Jester / King
- September 8, 2021
- Rolling Crown
Get on Steam"Jester/King" is a visual novel with a dark setting and a story of over 90,000 words, featuring a jester named Madion who is torn between seeking the truth, helping survivors, and escaping a cursed kingdom. The game includes voiced-over lines, the option to build relationships with three characters, and the ability to collect keys to progress the story. The kingdom is stuck in a time loop, allowing players to change their choices using a flowchart.
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Reviews
- The story is engaging and well-written, with a complex narrative that keeps players intrigued throughout.
- Character development improves as the game progresses, particularly with the love interests, making them more interesting over time.
- The time-loop mechanic adds a unique twist to the gameplay, allowing for multiple endings and a sense of mystery.
- The game starts slowly, with a lack of choices and a linear progression that may frustrate some players.
- Voice acting and production quality are inconsistent, with some characters' performances feeling amateurish or annoying.
- There are limited romance options, with the male love interest being more developed than the female ones, which may disappoint players seeking diverse romantic paths.
- story86 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its complexity, intriguing plot twists, and immersive narrative, particularly in the context of a time-loop mechanic. However, some players criticized its linearity, lack of meaningful choices, and excessive exposition, which can detract from character development and pacing. Overall, while the story captivates with its twists and engaging elements, it may feel slow and overly detailed for some players.
“The story itself is very good, and the way the story is created is absolutely genius!”
“Thrilling story, great supporting cast, and an amazingly complex protagonist.”
“I loved this visual novel very much; the music, plot, and the twists and turns were artfully created in this medieval-fantasy time-loop thriller/mystery.”
“The story is simple and linear, even corny at times.”
“The gameplay is standard for a visual novel except that it may as well be considered a kinetic visual novel because all choices eventually lead to the good or bad ending and the story is completely linear as a result.”
“The game is also quite long compared to other visual novels that I've read and the sheer amount of text, exposition, and backstory that you have to wade through feels like uninteresting filler for the most part, becomes a tedious chore after a while, and makes the pacing very inconsistent as you switch back and forth between flashbacks, the present time, inner monologues, and banter.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it fitting and atmospheric, while others describe it as uninspired and forgettable, often noting the use of royalty-free tracks. While some appreciate the melodic and soothing qualities that enhance the narrative and setting, others criticize the repetitive nature of certain tracks, particularly in the menu. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the immersive experience, though it may not stand out for everyone.
“I’ll echo a lot of things others have already mentioned as positives: strong narrative, fun branching system, fleshed-out-but-not-overly-stereotypical characters, polished visuals, enchanting music that I have adopted into my personal relaxation playlists, all tied together in a unique and interesting plot.”
“Visuals and soundtrack for the game are great and make you feel invested into the story, characters, and the setting.”
“Jester/king is also very well polished - visually the art style is nice and colorful, the main character designs are unique and memorable, and the music is very melodic and atmospheric.”
“The production value is quite lackluster because there is only one low-quality full-body character portrait and pose per character (with minor variations in their facial expressions) and royalty-free music is used.”
“The music is composed of fitting but uninspired and forgettable atmospheric royalty-free songs from Kevin MacLeod.”
“I actually found the menu song to be annoying after navigating the main menu and its sub-menus for more than a few minutes since the song loops so quickly.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the colorful and cute art style, as well as the polished visuals that complement the narrative. However, others criticize the low-detail character portraits and rudimentary backgrounds, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they lack depth and intricacy. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, despite some shortcomings in detail.
“There is actually nothing wrong with the game as such, which is why I gave it a positive review. It really has a lot going for it: lovely artwork, a devilish time loop that you need to work through, and good and bad endings.”
“Visuals and soundtrack for the game are great and make you feel invested in the story, characters, and the setting.”
“The graphics are somewhat low-effort and rudimentary because the full-body character portraits are lacking in detail, look quite flat, and some aspects just aren't drawn well such as hands and fingers, while the backdrops are made up of typical medieval fantasy settings that set the scene and sometimes have visual effects such as fire and smoke lazily overlaid on top of them in an attempt to add more immersion.”
“The art style feels different from Demonheart, but it goes well with the story and looks good.”
“The art style is cute and colorful, and the background images are plentiful and display the world well.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily linear, characteristic of a kinetic visual novel, where all choices lead to predetermined endings. However, the innovative time loop mechanic adds depth and complexity, enhancing the overall experience despite a slight initial learning curve. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the engaging storyline that effectively utilizes this unique gameplay feature.
“The gameplay is standard for a visual novel, except that it may as well be considered a kinetic visual novel because all choices eventually lead to the good or bad ending, and the story is completely linear as a result.”
“This game is really great; I love the surprising mechanics of the time loop and how heavy the storyline was.”
“The loop system works extremely well with surprisingly advanced mechanics for a small dev team.”
“The gameplay is standard for a visual novel except that it may as well be considered a kinetic visual novel because all choices eventually lead to the good or bad ending and the story is completely linear as a result.”
“The time loop mechanic chart is just a little confusing at first and I definitely had to save/reload a couple of times to get it right, but you get used to it quickly (very minor con).”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a mix of surreal and engaging elements, enhanced by a visually appealing art style and melodic music, although some find the soundtrack to be somewhat forgettable. The protagonist's introspective nature adds depth to the narrative, reflecting a general sense of suspicion that complements the overall ambiance. While opinions on the music vary, the immersive atmosphere effectively draws players into the experience.
“While some would maybe prefer to just move the story along, I found that Madion’s constant questioning of his surroundings, his companions, his past, and even his own motives gave the novel more depth, and that it reflected the general suspicious atmosphere of the story quite well.”
“The music and engrossing atmosphere gave me the sense I was there.”
“I did like the surreal atmosphere the visual novel created.”
“I like this game; it's all different from the dev's previous Demonhearts, I mean the main character, the atmosphere, everything (everything but the voice of Madion, hello to Raze!).”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely lacking, as the reliance on overused plot devices hinders meaningful growth and progression of the characters. While the visual art style and character designs are praised for their uniqueness and appeal, they do not compensate for the absence of depth in character arcs, which are overshadowed by a focus on past events rather than present interactions.
“Jester/king is also very well polished - visually the art style is nice and colorful, the main character designs are unique and memorable, and the music is very melodic and atmospheric.”
“There is also barely any meaningful character development throughout the story, and this is due to the use of two major plot devices (one of which is severely overused). Although these are the crux of the progression and gradual reveal of the story and its twists, they do nothing when it comes to developing the characters.”
“Unfortunately, due to the primary plot device, so much of the game is predicated on the past rather than present events and character development, and this is a symptom of it.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be profoundly impactful, highlighting deeply touching romances and a strong connection to the characters. Many describe the experience as an intense emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impression.
“The romances are deeply touching, and I genuinely cared about all the characters.”
“Seriously, this game is one hell of a ride on an emotional rollercoaster.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of tragedy and comedy, particularly highlighted through the protagonist's complex backstory and exceptional voice acting. Players find the interactions with other characters, especially Madion, to be particularly hilarious, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“He is tragic and funny with a complex past, and his voice actor is fantastic.”
“His interactions with the characters are so hilarious.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as the lengthy text and excessive exposition often feel like filler, leading to inconsistent pacing and a sense of chore-like engagement.
“The game is also quite long compared to other visual novels I've read, and the sheer amount of text, exposition, and backstory that you have to wade through feels like uninteresting filler for the most part. It becomes a tedious chore after a while and makes the pacing very inconsistent as you switch back and forth between flashbacks, the present time, inner monologues, and banter.”
