Red Embrace
- February 15, 2018
- Argent Games
Get on Steam"Red Embrace: Hollywood" is a visual novel game set in 1980s Hollywood. You play as a young, ambitious actor who becomes entangled in the world of vampires. Navigate complex relationships, make moral choices, and uncover dark secrets as you try to survive in this supernatural thriller. The game features multiple endings based on your decisions.
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Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- Each character is distinct and well-developed, with engaging storylines that encourage replayability to explore different routes and endings.
- The personality choice system allows players to influence the main character's interactions and outcomes, adding depth to the gameplay.
- The game is quite short, with playtime averaging around 4 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some choices can lead to bad endings without clear indications, making it frustrating for players trying to achieve the desired outcomes.
- The art styles for character sprites and CGs clash at times, which can be jarring and detract from the overall visual experience.
- story75 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as short and somewhat rushed, with many players feeling that it lacks depth and detailed character development. While the individual character routes offer unique experiences and engaging elements, the overall narrative is seen as simplistic and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more. Despite these criticisms, the game is appreciated for its interesting characters, appealing art, and enjoyable music, making it a decent choice for fans of romance-focused visual novels.
“The love routes are unique enough that each ending and character bring a different aspect of the world and story.”
“The art is really nice, the music suits the setting, and the story is well written.”
“I absolutely love that different answers change the attitude and personality of the main character, and consequently the outcome of the story or route.”
“The main plot points that the entire game is based on are vaguely explained without much detail, so if you only play one route, it seems rushed and very short.”
“Unfortunately, the choices felt too limited, which made the story feel out of my control and too punishing.”
“The story just skips potentially weeks of character development that would have made the romances between the protagonist and their chosen partner much more believable.”
- music34 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its suitability for the game's themes and settings. While some find the soundtrack excellent and immersive, others mention it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and ambiance.
“There is no voice acting, but the sound effects and the music create a lovely atmosphere.”
“The music, though? Like, I came for a vampire story and stayed for the music.”
“The art and music are both amazing, and the cast is varied and interesting.”
“The music is decent, but forgettable.”
“Some intimate scenes might have benefited from quieter volume or non-intrusive loop versions, as sometimes the music took over one's concentration on the longer sentences.”
“I thought choosing the protagonist's gig (music/art/writing) didn't really add anything to the story.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful artwork and compelling atmosphere, enhanced by a stellar soundtrack. However, some players find the clash between different art styles—particularly between character sprites and CGs—jarring, though many appreciate the distinctiveness and appeal of each style. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, the inconsistency in art styles can detract from the experience for some players.
“Such beautiful artwork, very neat atmosphere.”
“The cgs are absolutely gorgeous and I love the sprites too; the art style is really different and appealing.”
“I liked the art style of this game; it really suited the atmosphere and general feel of the game.”
“Maybe the only complaint that I really have is the clash between art styles for the CGs and sprites.”
“The issue I have with the game is the artwork - three different art styles for different elements of the game can be jarring.”
“There are two art styles in this game, so sometimes I find them clashing, but as time goes by, I got used to it.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating blend of beautiful artwork, compelling sound effects, and a stellar soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the attractive visuals and character interactions that create a romantic yet dark ambiance, effectively immersing players in the world of handsome vampires. Despite the absence of voice acting, the music and scene transitions contribute significantly to a unique and engaging atmosphere that stands out among visual novels.
“There is no voice acting, but the sound effects and the music create a lovely atmosphere.”
“Such beautiful artwork, very neat atmosphere.”
“The writing is fantastic and beautifully scripted; the music and scene transitions set a captivating atmosphere unlike most cheap visual novels I've read.”
“I was more than happy to have the background music playing, even if it did get a little repetitive, and I feel it helped create that dark and slightly seedy atmosphere that I associate with vampire games. I like to think of the divide between those vamps living the decadent high life and then the more unfortunate ones that have to scrape by to survive.”
“Most of the tension and atmosphere are thanks to Rupert Cole's compositions.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both entertaining and relatable, often leading to genuine laughter. The writing is highlighted as a strong point, contributing significantly to the overall comedic experience.
“It was pretty damn funny.”
“I found certain characters to be surprisingly relatable and funny.”
“The writing is entertaining and funny.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by well-developed characters that evoke genuine feelings, ranging from heartwarming to heartbreaking. Players appreciate the authenticity of the emotional moments, with some characters surprising them with their depth, while others leave a lasting impact through their tragic endings. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, making players invested in the characters' journeys.
“They were cute, they made me feel emotion, none of them felt forced, and I wanted these characters to get their happily-ever-afters.”
“Some of the endings were extremely heartbreaking because of what happens to the characters.”
“Dominic appears to be a stoic tough guy, but is actually a nice, emotional guy.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the game offers significant replayability, largely due to its unique choice system and the content available for the price. The story serves as a basic framework that enhances the overall experience, making it worthwhile for those seeking multiple playthroughs.
“But there's a lot of replayability to be had too.”
“Great replayability.”
“Since the story is squeezed and even feels like a rudimentary set-up for these moments, the choice system intended to bring more interest and replayability is a somewhat weird choice.”
“For the price I paid (sale price -25%), I felt there was enough content and replayability to be worth the cost.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its inconsistency, particularly between character designs in CGs and sprites, which can detract from the overall experience. While some users appreciate the potential for deeper relationships, they feel that the narrative skips over crucial development moments, making the romances less believable. Overall, the character designs are well-received, but the execution of character growth leaves much to be desired.
“It sounds like Dry Delight and Red Embrace have their roots in common, and they have a winning formula for character development.”
“I love all of the character designs, and the backgrounds were really helpful in setting the tone for each scene.”
“The story just skips potentially weeks of character development that would have made the romances between the PC and their chosen partner much more believable.”
“It sounds like dry delight and red embrace have their roots in common and they have a winning formula for character development.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the innovative choice and personality mechanics, highlighting them as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.
“I love the choice and personality mechanic.”
“The personality mechanic is ingenious.”
