Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk

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In "Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk" , a child born with a witch's mark in a clan-divided town discovers a stolen relic, leading to shocking revelations. As you navigate the main scenario, unlock side stories and interact with characters, shaping events through conversation choices and determining your own ending in this visual novel adventure.

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews

story79 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game features a strong and well-written heroine, Jed, who is both relatable and complex.
The story is engaging with numerous plot twists and a rich narrative that keeps players invested.
The art and voice acting are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience of the game.

The pacing can be slow, especially in the early chapters, which may deter some players.
There is minimal romance compared to typical otome games, which may disappoint those seeking a more romantic focus.
Some players may find the side stories and map interactions tedious and repetitive.

story
250 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk" is praised for its depth, engaging plot twists, and well-developed characters, making it a standout in the visual novel genre. While some players found the pacing slow and the romance elements underwhelming, the intricate narrative and emotional stakes kept many invested throughout the experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, though it may not satisfy those seeking a traditional romance-focused otome game.
- “The story is beautiful and the character development is really well written.”
- “The story was gripping though, and made up for the lack of fluffy romance in my eyes.”
- “The story itself is so huge that it really pulls you into this universe.”
- “The characters didn't have a lot of impact even with the backstory or a very long, dragging chapter for introduction.”
- “The game is frontloaded with story that it wants to tell and wants nothing to do with the player clicking buttons other than 'next story bit'.”
- “I was incredibly dissatisfied with the way the main story crossed over with the romance, especially at the end.”
music
32 mentions
66 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the beautiful soundtrack and emotional depth it adds to the experience. While some users noted that the music can be repetitive and limited in variety, others highlighted specific tracks, such as the opening and ending themes, as standout elements. Overall, the art and music are frequently described as gorgeous and integral to the game's atmosphere, with a strong desire from players for the soundtrack to be made available for purchase.
- “It's a pleasant surprise and an emotional roller-coaster ride accompanied by beautiful graphics and music.”
- “I loved the folklore sounding music; I would find myself humming the different tunes in my sleep.”
- “The art is wonderful and the soundtrack is breathtaking.”
- “It was so mind numbing clicking onto short stories (many of which dragged on), then onto townspeople for one line of dialogue, then back again to the map where the music restarts, then back again to another short story or townspeople dialogue, rinse and repeat.”
- “- the music is banal and repetitive.”
- “Good amount of CGs which aren't too shabby, not a lot of different music tracks though.”
emotional
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its bittersweet storytelling, which evokes a range of feelings from humor to heartbreak, leaving players deeply moved. Many reviewers noted that the characters are well-developed and relatable, leading to moments of genuine emotional impact, including tears during key plot twists and endings. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a compelling and immersive emotional journey, despite some gameplay criticisms.
- “Quite a bittersweet visual novel otome game; it was hilarious, beautiful, and heartbreaking.”
- “It's a pleasant surprise and an emotional roller-coaster ride accompanied by beautiful graphics and music.”
- “It is heartwarming at times and can also be very sad, but it is incredibly well written; it gets you hooked and you just can't stop.”
gameplay
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on worldbuilding and narrative, with mechanics like collecting 'memories' and costume swapping that some players found engaging, while others criticized the lack of meaningful choices and the menu-heavy experience. Although the initial hours feel more like a visual novel with minimal interaction, the story and character development keep players invested. Overall, the gameplay offers a mix of intriguing elements and frustrating mechanics, leading to a divided reception among users.
- “It's the kind of game where you just keep playing because you can't wait to see what happens next and you're genuinely enjoying every minute of gameplay.”
- “I really like the art style, story, characters, and the interesting mechanic of switching between acting as a boy or girl.”
- “The mechanics of gathering the townspeople's thoughts and the short episodes is the real heart of the visual novel.”
- “Now to the stuff that's a bit of a con: the 'mechanics' this time around (compared to the black butterfly one) is collecting 'memories' which is just a bunch of menu clicking.”
- “- first 5 hours of gameplay have 0 choices and it's more like a novel you get through.”
- “On the gameplay side, I personally didn't enjoy having to go through every node on the map; it made me feel like I was disconnected and less immersed in the main story.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the initial grinding in the game to be tedious, particularly during the first three chapters, which can stretch the experience to around 12 hours with minimal impactful choices. However, many agree that this slow start is ultimately rewarding, as the story picks up significantly later on, making the grind feel worthwhile. Some players appreciate the option to skip certain grindy elements if they are not focused on completing all achievements.
- “It can be quite tedious going through each of the 3 or so sentences from each person per map.”
- “They stretch the first three chapters into a 12-hour tedious reading time without any major event or any choice that matters.”
- “And the sound effects seem to be ear-splittingly loud no matter how low you turn them down, making the tedious act of speaking to every single villager even worse.”
graphics
8 mentions
88 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful and high-quality artwork, particularly highlighting the contributions of artist Satoru Yuiga. Players appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals, which complement the engaging story and character dynamics. Overall, the art style significantly enhances the gaming experience.
- “It's a pleasant surprise and an emotional roller-coaster ride accompanied by beautiful graphics and music.”
- “It has beautiful artwork.”
- “Gorgeous, high-quality artworks from Satoru Yuiga.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and well-written narrative, contributing to a beautiful story. However, some players express disappointment over unexplored story points and character arcs. While the character designs and animations are generally appreciated, there are mixed feelings about the quality of certain CGs, with some appearing rushed or poorly executed.
- “The story is beautiful and the character development is really well written.”
- “The character design is beautiful and the animations are really extensive for what you'd expect in a visual novel, with many different expressions and some interesting use of camera and sprite movement to convey action and emotion.”
- “I'm disappointed at how we have so many story points and possible character developments left unexplored.”
- “Their character designs look very similar to the ones in the first game - the two moles under Hikage's eye and Natsu's kind, droopy eyes and wavy hair.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, blending a charming town setting with a compelling emotional depth that evolves throughout the narrative. Initially light and melodramatic, the atmosphere shifts dramatically, enhancing the overall experience and showcasing well-developed characters and music that enrich the story. This balance of genre conventions and innovative emotional engagement creates a unique and immersive environment for players.
- “The town itself is a great part of this game and the atmosphere.”
- “It stays within the confines of its genre while also managing to create a compelling atmosphere around its characters that are more human and present a better variety of emotional responses.”
- “That was a heavy journey to say the least. It started like I expected with the melodrama and fluffy atmosphere, and when was I just getting bored... the genre shifts!”
- “First off, the atmosphere at first seems very, very different from Pobb's.”
- “The story, art, atmosphere, music, characters, and everything were done very well, which you wouldn't often see in otome.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted moments and witty banter, particularly between the father figure Ashen Hawk and other characters like Levi, which adds an entertaining dynamic to the bittersweet narrative. The comedic elements are woven into the daily life and relationships, enhancing the overall experience while balancing the more serious themes.
- “Quite a bittersweet visual novel otome game; it was hilarious, beautiful, and heartbreaking.”
- “It starts lighthearted, with people preparing for a big festival. It showcases a bit of daily life, relationships between characters, and includes some funny and cute moments.”
- “Ashen Hawk is a father figure, and their banter is the most entertaining and funny aspect of the game.”