Everlasting Summer
- November 19, 2014
- Soviet Games
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Everlasting Summer" is a unique visual novel game where the protagonist, Semyon, falls asleep and wakes up at a pioneer camp during summer. He must navigate complex relationships, solve mysteries, and decide whether to return to his old life. The game features touch controls and is optimized for iOS devices. However, there may be issues with previous saves after updating.
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Reviews
- story2,162 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Everlasting Summer" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, weaving a rich narrative that explores themes of self-identity, nostalgia, and existentialism through the experiences of the protagonist, Semyon, in a surreal Soviet summer camp. Players appreciate the multiple endings and branching paths that encourage replayability, although some find the pacing slow and the dialogue occasionally excessive. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging storytelling, emotional impact, and the ability to evoke a range of feelings, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
“The story pulls you into a surreal, thought-provoking journey through a summer camp, filled with mystery, character development, and unexpected twists.”
“The story is so well written, and the mystery of the game makes you play even harder to try and find out answers about what is happening in the game.”
“The story is captivating, and the characters are so in-depth that I kept making new saves to go back and finish as many endings as I could.”
“The story progresses very slowly and it just didn't capture my interest.”
“It started interesting, with quick one-liners as a tool to tell the story, then it added lots of meaningless story filler, followed by lengthy exposition dumps and slow-motion transitions that made me think the game was bugged.”
“The story is dull; I spent an hour playing and the story didn't seem to develop at all.”
- music761 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players highlighting the nostalgic and immersive qualities of the soundtrack. Composed by Sergey Eybog, the music is described as diverse, fitting various scenes perfectly, and often leaving a lasting impression long after gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, elevating both the storytelling and atmosphere.
“The music of this game really hit me with a nostalgic vibe. The main theme is one of my favorite soundtracks, and it helps immerse you in the reading experience. A lot of respect for Sergey Eybog.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and diverse, perfectly matching the atmosphere changes throughout the game. It really enhances the overall experience.”
“The music is fantastic and really well done, setting the mood perfectly for each scene. It’s one of the best parts of the game.”
“The soundtrack is quite drab and monotonic.”
“The same music plays throughout the whole game, so I hope you like that open source classical song!”
“The music in some parts of the game got a little tedious and annoying as they were looping over, but that's not too big of a problem.”
- graphics404 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful backgrounds and unique art style, while others criticize the inconsistency in character designs and the presence of multiple art styles that can disrupt immersion. Overall, the visuals are described as charming and vibrant, but the varying quality of character artwork detracts from the overall experience for some players. Despite these critiques, many players appreciate the artistic effort and find the graphics appealing, especially considering the game is free.
“The artwork brings this idyllic yet slightly eerie world to life with vibrant, hand-drawn visuals.”
“The graphics are fantastic, the artwork is well done and of a high standard, the story is entertaining and you do not feel it drags on anywhere.”
“The background artwork is enough to take your breath away while the music on its own is definitely worth giving a listen to.”
“I strongly advise to give it a chance despite the fact that the art style is never of the same quality for the CGs and that some are really of poor quality.”
“The artwork is a little variable - there have been at least two artists involved on this project by the look of it, and their art styles differ wildly, which tends to jar a little when switching between them.”
“The graphics suffer from having many different art styles and can seem inconsistent.”
- emotional233 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players describing it as a profound journey that evokes a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. Many reviews highlight the impactful storytelling, character development, and the variety of endings that can leave players feeling deeply connected or emotionally drained. The combination of lighthearted moments with intense, sometimes dark themes creates a unique emotional rollercoaster that resonates strongly with players, making it a standout experience in the visual novel genre.
“A visual novel that combines a gripping narrative with deep emotional themes.”
“There’s enough intrigue to keep you guessing about what’s real and what’s not, and the choices you make lead to a variety of endings, from uplifting to downright heartbreaking.”
“It’s more than just a visual novel; it’s an emotional journey.”
“At first I thought it was going to be a boring story; after completing the first route, I thought the others were going to be the same. Oh, fool me.”
