Hydrangea
- September 13, 2024
- Meiri Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Your sweetheart fell ill with a mysterious illness. Thankfully, you changed your mind about breaking up with them. Now, you're even closer to them. Too close." A romance/psychological horror visual novel inspired by the Hanahaki disease trope. Immerse yourself in a romance with a sweetheart you can customize. But beware, as affection turns to obsession, the petals of love may suffocate.
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art and character design, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- It effectively explores heavy themes such as toxic relationships and the cycle of abuse, providing a poignant narrative that resonates with players.
- The inclusion and customization features, along with the emotional depth of the writing and voice acting, contribute to a compelling and thought-provoking gameplay experience.
- Some players found the gameplay to be unengaging and not fun, despite the serious themes it addresses.
- The story lacks depth in certain areas, making it difficult for some players to connect with the characters.
- There are complaints about the limited choices in dialogue and the inability to customize pronouns for all characters, which detracted from the overall experience.
- story19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its in-depth exploration of heavy themes such as emotional manipulation and the cycles of abuse, resonating with players who have personal experiences related to these topics. While some found the narrative well-written and realistic, capturing the complexities of toxic relationships, others criticized it for lacking depth and meaningful choices. Overall, the story is seen as both impactful and beautifully presented, though opinions vary on its execution and engagement.
“I really liked how the story dealt with heavy topics, the messages it provided, and how some toxic actions or dynamics were called out; it was really refreshing to see.”
“An incredibly in-depth and amazing story about the cycles of abuse and how abuse affects someone's mental state.”
“The story is strikingly realistic, capturing the cyclical nature of toxic relationships and the difficulty of escaping them.”
“The story feels forced and lacks depth, making it hard to care about the characters.”
“If you’re looking for a deep, meaningful story, this isn’t the one.”
“The writing is clunky in places and, despite being short, the game feels a little long for the story it has to tell.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic quality, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and well-executed art style. However, some criticism arises regarding specific representations, such as the portrayal of crying and sobbing, which may not resonate with all players. Overall, the combination of striking artwork and thoughtful storytelling contributes to a visually impressive experience.
“The main graphics were very pretty and the story was well done too.”
“More importantly, the things this game says and the way it says it are just as beautiful as the artwork the game boasts.”
“The visuals are so amazing as well.”
“I wasn't sure about some of the artwork in Hydrangea, particularly the strange representation of crying and sobbing.”
“The art style isn't pretty bad either.”
“Beware that it might be triggering, as it contains realistic depictions of an extremely unhealthy relationship as well as extreme anxiety and panic attacks.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its visceral writing and realistic portrayal of complex themes such as generational trauma and emotional abuse, resonating deeply with players. Many reviewers found the narrative to evoke strong feelings of despair and empathy for the characters, making it a powerful and impactful experience. Overall, it is praised as a beautiful and emotionally rich story that encourages open discussions about difficult topics.
“I was not prepared for the sheer visceral emotionality of the writing here, and I mean this in the best of ways.”
“It really made me feel for the characters involved, feel the despair.”
“A beautiful and emotional story, I highly recommend this!”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive art and design, as well as a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience.
“The art, character design, and narrative are amazing.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
“I love how the choices I make influence the characters' growth and relationships throughout the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that stability may vary depending on the character choice, with some suggesting that playing as yuu results in fewer glitches compared to yua.
“I've been playing with Yuu as the sweetheart, and I've noticed fewer glitches compared to when I chose Yua.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, with excellent sound design and a well-realized overall ambiance that enhances the gaming experience.
“It also has great music, sound design, and the overall ambiance is well realized.”
