Psy High
- December 22, 2014
- Choice of Games
Psy High is a visual novel adventure game where you play as a psychic detective. You will investigate supernatural occurrences, interrogate suspects, and use your psychic abilities to solve cases. Your choices and actions will affect your relationships and the outcome of each case. Can you uncover the truth and become a master psychic detective?
Reviews
- The game offers a charming and engaging story that captures the essence of high school life with supernatural elements.
- There are multiple choices and endings, allowing for replayability and different character paths, which keeps the experience fresh.
- The writing is enjoyable and humorous, making it a fun read for fans of text-based adventure games.
- The game is quite short, leading to a feeling of being rushed and leaving players wanting more content.
- Character development is lacking, with many characters feeling one-dimensional and stereotypical.
- The choices often feel predictable and do not significantly impact the story, making the gameplay feel railroaded.
- story112 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a blend of high school drama and supernatural elements, but it often falls into predictable tropes and lacks depth, leaving many players feeling underwhelmed. While some appreciate the engaging characters and the impact of choices, others criticize the linearity and rushed pacing, resulting in a narrative that feels shallow and clichéd. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit simplistic, experience that may appeal to those who enjoy interactive storytelling, but it doesn't fully capitalize on its intriguing premise.
“The story is a 'coming of age' type set in a high school with you, as the main character, facing some basic and trope-heavy moral issues.”
“It's completely story-driven and even though it's a text adventure, I really felt as if my choices made an impact and that I was a high school detective.”
“Great story, awesome choices... makes you wish there was a sequel.”
“In addition, the story isn't super interesting—its stereotypical high school tropes first, and supernatural mystery second.”
“It's a shame since the world itself is rather interesting and could have been so much more; as it is, I don't want to replay it to explore other plotlines since the story was boring after all.”
“The story of Psy High is really poor: full of stereotypes, and some side stories are not developed enough.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as relatable and teen-oriented, with a mix of absurdity and clever writing that elicits genuine laughter. Reviewers appreciate the unexpected plot twists and the playful interactions with character names, which add to the comedic experience, making it particularly enjoyable for younger audiences. Overall, the humor is characterized by its dark undertones and clever situational comedy that resonates well with players.
“I mean, this ending is actually the most, or rather the only daring unexpected plot device in the whole story, and how dark and depressing it is only makes it even more absurd and hilarious.”
“Anyways, I really liked the writing and found myself laughing at some of the situations as being very 'clever of me'.”
“I especially love that when you look at the names, you can click 'other' and put yourself into the game; that made me laugh the most.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The reviews reflect a mixed perspective on graphics, with some players appreciating the text-based format and the immersive experience it provides, while others express a desire for visual enhancements. Overall, the writing quality compensates for the lack of graphics, allowing players to engage their imagination, though some acknowledge that improved visuals could enhance the experience.
“The graphics were amazing.”
“There was a little to be desired (graphics would have enhanced it, but imagining my own scenes and settings and characters with limited details was very appreciated) but overall, the game approaches the 'suffer your own consequences' angle very nicely, and I'm excited to play it again.”
“They are not games in the sense of playing with graphics and sound.”
“I didn't really mind the absence of graphics and music or sound effects.”
“The writing is good enough to have often made me forget I was playing a game without graphics.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, reviewers express a strong desire for improved music and sound effects in the game, noting that its current lack of a soundtrack detracts from the experience. While some appreciate the creative aspects of the game, they feel that incorporating music would enhance engagement and immersion.
“Rebecca Slitt has a very creative mind, and if she makes another one like this or even a sequel, then I hope she includes at least music and pictures so we can really create our own character.”
“I definitely feel like it would benefit from some music and sound effects.”
“Overall this felt like it was written by someone who has left high school in the 90's and tries to relate to teenagers nowadays by watching High School Musical.”
“There's not even a soundtrack.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as mechanically above average, with a surprising level of complexity for a text-based RPG that encourages players to use their imagination. However, some reviewers feel that it may not appeal to those seeking more expansive gameplay experiences, and the narrative style may come off as condescending or lacking genuine engagement. Overall, it offers a unique experience for fans of the genre.
“Mechanically, everything's fine.”
“A really nice game with surprisingly complex gameplay. Even if there are no pictures in this text-based RPG, it's up to your mind to create them. I totally love this game; this is what I'm looking for!”
“If you're a fan of huge gameplay, then this game may not be for you.”
“While the author is mechanically literate and capable of basic plot planning, it reads like a condescending, impassionate account of a middle-aged person who is struggling with both remembering what those wacky, tasteless, dumb teenagers are supposed to be like and not falling asleep from the lack of any genuine interest in the subject matter.”
“Mechanically, it's a bit above average compared to other choice-based games.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its branching narrative and diverse choices, allowing players to explore different story outcomes. However, some players feel that the presence of clear "good" and "bad" decisions may limit their willingness to replay the game in certain ways. Overall, the engaging story encourages multiple playthroughs, regardless of the player's chosen path.
“I have never, and I mean never been so drawn in by a story in my life, and the replayability is huge.”
“But it does have a lot of replayability, and the story it tells is interesting no matter what angle you come at it with, even if you want your player character to be a delinquent or a model citizen.”
“I know there's supposed to be a lot of replay value due to all the choices, but I'm not the sort who likes picking what I consider 'bad' decisions. With this game, there was usually a single clear good choice and an array of obviously poor ones.”
“I have never, and I mean never, been so drawn in by a story in my life, and the replayability is huge.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting that characters feel shallow and underdeveloped due to limited narrative depth. The rushed ending further detracts from the potential for meaningful growth, leaving players disappointed with the overall character arcs.
“The ending felt rushed, and there could have been a little more character development, but overall, it was enjoyable.”
“While the story premise is good, the whole implementation of the choose-your-own-adventure aspect of the game leaves a lot to be desired, and most of the characters are shallow due to very little character development.”
“There was almost no room for character development, which was a huge disappointment.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, feeling that it detracts from immersion in the story and resembles the repetitive stat-building found in MMORPGs, which is not what they seek in an interactive novel.
“The consequence of this is that I never felt immersed in the story; strangely, it gave the feeling that I was 'grinding' my stats like in an MMORPG, and that's not what I want from an interactive novel.”
“The repetitive nature of the tasks made it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience, turning the game into a grind rather than a captivating journey.”
“I found myself stuck in a loop of grinding for resources, which detracted from the overall enjoyment and narrative flow of the game.”