“A boring story.”
“Very boring story, very unlikeable protagonist, stupid characters, generic art style.”
- gameplay101 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Everlasting Summer" is primarily focused on dialogue and choice-making, characteristic of visual novels, with limited mechanics beyond reading and selecting options. While some players find the simplicity and depth of choices engaging, others criticize the lack of action and repetitive elements, noting that the game offers substantial replayability with multiple endings. Overall, it provides a lengthy and immersive experience, particularly for fans of narrative-driven games, despite its basic gameplay structure.
“With massive replay appeal, hours of interesting gameplay, and a plot that can drive even the manliest of men to tears, Everlasting Summer is everything you'd want out of a visual novel, and more.”
“The characters, the story, the emotions, the background, the music, the sound effects... everything has done remarkably well in this game and the overall gameplay is beautiful.”
“There are no voice actors, or gameplay outside of making choices and reading the conversations that come out of it.”
“With the rather disappointing graphics and voice acting, the game has already achieved a maximum score of below average and coupling it with the gameplay only resulted in this game being an absolute nightmare to play.”
“The gameplay itself is pretty simple, and probably the most bland, as it has the typical 'main' part of the story where you make choices which follow along the same path, then the 'ending' where you get whichever ending you were going for.”
- atmosphere101 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a carefree summer at a Soviet camp. Reviewers highlight the strong emotional impact of the soundtrack, which complements the visuals and narrative, creating a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the combination of well-crafted environments, evocative music, and relatable themes contributes to a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
“The atmosphere is great, and the music... oh my god, I'm going to listen to these soundtracks until the end of time.”
“The game manages to create an atmosphere that got me thinking.”
“The atmosphere of the game is stunningly good, the music is always on point and so well made that it gave me chills every other minute while playing.”
“I found this visual novel in an atmosphere of a... dare I say, 'Soviet Union camp simulator'.”
“The artwork sadly wavers from triple-A quality to mediocre fan art, which sometimes damages the atmosphere as characters change the art style from one scene to another.”
“If there is a downside then it's that the intro movie and some of the images aren't fully translated; while one might argue that the actual Cyrillic letters on the camp entrance add to the atmosphere, I'd have appreciated being able to read the protagonist's names in the intro.”
- humor85 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is a mixed bag, ranging from clever and relatable jokes to dark and absurd moments that resonate particularly with those familiar with post-Soviet culture and internet memes. While some players found the comedic elements to be genuinely funny and engaging, others noted that certain jokes may not land for all audiences, leading to a blend of laughter and confusion. Overall, the game successfully intertwines humor with emotional depth, creating a unique experience that can evoke both laughter and introspection.
“A beautiful short visual novel, filled with fun twists and funny achievements.”
“The comedy in this one is top-notch funny; the sad moments are sad, they hit really hard.”
“The main character's thoughts are honest and humorous, and the writer really captures the way certain impulsive thoughts can pop into someone's head.”
“Some of the characters joke in-game, but it's not funny for the player nor for the other characters, who seem to get offended very easily at everything.”
“Right from the start, the guy confesses that he's not funny, can't make jokes, and would much rather watch anime all day for a job.”
“The writing can be a bit cringey, but the writer makes hilarious self-mocking remarks about his writing through the protagonist's monologue.”
- replayability75 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, primarily due to its numerous branching narratives and multiple endings, which encourage players to explore different choices and outcomes. Many reviewers highlight the engaging story and well-developed characters, making each playthrough feel distinct and rewarding. Overall, it is considered one of the more replayable visual novels available, offering significant content for completionists and casual players alike.
“They branch the narrative in meaningful ways, and figuring out how to get different endings adds replay value.”
“The game has a lot of replayability, considering the multitude of different endings.”
“The main story length is normal, but the game has tons of secrets and optional story paths that give this visual novel an incredible amount of content and replayability.”
