Pub Encounter
- April 12, 2016
- Dogenzaka Lab
Get on Steam"Pub Encounter" is a visual novel game where you play as a barista in a cozy café, encountering a diverse cast of characterful clients. Each interaction shapes your relationship with them, offering multiple story paths. It's a heartwarming, slice-of-life game about connection and community.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is hilariously bad, making it entertaining and uplifting for players who don't take it seriously.
- The characters, while poorly written, provide a source of amusement with their ridiculous dialogue and actions.
- The pacing of the game is decent, allowing players to enjoy the absurdity of the story and characters.
- The writing is often cringe-worthy, with unrealistic dialogue and character interactions that feel forced.
- The main character lacks depth and personality, often coming across as bland and overly submissive.
- Many of the romantic scenarios are awkward and uncomfortable, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story99 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally perceived as lacking depth and coherence, with many reviewers noting its reliance on clichéd tropes and predictable plotlines. While some characters have interesting backstories, the overall narrative often feels disjointed and underdeveloped, leading to a lack of engagement. Despite these criticisms, certain routes are appreciated for their emotional resonance and unique perspectives, particularly those that explore age-gap dynamics, though the execution remains inconsistent across different storylines.
“I really loved that the story takes age-gap factors into consideration, depending on which love interest you choose, and I'm certain this would appeal greatly to anyone that doesn't see age as a 'deal breaker'.”
“The stories I have gone through in the game so far are very emotional, and as I said contain some darker story elements than some other visual novels.”
“It's got high replayability, the characters are likeable enough, and the plot is decent.”
“And since there's really no plot aside from the romance, it becomes hard to stay engaged...”
“There are several gaps in the story, and while you would like to see the problems and issues found when people get old and life happens, you most likely find very weak excuses, childish behavior, and a pure lack of interesting context overall.”
“The stories are pretty short and mostly cliché; the protagonist is yet another nameless, faceless girl in her twenties struggling in a boring office job and lacking any sort of backstory, motivations, or ambitions for her future.”
- music19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as smooth, calming, and fitting for the atmosphere, though some users noted its repetitive nature and limited variety. While it may not be memorable, it enhances the overall experience without being intrusive, making it a pleasant backdrop for gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its relaxing qualities, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.
“The music is cool and smooth; it has few tracks but they work pretty well.”
“The soundtrack is very calming and fitting for the game and there is a short date scene and sequel scene unlocked once each route is completed.”
“The music is nice and relaxing and really fits in the atmosphere of every situation.”
“The music was repetitive, but most of the time it was a smooth melody, so I've just decreased it while playing.”
“- repetitive soundtrack”
“The characters aren't memorable, but I do admit the music is pretty snazzy.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style as clean and beautiful, while others note inconsistencies and moments that can feel awkward or creepy. Some players appreciate the effort put into the artwork, despite it feeling unpolished at times, and acknowledge that the game prioritizes story and character development over visual quality. Overall, the artwork is seen as a highlight, though opinions vary on its execution and impact on the overall experience.
“The art style for the game is good.”
“Beautiful artwork.”
“I personally really like the art style too; it's clean and I can see there was some great effort put into it.”
“Like, in one artwork she has eyes, in the other, she doesn't have them.”
“The artwork is alright, but the plot is horrible.”
“Also, the artwork can be a little creepy at times.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is consistently described as over-the-top and hilarious, with players enjoying its absurdity and corny writing. Many reviewers emphasize the importance of not taking the game seriously to fully appreciate its comedic elements, which include funny smut, quirky character interactions, and amusing translation choices. Overall, the game provides a lighthearted and entertaining experience that often leads to laughter, especially when approached with a playful mindset.
“This game is just hilarious!”
“As you can see, I have over 100 hours in this game. Since I replay it from time to time, it's so uplifting and hilarious. If you don't take it seriously (believe me, you can't take this game seriously!), you will have a very good and entertaining time!”
“Hilarious good time with funny smut and stories (with epic typos and interesting translation choices to spice it up). Don't think too hard or take this too seriously, and you'll have a good time!”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with many routes featuring darker themes and moments that evoke strong feelings, including tears. The characters are described as charming and emotionally invested, creating a sense of connection that can feel almost like infidelity when exploring different routes. Overall, the game is praised for its touching and dramatic storytelling that emphasizes emotional bonding.
“The stories I have gone through in the game so far are very emotional, and as I said, contain some darker story elements than some other visual novels.”
“Hideaki's route was really emotional for me, and for that route alone, I would recommend this game.”
“The story largely focuses on the emotional bonding between them.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is warmly described as inviting and comforting, particularly highlighted by the cozy pub setting and its friendly regulars. The relaxing music complements the environment, enhancing the overall experience and fitting seamlessly into various situations.
“I like the characters and the story, and the general atmosphere created is nice too: a pub and its welcoming regulars there to comfort you.”
“The music is nice and relaxing and really fits in the atmosphere of every situation.”
“To the nice, snazzy atmosphere of the pub.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is noted for its attempt at diversity, but it suffers from rushed designs and choppy arcs, particularly among love interests. While the setting offers relatable characters reminiscent of a casual pub atmosphere, it falls short compared to previous titles like "The Men of Yoshiwara" and "Destiny's Princess," which had more cohesive character growth.
“It wasn't feudal Japan or formal concubines - it was just some guys chilling out in your local pub, which I really enjoyed because the characters felt more relatable than they were in 'The Men of Yoshiwara' and even more so than in 'Destiny's Princess,' which I had actually complimented for its character development.”
“Everything feels really rushed and the character development of your love interests is choppy.”
“I like that the writers were trying to include more diverse lists, but my goodness, what the heck is wrong with the character designs?”
“The characters felt more relatable than they were in 'The Men of Yoshiwara' and even more so than they were in 'Destiny's Princess,' which I had actually complimented for its character development.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that engaging conversations and likable characters contribute to its value. The plot, while decent, supports multiple playthroughs, making it worth the full price for many players.
“I think it's worth the full price because of the replayability value and the conversations that are long and engaging.”
“It's got high replayability; the characters are likable enough, and the plot is decent.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding character interactions, particularly between Yorihisa and the main character, to be frustratingly unbalanced, highlighting issues with character development and dialogue flow.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have reported occasional glitches in the game, particularly noting that dialogue transitions can feel abrupt and incoherent, impacting overall stability.
“I'm not sure if there are some glitches in the game, but sometimes I felt the dialogues just jumped from one thing to another without a smooth transition, which makes things a bit incoherent.”
