Hans
- December 5, 2023
- Elaine Toh
Hans is a visual novel baking simulator in which you play as an alien dropped off on Earth during World War 1, who bakes magical pastries to help the people in your small town. You can also choose not to make what they ask for, because sometimes their requests are not as thought out as they may think. Just be prepared, because your actions have eight endings worth of consequences! Bake magic…
Reviews
- Charming visuals and a unique art style that beautifully blend pencil and watercolor, enhancing the game's cozy yet dystopian atmosphere.
- The narrative is engaging, with well-designed character interactions and a heartfelt story that explores themes of war, love, and happiness.
- The game is short and sweet, making it easy to achieve multiple endings, and it showcases a lot of potential from its student developers.
- The game design lacks clarity, making it difficult to understand how to unlock all the different endings, leading to a sense of repetition.
- Some gameplay mechanics, like cooking and character interactions, could be more intuitive and responsive.
- While the themes are intriguing, they are tackled in a shallow manner, leaving players wanting a deeper exploration of the story.
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story of the visual novel is praised for its emotional depth and strong narrative design, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates with players. While the main character, Hans, and his interactions are compelling, some reviewers feel that the story only scratches the surface, expressing a desire for further development and expansion of the plot. Overall, the game is seen as a touching journey that leaves players wanting more.
“This game is clearly made with a lot of love. I've just played through my first ending, and the sentimentality of this game and the connections you follow in its short gameplay are palpable and emotionally moving, with deft storytelling. It felt like a great warm hug from my favorite person to bake with.”
“The story does feel like it's only the tip of an iceberg, but I did come to find the titular character of Hans to be interesting, especially his interactions with the human characters.”
“The story feels like it's only the tip of an iceberg, but I found the titular character, Hans, to be interesting, especially his interactions with the human characters.”
“Honestly, the name of the game and the entire plot are really well done, and I hope the developers expand upon it.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its effective soundtrack, which, despite having only a few songs, beautifully complements the overall mood and enhances the cozy yet dystopian atmosphere.
“I love the soundtrack; there are only a few songs, but they complement the mood very well.”
“Really nice music, and I like the cozy yet dystopian atmosphere!”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their charming blend of pencil art on watercolor paper, creating a unique and whimsical visual style. The realistic depictions of completed foods and the creative presentation of ingredient lists enhance the overall aesthetic, reflecting the game's heartfelt design.
“The visuals are an excellent mix of pencil art on watercolor paper, and the images of the completed foods are surprisingly realistic. I love the font and the text boxes too.”
“The potential for a quirky twist in this visual novel is real, further enhanced by the sketch-like art style, especially when displaying the ingredient lists for the recipes.”
“The art style is so charming, and you can tell this game is clearly made with lots of love.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay revolves around "ending farming," which some players find unappealing, but its short length and straightforward mechanics make it more tolerable. Players collect magic by clicking on flying creatures, though the responsiveness of this mechanic could be improved. Overall, while the gameplay is simple and accessible, it may not resonate with everyone due to its design philosophy.
“The game is based on 'ending farming,' which I usually don't like, but I don't mind it here since the game is so short and it's very easy to achieve each ending mechanically.”
“The other mechanic of the game is simple too; you just click on the flying creatures to collect the magic from the shrine. It feels fine enough, though the responsiveness could be a bit better.”
“The game is based on 'ending farming,' which I usually don't like, but I don't mind it here since the game is so short and it's very easy to achieve each ending mechanically. Still, it's not my favorite game design philosophy.”
“The other mechanic of the game is simple too; you just click on the flying creatures to collect the magic from the shrine. It feels fine enough, but the responsiveness could be a bit better.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, often feeling a deep connection to the characters and the consequences of their choices, which can be mentally challenging. The storytelling is praised for its sentimentality and warmth, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates with players.
“Once I started, I couldn't stop, and even getting some of the endings was difficult for me mentally because I knew the effect I would be having on these people, and it made me feel horrible.”
“This game is clearly made with a lot of love. I've just played through my first ending, and the sentimentality of this game and the connections you follow in its short gameplay are palpable and emotionally moving, with deft storytelling. It felt like a great warm hug from my favorite person to bake with.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game involves "ending farming," a mechanic they typically dislike, the short length and straightforward nature of achieving each ending make the grinding feel more acceptable. However, it still doesn't align with their preferred game design philosophy.
“The game is based on 'ending farming,' which I usually don't like, but I don't mind it here since the game is so short and it's very easy to achieve each ending mechanically. Still, it's not my favorite game design philosophy.”
“Grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making the gameplay drag on longer than it should.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a cozy yet dystopian vibe, enhanced by appealing music that contributes to the overall immersive experience.
“The music is really nice, and I love the cozy yet dystopian atmosphere!”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're part of a living, breathing world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful ambiance that keeps you engaged.”