Nicole

About

Nicole is a single player casual role playing game with romance and anime themes. It was developed by Winter Wolves and was released on July 24, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Nicole" is a single-player anime simulation game that follows the protagonist's college experience, including academics, part-time jobs, and relationships. The game features an interesting plot centered around mysterious disappearances on campus. Gameplay involves making daily choices to improve Nicole's skills and relationships, balancing her energy and morale, and potentially dating the culprit.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story15 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game features interesting characters with distinct personalities, making the romantic paths enjoyable.
The art and music are well done, contributing to an overall pleasant aesthetic experience.
The storyline, while flawed, has engaging moments and offers multiple endings that encourage replayability.

The gameplay can be tedious and repetitive, particularly with the stat-raising mechanics that require grinding.
The writing is often criticized for being weak, with unrealistic character decisions and cringe-worthy dialogue.
The mystery aspect is predictable and underwhelming, with many players feeling that the plot lacks depth and coherence.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it decent and enjoyable, particularly for its romance elements, while others criticize its predictability, lack of depth, and reliance on cliché tropes. Many feel that the narrative could have been better structured and more engaging, with some expressing disappointment in the execution of the mystery aspect. Overall, while the game offers a pleasant experience for fans of romance, it may not satisfy those seeking a compelling or intricate storyline.
- “This game is first and foremost a romance story.”
- “The story was gripping; both the dating side and the mystery side were well balanced and intriguing.”
- “The artwork is pretty and the story and character development is vastly superior to other games by the same developer.”
- “My main complaint is the story and its structure.”
- “The story is incredibly shallow and so are the characters.”
- “The plot is there but the execution is not.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being monotonous, tedious, and unengaging, with many reviewers noting its repetitive mechanics and lack of meaningful interaction. While some players found enjoyment in character interactions, the overall experience is marred by a disconnect between the writing and gameplay, leading to a predictable and uninspired simulation that fails to justify its price. Despite its charming art style and music, the gameplay ultimately feels like a chore rather than a fun experience.
- “However, for those willing to power through those mechanics...”
- “The mechanics can be a little challenging at first, only because it doesn't clearly explain that in order to get the best 'true' endings, you have to really balance the order in which you max your stats by a certain time frame, and not before, or the game won't give you the 'true' ending, much to my chagrin.”
- “The rest of the gameplay consists of visual novel reading with a few dialogue choices tossed in to level up affection with the guys.”
- “Terrible writing aside, the gameplay is monotonous and lengthy.”
- “The gameplay is too direct, and the only 'mystery' to solve is which stat is associated with which character and getting it to 999 in the most efficient way possible.”
- “With tedious gameplay that is neither engaging nor interesting and a predictable storyline riddled with clichés and unbelievable situations, you'd think I'd have played an hour or two and tossed it in the 'file and forget' bin of my library.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the soundtrack and even downloading it, while others find certain tracks annoying or lacking variety. Although the original soundtrack (OST) is considered good, it has limited tracks that may not always align with the game's mood. Overall, the music is deemed suitable for the game's atmosphere, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The OST and art are good, especially the title song.”
- “+Soundtrack is soooo good I even downloaded it onto my phone and hum it when I least expect it.”
- “Alright, the good points; the boys are all fun and not just one-sided, the art and music are beautiful.”
- “I find some of the music to be annoying, but only for certain places like the gym and club.”
- “But it doesn't seem to play the music again until there is another actual cue for the music in the Ren'Py script (my guess at least).”
- “The game is basically an interactive experience with a soundtrack and no voice actors, but I believe that's common for dating sims.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly during stat raising, which can become frustrating over time. While some appreciate the rewards of grinding, such as unlocking cute endings, many feel that the process detracts from overall enjoyment due to its slow pace and lack of engagement.
- “This game is tedious and repetitive.”
- “The stat raising becomes really tedious on subsequent playthroughs, which is my only real complaint.”
- “My only complaint would be how slow and tedious it can be to increase the stats in anything other than 'easy' setting.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their impressive art style and polished visuals, which stand out as a highlight. However, some users feel that the character design lacks depth, and the overall gameplay experience may detract from the visual appeal.
- “On the visual side of things, the artwork is quite impressive for the genre and a highlight of the game.”
- “But this is a small price to pay to have polished and professional looking artwork for the entire game.”
- “The artwork is pretty and the story and character development is vastly superior to other games by the same developer.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that while the character designs are visually appealing and reminiscent of American college fashion, the overall character development is inconsistent. Some players feel that the game prioritizes status raising over meaningful storytelling, though it is noted that the character development is an improvement compared to previous titles from the same developer.
- “The artwork is pretty and the story and character development is vastly superior to other games by the same developer.”
- “Also, the character designs are cute and the clothes are definitely something that you would see an American college student wear rather than a Japanese/Korean.”
- “Like other Winter Wolves games, this one fails because it gives more importance to status raising than story and character development.”
- “The character designs are not particularly detailed or inspired, but they're nicely conceived and pleasant on the eyes.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized as a mix of cute and sarcastic, with some users finding the jokes to be lame yet endearing. The romantic dialogue and situations are highlighted as particularly funny and touching, with certain scenes also adding a steamy element to the overall comedic experience.
- “I really liked the sense of humor this game had.”
- “Much of the romantic dialogue and situations were hilarious, other parts touching, and some scenes downright steamy.”
- “The jokes are lame, but still funny in a cute/sarcastic way.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Users suggest that the game offers a degree of replayability, indicating that players may find value in revisiting it for additional experiences or challenges.
- “The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With various character builds and strategies, I find myself coming back for more.”
- “I get the feeling that there is some replay value to be had here.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return for another playthrough.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a blend of suspenseful moments and impactful scenes, featuring a mix of humorous romantic dialogue, touching interactions, and steamy encounters that resonate with players.
- “The game masterfully balances suspense and emotional scenes, creating a captivating experience.”
- “Much of the romantic dialogue and situations are hilarious, while other parts are touching, and some scenes are downright steamy.”