Heroes Rise: The Prodigy
- June 17, 2014
- Choice of Games
"Heroes Rise: The Prodigy" is a superhero-themed text-based role-playing game where players must make choices to determine their character's path to greatness. As the Prodigy, players will face challenges, make alliances, and confront enemies in their quest to become a powerful superhero. The game features multiple branching storylines and numerous endings based on the player's choices.
Reviews
- Engaging and immersive story that captures the essence of being a superhero.
- Offers a variety of choices that allow players to shape their character's personality and moral alignment.
- Well-written with interesting characters and plot twists that keep players invested.
- Many choices feel superficial and do not significantly impact the overall narrative.
- The game can feel linear, with predetermined outcomes regardless of player decisions.
- Some players may find the lack of graphics and sound detracts from the experience.
- story378 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Heroes Rise: The Prodigy" is a complex blend of superhero themes and personal choices, often described as engaging yet linear, with many players feeling that their decisions have limited impact on the overall narrative. While some appreciate the immersive writing and character development, others criticize the predictability and lack of meaningful choices, leading to a sense of being railroaded through a predetermined plot. Overall, the game offers a compelling narrative experience, but it may not satisfy those seeking a truly interactive storytelling experience where choices significantly alter the outcome.
“The story is amazing and makes me not want to stop playing.”
“The writing is good, so if you want to read a story that you have no control over, then this purchase is for you.”
“The story is multilayered, and additional material makes it feel immersive compared to other games.”
“However, it’s not supposed to be a linear story, and yet, apart from some changes if you decide to play lawless rather than lawful for example, the vast majority of the game plays out the exact same way every time.”
“Don't be suckered in by the promise of an 'epic interactive novel where your choices control the story' - this game is painfully linear from start to finish.”
“The point is: the story progresses way too fast, like in an anime adaptation where the producers decided to skip a good number of chapters from the manga, and with that comes plot holes and inconsistencies.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game is entirely text-based, lacking any graphics or sound, which has led to mixed reactions from users. While some appreciate the focus on storytelling and character development, others feel the absence of visual elements detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game relies heavily on imagination, and while it may not appeal to those seeking graphical content, it offers a compelling narrative for fans of interactive fiction.
“Besides being a great story, it uses the most powerful graphics engine there is.”
“Visually, it stands proudly in the interactive fiction camp: a verdant land where graphical resolution is limited only by the imagination, and GPUs never melt.”
“In this generation with our never-ending quest for true-to-life graphics, sometimes we forget what really matters: the story and the experience.”
“The price these games go for can seem a little steep for what they are, compared to other indies at the same price point, since they don't have any graphics or sound.”
“This game has no graphics and requires a copious amount of imagination to really enjoy, but the story, characters, and choices more than make up for the lack of any kind of graphics.”
“Just be aware that you might not feel the same way, particularly if the linear storyline and lack of graphics turn you off.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting significant value due to character imports and branching storylines, while others find it limited due to a lack of depth in choices and scenarios. Many agree that the game can be enjoyable for multiple playthroughs, especially for those who appreciate interactive fiction, but some feel it may not warrant repeated plays due to its relatively short length and predictable outcomes.
“But this story has great replay value.”
“Importing your character into the next two games adds a lot of replayability.”
“A fantastic example of the choose your own adventure genre - this is fun and definitely has replay value.”
“This game is short enough that you can play it in a single sitting, and I'm not sure about the replay value.”
“Heroes Rise: The Prodigy offers a fun ride in an interesting world, but it has low replayability, mainly due to its lack of depth in the choices you get to make.”
“There is replay value in the different scenes that you can trigger, but for a game like this, the storyline really should be branching.”
- emotional15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players describing it as a profound and intense experience that fosters deep connections with characters and their journeys. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, from tension to heartbreak, as players navigate challenging choices that impact the narrative. Overall, it is regarded as an emotional roller-coaster that effectively engages players and leaves a lasting impression.
