One Small Fire At A Time

About

13-year-old Janis has "Magic Deficiency Disorder," a madness where one can't use magic in a very magic-oriented world. For her protection, she lives in a madhouse: a place where those with mental disorders can be safe from an unforgiving society. However, this madhouse isn't exactly the haven it was made out to be, and Aidan Woolf, a police commander, intends to find out why. The standalone prequ…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews

story40 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting premise and well-developed characters, making it engaging and enjoyable.
It effectively addresses themes of mental health in a thoughtful manner, providing a unique perspective within its narrative.
The art and music are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the story.

The story feels rushed at times, lacking depth and leaving some character arcs underdeveloped.
There are technical issues, such as bugs that can disrupt gameplay, requiring restarts to continue.
The game is relatively short, which may limit replayability and the exploration of alternate endings.

story
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story is generally well-received, praised for its engaging premise and character development, particularly in addressing themes of mental illness within a steampunk fantasy setting. However, many reviewers noted that the narrative feels rushed, lacking depth in character arcs and world-building, especially towards the end, which diminishes its overall impact. While the game offers a variety of endings and thought-provoking moments, some players felt it could benefit from a longer, more fleshed-out storyline.
- “The twists, the turns, the comedy, the drama, the mystery, this story literally had it all.”
- “One small fire at a time is a really moving story about mental illnesses and also about a girl who can't use magic in a world where nearly everyone can use magic.”
- “A unique (and surprisingly chilling) story, focusing on a topic that entertainment properties are starting to look at a little more in recent memory (that of psychology and 'mental illness'), and then thrusting it into a world of steampunk(ish) fantasy.”
- “I must admit that overall the story seems cut at a certain point: [spoiler]between Candela's death and the execution[/spoiler]. There's story time that hasn't been used and could have been used to give some depth to the other characters, which overall seem pretty one-dimensional although enjoyable, except for [spoiler]Drake.”
- “Like its predecessor 'An Octave Higher', 'One Small Fire at a Time' has an interesting enough premise, decent world building, and engaging characters (for the most part). However, a lot of that is undone thanks to the story being extremely rushed.”
- “This game suffers from it even more than its predecessor; at times you're given the impression that this game's story is just moving from scene to scene with no breathing room. This is especially prevalent towards the end.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The music in the game is highly praised for its thoughtful integration of classical and thematic elements, enhancing the overall experience without becoming repetitive or generic. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to fit various scenes perfectly, creating a relaxing atmosphere that complements the art. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance and emotional depth.
- “The choice of the music fits the scenes almost perfectly, and the music itself never got me tired.”
- “I'm especially sensitive on this point, and to my satisfaction, this game has a very good soundtrack; I couldn't hear any generic overused stock music (well, there were a few classical pieces).”
- “Classical music mixed with thematic music for different kinds of scenes and situations.”
- “The music is similar to (and partly the same as) an octave higher.”
- “Classical music mixed with thematic music for kinds of scenes and situations.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness and ability to blend comedic moments with darker themes, often catching players off guard with its depth. While some dialogue elicits genuine laughter, it can occasionally disrupt the narrative flow, leading to a mix of amusement and emotional resonance. Overall, the humor is both relatable and surprising, enhancing the game's charm.
- “It manages to be both funny and disturbing as the situation calls for it.”
- “Ok, so I'd be writing a fairly well-written review, but I was too busy laughing at some of the dialogue, until the ending which... well... to quote Hannibal Chau, 'holy jeez.' Though it does provide a very good explanation to how the no-nonsense commander of the dragoon unit in an octave higher got where she was (you might wanna go check that out first. Or second. That's the charm of it).”
- “Several times throughout my first playthrough, I read things that I thought were just minor little funny things, only to reach a point later and go, 'oh, that's right!'”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The graphics of the game feature a unique art style that stands out, although it may not be as deep or lengthy as its predecessor. While some users note that low-budget games often have cheesy visuals, this title is praised for its improved artwork and character design, which can be complex and not easily interpreted.
- “This visual novel has a pretty unique art style, and the characters aren't that easy to read by their looks, as they may appear to be.”
- “Often in low-budget games, such as this one, the art style is very cheesy.”
- “This visual novel has a pretty unique art style, but the characters aren't that easy to read by their looks, as they may appear to be.”
- “While it lacks the length and depth of its predecessor, the artwork is definitely better.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of a few small choices, which some users feel detracts from the overall experience. However, despite the lack of substantial gameplay elements, some reviewers suggest that this should not deter potential players.
- “It doesn't have any real gameplay aside from a couple of small choices.”
- “There are choices, but otherwise there is no gameplay.”
- “It doesn't have any real gameplay aside from a couple of small choices.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of impactful, often brutal experiences that resonate deeply with players, though some moments and revelations may come across as forced. Overall, the emotional journey is intense and multifaceted, eliciting strong reactions throughout.
- “Pretty much all the paths are emotionally wrenching, even brutal.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game offers less replayability compared to its predecessor, primarily because achieving the 'canon ending' is easier and the alternative endings do not impact the overarching narrative of the series.
- “I thought that, unlike the previous title, it was a lot easier to achieve the 'canon ending', which may result in less replayability since the other endings have no impact on the future story of the series.”
- “I found that the game lacks replayability because the 'canon ending' is much easier to obtain compared to the previous title, and the alternative endings don't influence the overarching narrative.”