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Punch Line

Punch Line tells a fantastic story amidst all the chaos that takes place. It may seem pervy from its advertisements but there is a charming experience here that you will surely remember.
60%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, music
56% User Score Based on 90 reviews
Critic Score 67%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStationPlaystation Vita
Buy Nowfrom $49.99
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About

In "Punch Line," players assume the role of a friendly ghost, haunting a house full of ladies and solving puzzles. The poltergeist powers can be leveled-up, and players can cause mischief, but seeing too many panties may lead to humanity's destruction. The game features time travel, detective work, and the chance to prevent Earth's explosion and defeat terrorists, with a different ending from the anime series.

Genres & Tags
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Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
Punch Line screenshot
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56%
Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews
story48 positive mentions
gameplay6 negative mentions
  • The story starts off as a lighthearted comedy but escalates into a serious narrative with unexpected twists, making it engaging for visual novel fans.
  • The character interactions are well-developed, providing emotional depth and humor that resonate with players.
  • The game features high-quality anime cutscenes and voice acting, enhancing the overall experience despite its gameplay flaws.
  • The gameplay is minimal and often consists of trial-and-error puzzles that can be tedious and frustrating, detracting from the visual novel experience.
  • The PC port suffers from numerous technical issues, including broken achievements, poor controls, and unskippable cutscenes, which hinder the overall enjoyment.
  • Many players feel that the game is overpriced for the content it offers, especially since it heavily relies on clips from the anime rather than providing substantial new material.
  • story
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game starts off as a lighthearted love comedy but quickly evolves into a more serious and complex narrative, filled with absurdity and unexpected twists. While some players appreciate the character interactions and intricate plot, many criticize the slow pacing, excessive filler, and reliance on fanservice, suggesting that the anime adaptation offers a more engaging experience. Overall, the game is seen as a mixed bag, appealing primarily to dedicated fans of visual novels and the original anime.

    • “The story takes a bit of time to pick up, but after a while I couldn't leave it alone; I had grown endeared to the character and the story and mysteries of the series piqued my interest.”
    • “The pros of this game are that it has a very strong and complex story reminiscent of Uchikoshi's other works, as well as decent characters.”
    • “While Punch Line starts off slow and has a hilarious comedic touch, I can definitely say that it didn’t fail to absolutely amaze me and I am positive, as long as you make it through the first rather slice-of-life part, Punch Line will manage to throw off every visual novel lover with its unpredictable plot and lovely characters.”
    • “The plot is nonsense and the twists are completely impact-less and barely affect the plot at all.”
    • “There is a huge amount of filler and as a result, the story drags out way too slowly and quickly becomes boring.”
    • “With a story mode that I felt like I was slogging through, puzzles that were at best mediocre, and the fact that these puzzles stop halfway through the game, this game is the first I honestly wish I could get my money back instead of accepting that I simply bought a bad game.”
  • gameplay
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in this title is largely criticized for being minimal and unengaging, primarily consisting of simplistic point-and-click mini-games and repetitive dialogue choices that often lead to game overs if the wrong option is selected. Many reviewers describe the gameplay as dull and lacking depth, with a significant portion of the experience feeling like filler rather than meaningful interaction. Overall, it is perceived more as a visual novel with limited gameplay elements, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “In the first 13 episodes of the game, there are short gameplay sections where the aim is either to scare one of Yuta's four female housemates by playing ghost tricks on her around the house, or accomplish a task by chaining a series of tricks.”
    • “Punch Line's gameplay is an even mix between visual novel and some basic puzzles, interspersed with short anime videos.”
    • “The bit of gameplay I was able to get, after 1.5 hours of playing it, shows potential and overall the game is well executed and not cheaply made as tons of others on Steam; it's more of an interactive anime (it has actual anime pieces put into the game) where when you actually get to the gameplay, you may find it fun.”
    • “The actual gameplay segments are ironically the worst part about the game.”
    • “The gameplay doesn't really add anything to the experience and honestly just felt like a way to pad the game's already short length.”
    • “This is an extremely dull, conceptually deceiving visual novel mixed with some bland, linear, cumbersome gameplay, if you could even call it that.”
  • graphics
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being low-resolution, inconsistent, and lacking in detail, with many describing the visuals as "trash." While the 3D in-game graphics are somewhat decent but dated, the overall presentation, including menus and textboxes, is considered poor. Additionally, there are minimal graphical settings available, limiting player customization options.

