SC2VN: The eSports Visual Novel

About

SC2VN is a visual novel about the South Korean StarCraft 2 scene. You play as Mach, a foreign semi-pro trying to make it in eSports who soon learns that success in StarCraft takes more than in-game strategy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

SC2VN: The eSports Visual Novel screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 744 reviews

story179 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Engaging story that provides insight into the competitive eSports scene, particularly for StarCraft II fans.
Well-written characters that are relatable and evoke genuine emotions throughout the narrative.
High-quality artwork and music that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to read.

The game is relatively short, taking only about 2-4 hours to complete, leaving players wanting more.
Limited choices that do not significantly impact the story, making it feel more like a linear narrative than an interactive experience.
Some players may find the lack of romance options disappointing, as the focus is primarily on the competitive aspect of gaming.

story
422 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
2%
The story of this visual novel is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative centered around the struggles of aspiring professional StarCraft II players in South Korea. While the plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, it effectively captures the emotional journey of the characters, making it relatable even for those unfamiliar with esports. However, many reviewers noted the brevity of the story and the limited impact of player choices, leaving them wanting more depth and exploration of the characters' backgrounds.
- “The story revolves around trying to 'make it' in the Korean esports Starcraft 2 scene.”
- “The story is absolutely fantastic!!!”
- “You get a good feel for the characters and their motivations as you play, and thus you begin to take an interest in them, not as a means to complete the story, but rather in the interactions between them and how the story sweeps you into the fervor of the esports scene.”
- “The story felt kind of rushed or just made on bullet points.”
- “The game is too focused on delivering its plot for this to happen effectively or in a manner that is coherent or engaging for a non-Starcraft person.”
- “The story is pretty much but I wish there were more detail and plot to it, like a butterfly effect, giving different consequences and paths.”
music
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and match the emotional tone of the story, particularly during key moments. While some find the soundtrack catchy and well-integrated, others note that it can be repetitive or occasionally mismatched with the on-screen action. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a solid complement to the game's visuals and narrative, with standout tracks that resonate with fans of the Starcraft series.
- “For a start, I was pleasantly surprised by how evocative the art and music were, and how they did such a great job of creating a sense of a particular time and place.”
- “The soundtrack fits in perfectly with what is happening on the screen.”
- “The beautiful artwork and flawless music tie everything together to make a unique experience.”
- “The musical score doesn't sound at all out of place, but it isn't all too memorable.”
- “Music: background-variety music, sets the right mood, gets the job done, nothing spectacular here.”
- “The music is okay; didn't really like the credits song to be perfectly honest, but the other songs combine electronic beats that mirror the Starcraft soundtrack almost perfectly.”
graphics
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their polished anime art style, which is both distinctive and visually appealing. Reviewers highlight the high-quality artwork, well-developed character designs, and immersive backgrounds that enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and engagement.
- “The game has a great and polished anime art style, with some movement that does the job of reading the characters' expressions and mood changes. All the characters are very well developed and very likable and/or relatable in more than one way.”
- “The artwork is very well produced with a manga/anime styling which is easy on the eyes and is combined with visually stimulating background artwork.”
- “The beautiful artwork and flawless music tie everything together to make a unique experience.”
- “The graphics are okay for a visual novel, but I think there could've been more than three facial expressions per character.”
- “Graphics/art: passable.”
- “The artwork wasn't the best, but it was still a pleasure to observe.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
78%
8%
The gameplay is primarily structured as a visual novel, focusing on narrative and character interactions rather than traditional gameplay mechanics. While it offers a brief introduction to StarCraft II concepts and includes strategic decision-making during key moments, many players find the choices limited and the overall experience more akin to an interactive comic than a fully engaging game. Despite its minimal gameplay, the story and art are appreciated, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre, especially those interested in esports.
- “It is a really good introduction to a bunch of concepts and mechanics from SC2, so if you're even remotely interested, give it a try.”
- “The gameplay mechanics involve strategic decision-making during key matches, reflecting the tactical nature of Starcraft II.”
- “Very fun and short, around 2 hours of gameplay at the very least unless you don't even read the text, and best of all it's free.”
- “It is simply not a gratifying way to present choices that the player can easily reload and correct, leading to what becomes more of a roadblock than actual gameplay.”
- “Worth the time despite having minimal choices and negligible gameplay (it is essentially an interactive comic).”
- “It's a visual novel that's mostly reading and little gameplay.”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
14%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players finding the story to be touching, heartwarming, and nostalgic, even for experiences they haven't personally had. The narrative effectively explores the highs and lows of esports, resonating deeply with players through its well-written script and relatable themes of passion, ambition, and personal conflict. While some noted a lack of impactful choices, the overall emotional engagement and connection to the characters and their struggles left a lasting impression on many players.
