KARAKARA
- June 27, 2016
- calme
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"KARAKARA is a single-player Erotic Visual Novel game with an intriguing story, beautiful graphics, and a fantastic soundtrack. In a world on the brink of extinction, follow the lives of two people running a small diner, dealing with the harsh realities of their new world while trying to keep their customers fed. The game offers a wholesome story of survival and daily life in a desolate landscape."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The art style and character designs are cute and visually appealing.
- The story is heartwarming and enjoyable, with good character interactions.
- The game features a nice soundtrack that complements the overall experience.
- The game is very short, taking only about 2-4 hours to complete.
- There are no choices or branching paths, making it a linear experience.
- The adult DLC is considered overpriced and doesn't significantly enhance the story.
- story181 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as cute, heartwarming, and engaging, with a slice-of-life style that resonates well with players. However, many reviewers note that the narrative is quite short, often leaving them wanting more depth and exploration of the backstory, particularly regarding the post-apocalyptic setting. While the character interactions and overall presentation are praised, some feel the plot lacks cohesion and can be predictable, making it a mixed experience for those seeking a more substantial storyline.
“The story and the world building for this visual novel is simply amazing.”
“The story is interesting as well; I never thought a simple visual novel game like this would bring a viewer curiosity.”
“The story is very creative, with the backstory of the world and some mysterious 'disaster' that wiped out most humans having a ton of potential to be explored.”
“I was quite surprised that the game ended because it's like they didn't want to continue the story and then threw the ending at the head.”
“They try to make a story, but since the game is way too short, you don't get much out of it.”
“The length of the story is the biggest disappointment, I must say.”
- music44 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its calming and atmospheric qualities reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. While some tracks are highlighted as particularly catchy and enjoyable, others are described as atmospheric but somewhat forgettable, leading to a mixed perception of the soundtrack's variety. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the beautiful art and engaging story, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“The soundtrack is my favorite part of the game, reminds me of something out of a Ghibli film and who doesn't like cute girls with animal ears?”
“The music really lets this game stand out; the story itself is pretty flat, however, some twists in story part 2 but it came in a little bit slow. Summary: this game gets the visual novel essential elements right and executes them decently.”
“A relaxing, short visual novel with a great soundtrack, really lovable characters, beautiful art style, and an enjoyable story.”
“Not a fan of the music.”
“Certain pieces like 'Calm Days', 'Prank', and 'Happy Days' are catchy and chill, but most of the rest are atmospheric, borderline forgettable music. The music count is also not that big; it's not a problem by any means, but it works when it's supposed to, so it gets a pass from me.”
“The opening and ending songs are only average in my opinion.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and beautiful art style, reminiscent of classic works by Studio Key, which evokes a sense of nostalgia. Players appreciate the high-quality visuals and the complementary soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience. However, some feel that while the graphics are impressive, they may not fully justify the game's price, suggesting it is best enjoyed during a sale.
“The art style is really nice and cute.”
“The artwork is very pretty and of high quality.”
“Pretty and colourful, but basic artwork, ok.”
“The art style vaguely reminded me of the old studio Key works (Clannad/Kanon/Air), which left me with sort of a nostalgic feeling.”
“The artstyle of the characters very much resembles that of Clannad and Air, which are some pretty old works by Key.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome storytelling, effectively tugging at players' heartstrings through a bittersweet and immersive narrative. While the story is short and lacks player choices, it offers a touching slice-of-life experience filled with humor, friendship, and compassion, making it appealing for those seeking a feel-good visual novel. However, some reviewers suggest that its brevity may not justify the full price, recommending it during sales for a more worthwhile experience.
“The story is nice and heartwarming.”
“Heartfelt and bittersweet story.”
“I like how immersive and heartwarming this story is.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by light-hearted and cute storytelling, featuring mild fan service and a blend of lewdness and heartwarming moments. Players appreciate the hilarious dialogue and amusing character interactions, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience, despite the lack of depth in the plot. The combination of charming artwork and silly humor consistently elicits laughter.
“A cute, funny story.”
“The humorous dialogue gave me a lot of chuckles, and the artwork is great!”
“Hilarious amount of humor and silly talk.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the kinetic novel is praised for its quality, with some reviewers noting that it effectively unfolds alongside the plot, creating a cohesive narrative. However, some feel that the character development is limited due to the short length of the story, with comparisons made to other titles highlighting varying levels of depth. The character design and voice acting receive positive mentions, enhancing the overall experience.
“For a kinetic novel, this is really good with the story and character development.”
“Character design and voice acting is very good.”
“There's only a bit of character development since the story is short.”
“For myself, I think Karakara's character development is okay, compared to something like Nekomiko.”
“I like how the plot actually slowly connects the dots together like a puzzle while the character development takes place.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Karakara is straightforward and revolves around pressing the "enter" button to progress through the visual novel's story. Users appreciate the solid mechanics and engaging backgrounds, which enhance the overall experience, making it a highly recommended title despite its brief playtime of under four hours.
“Karakara is a visual novel with solid gameplay; you simply press the 'enter' button to read, and the game continues. The backgrounds are epic, and the overall experience is highly recommended.”
“Karakara is quite a heartwarming novel that I've read so far, despite having less than 4 hours of gameplay.”
“+awesome gameplay”
“Karakara is quite a lightwarming novel that I've read up until now despite having less than 4 hours of gameplay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as a mix of engaging and forgettable elements, with standout tracks like "Calm Days," "Prank," and "Happy Days" providing a catchy and relaxing experience. However, the overall music selection is limited, leading to a somewhat inconsistent atmospheric impact.
“Certain pieces like 'Calm Days', 'Prank', and 'Happy Days' are catchy and chill, but most of the rest are atmospheric, creating a unique vibe that enhances the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into the world and making you feel a part of it.”
“The sound design and music work together beautifully to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you've finished playing.”
