Loopers
- June 26, 2023
- VisualArts/Key
"LOOPERS" is a single-player Simulation game that offers a unique and emotionally charged experience through its use of a Kinetic Novel format. As a player, you'll be fully immersed in an intriguing story with high-quality graphics, music, and production values. The game aims to provide an unparalleled sense of presence and empathy for the characters, making for a truly unforgettable and exceptional soundtrack.
Reviews
- The art and visuals are gorgeous, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story, while short, is engaging and emotional, focusing on themes of friendship and perseverance.
- The voice acting and soundtrack are high quality, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.
- The game is very short, with a predictable plot and limited character development, leaving some characters feeling one-dimensional.
- As a kinetic novel, it lacks choices, which may disappoint players looking for more interactive storytelling.
- The pacing feels rushed, and some plot elements are underexplored, leading to a less satisfying conclusion.
- story98 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, praised for its emotional depth and engaging characters, though many reviewers note that it suffers from a short length and underdeveloped plot elements. While the premise and themes, such as time loops and relationships, are intriguing, some characters feel one-dimensional and the narrative can be predictable. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for fans of visual novels, but leaves some wanting more in terms of character development and plot exploration.
“Beautiful story with beautiful characters.”
“The story is very good, but it isn't spectacular.”
“You can feel the emotion of key and the mystery/psychological works of ryukishi07 throughout the story, and it is a wonderful mixture making me excited and really invested into the story and characters.”
“Unfortunately, while the premise and cast have potential, some bits simply weren't explored enough—due to the story's length and/or the focus on certain parts and characters that weren't revisited in a more satisfying way at all.”
“The story certainly could've been better, but I found enjoyment from what was here, even though the treasure hunting was the main focus, which I never could fully get into.”
“But frankly, the development is poor and the story focuses on two characters, overshadowing the potential of all the others, ending up as a simple, underdeveloped love story.”
- music28 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to complement the story effectively. While some tracks evoke a fitting atmosphere, others have been critiqued for not aligning with the game's mood. Overall, the soundtrack is described as enjoyable, with standout piano arrangements and a nostalgic connection to previous works by the developer.
“The music is fantastic, no complaints here.”
“The openings and insert songs worked well enough for me to want to listen to them outside of the context of the game.”
“Nothing exactly groundbreaking, but the art is great, the story is emotional, and the music is amazing and fits very well with the scenes, particularly at the end.”
“I also found the OST to be uncharacteristically disappointing, though I'm sure I'd enjoy it a bit more if I'd found any pleasure in the story itself.”
“Although the story does at times feel quite steep (as well as being on the short side for a VN) and some characters feeling a bit shallow, it somewhat justifies itself by its sheer quality of art and music throughout the visual novel.”
“If you need an example, 'Phosphorescence' really reminded me of Kanon's song 'Fireworks', only slower and more atmospheric in its tone, fitting the mood of Loopers.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cool and refreshing art style, with many reviewers highlighting the clean and stylish visuals, as well as the impressive soundtrack. While the character designs and overall presentation receive commendation, some players express mixed feelings about the backdrops and the limited quantity of artwork. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some minor criticisms.
“A good, short kinetic novel with great visuals, voice acting, soundtrack, and overall presentation.”
“As a visual novel, [loopers] has great graphics and great music, which is very commendable.”
“The art style was refreshing and the music amazing.”
“I'm very reluctant to give a bad review, especially reluctant to give a bad review to a work illustrated by Mochitsuki, whose artwork I really appreciate.”
“Artwork was what really got me into buying this, and the only disappointing part was that there wasn't enough of it.”
“I'm a sucker for the art style they used, and some vocal tracks by Sajou no Hana were a pleasant surprise.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting moments of both joy and sadness that brought them to tears. While some found certain emotional scenes cliched, the overall narrative is described as heartwarming and engaging, featuring a likable cast and competent voice acting that enhances the experience. Despite its simplicity and lack of groundbreaking elements, the game successfully delivers a touching story that resonates with players.
“The final act pulls into the classic emotional tugging that this company seems so good at, made better with competent voice acting and a situation that appears to have no 'win' to it (until it does).”
“In case anybody's wondering, yes, this did make me emotional to the point of tears, both for the sad and happy moments of it.”
“Brought me to tears and so heartwarming and not a heartbreaker either.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is limited, particularly for secondary characters, which some players found disappointing. While the main characters exhibit sufficient growth over the course of the game, the overall lack of depth and build-up detracts from the emotional impact of the story's conclusion. The short playtime further exacerbates the feeling that character arcs could have been more fully realized.
“The characters, I especially like the character development throughout the 6 hours of the game, but this only applies to the main characters as the rest were pretty plain and had little to no development, which was kind of disappointing to me.”
“The final few scenes of the game are typical Key, but without the proper build-up and character development, the end result was something flat and uninteresting.”
“The characters, I especially like the character development throughout the 6 hours of the game, but this only applies to the main characters, as the rest were pretty plain and had little to no development, which was kind of disappointing to me.”
“The final few scenes of the game are typical key, but without the proper build-up and character development, the end result was something flat and uninteresting.”
“The plot was interesting, but I think it was a bit too short (I beat the game in ~3 hours), and some of the characters lacked more character development.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of wholesome and funny characters, such as Tyler and Hilda, which adds charm to the narrative. However, some players feel that the overall comedic elements fall flat, with moments of unintended laughter not fully compensating for the lack of consistent humor.
“Tyler is so wholesome, Hilda is so funny, Mia is so cute.”
“While I enjoyed parts of the narrative and humor, even laughing at things I clearly wasn't supposed to, as a whole it feels flat.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is described as slow and immersive, reminiscent of the song "fireworks" by Kanon, particularly in the track "phosphorescence." However, some users feel that while there are atmospheric elements present, they fail to fully engage or draw players into the experience.
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
“The haunting sound design and stunning visuals create a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
“The ambiance is so well-crafted that it feels like you're part of a living, breathing environment.”
“While there were some atmospheric elements present, they failed to fully immerse me in the experience.”
“The atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”
“Despite attempts to create a mood, the overall ambiance felt disconnected and uninviting.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its brevity, which contributes to a positive experience by making it easy to understand and allowing the story to unfold at a well-paced rhythm without feeling rushed.
“Having a short gameplay may have added to the positive experience as everything seems easy to understand and the story is at a good pace (not rushed).”