Reality
- April 18, 2017
- Fancy Fish Games
When a withdrawn virtual reality nerd has the opportunity to beta test a neural device that feels more "real" than reality itself, everything she assumed about the nature of existence is thrown into question. In this interactive novel, your choices will shape Lilya and Jacob's beliefs about what is real, or if reality even exists.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art and engaging character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- The story combines interesting themes of technology and mythology, providing a thought-provoking narrative.
- The choice mechanics are well-implemented, allowing players to see the impact of their decisions and how they compare to others.
- The game suffers from bugs, including visual glitches that can detract from the experience.
- The pacing is slow, with some players feeling that the story is rushed towards the end and leaves many questions unanswered.
- Character motivations can be questionable, and some players found the main character to be whiny and indecisive.
- story48 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is a unique blend of spirit world mythology and technology, featuring meaningful choices that impact character relationships and endings, though these choices are infrequent. While the narrative is generally linear and occasionally slow-paced, it is praised for its rich themes of identity, belonging, and growth, alongside beautiful art and writing. Overall, the story captivates players with its imaginative twists and depth, despite some critiques regarding its brevity and occasional lack of detail.
“The story is interesting because of the mix of spirit world mythology with technology.”
“This is such a deeply imaginative, rich, and thoughtful philosophical story about belonging, identity, and growth, finding solace and a person or place where you can just 'be yourself.'”
“I'm very happy with the rich storyline and thought-provoking content that mixes technology and mythology/fantasy in a superbly creative way. I did not expect the story to go where it did.”
“There are some choices and they are meaningful ones, but they are really rare in comparison to the development of the story.”
“It's a shame because the story is well-written; it's just so short and rushed that it doesn't give enough time to be really invested in Vitalia's plight and the characters, or resolve anything in a satisfactory manner.”
“- there are quite a few blanks in the story -- both in character backstories and in the world lore.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some find it boring and repetitive, others appreciate the electronic soundtrack for effectively creating a sci-fi atmosphere, complementing the game's strong art, writing, and story.
“It has great art, music, writing, and story.”
“I also think the electronic soundtrack does a good job of setting a sci-fi mood.”
“The music is boring and repetitive.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to engage the player.”
“The audio tracks feel uninspired and do not enhance the gaming experience.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay of < /reality > is highlighted by its innovative end-of-chapter mechanics and a compelling choice system, where individual decisions can significantly alter the game's outcome, enhancing player engagement and replayability.
“On the other hand, < /reality > has a really neat end-of-chapter mechanic that I wish more games like this had.”
“I really liked the choice mechanic system of the game, where sometimes just one choice could completely change the ending.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The pacing is off, with long stretches of dull gameplay that make it hard to stay invested.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning artwork and relatable character designs, effectively conveying the game's narrative through visuals and sound effects, even in the absence of direct narration.
“The concept was interesting, the artwork gorgeous, and the characters relatable.”
“It seems like there's no narration of actions, but the graphics and sound effects do such a good job of conveying what's going on that it took me a while to notice.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its depth, as both protagonists offer unique perspectives that enrich the narrative, while also allowing for meaningful growth among themselves and the supporting characters.
“The character development is exceptional, allowing players to witness profound growth and transformation.”
“Both protagonists help bring different perspectives into view, while still leaving space for character development between both protagonists and other characters.”
“The depth of character arcs adds a rich layer to the storytelling, making each character's journey feel meaningful.”
“The character development feels shallow, with little growth or change throughout the story.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they lacked depth and complexity.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the characters remained one-dimensional and failed to evolve.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features emotional moments, but these are primarily conveyed through rational discussions rather than overt emotional expressions.
“The novel has its emotional moments, but mostly it was conveyed through rational discussion.”
“The game beautifully captures the emotional struggles of its characters, making you feel deeply connected to their journeys.”
“I was genuinely moved by the emotional depth of the story; it resonated with my own experiences.”