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Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
replayability, optimization
92% User Score Based on 130 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

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Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II Game Cover

About

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II is a single player action game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Wispfire and was released on February 22, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II" is a choice-driven adventure game set in an alternate 19th century where the West is a colonial superpower. As Devan Rensburg, you serve as steward on the HLV Herald, resolving disputes among crew and passengers while uncovering a mystery surrounding the ship's journey. The game features around 4 hours of gameplay, with each book containing its own story within a larger narrative. Books III & IV are currently in development.

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews
story57 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully crafted world with stunning visuals and engaging character designs, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
  • The story is rich and thought-provoking, tackling themes of race, class, and imperialism in a nuanced way, which resonates with contemporary issues.
  • Voice acting is top-notch, bringing the characters to life and adding depth to the narrative, making the player's choices feel impactful.
  • The game is incomplete, with only two out of four planned books released, leaving players with an unsatisfying cliffhanger and many unanswered questions.
  • Gameplay can feel limited, as it lacks traditional puzzles and relies heavily on dialogue choices, which may not appeal to all players.
  • Technical issues, such as save file problems and clunky controls, detract from the overall experience and can frustrate players.
  • story
    198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is described as engaging and rich, with a compelling narrative set in an alternate historical timeline that explores themes of race, class, and imperialism. While many players appreciate the depth and twists of the plot, some express frustration over its incomplete nature, as only the first two books have been released, leaving them eager for the conclusion. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its immersive quality, strong character development, and the emotional weight of its themes, making it a standout aspect of the game despite some gameplay criticisms.

    • “Very absorbing story, reminds me of the Broken Sword series.”
    • “The story is filled with twists and turns that feel earned and kept me wanting more.”
    • “The characters feel genuine and they are unique in their own ways that it makes you feel like you are really a part of the story.”
    • “For a story game, this is unacceptable.”
    • “The beginning of the story was rather confusing, especially without much context.”
    • “The 'choices' never seem very organic, often feel counterproductive, and don't have much clear impact on the story.”
  • graphics
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and atmospheric visuals, particularly the detailed character portraits and unique 2D aesthetics. However, some players note that the animations can feel sluggish and outdated, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's visuals are generally regarded as stunning and effective in enhancing the storytelling.

    • “The art style is sincerely one of the most beautiful ones I've seen.”
    • “This game has a gorgeous aesthetic and wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics continued to astound me as I played the game, the portraits of the characters that popped up during conversations were incredibly detailed and each portrait shimmers and moves to give a feeling of life to each person in the game, it’s a technique that adds an extra layer of involvement to the gameplay.”
    • “Half a game, half done graphics.”
    • “Although the art is very stylistic, the graphics can be polished more and some movements feel slow and sluggish, especially when inspecting items.”
    • “Whilst the talking heads are beautiful and this cast of relative unknowns do an absolutely excellent job of breathing life into a well written script, there is no physical acting to complement the conversations and the graphics are extremely antiquated.”
  • gameplay
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily focused on point-and-click mechanics, which some players find outdated and simplistic, with puzzles that often serve merely to advance the story rather than challenge the player. While the movement can feel clunky and the gameplay lacks depth, the strong narrative and immersive worldbuilding compensate for these shortcomings, making it more of a storytelling experience than a traditional adventure game. Overall, those who prioritize narrative over gameplay mechanics will likely find it enjoyable, though it may not satisfy players seeking more interactive challenges.

    • “The artwork is stunning, the plot engaging, and the gameplay brisk and (mostly) unobtrusive to the story.”
    • “Really gripping story, amazing art, and great gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty standard for a point and click game; any fan of the genre will feel comfortable playing this, I think.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics themselves may seem a bit stiff and outdated, but it's the narrative and worldbuilding that is more the focus here.”
    • “There is not a whole lot of gameplay here; however, so gamers who like entertaining gameplay woven into the story may not enjoy this one quite as much.”
    • “The gameplay, I think, is this game's biggest letdown.”
  • music
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to complement the story and enhance the overall atmosphere without becoming intrusive or repetitive. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's integration with the gameplay, its emotional resonance, and the quality of the composition, noting that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience. Additionally, suggestions for a musical library and options indicate a desire for more engagement with the soundtrack.

