Ratings War

About

In "Ratings War," a 80,000-word interactive novel by Eddy Webb, you play as a reporter with cybernetic eyes, uncovering crimes and climbing the ranks in the news industry of 2061's dystopian New Angeles. Your choices determine your path to fame and success, but will you prioritize truth or ratings? With multiple endings, this text-based game offers a thought-provoking, immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 94 reviews

story30 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The story is engaging and well-written, with a dark cyberpunk atmosphere that appeals to fans of the genre.
The game offers a good level of character customization, allowing players to shape their protagonist's identity and moral choices.
Despite its short length, the game provides an entertaining experience with replay value, as players can explore different paths and outcomes.

Many players felt that the choices were limited and that the game was more linear than expected, reducing the impact of player decisions.
The game is relatively short, with some reviewers expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and content compared to other titles in the genre.
Some players criticized the inclusion of political narratives that felt forced and detracted from the overall story experience.

story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
4%
The game's story is generally regarded as engaging and well-written, with a unique setting and interesting characters that allow for some player agency. However, many reviewers criticized its linearity and the limited impact of player choices on the narrative, leading to a feeling of a lack of control over the story's direction. Additionally, some players expressed dissatisfaction with the inclusion of political themes, which they felt detracted from the overall experience.
- “The story itself is engaging, reasonably original and has a good sense of narrative cohesion, though now on my second run-through I'm unsure whether the choices I made had any real impact on the story itself, rather affecting other more superficial (but equally important) features.”
- “Absolutely incredible story, amazing writing style and a refreshing game in today's fast-paced, high-action society.”
- “It is a very well thought out and written interactive story that lets you build a reputation for yourself as a reporter and you have control over a lot of things such as your style (factual or flamboyant), your morals (integrity or ambitious) and how well you work with others.”
- “Got to about chapter 6 or 7 before all the heavily influenced liberal nonsense just ruined the story.”
- “I don't appreciate whenever a story forces a political narrative in a story where it has no place.”
- “The story is very linear and there is very little difference in the writings or in the story based on your choices.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game has mixed reviews regarding replayability; while some players find it fun and easily replayable, others feel it lacks depth with limited story alternatives and character interactions, resulting in minimal incentive to replay after achieving most content in a single playthrough. Overall, it offers a short playtime of around 3 hours, which may appeal to those looking for a quick experience.
- “All in all, it's a great deal of fun, and it's easily replayable!”
- “Though, I must admit, I feel like the game doesn't have much replayability value - there aren't that many alternatives on how to play the story (I get almost all achievements during one gameplay), how to shape your personality, or even how to interact with other characters (only two romance options).”
- “With a playtime of around 3 hours and some degree of replayability, it's definitely worth a look.”
- “Definite replay value.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game lacks any sound, music, or graphics, which is consistent with the style of similar titles. Players often compensate for this absence by listening to their own music playlists, such as noir-themed tracks from YouTube, while playing.
- “There is no sound, music, or graphics.”
- “As usual, these games come without graphics or music.”
- “I usually play these games while listening to an 'appropriate' music list from YouTube (in this case, noir music).”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the interactive novel is highly praised, with users noting its clever writing and engaging characters that contribute to a variety of funny moments, particularly influenced by dialogue choices. Overall, the experience is described as both gripping and entertaining, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of humor in storytelling.
- “For the price of a coffee, you can have a brilliantly written, gripping, and hilarious short interactive novel.”
- “The story was very interesting, so were the characters (yes, even you early... in the end). There were quite a few funny lines and situations if you made your dialogue choices right, and the ending, at least the one I got as a truth-seeking reporter, was good.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is noted for its limited replayability, with few alternatives in story progression and character interactions, including only two romance options. Players can achieve most accomplishments in a single playthrough, which may detract from the overall experience. While certain romantic implications can influence gameplay, the lack of diverse choices leaves some players wanting more depth.
- “Though, I must admit, I feel like the game doesn't have much replayability value - there aren't that many alternatives on how to play the story (I get almost all achievements during one gameplay), how to shape your personality, or even how to interact with other characters (only two romance options).”
- “It's difficult to give a specific example without spoilers, but romantic implications, for instance, may arise that affect your gameplay.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in this game are non-existent, as users consistently note the absence of any visual elements, sound, or music, which is typical for this genre.
- “As usual, these games come without graphics or music.”
- “There is no sound, music, or graphics.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the game to offer a significant emotional journey, particularly in its exploration of truth, making it a standout experience in its genre.
- “This game offers an emotional ride that reveals deep truths throughout my playthrough.”
- “The emotional depth of this game truly sets it apart from others I've played.”
- “Experiencing the emotional journey in this game was both powerful and unforgettable.”