Go For A Punch! Saki Sanobashi
- September 14, 2023
- Veratrum
Get on Steam"Go For A Punch! Saki Sanobashi" is a visual novel based on the urban legend of an anonymous 4chan post about a mysterious, lost anime. The game is set in a closed school restroom where a group of teenagers are trapped and driven to despair. It follows the original plot, adding twists and changes, giving players a eerie experience as they uncover the dark story of the lost media.
PC
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Linux
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and unsettling art style that enhances the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the story.
- It successfully addresses sensitive themes of suicide and mental health, making players feel seen and understood.
- The narrative, while linear, is engaging and provides a compelling re-imagination of the original Saki Sanobashi story.
- The game is overly short, with a playtime of around 40-50 minutes, which some players feel does not justify the price.
- There are significant issues with translation and dialogue clarity, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The handling of suicide themes is criticized for lacking depth and for including potentially harmful content without providing resources for help.
- story115 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a reimagining of the original "go for a punch" urban legend, featuring a group of high school girls trapped in a bathroom, leading to themes of madness and suicide. While some players appreciated the unique character designs and art style, many criticized the linear narrative and lack of meaningful choices, feeling that it failed to fully explore its darker themes or provide a satisfying conclusion. Overall, the story is seen as entertaining yet flawed, with potential that remains largely unfulfilled.
“It's faithful and compelling, while still bringing in new story elements to pull it together and make it a cohesive and chilling narrative.”
“The found footage/lost media feel is nailed, the OST is great, the art style is great, and the story was very enjoyable.”
“Great short story, it gets really dark at moments, it lasts around 40 minutes but the artwork along with the sound effects and the music forms a nice and disturbing experience, the storytelling mixed with the sounds make a really depressive ambience too.”
“My only issue is that I fell for the 'choose your own adventure' tag and multiple save slots, which made it a bit frustrating to realize that this is a linear story visual novel with not that much interaction and no real choices whatsoever.”
“The development of the plot seems to not be able to decide whether it wants to stick to adapting the original story or to create something new and different by taking some pieces from the 4chan post, and ends up failing to be either of the two things.”
“I think one fatal flaw in this game's story is that it removes one of the creepiest elements from the urban legend.”
- graphics43 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and artistic style, effectively complementing the story's dark themes and creating a haunting atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that the visuals are not groundbreaking, they appreciated the character designs and the overall aesthetic, which evokes a sense of nostalgia and lost media. The art style, combined with the soundtrack, contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact, making it a visually appealing experience despite its short length.
“The art style compliments the story quite well, really contributing to the mood.”
“The found footage/lost media feel is nailed, the OST is great, the art style is great, and the story was very enjoyable.”
“Now price aside, the actual game has a really unique and awesome art style.”
“In this game, there are people killing each other in graphic and somewhat grotesque ways without really any deep reason behind it. We don't know why they do it, who they are, or where they come from, and it ends up being pure shock factor without substance.”
“They're miserable, worn out, graphically 'ugly', already dead inside, and all of that makes them rather unappealing.”
“Something that I do admit I liked is that the girls have something that differentiates them from each other in their appearance and personality, something that was not clear in the original story. However, I would like to say that the art style, while not amazing, is quite decent and clearly made by someone with talent and experience in art, but beyond that, there really is nothing good to highlight.”
- music16 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the art style and contributing to a dark, immersive atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack is solid but not particularly standout, the combination of sound design and music effectively creates a haunting and nostalgic vibe reminiscent of lost media. Overall, the music is seen as a significant asset that enriches the storytelling and aesthetic of the game.
“The found footage/lost media feel is nailed, the OST is great, the art style is great, and the story was very enjoyable.”
“The sound design is surprisingly well done, and the music adds to the experience.”
“Great short story, it gets really dark at moments, it lasts around 40 minutes but the artwork along with the sound effects and the music forms a nice and disturbing experience, the storytelling mixed with the sounds makes a really depressive ambience too.”
“The music is solid, but nothing special.”
“I did enjoy it, like I said earlier, even if it was mostly for the game's art, music, and a kind of appreciation for the characters.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and repetitive exploration of a bathroom setting, culminating in a button-mashing ending. While the visual novel format and dialogue mechanics are appreciated, players feel that the limited duration (40-50 minutes) and lack of multiple endings do not justify the price, suggesting a lower cost would be more appropriate. Overall, it offers a unique experience but lacks depth and variety.
“I enjoy the dialogue style, and the last words mechanic it has.”
“The gameplay is simple but at the same time somewhat strange, in the sense that in terms of exploration you have to explore all the parts of the bathroom where the girls are trapped until eventually returning to the center again and again.”
“The gameplay is simple but at the same time somewhat strange, in the sense that in terms of exploration you have to explore all the parts of the bathroom where the girls are trapped until eventually returning to the center again and again. It doesn't vary much except in the ending where you limit yourself to smashing a button for a certain amount of time.”
“This game has about 40 - 50 minutes of gameplay, which is fine, but I think the price (10 USD by default but I got it on sale for 6 USD) should reflect what you get. Maybe 5 USD at most, but probably around the 2 - 3 USD range.”
“And the gameplay is pretty much what you'd expect from a visual novel; however, I think expanding the story with multiple endings would've been nice.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome moments and unsettling elements, with some players noting that certain sections evoke strong feelings of discomfort, which is uncommon in gaming experiences.
“There are certainly some unsettling parts; one section in particular made me feel uncomfortable, which is rare for games to do.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as exploitative, with many reviewers labeling it an "audacious cash grab" based on its initial pricing.
“If you judge it by the initial price, the game would classify as an audacious cash grab.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it feels like a task that demands an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a "second life" to manage it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the visual novel is highly praised for its effectiveness, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“One of the things I like about this visual novel is how effective it is at creating atmosphere.”
