Psycholonials
- February 3, 2021
- Andrew Hussie
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Psycholonials" is a single-player mystery visual novel game with an interesting plot, featuring awesome graphics and a wonderful soundtrack. The game, written and illustrated by Andrew Hussie with a soundtrack by Clark Powell, offers a unique blend of humor and emotional depth. Currently available at a discounted price, a request for a free download is pending with Steam.
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Reviews
- Engaging and unique storytelling that resonates with modern themes and issues.
- Strong character development, particularly for the protagonist Z, who is both flawed and relatable.
- Excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and atmosphere of the game.
- The art style may be off-putting for some, appearing rough and inconsistent.
- Pacing issues, with some chapters feeling rushed while others drag on unnecessarily.
- The ending may leave some players feeling unsatisfied or unresolved, particularly regarding the protagonist's actions.
- story404 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Psycholonials" is a complex and often absurd narrative that explores themes of modern internet culture, social media influence, and personal identity through the lens of its flawed protagonist, Z. While some praise its engaging writing and unique presentation, others criticize its pacing, character development, and heavy-handed political commentary. Overall, the story elicits a wide range of reactions, from admiration for its depth and humor to frustration over its convoluted plot and character choices.
“The story is really well written.”
“Amazing story, loved every second of it.”
“Andrew Hussie's storytelling is just as expansive, profound, and relevant as ever.”
“The story is unfunny, lame, nonsensical, full of loopholes, awfully paced, badly written, and least but not least important, similarly written to Homestuck (one of the worst stories ever written and its fandom is half pedophile, half defeated losers).”
“The entire plot of the game sucks and is irredeemable; liking this is akin to liking Sonichu, since both were written in a similar style.”
“The story is ugly, unrealistic, and worst of all - meanspirited.”
- music92 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Composed by Clark Powell, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, fitting well with the narrative and often evoking strong feelings. While some noted occasional mismatches between music and scene, the majority found the soundtrack to be a standout feature, significantly contributing to the game's impact.
“The music is absolutely fantastic; every track is a great listen and they all fit well.”
“The writing and soundtrack in this visual novel are excellent; one thing I appreciated the most about the soundtrack is that it features calming pieces only.”
“Clark Powell's music is always 10/10; the flare motif caught me off guard.”
“A couple times (like once or twice, but I'm nitpicking) the music that is playing does not completely fit what is going on in the individual moment, but not a big deal because most of the time (and when it is important) it is great.”
“Really hilarious and stupid... suffers in the back half and the music is really bad.”
“Even in the animated portions, it feels like Huss somewhat attempts to sync the animation to music as he did in Homestuck, but without the same commitment or impact.”
- humor59 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its cleverness and emotional depth, while others criticize it as unfunny or poorly executed. Many appreciate the unique voice and surreal style reminiscent of Andrew Hussie's previous works, though some feel it lacks the comedic impact of his earlier projects like Homestuck. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of funny and sad moments, with a focus on social commentary rather than consistent laughs.
“Funny, well written and lent an incredible atmosphere by its fantastic music.”
“It's genuinely funny and thought-provoking, and absolutely worth giving a shot.”
“The humor made me laugh and the visuals were charming.”
“All attempts at jokes fail miserably because they are all unfunny.”
“The story is unfunny, lame, nonsensical, full of loopholes, awfully paced, badly written, and similarly written to Homestuck, which is considered one of the worst stories ever written.”
“The consistent and unfunny running gag pretends to act like an interactive medium, but it only highlights the missed opportunities and poor execution compared to other games.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique, albeit rough, art style reminiscent of the creator's previous works, while others find it jarring and unappealing. Many comments highlight the simplistic and sometimes chaotic visuals, which can detract from the overall experience, yet some players feel that the aesthetic fits well with the game's themes and humor. Overall, the visuals are seen as a polarizing element that may charm fans of the creator but could alienate newcomers.
“The art style and design of the characters were good and clown-y.”
