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ProtoViolence

ProtoViolence Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
gameplay, optimization
96% User Score Based on 45 reviews

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ProtoViolence Game Cover

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ProtoViolence is a single player action game with horror, mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Mado and was released on February 18, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Can a scientist save a test subject from her life’s work? All documents enclosed relate to ██. ██████ and █████████’s history within the Youth Training and Development Initiative (YTDI)’s child cybernetics and processing program. Unauthorized release of any information constitutes an unacceptable risk to stop’s reputation and will result in immediate termination and potential incarceration. Thes…

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ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
ProtoViolence screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews
story9 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling and emotional story with well-written characters and a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • The voice acting and music are well-executed, adding depth to the narrative and making it a captivating visual novel.
  • As a free prologue, it effectively sets the tone for its sequel, Malviolence, providing valuable context and lore for players.
  • The gameplay is extremely linear with minimal interaction, making it feel more like an e-book than a traditional game.
  • There are no puzzles or branching storylines, which may disappoint players expecting more gameplay elements from the sequel.
  • Some players experienced performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, which detracted from the overall experience.
  • story
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a compelling and emotionally charged visual novel that delves into dark themes such as cybernetic experiments on children, while also providing a heartwarming narrative that builds on the context of its predecessor, "malviolence." Despite its linearity, the well-written characters and impactful storytelling resonate deeply, making it a poignant experience that highlights systemic failures and personal struggles. The combination of strong visuals, music, and a touching conclusion enhances its overall emotional weight, leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “It tells a compelling and captivating story of a character who must struggle with the ways in which her life's work is wielded, the innocents it affects, and finding the resolution to do something...anything about it.”
    • “A remarkable little story that makes use of every second of its runtime to continue building texture and nuance to the violence universe while delivering a touching and heartbreaking narrative presented with great writing and fantastic visuals.”
    • “The story goes straight into bleak territory: a lab, cybernetic experiments on children, clinical descriptions that drift into borderline territory (amputations, invasive procedures, 'test logs' vibes).”
    • “Storywise, I have so much I could say but it is just a clear representation of how the system fails kids - especially those who don't conform to expected standards.”
    • “The story is heartbreaking to read (doubly so if you've read malviolence) and the final ending sequence is something truly special to experience.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its heartwarming yet heartbreaking narrative that deepens the context of its predecessor, "malviolence." Reviewers highlight the impactful writing, stunning visuals, and a powerful soundtrack that evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears and a profound connection to the characters, particularly Pavel and Dee. Overall, the game is described as a beautifully crafted experience that resonates deeply with players, making it a memorable emotional journey.

    • “It's been a really long while since I was faced with a game that had such an emotional impact on me.”
    • “A remarkable little story that makes use of every second of its runtime to continue building texture and nuance to the violence universe while delivering a touching and heartbreaking narrative presented with great writing and fantastic visuals.”
    • “It was heartbreaking, painful but above all, beautifully crafted to the last detail.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their striking art style, which combines an innocent, cartoonish aesthetic with mature themes, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Users appreciate the character designs and artwork, noting that the visuals are complemented by good writing and voice acting. However, some players experienced performance issues on lower-end systems, suggesting a need for graphics optimization settings.

    • “The contrast is what makes it hit: the art style looks almost 'innocent' (kinda European BD/cartoonish), while the content is anything but.”
    • “What a great follow-up to Malviolence, the script is tight, the visuals are striking, and the vocal performances are on point.”
    • “A remarkable little story that makes use of every second of its runtime to continue building texture and nuance to the violence universe while delivering a touching and heartbreaking narrative presented with great writing and fantastic visuals.”
    • “Again, not an issue for most, but it lagged many times on my potato laptop while streaming the game, so I wish they had a setting for game graphics to optimize performance.”
    • “The contrast is what makes it hit: the art style looks almost 'innocent' (kind of European comic/cartoonish), while the content is anything but.”
  • music
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with a wonderful soundtrack that complements the art and character development. Reviewers note that the evocative music significantly amplifies the overall experience, making the narrative more engaging and memorable. Overall, the combination of music, art, and storytelling creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The music, story, and style come together beautifully to further flesh out the story of our little future supervillain and Dr. Danger herself.”
    • “My emotions really went through the wringer, and reading all the dialogue while listening to the amazing music really amplified the experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is great, the story is heart-wrenching, and the ending sequence is incredibly dynamic after the intentionally sterile feeling of the rest of the visual novel.”
  • gameplay
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is criticized for lacking challenge and a cohesive loop, with many describing it as more of a visual novel experience that relies heavily on poorly written dialogue rather than engaging mechanics. Overall, it seems to be viewed as a disappointing aspect of the game, overshadowed by its artistic elements.

    • “Art, gameplay, writing, and voice acting were all amazing.”
    • “But there’s no challenge, no pacing curve, no real gameplay loop.”
    • “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'.”
    • “Worth it only as 'bonus lore', not as gameplay.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight that the game excels in creating a strong atmosphere and conveys a clear intent, contributing to an immersive experience.

    • “The game is filled with a captivating atmosphere that draws you in from the very start.”
    • “The haunting sound design and stunning visuals create an immersive atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
    • “Every corner of the game world is infused with a rich atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.”
    • “Now, what it does have is atmosphere and intent.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While many players find the game runs smoothly, some users experience lag, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating a need for more customizable graphics settings to enhance performance. Overall, the game's strong narrative and visuals are praised, but optimization could be improved for a broader range of hardware.

    • “I wish they had a setting for game graphics to optimize performance, as it lagged many times on my older laptop while streaming the game.”
    • “What a great follow-up to Malviolence! The script is tight, the visuals are striking, and the vocal performances are on point.”
    • “Again, not an issue for most, but it lagged many times on my potato laptop while streaming the game, so I wish they had a setting for game graphics to optimize performance.”
    • “The game runs poorly on lower-end systems, and there are no options to adjust the graphics settings for better performance.”
    • “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which made the gameplay frustrating, especially during intense moments.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.

    • “Visual novels and e-books can be tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you've ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature). Now, translate that into a format where the words dribble out, and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of progress.”
    • “I find the grinding mechanics to be a major drawback. It turns what could be an exciting adventure into a monotonous chore that drains the enjoyment out of the experience.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the game's character development, highlighting the strong art style and character designs that enhance the overall experience. The visual appeal significantly contributes to the players' connection with the characters.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly rich and immersive, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
    • “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as being overly promotional, with users feeling that the content serves more as an advertisement for a separate e-book rather than providing substantial value as a game.

    • “It's not even a full book; it's an advertisement intended to encourage people to read another garbage non-game e-book called 'Malviolence'.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its sharp wit and clever observations, as exemplified by a remark about the minimal demand for a book, highlighting the absurdity of certain situations. This blend of irony and satire contributes to a unique comedic experience that resonates with players.

    • “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 5 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

ProtoViolence is a action game with horror, mystery and science fiction themes.

ProtoViolence is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing ProtoViolence.

ProtoViolence was released on February 18, 2024.

ProtoViolence was developed by Mado.

ProtoViolence has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

ProtoViolence is a single player game.

Similar games include Monsters of Little Haven, Stories from Sol part 1: The Gun-Dog, Impostor Factory, Five Stages of Pink, Opus: Echo of Starsong and others.