HimeYoku: A Sacrifice of Lust and Grace
- September 8, 2022
- Escu:de
- 40h median play time
Get on Steam"HimeYoku: A Sacrifice of Lust and Grace" is a visual novel set in a dark fantasy world, focusing on a man's quest for revenge. With over 20 hours of gameplay and Japanese voice acting, the game features two main female characters: Fiana Clewing, a high-minded princess knight, and Theresa Elminia, a zealous cardinal. Each character has their own motivations and backstory, contributing to the game's complex narrative.
Reviews
- The game features interesting and fun gameplay mechanics that appeal to players who enjoy strategic challenges and watching numbers increase.
- The art and voice acting are of high quality, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The story effectively portrays complex themes of revenge and moral ambiguity, with well-developed characters that are flawed yet relatable.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, and the tutorial is unhelpful, leaving players to figure out mechanics on their own.
- The story feels incomplete, with significant plot points ignored after the divergence of routes, leading to a lack of resolution for certain character arcs.
- The game contains a heavy emphasis on non-consensual content, which may be off-putting for players seeking a more wholesome narrative.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by interesting and fun mechanics that can be challenging, but it suffers from repetitiveness, making it less appealing for those who dislike such gameplay. While the game offers a straightforward experience with various options and endings, the combat mechanics are easier compared to other titles in the genre, and the tutorial lacks clarity. Overall, players can expect 20-40 hours of gameplay with multiple endings, but the repetitive nature may detract from the experience.
“The game mechanics are very interesting and fun in a challenging way.”
“You get 20 - 40 hours of gameplay time (depending on whether you decide to skip reading text) with 4 different possible endings (2 priest endings + 2 princess endings; each with good and bad endings).”
“The scenes with the main girl even get updated as you unlock later mechanics/demons, so there are a lot of different lines and pictures.”
“On the other hand, this is definitely not for you if you dislike repetitive gameplay.”
“While more options and tweaks are introduced as the story goes on, the overall gameplay is very straightforward, simple, and unchanging.”
“But the gameplay was very repetitive, and there are too many endings for a repetitive gameplay like this.”
- story11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story is a dark and emotional exploration of revenge, pain, and despair, effectively following its premise with realistic character development. However, it is criticized for feeling incomplete, with a straightforward gameplay experience and a split plot that offers both good and bad endings, leaving some players wanting more depth. Overall, while the narrative is engaging and the art is commendable, it lacks a sense of resolution.
“So for the most part, the story follows its premise faithfully through to the end.”
“You can tell that his resolve to continue his quest for vengeance is wavering multiple times.”
“While more options and tweaks are introduced as the story goes on, the overall gameplay is very straightforward, simple, and unchanging.”
“Exactly as it says on the tin, this is a story about revenge, pain, despair, and hate.”
“Dark story, solid, emotional, but somehow feels like it's not complete.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a blend of emotional depth and wholesome elements, with some users appreciating the contrast between dark narratives and satisfying, happy endings. While the stories are described as "brutally wholesome," there is a sense that they may lack a certain completeness or resolution. Overall, the emotional experience resonates well with those who enjoy this unique combination.
“On the other hand, I'm also a huge sucker for wholesome stuff and happy endings.”
“Everything is just 'brutally wholesome'... which might sound contradictory but is actually pretty satisfying if you are into that kind of storytelling.”
“Dark story, solid, emotional, but somehow feels like it's not complete.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for its poor performance, likened to outdated DOS games, leading some players to request refunds due to these issues. However, the voice acting received praise for its quality and execution.
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The graphics have been criticized for feeling outdated, resembling a DOS-era game, with performance issues leading some users to request refunds. Even in windowed mode, the visuals and functionality are deemed lacking, failing to meet modern standards.
“Even in windowed mode, it functions like a DOS relic. At least DOS had text and simple graphics that popped up when they were supposed to. Refund requested just based on performance, or the inability thereof.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail, making the game feel unpolished and uninviting.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are choppy, which detracts from the overall experience.”
