Secrets of the Heartbeat
- June 7, 2024
- RainbowGame
Get on Steam"Secrets of the Heartbeat" is a real-life interactive game where you navigate your career and love life, choosing among four distinct female characters. The game boasts a first-person perspective, 4K image quality, and a user-friendly approach that lets you follow your heart. Unexpected easter egg characters add to the richness of the experience. Off-topic: In a vast world, it's easy to feel small or overwhelmed, but sometimes, like a timid adult, fear can keep us from exploring the beauty the world has to offer.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming cast of attractive actresses with good acting skills, making the characters likable.
- The ambient music enhances the mood of the scenes, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- The game is straightforward and easy to navigate, allowing players to enjoy the story without the stress of complex mechanics.
- The game is very short, with most players completing it in under four hours, which may not justify the price.
- Choices in the game do not significantly affect the outcome, leading to a lack of meaningful engagement with the story.
- The English translation is often inaccurate, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and understanding of the plot.
- story50 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it short, cliché, and lacking depth, often describing it as silly or absurd. While some appreciate the humor and branching paths, they note that choices have little impact on relationships or outcomes, leading to a feeling of futility in exploring different storylines. Overall, the narrative is seen as simple and entertaining, but it could benefit from more creativity and depth.
“So far, fun story, and definitely worth playing.”
“However, the strong points are the beautiful cast, good acting, and the story can also branch from one girl to another, which is a very interesting point.”
“Secrets of the Heartbeat is a great game for a romantic date, a sweet and sympathetic story of the main character, beautiful and pleasant actresses.”
“But the story is cliche and lacks creativity.”
“Other than that, there are many story branches, but aside from unlocking random achievements, there's almost no point in exploring them all: no choices affect your relationship, and in the last chapter, you can directly choose (or not choose) the girl you want to pursue.”
“Finally, the phone chat scenes are the worst I've seen in a Chinese FMV - not only are there endless choices (that don't do anything except maybe unlock photos), they take too long to go through and create confusing plot maps in the chapter.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is enjoyable and free from the typical grinding mechanics found in FMV dating games, offering a variety of choices; however, these choices often lack significant impact on the story, and affection level mechanics are absent. Despite these shortcomings, players express a desire for additional content or longer titles from the developer.
“But I really enjoyed this game and hope to see a DLC or another longer gameplay title from the developer.”
“Fun gameplay.”
“They take out the grinding mechanic (that normal FMV dating games have).”
“They took out the grinding mechanic that normal FMV dating games have.”
“The story and plot, along with game mechanics, offer many choices, but beyond achievements, the actual choices don't seem to matter much.”
“Affection level mechanics are not implemented.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are exceptional for a full-motion video (FMV) title, showcasing a bright and classy aesthetic with a variety of settings. The 4K video quality is praised, although players may need to adjust settings like enabling Vsync and limiting monitor refresh rates to avoid stuttering or flashing issues. Overall, the visual presentation stands out as one of the game's highlights.
“The graphics quality is exceptional (which is saying a lot for a FMV game) - better than most.”
“Despite the short experience, I can appreciate the variety of settings and scenery as the aesthetic of the game was bright and classy.”
“The 4K video quality is great.”
“The 4K video quality is great, but if your game stutters or flashes while using the 4K video quality, fix it by enabling VSync in your graphics card's driver and limiting your monitor's refresh rate to 60Hz.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its parody-like plot and absurd scenarios, such as unexpected character roles and exaggerated interactions, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements, including the playful use of the term "boss" and the overall absurdity, making it a fun and enjoyable dating FMV despite its brevity.
“The plot is funny, almost as if it were a parody, but a little extreme too (like the first scene where a girl slaps him for no reason or a random delivery man suddenly becoming CEO). The way the characters emphasize calling the main character 'boss' is meant to be seductive, I suppose.”
“All in all, it's a great game, even though it's a short one to unwind and enjoy a more lighthearted, funny dating FMV, where you know that whatever you choose, it's not over until you choose the girl (or you find the one way to die, lol).”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, particularly the ambient tracks, which enhance the overall atmosphere and experience.
“The ambient music is really good, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making every moment feel special.”
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, adding depth and emotion to each scene.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game eliminates the traditional grinding mechanics commonly found in FMV dating games, which may appeal to players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the FMV is generally well-received, with users noting good quality and performance. However, some players are awaiting further insights on positives or negatives after completing all achievements.