“Great story and a simple but effective art style.”
“To end this review on a positive note, I will say, the surreal visuals are great and the soundtrack slaps.”
“The 'art' is just a bunch of PNGs with Instagram filters and poorly drawn MS Paint drawings on top, and no, it is not an authentic art style.”
“The artwork, which is about 100% of what you're going to be looking at in this visual novel, is either horrible or decent, but it leans on the horrible side more often than not, especially when the clowns start coming in and it looks like a mishmash of colors vomited all over the screen.”
“I've seen people saying that the art style is simplistic and ugly, to which I say... yeah?”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its depth and relatability, with many players expressing that it resonated with their personal experiences, particularly in the context of contemporary societal issues like the pandemic and identity. While some moments evoke tears and inspiration, others highlight the struggles of navigating mental health and social dynamics, creating a complex emotional landscape that can be both uplifting and distressing. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to connect with players on a profound level, blending humor with serious themes in a way that feels authentic and impactful.
“The most emotionally impactful book since Disco Elysium.”
“The epilogue honestly made me shed a few tears because it touched on a few subjects that are very personal and dear to me, and it's probably going to be on my mind for quite some time.”
“Hussie is once again teaching a masterclass on being in touch with internet culture and the emotional ramifications of social media in general, specifically during the time of the pandemic.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Psycolonials is primarily focused on reading and progressing through a visual narrative, with minimal interactive mechanics. Players have noted the absence of features like autosave and fast-forward options, which can lead to frustrating experiences when revisiting previously read content. While the story may resonate with some, the overall gameplay experience is considered lacking and simplistic, with many reviewers feeling it does not offer substantial engagement.
“Pesterquest, for all wrongs that title committed, still detected which pages you already read and had a fast forward button that took you to the last page read because it had an autosave mechanic.”
“Psycolonials is a visual novel, as such the only real mechanic is reading and looking at pictures; I think it tells an interesting story that many may find meaningful.”
“I know a game like this doesn't really have any mechanics per se, but it lacks autosave and a way to fast forward through pages, so you better not forget to save the game. Otherwise, you not only have to manually go through each page again, and some pages have a fading transition that cannot be skipped, making that process even longer.”
“Gameplay is non-existent.”
“The UI is minimalistic, and actual gameplay does not go beyond clicking to advance the story.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in Psycholonials is praised for its distinct and appealing designs, particularly the clowns, and is complemented by strong dialogue and a unique art style. However, the narrative suffers from frequent timeskips that can make character and plot development feel rushed and occur off-screen, detracting from the overall depth of the story.
“The designs in Psycholonials are good, great even, with very distinct character designs that lean very naturally into the story's own look and feel.”
“Great dialogue, great character design; I honestly really love the art style too.”
“However, the story is riddled with time skips, often when things get interesting, meaning it feels like a lot of plot and character development is very rushed as it seemingly happens off-screen.”
“The character arcs are underdeveloped, leaving players feeling disconnected from their motivations and growth throughout the game.”
“There is a lack of meaningful choices that impact character development, making the progression feel linear and uninspired.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its fantastic music and well-crafted writing, which together create a unique and immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate the balance between emotional depth and epic moments, noting that the art enhances the atmosphere when used effectively, despite some inconsistencies. Overall, the game successfully avoids clichés, delivering a compelling and focused ambiance.
“Funny, well written, and lent an incredible atmosphere by its fantastic music.”
“Manages to hit a very good balance between atmospheric, emotional, and epic without being cheesy, generic, or derivative.”
“Jokes aside, I'm a big fan; the writing is excellent, the atmosphere and mood are great, and I love it when the music cuts out—it's its own atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews suggest that the game's optimization is lacking, with users feeling that it fails to meet expectations and may not provide a satisfying experience for those seeking improvement or validation in gameplay performance.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization of Psycholonials appears to be under-discussed within the larger Homestuck fandom, suggesting a potential lack of visibility or promotion for the game at launch.
