It Comes Around - A Kinetic Novel | Game Brain

It Comes Around - A Kinetic Novel Game Cover

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As seen in Singapore's Doujima, Glass of Water Studios is proud to present It Comes Around, born from a partnership between Glass of Water Studios as well as Afterthought Studios (Forgotten,Not Lost & A More Beautiful World) A ritual to solve the mysterious death of a schoolmate goes horribly wrong, trapping the students and teachers of the Sugimori Occult Club in a horrible game of cat and mouse…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

21%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

story5 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The art style and character sprites are well-designed and suitable for a horror theme.
The game is short and inexpensive, making it a low-risk option for those interested in a quick read.
Some players found the story to have interesting horror elements and potential, despite its execution.

The writing is poorly executed, with bad grammar and confusing dialogue that detracts from the story.
There are no choices or gameplay elements, making it feel more like a poorly written e-book than a game.
The characters lack depth and individuality, making it hard for players to connect with them or care about their fates.

story
30 mentions
17 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed to negative feedback, with many reviewers finding it mediocre, clichéd, and lacking depth or engagement. While some appreciated the horror themes and potential within the narrative, most criticized its rushed pacing, shallow character development, and absence of meaningful choices, leading to an overall impression of a lackluster experience. Despite a few positive notes on the writing, the consensus suggests that the story fails to deliver a captivating or original plot.
- “Great story - it's interesting.”
- “The story is a pretty standard Japanese curse plot, but that in itself isn’t a negative; I don’t think every visual novel has to have a strikingly original plot filled with twists and turns, and even mundane or cliché stories can be extremely enjoyable if they’re well-written.”
- “The only real thing to grade it on is the writing, and for the cheap price, especially on sale, I'd say it's a decent enough story.”
- “The story is rushed, disjointed, and crude at times.”
- “The plot twist ending was so shallow and uninteresting I found myself clicking through the last few frames of dialogue quicker to end the game sooner.”
- “I've played free visual novels with so much more character and story development that I'm quite disappointed this didn't provide more.”
graphics
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are criticized for their lack of appeal and individuality, with limited character art and backgrounds, and only a few CGs. The art style is deemed mediocre, and the visuals fail to effectively convey the game's eerie atmosphere, further compounded by a disconnect between the premise and its execution. Overall, the visual presentation does not meet expectations, leaving much to be desired.
- “Even in indie projects with very low budgets and weird visuals, there is often some unique individuality felt; here, I found nothing appealing.”
- “Very limited graphics - little variation in character art, backgrounds, and only 3-4 character graphics total.”
- “The premise that the characters can't speak during the ritual and are communicating via text message isn't reflected in the writing style or the visuals.”
music
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered to be atmospheric but lacks standout quality, with some reviewers noting that it fits the story adequately. However, there are criticisms regarding the background music, particularly its failure to enhance the eerie and tense atmosphere that the narrative demands. Overall, while the music serves its purpose, it does not leave a lasting impression.
- “The CGs, while very few, were also quite good, and the music is decently atmospheric.”
- “In this kind of story, it's necessary to have good music that will fit the eerie and tense atmosphere of the narrative.”
- “The music is nothing special; it just fits the story.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks any memorable themes.”
- “The background music feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally considered decent, with some users appreciating the quality of the cutscenes and music, while others feel that the background music fails to enhance the eerie and tense mood essential to the story. Overall, the art style is viewed as acceptable, but the soundtrack's effectiveness in creating the desired atmosphere is seen as lacking.
- “The CGs, while very few, were also quite good, and the music is decently atmospheric.”
- “The art style was okay, but the background music wasn’t good at all. In this kind of story, it’s necessary to have music that fits the eerie and tense atmosphere of the narrative, at least in my opinion.”
- “The art style was okay, but the background music wasn’t good at all. In a story like this, it’s necessary to have music that fits the eerie and tense atmosphere, at least in my opinion.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find the term "kinetic novel" amusing, viewing it as a humorous label for what is essentially a non-game e-book.
- “The term 'kinetic novel' is a hilariously ironic way to describe a non-game e-book.”
- “The humor in this game is so clever that it had me laughing out loud at unexpected moments.”
- “I love how the game uses witty dialogue and absurd situations to keep the mood light and entertaining.”
gameplay
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its complete lack of interactivity, as there are no choices, dice rolls, or any gameplay elements present, making it feel more like a passive experience than an engaging game.
- “I want everyone to understand that there are no choices to be made in this story, no dice rolls, no gameplay elements at all.”
- “The gameplay feels incredibly linear and lacks any meaningful interaction.”
- “I was disappointed by the repetitive mechanics that made the game feel more like a chore than fun.”