoyable.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring some questionable art choices and overt weeaboo elements, but it ultimately delivers a charming experience with a delightful plot twist. While not the strongest in the series, it balances humor and heart effectively as the story unfolds.
- “But the picture's getting bigger with every part, and it's funny and lovely at the same time.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game offers significant replayability, with players reporting up to four times the playtime compared to previous installments, thanks to multiple paths and choices available in the storyline. Even with the skip function, the variety in gameplay encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “The replay value of this installment is amazingly high; I got about four times the amount of playtime out of this one, even with the skip function being used!”
- “There are more paths in Kurenai, so there's more replayability to be had.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics reduces the overall replay value.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The emotional impact of the game is diminished by limited sound effects and repetitive voice acting, leading to a lackluster experience. Additionally, the boring story and poor branching plot further detract from any potential emotional engagement.
- “The story felt flat and uninspired, lacking any emotional depth.”
- “There were no meaningful choices that impacted the narrative, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The emotional moments fell flat due to a predictable plot and weak character development.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Reviewers appreciate the character development in the game, particularly highlighting Kurenai's design as a standout among the cast. Additionally, the introduction of new characters in Kurenai's storyline is well-received, indicating a positive response to the depth and variety added to the character roster.
- “I really appreciate the character development in Kurenai's story; it adds depth and complexity to the narrative.”
- “The character designs for the new characters introduced in Kurenai's story are fantastic and enhance the overall experience.”
- “Kurenai's character design stands out as my favorite among all the characters in the game.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The gameplay in the final installment diverges significantly from previous entries, presenting unique challenges that have proven to be the most difficult in the series.
- “The gameplay takes a different direction in each game, making this final installment the most challenging yet.”
- “Each game offers a unique gameplay experience, keeping players engaged and on their toes.”
- “The variety in gameplay mechanics ensures that no two sessions feel the same, enhancing replayability.”
- “The gameplay takes a different direction in each game, and it has been the hardest for this final one.”
- “The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through levels.”
- “There are too many bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience, leading to frequent crashes and glitches.”