    • “Top marks as well for the soundtrack which complements the story and nautical themes, yet blends pleasantly into the background so as not to become grating or repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, and is nicely integrated into the main story.”
    • “The background music appropriately compliments each section and ambience such as the creaking of the herald itself sets the scene in an evocative way without being intrusive.”
    • “The game really shines in matters of soundtrack, character, and overall feel, but more than that it feels (and obviously is) unfinished.”
    • “Having musical options and even a musical library in the menu, as with the letter archive, would be even better.”
    • “The background music appropriately complements each section and ambience, such as the creaking of the herald itself, setting the scene in an evocative way without being intrusive.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its stunning aesthetic and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the essence of a period piece. Players appreciate the natural feel of the characters and the engaging story, which prioritizes atmosphere over puzzles, enhancing the overall experience. Despite some mixed feelings about other aspects of the game, the atmospheric quality remains a standout feature.

    • “This game has a gorgeous aesthetic and wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “Herald is a beautifully atmospheric game all around that really captures the feelings of a good period piece.”
    • “An interesting and engaging story, displayed in an atmospheric and enthralling world.”
    • “I completed the first chapters in a little over two hours, and I would like to point out that there aren’t many puzzles in the game. It focuses instead on plot and atmosphere, but in my personal experience, this can be preferable to forced sliding or lock-box puzzles that artificially extend a game.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its heartfelt and meaningful story, featuring a smaller cast that enhances emotional engagement through impactful plots and character interactions. Players report experiencing significant emotional moments, particularly in pivotal scenes, which deepen their connection to the narrative and motivate continued play. However, some decisions seem to affect only immediate emotional responses rather than the broader storyline.

    • “This is a heartfelt and meaningful story.”
    • “After all, the story takes place on a relatively medium-staffed ship, so with a smaller cast of characters and flows well with its plots and twists, it actually delivers some solid emotional punches and motivates me to play on.”
    • “I just finished book II and it delivered such an emotional punch that I am left incoherent; I don't know if I can write anything that makes sense.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers some replayability due to its branching narrative and player choices, although the limited content and few save slots may restrict the experience. Players can enjoy multiple runs for different story outcomes and achievements, making it worthwhile for those interested in exploring various paths.

    • “Herald is a wonderfully realized game and its branching narrative offers replay value.”
    • “The replayability is there, but there are only a few save slots to use.”
    • “Did it for the story on my first run, but the replayability is there for the achievements!”
    • “I would estimate that if you were just playing for story instead of setting, you could probably finish this in an hour or two, so I will admit there's not a whole lot of content, although given the choices you get to make during the game, there's probably some replayability.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs or performance issues, contributing to an enjoyable playthrough. The charming aesthetic and well-chosen voice acting further enhance the overall experience, although some feel that the physicality of the performances could have been better integrated.

    • “Each character had a great choice in voice actor, and I did not leave dissatisfied by any of the performances.”
    • “The first game in years that had zero bugs, performance issues, or a moment where I watched the clock waiting for it to end.”
    • “Put together, it feels like the physical part of the actors' performances is missing, which undercuts their impact.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some moments being genuinely hilarious, while others fall flat, suggesting that players seeking consistent comedic value may be disappointed.

    • “And trust me, some are hilarious.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the prevalence of fetch quests and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience.

    • “This was a pretty interesting game, although the 'let's make this interactive' bits involve a lot of fetch quests and tedious tasks.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again just to level up, which quickly became boring.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highly praised for its intricate detail in design, writing, and worldbuilding, creating a rich and immersive experience for players.

    • “The amount of detail in both character design, writing, and worldbuilding blew me out of the water.”
    • “The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their choices and experiences shaping who they become.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
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Frequently Asked Questions

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II is a action game with fantasy and historical themes.

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II.

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II was released on February 22, 2017.

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II was developed by Wispfire.

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II is a single player game.

Similar games include Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, The Crown of Leaves, Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos, The Invincible, Lacuna and others.