“This game takes you through a perfect emotional ride because you get invested in the character you created through their relationships and motivations.”
“This has been one of the most emotional, roller-coastering rides of my life, and it happened in a video game.”
“I've never felt more emotionally connected or invested with a character and story like this before, and considering I am an aspiring writer and have created whole worlds and characters of my own before, that's a very nice feat.”
- music15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game features no music or graphics, relying solely on text to convey its narrative, which some players find atmospheric despite the absence of audio. While the lack of a musical score is noted as a drawback, many users suggest that players can enhance their experience by playing their own music in the background. Overall, the focus on storytelling and character development compensates for the missing audio and visual elements.
“The characters were complex and intriguing; although there was no music or graphics (like I expected), it was very atmospheric.”
“Do not mind the absence of images or music: this is an interactive novel and it has kept me in front of my computer until I finished the story.”
“(Hint: you can use your own music while reading, so no problem on that, but for the pictures, eh...you just have to use your imagination).”
“It is text-based, and by that, it is only text, not even background music.”
“No graphics, no music, just you and the words on the page.”
“Be warned, there is no music playing and no pictures.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily text-based, resembling visual novels with a focus on player choice through multiple-choice prompts, but it often undermines player agency by graying out options and limiting control. While some players appreciate the story and character development, others find the mechanics archaic and lacking in respect for player decisions, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall gameplay experience.
“I paid 8 dollars and enjoyed at least an hour's worth of gameplay for every dollar I paid.”
“Especially given the twist concerning your powers and your potential should you press the subject during gameplay.”
“Mechanically though, it is much more similar to visual novels, as the player navigates using a series of multiple choice prompts to branch the story instead of a clunky text parser.”
“The game uses its mechanics to do literally the opposite of what it's supposed to do: it tells you, 'you are not in control of your character.' There were points in the story where they present you with binary decisions and gray out the other option.”
“The plot, character development, and most importantly gameplay were comically archaic, given that 'text games' with exceptional examples of the above have existed since the early 90s.”
“Mechanically though, it is much more similar to visual novels, as the player navigates using a series of multiple choice prompts to branch the story instead of a clunky text parser to repeatedly fail at picking up items.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and absurdity, with players noting that it elicits genuine laughter through hilarious choices and scenarios. The blend of funny moments with engaging storytelling adds to the overall enjoyment, making the experience both exciting and touching.
“Some of the choices you can make are hilarious.”
“Funny, exciting, engrossing, and frankly, touching.”
“It was hilarious imagining serious people and heroes referring to my hero as grimdark.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the heroes exhibit intriguing flaws that enhance their growth, the villains are largely uninteresting and clichéd. Some players appreciate the cinematic quality of the character arcs, but others criticize the lack of meaningful choices and engaging design, leading to a perception of outdated storytelling. Overall, the character development is seen as both a strength and a weakness, depending on individual perspectives.
“Although I was a bit disappointed in the mostly uninteresting villains this game had to offer, the heroes themselves had enough downfalls in their personalities to keep me intrigued in their character development.”
“The story is well thought out and the character development plays similarly to a movie.”
“Heroes Rise has a great story, fantastic character development, and indeed, your imagination is the key to this game.”
“The plot, character development, and most importantly gameplay were comically archaic, given that 'text games' with exceptional examples of the above have existed since the early 90s.”
“The book is also riddled with various clichés and cringe-worthy character development (I mean, come on, a villain named Lolli that controls a prostitution ring?).”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy undermines its promise of meaningful player choices, leading to frustration among users who feel misled.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“It's frustrating that progress is heavily gated behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite the absence of music and graphics, the game successfully creates a compelling atmosphere through its complex and intriguing characters.
“The characters were complex and intriguing; even without music or graphics, the atmosphere was incredibly immersive.”
“The game creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that makes you feel like you're truly part of the world.”