Scars of Summer
- April 9, 2021
- Shinachiku-castella
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Scars of Summer" is a visual novel game that follows the story of Yuzuki, a high school student who lost his memories after an accident. As he tries to regain his past, he becomes entangled in a mystery involving a strange girl and a series of supernatural events. The game features multiple endings based on the player's choices throughout the story.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging story that effectively evokes strong emotions, particularly for fans of the NTR genre.
- The art style is praised for its quality and detail, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- Players appreciate the variety of routes and endings available, allowing for multiple playthroughs and exploration of different scenarios.
- The gameplay is often described as tedious and lacking depth, with many players feeling that it does not offer enough interactivity or meaningful choices.
- The game heavily focuses on NTR themes, which may alienate players who are not fans of this genre, leading to a disappointing experience for those expecting a more traditional romance.
- Many reviews mention that the game requires a patch to access adult content, which can be confusing and frustrating for players who are not aware of this requirement.
- story42 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of engaging character development and complex themes, particularly focusing on unrequited love and NTR (netorare) elements, which may not appeal to all players. While some appreciate the depth and multiple narrative paths, others criticize the lack of realism and coherence in the plot, feeling that it often prioritizes adult scenes over meaningful storytelling. Overall, it offers a unique experience for those who enjoy intricate narratives intertwined with adult themes, but may leave some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys.
“This game has good art and a fun story; there is a lot to do, and it's better with the patch.”
“Lots of paths to take, lots of great storylines.”
“This is an h-game about ntr, but if you are playing your role as the perfect boyfriend, it's actually a very heartwarming story about making your last summer ever memorable by confessing to your childhood love.”
“The lame story lines.”
“It feels too much like 'here's the next obligatory h-scene, let's go through the motions of advancing the plot ready for the next one' without too much thought into the plot structure or the overarching story.”
“While some short visual novels feel like a doujinshi tankobon that might be over a hundred pages; the plot elements I saw while completing my first ending in this game suggested that each route is more like the typical lazy and superficial ~8 page one-shot ntr doujinshi you can find on any h-site.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics, such as a daily time clock and character schedules, while others criticize it for being buggy and lacking depth. Many find the gameplay basic and repetitive, often feeling disconnected from the narrative, and express frustration over the inability to alter routes once set. Overall, while there are interesting elements, the execution leaves much to be desired, making it a step back compared to the developer's previous titles.
“The gameplay is a loop of your days, during which you have approximately 2 actions to do (although you might waste time doing nothing).”
“The game is totally great with some unique mechanics like daily events which make this game feel alive.”
“Many unique gameplay mechanics break from traditional RPG Maker stuff.”
“Most h-games have poor gameplay, but this one actively made the experience worse in my opinion.”
“Maybe if the game mechanics weren't so buggy and hard to figure out.”
“The gameplay is a loop of your days, during which you have approximately two actions to do, although you might waste time doing nothing.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been praised for their ultra unique and high-quality art style, enhancing the overall experience with vivid visuals and impressive artwork. Reviewers highlight the striking character designs and scenes, contributing to a top-tier aesthetic that complements the engaging narrative. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature, making the game highly recommended for fans of the genre.
“The creator improved the art style even more, offering a unique and ultra-detailed art style in this genre.”
“But the creator's strength in terms of writing, art style, and quality is still top-notch, and therefore I would definitely recommend this.”
“Top tier graphics.”
“The creator improved the art style even more, offering an ultra-nasty and unique art style in this genre.”
“No music gallery to listen to on your own, but there is one to replay scenes, which leads me to the final thing I want to touch on: the visuals.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from heartbreak to warmth, particularly through its wholesome ending and the touching narrative of making lasting memories with a childhood love. Players appreciate the depth of the characters, especially Ryoka, whose strong personality enhances the heartfelt experience. Overall, the game is noted for its emotional impact, balancing themes of love and loss in a way that resonates deeply with players.
“What a wholesome ending (if you get the 4 pieces of Ryoka's childhood memory, of course). Except for that, all you can enjoy is 'something' haha.”
“This is an H game about NTR, but if you are playing your role as the perfect boyfriend, it's actually a very heartwarming story about making your last summer ever memorable by confessing to your childhood love.”
“Very heartwarming, and it helps that Ryoka is actually a heroine with a big personality on her own.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a pleasant and relaxing soundtrack that complements its summer vacation theme and various life events, though it is generally considered standard with a few standout tracks. While enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, there is no music gallery for players to explore the soundtrack independently. Overall, the music enhances the experience but does not significantly elevate it.
“In addition to art, we have the soundtrack, which is relaxing and matches the theme of the summer vacation game and relationships, along with some very 'innocent' sounds at certain times.”
“Music-wise, it's mostly standard fare with a few notable standouts.”
“No music gallery to give a listen on your own, but there is one to replay scenes, which leads me to the final thing I want to touch on: the visuals.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replay value due to its abundant content, which encourages multiple playthroughs.
“High replay value.”
“There is lots of content, which allows for great replayability.”
“The game has a lot of content, but it lacks the depth needed for true replayability.”
“While there are multiple paths to explore, the overall experience feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“Despite the initial excitement, I found myself losing interest quickly, as there isn't enough variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game suffers from significant bugs and unclear mechanics, which negatively impact overall stability and gameplay experience.
“The game mechanics are incredibly buggy and difficult to understand.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay experience.”
“The stability issues make it nearly impossible to enjoy the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and irritating, suggesting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and flow of gameplay.
“This game is just tedious and irritating.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, and it's just not fun.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant divide in optimization quality, with some users experiencing poor performance while others praise it as cutting-edge for high-end systems.
“The optimization feels like either utter garbage or truly cutting-edge high-end performance.”
“The game runs poorly on mid-range systems, making it frustrating for many players.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in this game has been criticized for poor writing and unconvincing character designs, leading to unrealistic interactions and scenarios that detract from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the lack of depth and authenticity in character responses, resulting in a disjointed narrative.
“If you enjoy bad writing, poor character designs, and characters that don't respond like actual human beings, instead offering a choice between wrong answers, then you might find this game appealing. Otherwise, the characters often end up in ridiculous situations that are hard to take seriously.”
“The character development feels shallow and unconvincing, making it difficult to connect with anyone in the game. Their motivations are poorly explained, and the dialogue often feels forced.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of growth in the characters throughout the game. They remain static and predictable, which detracts from the overall experience.”
