Love Is All Around
- October 17, 2023
- intiny
- 7h median play time
"Love Is All Around" is a full-motion interactive video game where you meet and potentially fall in love with six vastly different women while dealing with debt and life choices. These women include a charming ingenue, a mature intellectual, an innocent gamine, an unruly heiress, a sexy goddess, and a domineering CEO. Your actions and decisions will determine which woman you end up with, if any, on this romantic journey.
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of real-life actors and engaging storytelling, making it feel immersive and relatable.
- There are multiple endings and choices that allow for replayability, providing a fun experience as players explore different paths.
- The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities, which adds depth to the interactions and overall narrative.
- The requirement to achieve a certain affection level to progress can feel frustrating and limits player choice, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- There are technical issues such as lag during transitions and occasional crashes, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- Some players find the story unrealistic and the main character unlikable, which detracts from their overall enjoyment of the game.
- story261 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging and immersive narrative, rich character development, and the variety of choices that lead to multiple endings. However, some critiques highlight issues with pacing, plot coherence, and the sometimes unrealistic scenarios presented, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the combination of humor, emotional depth, and high production values has made it a memorable entry in the dating sim genre.
“I continued playing solely out of curiosity to see how the story concludes and how the characters evolve.”
“The story of the game was beautiful and the player has many choices in the game.”
“Love is all around is worth buying and playing if you want a solid little game with high quality scenes, beautiful models and a decent enough story.”
“The plot is nonsensical, featuring an insufferable, lame, broke loser who inexplicably attracts girls beyond reason.”
“The acting is wooden, the plot is thin, and you'd be hard pressed to convince me there's a direction at all.”
“The story is very jumpy, the transition between a scene and another is not smooth and cut through a lot of time, and sometimes the relationship with the character just went up without us the player doing anything.”
- humor45 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its funny moments, engaging dialogues, and entertaining character interactions that elicit genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be lighthearted and charming, others noted occasional cheesiness and cultural differences in comedic delivery. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with emotional depth, making it an enjoyable experience for players.
“The humor and gag comedy was palpable, and I laughed out loud a few times.”
“There are also funny interactions with the supporting characters, making it very enjoyable treading different paths in each chapter.”
“A great mix of hilarious and heartwarming moments.”
“It is not funny, not erotic, not romantic, just plain stupid and extremely unrealistic.”
- emotional42 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, charming characters, and the ability to evoke a range of feelings from joy to sadness. Players appreciate the wholesome and touching moments, often finding themselves emotionally invested in the narrative and characters, leading to experiences of nostalgia and reflection on personal loneliness. The game's engaging dialogue and standout soundtrack further enhance its emotional impact, making it a memorable journey for many.
“Love is all around is not just a game; it's an emotional odyssey that captivates players with its charm, warmth, and delightful storytelling.”
“The dialogue is witty and heartfelt, contributing to a narrative that effortlessly tugs at the heartstrings.”
“I just realized how lonely I really am after playing this; anxiety and depression have been keeping me away from socializing, and this game made me feel loved in some way that I will never experience in my life.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging mechanics and branching storylines that encourage exploration and replayability, while others criticize it for being tedious or overly simplistic. Many players appreciate the balance between gameplay and storytelling, noting that the emotional depth enhances the overall experience, despite some mechanical flaws. Overall, the game is seen as a unique blend of challenge and narrative, though opinions vary on the execution of its gameplay elements.
“The gameplay is amazing, with many branching stories and hidden endings.”
“The gameplay is both engaging and accessible, striking a perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment.”
“It's a rare gem that manages to strike a balance between gameplay mechanics and heartfelt storytelling, leaving players with a warm glow that lingers long after the credits roll.”
“Dialogues are embarrassingly stupid and the gameplay is just lame: you 'score points' with girls by giving them a piece of cake or blindly agreeing with them, at the expense of other characters.”
“Next, the gameplay is non-existent.”
“This really is a crappy game mechanic.”
- music20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and emotional resonance, enhancing both the narrative and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the pleasant soundtrack, which features uplifting melodies and gentle tunes that complement various scenes, making it a standout aspect of the game. Many users express a desire for a soundtrack release, indicating a strong connection to the music even after completing the game.
“The soundtrack is a standout feature, perfectly complementing the emotional highs and lows of the journey.”
“From uplifting melodies during moments of joy to gentle tunes that accompany reflective scenes, the music enhances the emotional impact of the narrative.”
