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Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star

With some creative mechanics and interesting subject matter, Milky Way Prince — A Vampire Star was good but I wish it had been done better and handled with more care.
Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay, atmosphere
92% User Score Based on 73 reviews
Critic Score 61%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star Game Cover

About

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star is a single player simulation game with horror, romance and drama themes. It was developed by Lorenzo Redaelli and was released on August 9, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star" is a visual novel game that explores themes of abuse, toxic relationships, and mental health. The game follows the story of a young artist who becomes involved with a mysterious figure known as the "Vampire Star." As the relationship deepens, the protagonist must confront the dark truth about their lover and make difficult choices. The game features striking visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews
story9 positive mentions

  • The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
  • It offers a deeply moving narrative that resonates with players who have experienced similar emotional struggles and toxic relationships.
  • The exploration of complex themes such as mental health and self-discovery is handled with sensitivity, providing valuable insights for players.
  • The slow pacing and lack of a skip function can make replaying the game tedious, especially when trying to unlock multiple endings.
  • Some players may find the portrayal of mental health issues, particularly BPD, to be problematic or stigmatizing.
  • The game's save mechanic is frustrating, as it does not allow players to choose when to save, making it difficult to revisit specific parts of the story.
  • story
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is a poignant exploration of a toxic relationship between two boys, delving into themes of mental illness, emotional abuse, and self-discovery. While the narrative is impactful and beautifully presented through striking visuals and music, it is also heavy and may resonate deeply with those who have experienced similar struggles. Players should be prepared for a slow-paced experience that requires emotional investment, as the story unfolds through symbolism and complex character dynamics.

    • “The music, graphics/art style, and storytelling are absolutely beautiful.”
    • “Phenomenally executed storyline that will leave a poignant impression long after finishing the experience.”
    • “The chosen mechanics felt like speed bumps in the progression of the story; they took away from my experience of the narrative.”
    • “My recommendation for this experience comes with big caveats - as many others have mentioned, this story deals with issues like mental illness, emotional abuse, self-harm, and suicide.”
    • “It's a tragic story with small moments of romance, horror, and fantasy, and the mix will keep you on your toes.”
  • music
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with a captivating soundtrack that complements the visuals. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings and set the mood, with specific tracks like "Paradise Lost" standing out. While some wished for more consistent musical presence, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's artistic storytelling.

    • “Find your star and let it guide you, even if its light is dim and faint, try to reach it and enjoy every moment of the journey, let the words etch your mind, let the music brush your soul, make this story a part of you.”
    • “The music, graphics/art style, and storytelling are absolutely beautiful.”
    • “The soundtrack is subtle and adds a lot to the mood, but the game knows when to utilize silence as well.”
    • “The music and sound effects in general feel well-done, especially some of the ending music.”
    • “The music, illustrations, and 3D artistry show more than a game, but a painting of a meaningful experience from the heart of its creator.”
  • emotional
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as intense, raw, and often painful, resonating deeply with players who have experienced similar struggles in their own lives. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke empathy and confront difficult themes such as mental illness, emotional abuse, and self-harm, making it a challenging yet rewarding experience. While the visual style and soundtrack are praised, players are cautioned to approach the game with care, as its heavy emotional content can be overwhelming, particularly for those in vulnerable states.

    • “My brain hurts in the best way, and I cried a lot. 12/10, needed a game like this so much.”
    • “It's sad and dreamlike and emotionally challenging right from the start.”
    • “This is the most intense, beautiful, absolutely heartbreaking visual novel I've ever played.”
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics received mixed reviews, with some users finding them lacking while others praised the art style as beautiful and effective in conveying emotional depth. The visuals, alongside the music and storytelling, were highlighted as captivating and integral to the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding performance issues. Overall, while the graphics may not be top-tier, they complement the narrative and artistic vision effectively.

    • “The artwork is really nice and the music beautiful.”
    • “The music, graphics/art style, and storytelling are absolutely beautiful.”
    • “The stark, claustrophobic visuals and changes to the main character's apartment throughout the story were effective in conveying the emotional intensity of the relationship depicted.”
    • “Bad graphics, very slow game.”
    • “[*] I find myself really kind of yearning for more CG-style visuals that we often get in visual novels.”
    • “Well written with visuals that really emphasize the story.”
  • gameplay
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay in "Milky Way Prince - A Vampire Star" features a point-and-click visual novel style that incorporates some intriguing concepts, but is marred by frustrating mechanics and a cumbersome save system. While the true ending offers a rewarding experience, the gameplay elements often detract from the narrative, leaving players divided on whether the story and characters can compensate for the mechanical shortcomings. Overall, the game presents interesting ideas but lacks the polish and execution needed to fully engage players.

    • “The 'true ending' is the most thought-provoking and impactful out of all the endings, and I would recommend unlocking it even if it means playing through the game multiple times.”
    • “The senses mechanic is super interesting, but it doesn't feel required.”
    • “The mechanics aren't overly complex or groundbreaking, but the concepts are interesting from a story perspective.”
    • “The chosen mechanics felt like speed bumps in the progression of the story; they took away from my experience of the narrative.”
    • “Some of the mechanics are really infuriating, and I'm just not sure whether or not the story and characters are enough to save it.”
    • “There are definitely some quirks with the game in that some of the mechanics are very bizarre.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique blend of 3D elements and 2D black-and-white sprites, enhanced by strategic use of color that contributes to its intriguing and strange narrative. Players find the character portrayals compelling, resulting in an engrossing overall experience.

    • “The portrayal of both characters is very compelling, and the whole atmosphere is very engrossing.”
    • “The 3D elements combined with the 2D black and white sprites are interesting, and the use of color adds to the strange atmosphere of the story itself.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the game's subtle and entertaining humor, noting that it adds a charming touch to the overall experience.

    • “This game has some tiny entertaining humor pieces I'm fond of.”
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2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star is a simulation game with horror, romance and drama themes.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star was released on August 9, 2020.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star was developed by Lorenzo Redaelli.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star is a single player game.

Similar games include Missed Messages, Actual Sunlight, Sea of Solitude, The Cat Lady, Life Tastes Like Cardboard and others.