Highschool Possession
- December 8, 2015
- Dharker Studios
"Highschool Possession" is a visual novel following a young man who suddenly starts switching bodies with his classmates, specifically his crushes. At first, this seems like a dream come true, but he soon discovers their dark secrets and his own body's mysterious fate. With multiple choices and two romance options, players can explore this supernatural slice-of-life adventure.
Reviews
- Highschool Possession features a compelling and emotional story that explores serious themes such as bullying and depression, providing depth beyond typical visual novel narratives.
- The art style, while subjective, has been appreciated by some players for its charm, and the soundtrack is described as fitting and enjoyable.
- The game offers multiple endings and choices, allowing players to experience different outcomes based on their decisions, which adds replay value.
- The game is criticized for its short length, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to a feeling of insufficient content for the price.
- Text readability issues, such as the color contrast and lack of a proper text box, have been highlighted as significant drawbacks, making it difficult for players to engage with the story.
- Many players feel that the choices made throughout the game do not significantly impact the overall narrative, resulting in a sense of linearity despite the presence of multiple endings.
- story122 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Highschool Possession" is a blend of romance and supernatural elements, focusing on the emotional struggles of two female characters as the protagonist temporarily possesses their bodies. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally impactful, others criticized it for being predictable and lacking depth, with limited branching choices that affect the outcome. Overall, the game is noted for its serious themes and character development, despite its short length and some issues with dialogue quality.
“The story absolutely unexpectedly enthralled me greatly; at one moment I realized I was crying, that's how emotional it made me.”
“Once the story actually kicked off to focus on Akiko and Kasumi's respective troubles, I was surprised over how much more serious the plot turned out to be than I had expected this game to be.”
“The story is really compelling and has a great message to get out to people, and even though it's sort of a message to teen troubles, it was still fun going through the story and it included likable characters.”
“The story is throwaway, the characters are one-note, and the resolutions are too instant.”
“The story was just boring and didn't really have anything special going on.”
“Despite there being multiple endings, there isn't much difference in the main story even with different choices.”
- music28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it chill and atmospheric, while others describe it as repetitive and forgettable. Although a few tracks are noted for enhancing the emotional experience, many feel the soundtrack does not consistently match the game's mood. Overall, the music is considered decent but lacks memorability, serving more as background ambiance than a standout feature.
“The soundtrack is nice, though sometimes not really reflecting heavy moments.”
“Great story, great background music and a really satisfactory ending.”
“The soundtrack is decent, there are a couple of tracks that sound good on their own, everything syncs up with the mood of the scene.”
“The soundtrack is completely forgettable, and hilariously enough, doesn't always match the mood of what's going on.”
“The soundtrack is not available to purchase as DLC, but regarding the game, it’s great at creating the necessary atmosphere, but far from memorable.”
“Music is simple and repetitive, but not distracting.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute and colorful art style, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking variety in character designs. Many users noted that the visuals can feel rushed and low quality, particularly in comparison to other titles, and some expressed a desire for more engaging backgrounds and additional artwork. Overall, the aesthetic appeal seems to be subjective, with a divide between those who enjoy the style and those who find it lacking.
“The graphics are nice and the soundtrack is chill and relaxing... I recommend it.”
“I really like the cute art style; it has a beautifully penned manga art style filled with bright and joyful colors that are very pleasing to the eye.”
“Artwork was nice (even the uncensored version ones although those could have been better) 8/10.”
“Too often I just read the text on the black background; some visuals would be nice.”
“I knew beforehand that the visuals were lacking compared to others and there was no voice acting, but it also had a very quick and bland story.”
“The game seems rushed; the art style makes the characters seem like they have the same basic facial appearances, just slight differences and color changes.”
- emotional15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the romantic story deeply touching and heartwarming as the protagonist helps two young women navigate their struggles. However, others criticize the game for undermining its serious themes of emotional abuse and mental health by incorporating sexual content, which they feel detracts from the sincerity and depth of the characters' experiences. Overall, while the narrative has the potential to evoke strong emotions, its execution has left some players feeling conflicted.
“The story absolutely unexpectedly enthralled me greatly; at one moment I realized I was crying, that's how emotional it made me.”
“It's revealed that the two romantic interests go through things that nobody should have to, making it all the more heartwarming when the protagonist tries to help them improve their lives.”
“A truly heartwarming game about saving two innocent young women from their lives of pain.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is relatively short, lasting about 1-2 hours, with limited interactivity primarily revolving around making choices that lead to one of four endings. While the visual and audio elements are decent, the gameplay itself is minimal and not the main focus, which may not appeal to those seeking more traditional gaming experiences. Overall, it offers a straightforward narrative experience for fans of the genre, but lacks depth in gameplay mechanics.
“As gameplay goes, it’s a traditional non-voiced visual novel, with choices that lead to crucial results, even if only four endings are available.”
“Gameplay time is over an hour, the drawings are well done, the soundtrack is okay, and it's possible to unlock the uncensored version.”
“It has 1 hour (2 hours if you plan to 100% it) of gameplay.”
“I finished both of the game's 'good' endings in less than an hour and a half total gameplay, without the need for a guide.”
“The gameplay of a visual novel is just you choosing what you might say in a certain situation, but that's just about the only gameplay there is in a visual novel.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unexpected elements, such as an NSFW CG that contrasts with the text, and a soundtrack that often mismatches the mood, adding to the comedic effect. While some aspects may feel cliched or short, the overall humorous ideas presented are appreciated for their creativity and entertainment value.
“The soundtrack is completely forgettable, and hilariously enough, doesn't always match the mood of what's going on.”
“Unfortunately, it's hilariously short.”
“It's a bit short and at times a bit cliched, but it brings about a humorous idea that turns into something more.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some indoor locations being less detailed while others are impressively crafted and immersive. The soundtrack effectively enhances the atmosphere, though it lacks memorability and is not available for purchase as DLC.
“The indoor locales are less detailed in some areas, but others are impressively detailed and atmospheric.”
“The soundtrack is great at creating the necessary atmosphere, even if it’s not particularly memorable.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviews on character development highlight a mixed reception, with some users expressing disappointment over a lack of originality in character design, while others appreciate the quality of the designs presented. Overall, the character development aspect seems to evoke varied opinions regarding creativity and execution.
“The character development is incredibly rich and engaging.”
“The characters evolve in meaningful ways throughout the game.”
“I love how each character has a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
“They could have had original character design, at least.”
“The character arcs felt rushed and lacked depth.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affected character growth.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is rated moderately, with a score of 7/10, indicating that while it offers some engaging elements for repeated playthroughs, it may not have enough variety or depth to keep players coming back consistently.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the monetization strategy includes receiving frequent advertisements from the developer via email, which some find appealing as it keeps them updated on new content.
“I received a lot of advertisements from the developer in my email, which feels more like spam than a reward for playing the game.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without being constantly bombarded by ads.”
“It seems like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience.”