- “Don't be discouraged if you don't know much about e-sport, this is a very good visual novel that tackles the topic in a very relatable and outsider-friendly way, while delivering an emotionally engaging and satisfying story.”
- “Sc2vn excels in depicting the emotional highs and lows of the esports world.”
- “A heartwarming story of a young individual risking his/her future for their passion, touching on several issues experienced by professional StarCraft 2 players both in the competition and the drama behind the scenes.”
- “Overall, though the art is quite good, other aspects of this game fall short with a boring story and weak characters.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters is lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
- “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments felt forced and unconvincing.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by well-written characters and witty dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter. Players appreciate the blend of funny and dramatic moments, with memorable scenes, particularly in the bar, enhancing the overall experience. The script effectively balances humor with heartfelt moments, incorporating clever references and engaging character interactions that keep the tone light and entertaining throughout.
- “The characters are well-written and the dialogue is very witty and funny at times.”
- “That's the high point of this game by the way: the characters are really funny, and the bar scene is the best.”
- “The humor in this game often is on point and I burst out laughing throughout my playthrough many times, even though I barely played any Starcraft 2 myself.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Overall, character development in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the depth and authenticity of the characters, particularly in relation to the main plot. While some reviewers noted that it could have been improved, the strong character designs and engaging storytelling earned high ratings, with some giving it a perfect score. The game's ability to avoid unnecessary side plots and focus on meaningful character arcs contributes to its captivating narrative.
- “Character designs and personalities were very well done.”
- “Character development is good, and the game avoids useless side plots and instead takes interesting paths in developing the main plot and the characters along the way.”
- “The storyline and character development were beyond expectation and the art style brings the immersion of the game.”
- “Character development could've been better, but for a short visual novel, it was alright.”
- “Its strengths lie in its storytelling and character development, though its brevity may leave some players wanting more.”
- “Not to mention, the character development and story were captivating.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its clean artwork, immersive storytelling, and well-developed characters, which effectively draw players into the competitive StarCraft II scene. The background sound and music complement the narrative without distracting from it, creating a cohesive and engaging experience that resonates even with those unfamiliar with the esports genre. Overall, the game's atmosphere significantly enhances its appeal, making it a compelling read despite its gameplay limitations.
- “You follow the life of Mach, a protagonist who is trying to make his own way as a competitive StarCraft II player. The artwork is clean and top-notch, and the overall background sound does a great job of maintaining the atmosphere of what's going on. The story is immersive, and the characters are well fleshed out, detailed, and relatable in the situations that transpire over the course of the game.”
- “All in all, while SC2VN is much more something one reads than plays, its wonderful atmosphere and fun, inspiring story more than make up for its shortcomings.”
- “I didn't know much about StarCraft and especially the esports scene in Korea, but the game didn't fail to draw me in and make me enjoy its atmosphere.”
- “It neither distracts, nor evokes atmosphere from a different genre.”
- “Finally, let's not forget the atmosphere of the game (sound & BGM).”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game has been rated 7/10 for replayability, with users noting that it offers limited choices and lacks multiple endings, which may diminish its replay value. Despite these criticisms, players still find the experience enjoyable enough to warrant a purchase.
- “My only criticism would be that there is not a lot of replayability and there are few actual decisions for you to make, but it is still amazing and I would definitely pay money for it.”
- “It's short, there is no real replay value and there are only a handful of choices.”
- “The limited choices and lack of multiple endings may reduce replayability for some.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the challenge and the motivation it provides to improve, others feel it becomes tedious over time, leading to frustration and a loss of interest.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I stopped bothering with this after a while as it got tedious.”
- “It's thanks to this game I kept playing SC2, grinding my way past the initial hesitation of 'Is this worth learning?'”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has successfully engaged players, prompting them to return to it even if their performance isn't ideal, indicating a strong overall experience.
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it nearly unplayable on mid-range hardware.”
- “I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the lack of proper optimization leads to frustrating gameplay and long loading times.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is free to play and does not include any microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without interruptions or pressure to spend money. It can be completed in one sitting, enhancing its accessibility.
- “However, it's free, never pesters you for microtransactions (there aren't any!), and can be finished in a single sitting.”