EMMA The Story
- May 24, 2018
- Hiver Prod
Get on Steam"EMMA The Story" is a visual novel game that follows the journey of Emma, a young girl who wakes up with no memory of her past. The game is set in a mysterious world where Emma must navigate through her lost memories and make choices that will determine her fate. With various endings and multiple story paths, EMMA The Story offers a unique and immersive experience for players.
Reviews
- Beautiful artwork and immersive soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
- The story, while short, is thought-provoking and touches on themes of life choices and regrets.
- Low price point makes it an accessible option for those interested in a brief visual novel experience.
- Extremely short playtime (around 10-20 minutes) leaves players wanting more substance.
- Lack of interactivity and meaningful gameplay makes it feel more like an e-book than a game.
- Writing quality is often criticized as mediocre, failing to engage or resonate with players.
- story57 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Emma the Story" is a brief yet engaging narrative that explores themes of choices, regrets, and personal growth through the interactions of two characters at a bus stop. While many reviewers appreciate its emotional depth and artistic presentation, they note that the story's short length (approximately 10-25 minutes) limits its potential for deeper exploration. Overall, it is seen as a touching and thought-provoking experience, albeit one that may leave some players wanting more.
“But I finished this one in 20 minutes and the story is surprisingly great.”
“Beautiful art and music, and a short but thoughtful story.”
“A poignant story about a young man, Elliott, who is paralyzed with fear on undertaking a long journey.”
“Emma, the story is not a game; it's an e-book that's been dumped on Steam masquerading as a game.”
“What the story wants to tell is nothing new or incredible.”
“There are no choices or consequences; you'll just have to read the story and wonder how it will end.”
- music23 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent soundtrack as a standout feature. While some users noted minor issues like crackling or glitches, the majority found the music to be immersive and emotionally resonant, complementing the game's artistic visuals and short narrative effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“From the artwork to the music, there isn't a negative thing to say about this game.”
“The excellent soundtrack is included for free, by far its best asset.”
“Music is beautiful and touching, a good addition to the story's atmosphere.”
“The only negative note is that (maybe only for me, idk) the music was pretty glitchy.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and artistic quality, featuring unique hand-painted visuals and character designs that stand out in the visual novel genre. While the art style is generally well-received, some reviewers noted a lack of visual effects. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's ambiance, enhancing the storytelling experience.
“The artwork and visual style is on point, and the writing is pretty tight (if a little on the self-indulgent side).”
“The graphics are really well done.”
“Emma is a short science fiction, kinetic visual novel, with gorgeous artwork and neat ambience and music.”
“Art style is alright but very light on visual effects.”
“The graphics to the visual novel are by Frédéric Jamain using a beautiful style much like when acrylic is rendered over photographs, giving it a high-quality realism.”
“The art style is pretty unique, different from most other visual novels (especially from Japanese VNs).”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching and well-written story, which explores themes of life decisions and regret. Enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack, the narrative leaves a lasting impact on players, encouraging reflection long after completion. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate short, poignant stories.
“It's a small story, very well visualized, supported by a perfect music and soundtrack, emotional enough to stay with you for a while once you've finished it.”
“A short and touching story which teaches us about the decisions we take in life, some we might regret forever.”
“Music is beautiful and touching, a good addition to the story's atmosphere.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is largely criticized for its lack of meaningful interaction, relying instead on poorly written dialogue that offers little engagement beyond clicking through text. While some appreciate its aesthetic appeal, many reviewers express a desire for more choice-driven mechanics to enhance the experience. Overall, the gameplay is minimal and does not provide the depth typically expected from a game.
“Gameplay: 7”
“A short, beautiful game/visual novel full of wistful yearning over paths not taken.”
“As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
“A short game (if you're a fast reader, then you will finish in about a quarter of an hour), beautiful game/visual novel (no real choices or 'gameplay' mind you) full of wistful yearning over paths not taken.”
“Better if it comes with 'make your own choices' gameplay mechanics.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its beautiful music and immersive soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience. Despite its short length, the game effectively evokes strong feelings and creates a captivating vibe that stands out among other titles. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its value.
“The soundtrack is also immersive, making the whole experience kind of atmospheric.”
“A great 20-minute visual novel with nice music and atmosphere that's worth its price.”
“Though short, Emma evoked more feeling and atmosphere than many other games out there ever could or will be able to do.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a mouse click, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
“Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
“Grinding feels like an endless loop of repetitive tasks that drain the enjoyment out of the game. It turns what could be an engaging experience into a monotonous chore.”
“The grind is so excessive that it overshadows the actual gameplay, making it feel more like a job than a fun pastime.”