“Gripping story, stellar soundtrack, a heartbreaking and philosophical journey.”
“And if you click faster than the UI can react, the game will go blank while the music is still playing, or you're stuck on the stage board.”
“I love the song 'Love Accelerate,' but I can't understand it.”
“Please add subtitles for this song.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their cinematic quality and immersive aesthetics. Players describe the visuals as stunningly beautiful and vibrant, effectively enhancing the engaging narrative and character interactions. Overall, the high-quality graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, creating a rich and rewarding experience.
“The visuals are a feast for the eyes, featuring a vibrant and beautifully crafted environment that mirrors the game's uplifting narrative.”
“The visuals of this game are stunningly beautiful, surpassing my expectations.”
“It's impressive how far game graphics have come, blurring the lines between virtual and real worlds.”
“The graphics are movie-like.”
“The game is very well-made, with high-quality graphics, voice acting, and music.”
“Regarding the graphics, I have to say, this game is created by a real genius who focuses on storytelling gameplay but not only about the story, it also reflects the aspects of life.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, unresponsive behavior due to server DRM, and persistent black screens that can lead to forced shutdowns. Users report that these problems occur across multiple platforms, including M1 macOS and Windows 10, detracting from the overall experience.
“Some achievements are buggy.”
“Translations are pretty bad; the game uses some weird server DRM which makes it unresponsive at times and often freezes on black screens.”
“It was a bit buggy; black screens made me force shutdown semi-frequently, although it auto-saved so it never mattered.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when attempting to achieve 100% completion, which can significantly extend playtime beyond the main story. While the game offers enjoyable content and multiple endings, the lack of skip options for repeatable scenarios detracts from the overall experience, making the grind feel unnecessary.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Really good FMV with lots of cute girls, but getting all of the endings is an unnecessarily tedious process with a lot of repeatability.”
“A full playthrough will take at most around 3 hours; it took me 12 to 100%, a process I don't recommend because it's fairly tedious even following a guide.”
“If you want to 100% this, there is plenty to grind for, but it becomes very repetitive when grinding for 100%.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its engaging characters, intricate choice system, and a well-balanced storyline that challenges players. With a combination of realistic graphics, an achievement system, and diverse in-game experiences, players find the game both rewarding and enjoyable to revisit.
“Beautiful girls, interesting characters, and little stories, along with a very good system of choices, make for an enjoyable replayability.”
“This game has both a good length and replay value, and it mildly challenges you to get to the end by requiring you to balance your hearts a bit to progress to the next chapter.”
“The combination of realistic graphics and a challenging, replayable storyline creates a rich, engaging experience that can be both frustrating and deeply rewarding.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highlighted by its impressive live-action performances, which enhance immersion and emotional connection despite the actors performing solely in front of a camera. This modern setting and strong character interactions contribute to a highly engaging experience.
“One noticeable aspect of the game is the cast's impressive performances, considering they are acting solely in front of a camera, relying on their imagination to create emotional connections.”
“The acting performance for the actresses and side characters is on point, which will make you feel immersed while playing the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is polarizing; some users find the main character and love interests to be one-dimensional and lacking depth, while others praise the well-integrated character arcs and strong portrayals by the actresses, highlighting effective storytelling.
“The stories interconnect well, and the character development is woven seamlessly into the narrative, with the character portrayals being excellently executed by the actresses.”
“Boring and pathetic main character with no character development, 1-dimensional love interests that just cling to the main character after all the things he's done to them.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as enchanting and immersive, akin to a living storybook that captivates players. Reviewers emphasize that the emotional depth of the characters and narratives is crucial in creating a compelling experience in dating sim games.
“The story building, reminiscent of a living storybook, creates an enchanting atmosphere that pulls you into its embrace.”
“In terms of gameplay, dating sim games are, to me, all about atmospheres, characters, and whether the stories can touch your heart.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy may be misleading, as promotional ads showcase the best content, leading players to feel that purchasing the game may not provide additional value. Gamers are advised to be cautious if they seek a comprehensive experience beyond what is advertised.
“If you're a gamer who wants to experience the full content because you've seen the promo ads, I'd suggest you don't buy it because the promos are already all the best parts of this game.”
“The monetization model is so aggressive that it feels like the game is designed to push you into spending money rather than enjoying the gameplay.”
“It's frustrating to see that the best items and features are locked behind a paywall, making it nearly impossible to fully enjoy the game without spending extra.”