Roman's Christmas / 罗曼圣诞探案集
- February 19, 2020
- SelfCrop Studio
Get on Steam"Roman's Christmas," also known as "Luo Man Sheng Dan Tan An Ji," is a detective game featuring fuzzy animal characters. As Roman, you're trying to enjoy a quiet vacation at a tavern when 13 travelers gather due to a storm, and mysterious cases start to occur. It's up to you to solve these interconnected cases and restore harmony to the tavern. The game offers five original cases and encourages players to learn about the unique world of Apollion, where various anthropomorphic animals coexist. Your choices impact the story's outcome.
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Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters that keep players invested throughout the game.
- Beautiful art and animations, along with an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Fun and challenging gameplay mechanics that require critical thinking and deduction skills to solve mysteries.
- The English translation is often rough, with grammar issues and typos that can confuse players.
- Some characters lack sufficient development, leading to abrupt emotional impacts when they are removed from the story.
- The game has a tendency for anticlimactic endings and lacks a strong overarching plot, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
- story29 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its captivating narrative, emotional depth, and strong character development, drawing comparisons to popular titles like Danganronpa. While some players noted structural issues and a lack of impactful choices, many found the plot engaging and immersive, with a blend of mystery and emotional resonance that kept them hooked throughout. Overall, the combination of compelling storytelling, beautiful art, and memorable music contributes to a highly enjoyable experience for fans of visual novels.
“I really loved the storytelling, music, and the gameplay.”
“This game has quite an immersing story; while this may seem like the generic murder-at-a-tavern detective game, it still managed to stand out with its narration and the relationships between the characters.”
“A riveting story, with beautiful art, and emotional music.”
“It's tagged as LGBTQ+, but I wouldn't call it an LGBTQ story outside of a few characters.”
“First of all, the story is not very well made and it was told badly: the structure is not well made, lack of tension build-up, etc. Second, some game mechanics are annoying.”
“So anyway, because of the playing experience that I have, I can only tell you that with this price it's not so good, but since the producers have crowdfunding and even use their own money to make this game, it's totally another story.”
- music21 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many players noting its emotional depth and catchy themes. While some found certain sound effects out of place, the overall soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience. Many players enjoyed the character-specific themes, which added a personal touch to the storytelling.
“The music is exceptional and perfectly sets the mood.”
“A must-play murder mystery game, with a cozy medieval setting and a beautiful soundtrack.”
“The music, once you let it seep in, becomes an integral part of the atmosphere, echoing the subtle tension and the emotional highs and lows of the investigation.”
“Some of the sounds are put into the soundtrack, which I quite dislike, especially when you buy the soundtrack separately.”
“No matter what happens, the music and especially sound effects seem to be out of place.”
“The soundtrack should be seen as a bonus.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by immersive mechanics that enhance the investigative experience, such as Roman's lupine abilities and various interactive elements like roulette and tarot. While some players find the mechanics entertaining and reminiscent of titles like Danganronpa, others criticize them as underwhelming and the storytelling as poorly structured. Overall, the gameplay is generally smooth and enjoyable, focusing on character interaction and clue discovery, despite some minor frustrations.
“Roman's lupine strengths, like a keen sense of smell, are instrumental in the investigation, making the gameplay feel that much more immersive and authentic.”
“I admire the cleverness behind the game's mechanics.”
“Excellent gameplay with a fairly interesting plot.”
“The game promotes the roulette, tarot, sniffing, etc. as gameplay mechanics, but in reality, it's nothing special at all; not that it really matters, you're here for interacting with characters, reading a story, searching for clues, and confronting people with evidence.”
“First of all, the story is not very well made and it was told badly: the structure is not well made, lack of tension build-up, etc. Second, some game mechanics are annoying.”
“- Some grammar issues confused me throughout the whole gameplay.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their unique and captivating art style, which blends strong visuals with a compelling narrative. While some players initially found the changing art styles jarring, many grew to appreciate the charming and heartwarming aesthetic. Overall, the artwork, particularly notable pieces like the mirror scene, has received high acclaim for its creativity and emotional impact.
“The artwork where Roman is looking into the mirror remains one of my favorite pieces from any visual novel.”
“The artists who worked on this game have my biggest respect; the art style is one of a kind.”
“Captivating story and beautiful graphics.”
“Important to note is that it seems like the game changed the sprite artwork.”
“At first, I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style, but as I started playing, I fell in love with it.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a strong emotional response through its touching narrative and heartwarming visuals, complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the contrast between the wholesome and darker endings, finding both to be impactful in their own ways. Overall, the combination of charming art styles and a compelling story creates a memorable emotional journey.
“The music, once you let it seep in, becomes an integral part of the atmosphere, echoing the subtle tension and the emotional highs and lows of the investigation.”
“In terms of emotional impact, Roman's Christmas doesn't shy away from pulling at your heartstrings.”
“A riveting story, with beautiful art, and emotional music.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and amusing interactions with characters, though it lacks significant story-altering choices. While some comedic moments are entertaining, particularly the villains' downfall, they may not provide deeper character insights, which some players might find frustrating, yet others appreciate for its humor. Overall, the game successfully delivers enjoyable comedic elements that enhance the experience.
“Characters are fun to interact with; there are some really good funny bits.”
“There aren't too many story-influencing choices, mainly to get funny dialogue quips, but there is one great choice you can make at the end that makes you think: 'If someone's going to be killed because you find out the truth, and the truth really won't change anything in the end, is it really worth getting that justice?'”
“You may find this bothersome, but I find it quite hilarious and enjoyable.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the soundtrack, which effectively captures the subtle tension and emotional nuances of the investigation, becoming an integral part of the overall experience.
“The music, once you let it seep in, becomes an integral part of the atmosphere, echoing the subtle tension and the emotional highs and lows of the investigation.”
“The soundtrack fits the atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a surprisingly high level of replayability, thanks to its strong characters, engaging mysteries, and memorable settings and stories, despite some imperfections.
“It's not perfect, but the characters are good, the mysteries are solid, the setting and stories are memorable, and it's surprisingly replayable for this type of game.”