“The typical multiple endings are not just variable-end-scene; each time through is familiar but the dialogue changes often enough to keep you from speeding through, and does it so well that it's not a bore to sit through just to look for the alternate dialogue. There is replay value a-plenty here.”
“The game was made with replayability in mind; on redundant playthroughs, you'll have the options you selected previously grayed out. You can still select them, but it allows you to see what choices you've already made so you don't accidentally do the same thing twice.”
“It is a visual novel, and visual novels do have the tendency to have low replayability because it takes you a while to read it.”
- character development43 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth and emotional engagement it offers, while others find certain characters flat or their growth forced. The character designs are often described as appealing, though some critiques highlight a lack of originality and expressiveness, particularly in emotive sprites. Overall, while the game features a variety of character arcs and multiple endings, opinions vary on the effectiveness and satisfaction of the character development throughout the narrative.
“The story pulls you into a surreal, thought-provoking journey through a summer camp, filled with mystery, character development, and unexpected twists.”
“For a game that lasts for just 7 in-game days, it conveys a wonderful story and good character development, given the lack of time.”
“It has a marvelous amount of content, extremely well-drawn backgrounds and character designs, lovely music, well-developed character personalities, a fascinating story, and, I think above all, the ability to evoke profound feelings that I haven't had brought forth by many things, let alone visual novels.”
“I would have liked a bit more character development as they seemed a bit flat at times though.”
“I couldn't relate to the main character at all; mopey, no goals in life, lacks personality or character development beyond the basic 'I'm a lonely dude drifting through life.'”
“The story and character development were disappointing, so were the dialogues.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that achieving different endings often requires tedious repetition and illogical decision-making without clear guidance. While some features help alleviate the grind, many still find the process cumbersome and lacking in satisfaction, leading to a sense of wasted time. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant flaw that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“We did a pretty good job so far... then I got 4 different bad endings, tried to get all endings possible (13), but I got stuck in a cul-de-sac unable to get a new ending. I gave up and went to look at guides on how exactly I'm supposed to get them. For some endings, you just have to do a completely random thing (or, even worse — a chain of unrelated things) with no way of knowing what you're supposed to do and why, with no hints whatsoever. They're just illogical, and without guides, you can either stumble upon them randomly (which is unlikely) or by grinding and redoing and replaying the game again and again, just slightly changing your decisions in hopes of getting a new ending. Taking into account how this system is built, it's just a waste of time; at least for me, it won't give me any satisfaction or joy of trying to blindly guess how to create a chain of random decisions leading to the ending you didn't see yet; I think it's a game flaw.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This can get tedious, especially since many dialogues and events repeat themselves even when you're on a different route.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its monetization model, being completely free-to-play with no microtransactions or in-game purchases, which enhances the overall experience without hidden costs or ads. Players appreciate the absence of monetization tactics commonly found in other games, making it a standout title on Steam.
“It's free to play - no microtransactions, no ads, nothing just game :)”
“Really free, no microtransactions, no strings attached.”
“Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
“There's no in-game ads or purchases they try to bombard you with.”
“It's by far the best free-to-play game on Steam with absolutely no hidden costs or in-game purchases.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with users noting that while there may be occasional crashes, the performance is solid. Features like choice skipping and tracking previous decisions enhance the user experience, contributing to a positive impression of its optimization.
“The game is extremely well optimized, as you can skip between choices, see the ones you've already made, and the ones you could choose to open new scenes/endings.”
“Stability and optimization are generally good, with the engine causing occasional crashes, but overall everything is fine.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant issue, with users reporting frequent bugs that hinder gameplay and achievements, making it largely unplayable for many. Attempts to resolve these issues through reinstallation have proven ineffective, leading to frustration among players.
“The game runs smoothly without any major bugs, allowing for an enjoyable experience.”
“I was impressed by the stability; I didn't encounter any crashes during my playthrough.”
“The performance is solid, making it easy to immerse myself in the gameplay without interruptions.”
“I tried to play this game on 3 PCs and uninstalled twice to get buggy achievements working, sadly.”
“Buggy, not really playable.”
