Heileen 1: Sail Away
- June 6, 2014
- Winter Wolves
Get on Steam"Heileen 1: Sail Away" is a narrative-driven game following 18-year-old Heileen, who embarks on a journey to the New World with her uncle. Along the way, players will encounter various characters, uncover secrets, and make choices that impact one of three endings. The game features a quest system and a final rating based on the player's score. This game is the first in the Heileen series, with the story continuing in Heileen 2.
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Reviews
- The game features multiple endings and a quest system, providing some replayability.
- The art and music are decent, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere.
- It serves as an introduction to the characters for the sequels, which are reportedly better.
- The story is bland and predictable, lacking depth and engaging plot points.
- Characters are largely unlikable or poorly developed, with the protagonist being particularly criticized.
- Choices often feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of meaningful player agency.
- story88 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "Heileen 1: Sail Away" is generally criticized for being bland, predictable, and filled with generic characters that lack depth and relatability. While some players appreciated the inclusion of multiple endings and side quests, many found the narrative unengaging and the character interactions forced or awkward. Overall, the game is seen as a mediocre visual novel that fails to deliver a compelling story, leaving players disappointed.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“I remember when I first played Heileen 1... I had no experience with visual novels at all and I was a bit baffled by the fact that the game was like an interactive story, and better yet, with LGBT romances.”
“The story develops well and is interesting.”
“The story is dull, predictable; the main character, at least on this first game, feels empty and rather annoying since it seems that all that matters to her are how good looking some people are.”
“I can't recommend this game as it's actually the most boring story in a visual novel that I've ever played.”
“The storyline and dialogue were weak, characters irritating at best and the character images recycled in a non-imaginative and cheap way.”
- music16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the soundtrack as a standout feature amidst otherwise mediocre elements. While the background music is described as decent, it is often criticized for being sparse and mismatched with the game's emotional tone, leading to moments of awkwardness. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a redeeming quality, though it could benefit from more variety and presence throughout the gameplay.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The only thing that could rescue it is its soundtrack, and I never listened to something that good while playing.”
“Decent soundtrack; I had games with far worse sound.”
“The background music is kinda weird: it plays sometimes, really loud, scaring the f*ck out of me.”
“Most of the time there are some sad scenes and the songs are just all… happy.”
“Barely any background music (mostly only in the beginning of a new chapter, not repeating over the game).”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as decent but unremarkable, with some reviewers noting a standard quality typical of visual novels. While the artwork is considered acceptable, it lacks the ability to captivate, and some find it amateurish. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable but not standout, with a soundtrack that fails to enhance the experience.
“Not too short, not too long, with a nice plot, nice characters, and nice visuals.”
“The graphics and soundtrack are standard of the time the game was created.”
“The menu screen music is pretty cool even though it's like a 30 second loop, and the graphics are decent.”
“A short and nice visual novel, although I didn't get hooked on the graphic style.”
“No voice acting, rather bland music, and decent enough artwork; at first, it might not even catch your eye at all.”
“I wasn't a fan of the artwork; it was a bit amateurish.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engaging storytelling, with reviewers noting that the characters and relationships feel shallow and unremarkable. While some find moments of fun, the overall sentiment is that it fails to deliver the touching and heartfelt experiences typical of more impactful visual novels.
“If you want a story with weird yet touching romances, try Hatoful Boyfriend.”
“A heartwarming tale of a barely legal settler girl discovering the sleeping lesbian within herself.”
“I can't recommend this game as it's actually the most boring story in a visual novel that I've ever played.”
“Boring story and characters.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in "Heileen 1" is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with players noting that characters feel two-dimensional and underdeveloped. While the game features appealing character design, it fails to deliver meaningful growth or emotional moments, leaving players hoping for improvements in the sequel, "Heileen 2." Overall, the absence of substantial character arcs detracts from the game's potential impact.
“And real character development is something I wish to have seen in 'Heileen 1', but it seems that it would happen in 'Heileen 2'.”
“This game is beautiful, with good character design, but it would be better with more music, as it's almost always silent.”
“It does not really have a large amount of character development, and none of those sweet sentimental touching moments that I have come to love from games of this genre.”
“I wish there was real character development in 'Heileen 1', but it seems that it would happen in 'Heileen 2'.”
“The characters are 2-dimensional with essentially zero character development.”
“It does not really have a large amount of character development, and lacks the sweet, sentimental moments that I have come to love from games of this genre.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Heileen 2 and 3 features simple mechanics that allow for easy navigation, making it accessible for players who enjoy romance and cute narratives. While the games have improved their storytelling and introduced some new mechanics, the overall experience remains straightforward, often involving a lot of skipping through content.
“Of course, Heileen 2 and 3 both have an improved narrative and other mechanics that can break away from the simple mechanics, but still, it is a good game for fans of romance and cute stories.”
“The gameplay is very easy, just skip and skip!”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentionally amusing, with many finding it more cringe-worthy than genuinely funny. Reviewers note the presence of cheesy dialogue and problematic themes, which contribute to a mix of laughter and discomfort, making it difficult to recommend despite its easy achievements and frequent sales.
“The humor in the game is so absurd that it makes you laugh not because it's funny, but because of how ridiculous it is.”
“I hope you can find something hilarious in it or enjoy it in some way; that's the only redeeming quality I could find.”
“It's easy to get a 100% completion, with hilariously cheesy dialogue that adds to the overall charm of the game.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of grinding, offering a streamlined experience focused on making choices rather than accumulating points or stats. This approach allows players to engage more deeply with character relationships, making it a preferred alternative to games that require tedious grinding for progression.
“The game doesn't require any grinding; instead, your choices with the other characters decide what will happen next.”
“I prefer this over grinding points to unlock features (which unfortunately is present in some Winter Wolves games), as it feels like you truly develop a loving relationship with the other person.”
“There are no RPG elements, no stat building or daily routine planning, just going through the scenes and making choices - so what you get here is a streamlined experience without tedious grinding elements, which may also be seen as a plus.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by atmospheric writing that vividly captures exotic and intriguing locations, immersing players in a rich and engaging environment.
“The game features atmospheric writing that beautifully expresses exotic and intriguing locations.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The haunting soundtrack and detailed environments create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with many users noting that it becomes boring quickly, even during the initial playthrough.
“Limited replayability; the game gets boring very fast, even during the first run.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
