Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End
- January 4, 2018
- etherane
"Hello Charlotte: Childhood's End" concludes the series by serving as a prologue and epilogue to the main plot. This atmospheric adventure game explores themes of memory, identity, and connection as it follows Charlotte's journey from her past to her future. Featuring surreal environments and thought-provoking puzzles, players will delve into Charlotte's story and reflect on the consequences of her actions. Released: Not specified. Developer and Publisher: Not specified.
Reviews
- The story is deeply engaging and emotionally impactful, leaving players with a lasting impression.
- The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The game effectively explores heavy themes such as mental illness, loss, and existentialism, resonating with many players.
- The gameplay can feel simplistic and is often overshadowed by the narrative, which may not appeal to all players.
- The story can be confusing and convoluted, making it difficult for some players to fully grasp the plot.
- Certain graphic content and dark themes may be distressing for sensitive players, limiting its audience.
- story334 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The "Hello Charlotte" series is praised for its deeply engaging and complex narrative, which intertwines themes of loss, desperation, and personal struggle, often leaving players emotionally impacted. While the story is rich and thought-provoking, it can also be convoluted and challenging to follow, requiring careful attention to detail and prior knowledge from earlier episodes for full comprehension. Many players find the storytelling to be a unique blend of horror and philosophical depth, making it a memorable experience that resonates on a personal level.
“The story kept me hooked, and you could have easily ended things on the second episode, but this one is the cherry on top.”
“I hold this story and the characters close to my heart.”
“The story feels raw, like the developer reverse-engineered a dream to make this game; it feels very personal and resonated with me.”
“The story is scuffed and kinda confusing, but damn does the OST hit hard.”
“The story is a bit vague sometimes and you can get confused.”
“The story feels raw, like the dev reverse engineered a dream to make this game; it feels very personal and it resonated with me, there are a lot of ways you can interpret certain aspects of the story, and I think that it will mean a lot of different things for different people.”
- emotional71 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is profound, with many players reporting that it made them cry and left them feeling deeply connected to the characters and story. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from heartwarming moments to devastating experiences, often reflecting personal struggles and providing a sense of being seen and understood. Overall, the game is praised for its heartfelt narrative, complex themes, and the lasting emotional resonance it creates long after playing.
“All 3 Hello Charlotte games craft an amazing story that made me feel so much.”
“Playing this game made me feel seen and heard when no one else did, it just got me.”
“With everything I know how to say and with everything I have to say about it, I cannot find a way to truly articulate what Hello Charlotte made me feel (still makes me feel) and how it has affected me.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which enhances the overall experience and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the impressive visual improvements across installments, with a blend of grotesque and surreal elements that effectively convey deep themes of grief and trauma. While the aesthetic appeals to a niche audience, it is celebrated for its creativity and emotional impact, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Overall beautiful game with amazing visuals and art.”
“Graphically honest depiction of grief, trauma, and existential struggle.”
“Hello, Charlotte is beautifully crafted, aesthetically pleasing, and overall genius.”
“Do not buy it, maybe look up some artwork or video reviews.”
“One thing that’ll stand out is the increased amount of graphic imagery, which is just one of the ways that this game is more intense than the previous, I suppose.”
“The setting, story, music, artwork, all of them are so unique that it's hard to forgive.”
- gameplay39 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the "Hello Charlotte" series is generally described as lacking depth, often resembling a walking simulator with light puzzles, and is considered more of a visual novel than a traditional game. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling and art style, many find the gameplay to be mediocre and repetitive, with a focus on narrative over engaging mechanics. Overall, the series is noted for its compelling story, but those seeking complex gameplay may be disappointed.
“Also very fun gameplay with very challenging but fun puzzles!”
“A very unique gameplay experience and getting through all the endings is super worth it!”
“Recency bias or not, I truly loved this game and from start to finish, even the always-frustrating RPG Maker puzzle gameplay came to really mean something in the end.”
“Gameplay is mostly not really interesting and the game itself is aware of this.”
“If you are looking for gameplay then this is not the game for you.”
“I wish to place massive emphasis that Hello Charlotte, and Hello Charlotte 3 especially, has very little gameplay, and what is present is very standard RPG Maker fare.”
- music32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its fittingness to the narrative and atmosphere. While some tracks are celebrated for their creativity and impact, others are criticized for being repetitive or poorly integrated, leading to mixed feelings about the soundtrack's consistency. Overall, the music is considered a significant aspect of the game, contributing to its unique charm and storytelling.
“A stunning ending to the series... the world building, art, and music are fascinating, and the intriguingly complex narrative is very enjoyable as well.”
“I absolutely love the art, music, and story of this game and all other games in the series.”
“The music (some composed by Etherane, others outsourced) is varied and distinctive.”
“Music is okay-ish, right down to three-second unbearable loops from which you will very soon start banging your head, as if this loop was inserted out of spite into a long puzzle segment.”
“Better choices in stock music for specific moments, even though some are used so often that I can't hear them and not think of something else where I heard it too.”
“Also I feel like volume levels, of both songs and sound effects are now sometimes all over the place.”
- humor9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark and dry wit, often juxtaposed with deep philosophical themes and emotional depth. Players appreciate the quirky character interactions and meta elements, which provide a blend of humor and introspection, making the experience both funny and thought-provoking. Overall, the game's humor is described as sharp and surreal, effectively complementing its more serious undertones.
“All the better that funny meta things like 'new game' being a different route midway, and a creepy easter egg after the end.”
“I hope that anyone who plays this game finds something to glean from the grotesque and surreal visuals, the dark and dry humor, the seemingly futile struggle of a sweet and hopeful girl turned bitter, and the desire for a restless world to be simply laid to rest.”
“The humor this game has is pretty dark (like the other games), but also incredibly sharp towards how things currently are that it kind of hurts.”
“Not funny at all.”
“The humor fell flat.”
“I didn't find any of the jokes amusing.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by unique art, atmospheric music, and well-developed characters. Reviewers highlight how these elements create a gripping narrative experience that captivates players from beginning to end, often evoking strong emotional responses. Overall, the combination of surreal visuals and compelling storytelling contributes to a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
“A rare experience; the well-fleshed-out characters, atmospheric music, unique art style, and heart-gripping story had my attention from start to finish.”
“They're low on gameplay and tell a gripping story aided by great unique art and an overall amazing atmosphere.”
“I love the art and surreal atmosphere.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in this installment is highly praised, with users noting exceptional art, character design, and dialogue that foster strong emotional attachments to the characters. Many feel that this game's character development surpasses that of previous titles, making it one of the best experiences in the genre.
“The character development in this game is phenomenal, and I felt myself attached to more characters in this installment compared to the previous games, which is a plus.”
“The character development is one of the best I've ever experienced.”
“The art, character design, and dialogue are incredibly good.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's intricate lore significantly enhances its replayability, as players are likely to uncover new details and insights with each playthrough, making it challenging to fully grasp the story in just one attempt.
“The lore of the game is incredibly deep, which adds to its high replayability, as it would be difficult to fully grasp the entire story after just one playthrough.”
“Each playthrough offers new choices and outcomes, making it exciting to explore different paths and experiences.”
“The game features multiple endings and hidden secrets, encouraging players to dive back in and uncover everything it has to offer.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game is perceived as forced and intrusive, with players noting that advertisements disrupt the experience, particularly during critical moments like the execution hour.
“It feels shoehorned in rather than organic, like the ads that play before the execution hour.”
“The monetization tactics are aggressive and detract from the overall experience.”
“I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which ruins the fun.”