    • “In-game graphics are all 3D and look pretty nice, if a little dated now.”
    • “[*] Lovely anime artworks”
    • “It does not have the best graphics, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted story with bubbly music that sets the mood well.”
    • “The visuals and presentation look like trash and are extremely inconsistent.”
    • “The low-res graphics don't help at all, to make matters worse.”
    • “The visuals are quite bad and the textbox and menus look absolutely horrible.”
  • music
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the catchy j-pop tracks that fit the genre, while others find the soundtrack lacking, with unskippable intro and ending songs becoming a point of frustration. Sound balancing issues between music and voice acting further detract from the experience for some users. Overall, the music is described as serviceable but inconsistent, with a few standout tracks amidst a generally underwhelming selection.

    • “The music is serviceable, with some good tracks.”
    • “It does not have the best graphics but it is a thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted story with bubbly music that sets the mood well.”
    • “The music soundtrack is typical of the genre: plenty of j-pop-style tracks and catchy tunes.”
    • “The sound balancing between the music and the voice acting is bad for quite a few songs.”
    • “Unskippable intro song / ending song every chapter (of which chapters are not long).”
    • “I found it annoying that the controls didn’t get properly displayed in the game when it might come in handy, so I didn’t know for many episodes how to skip cut scenes and therefore had to watch the opening and ending songs all over again.”
  • humor
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Punch Line" is polarizing; while some players find the interactions between characters and the absurd premise genuinely funny, others feel the game fails to deliver laughs, with one reviewer stating they didn't laugh at all. Despite its comedic attempts, the game is criticized for not being funny enough, leading some to prefer the anime adaptation instead. However, those who appreciate its over-the-top humor and character dynamics may find it a rewarding experience, especially after overcoming its slower start.

    • “Before playing the game, I knew very little about it, but that one line on the store page -- 'if he sees underwear, humanity will be destroyed!' -- made me laugh with delight.”
    • “The four girls who live with Yuta in the secluded Korai House apartment building -- Meika, Ito, Rabura, and Mikatan -- all fill the roles of some of the expected anime character stereotypes pretty nicely, but the interactions between them are at times both hilarious and emotional.”
    • “The premise is ridiculous and the script is, barring a few minor grammatical errors and tiny plot weaknesses, hilarious.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the touching and humorous interactions among the four main characters, which evoke a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. Players appreciate the depth of the characters' backstories and the genuine bonds they form, making both their moments of camaraderie and conflict resonate deeply. Overall, the blend of humor and emotional weight creates a compelling narrative experience.

    • “I find a lot of the character interactions cute or touching, and you can feel them bonding as they struggle to navigate the ordeals in their way, or as they sing off-beat and off-key karaoke, cheering each other on the whole time.”
    • “The four girls who live with Yuta in the secluded Korai House apartment building -- Meika, Ito, Rabura, and Mikatan -- all fill the roles of some of the expected anime character stereotypes pretty nicely, but the interactions between them are at times both hilarious and emotional.”
    • “Additionally, the past of each girl was very heart-wrenching and seeing them getting close filled me with happiness while seeing them argue tore my heart out, just wanting them to finally make up.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, exacerbated by poor UI design choices that contribute to a frustrating experience.

    • “Combined with some poor choices for UI design, it makes the game somewhat tedious.”
    • “Kind of tedious to do.”
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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews
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