My Burning Heart
- July 23, 2019
- Ertal Games
"My Burning Heart" is a single-player visual novel game with an intriguing 1001 Nights-inspired story and mature Yaoi/BL themes. Immerse yourself in its splendid visuals and marvelous soundtrack, as you explore romantic and erotic encounters in this unique world. This game is intended for mature audiences.
PC
Reviews
- Gorgeous artwork and character designs, with beautiful backgrounds and well-drawn characters.
- Engaging story with multiple endings and well-developed love interests, particularly the character dynamics and banter.
- Fully voice acted with a wonderful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short, with some routes feeling rushed and lacking depth in character development.
- Contains themes of dubious consent and non-consensual situations that may be uncomfortable for some players.
- Limited character art, with only a few characters receiving illustrations, which detracts from the overall immersion.
- story66 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of this erotic visual novel is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the character development and engaging backstories, while others criticize the lack of depth and world-building. Many reviews highlight the balance between erotic content and narrative, noting that while the premise is intriguing, it often falls short of delivering a captivating plot, with some elements feeling rushed or poorly executed. Overall, it caters to those seeking explicit content but may disappoint players looking for a more profound storytelling experience.
“Halim and Adnan are adorable, and the storytelling is really quite good.”
“For an erotic game, I found the story and characters quite engaging, especially the characters' backstories, desires, and the twist that takes place for Harun's good ending.”
“Everything about it is great; storyline, art, music, characters.”
“The story itself, however, is mostly very plain and there really isn't a whole lot of world or character building; there are few descriptions of anything outside the immediate event.”
“It’s frustrating because the sultan and slave storyline, where you force the sultan to really reflect on the power imbalance in your relationship, could have been so poignant but comes off as rushed.”
“The characters are flat and unimaginative, and the prose and plot are simply bad.”
- music32 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players noting that the soundtrack fits the game's themes and moods exceptionally well. While some found the background music to be repetitive, it was generally described as engaging and beautiful, with standout tracks that players enjoyed enough to listen to outside of gameplay. Overall, the music, along with the art and voice acting, significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack is wonderful, with many noticeably different tracks that all fit the vibe quite well.”
“The music flows very well with the story as well.”
“The music is perfect; two of the tunes are so moving and emotional... it makes me weak in the heart and mind!”
“I'm almost mad that there isn't an option in the extras to listen to all the pieces of music, even the ending, without playing the game... I'm in love with that tune with the flute, so I need to get my hands on it.”
“I have to admit that I can't say much about the soundtrack/music, because everything else was so overwhelmingly positive that I was a bit too distracted to pay attention to it-- but seeing how I didn't react negatively to it anytime during my playthroughs, it should mean that it's equally as great!”
“Music is decent; it fits the mood well.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful artwork and character designs, often described as stunning and engaging. While some users noted minor issues such as a lack of graphics for certain NPCs and a desire for more artwork to enhance the storytelling, the overall visual presentation is considered a major selling point that elevates the gaming experience.
“Gorgeous artwork!”
“The artwork and character designs were very beautiful, even more so than most JP VNs which have a generic anime style in comparison.”
“My attention was immediately caught by the beautiful artwork and it did not disappoint.”
“The visuals got its ups and downs, basic design but stunning coloring.”
“I found some very small grammatical errors in places, and many semi-important characters didn't have graphics.”
“My only real complaint was not giving any of the NPCs or guards their own graphics when they spoke.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and meaningful choices, contributing to a compelling love story and representation of medieval Arab culture. However, some players feel that the endings are abrupt and suggest that additional romantic scenes could enhance character growth. Overall, the artwork and character designs are also highlighted as standout features.
“But you know what, I really enjoyed each of the different endings (I can't believe Harun's ending beat out Halim's, my fave) and the character development.”
“+ Superb love story with skilled character development, a good amount of meaningful - and easy to understand - choices as well as an above average faithfulness/representation of medieval-Arab culture and world.”
“The character development is quite good.”
“Furthermore, the endings just always seem so abrupt to me; a few more purely romantic scenes might have done wonders for character development.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding the dialogues and character interactions particularly amusing, often leading to genuine laughter. The blend of comedic elements with a love story enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable beyond its initial adult themes. Rashid's character, despite being portrayed as a passionate figure, adds to the humor with his charming yet awkward performance.
“I burst out laughing at these lines.”
“Yet, the art is great, the characters are super likable, and the dialogues are super funny.”
“Speaking of which, it was amusing and made me laugh a lot, especially Rashid's acting.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is not recommended for those seeking a sweet or wholesome experience, as its emotionally investing plot falls short. While some bad endings can be heartbreaking, the music is highlighted as a standout feature, with moving tunes that enhance the emotional impact.
“The bad ends are a bit heartbreaking, but one is very spicy!”
“The music is perfect; two of the tunes are so moving and emotional... it makes me weak in the heart and mind!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is thoughtfully crafted, balancing the sensitive themes of its sultanate setting with a comfortable portrayal of characters, making it more approachable than expected. The excellent voice acting and fitting soundtrack enhance the overall experience, contributing to a light yet engaging narrative as the protagonist navigates their new life.
“The voice acting is amazing! I love voice acting in games, and it makes me happy to see the developer making it possible in this game. The soundtrack fits the game's atmosphere and moments perfectly.”
“The characters and atmosphere are more comfortable than I would imagine in a story where the protagonist is sold to be a sexual slave. It makes for a light reading that sometimes may feel superficial, but it's not a problem; the focus is on our protagonist adapting to life in the sultanate.”
“The atmosphere feels superficial at times, especially given the serious themes of the story. While the game attempts to handle sensitive topics with care, it often lacks the depth needed to fully engage with the setting.”
“Despite the game's attempt to create a comfortable atmosphere, the underlying themes of questionable consent create a dissonance that detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the voice acting and soundtrack are commendable, they can't fully compensate for the lack of a compelling atmosphere that truly immerses the player in the sultanate setting.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and enhanced by strong voice acting, which brings the characters to life and contributes to an enjoyable experience. Players can expect around 3-4 hours of gameplay, depending on their reading speed and exploration of different routes and endings.
“To be honest, the voice acting gave it extra points because the characters seem more alive, and I was having fun throughout the gameplay.”
“If you don't read as fast as me, the gameplay is about 3-4 hours. If you try to go for all the routes and endings, it can take longer.”
“The gameplay is incredibly short; if you're not a fast reader, expect only 3-4 hours of playtime, especially if you aim to explore all the routes and endings.”
“The mechanics feel clunky and unrefined, making it difficult to fully enjoy the experience.”
“There are too many repetitive tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with high performance levels noted, although some users feel that certain elements, like voice acting, may not align perfectly with character design. Overall, these issues do not significantly detract from the gaming experience.
