Sickness

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Sickness is a visual novel centering around Suoh Tesla, an amoral high school student whose life is rapidly deteriorating. Following the deaths of his parents, a brief stay in the hospital, and the emergence of his “Sickness”, his daily life quickly devolves from carefree school days to a life of crime.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story34 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and gripping story that explores dark themes, making it stand out from typical visual novels.
The characters are well-developed and interesting, with moral complexities that engage players emotionally.
The art and soundtrack complement the narrative well, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The title 'Sickness' feels misleading as the concept is not thoroughly explored or impactful in the story.
There are several logical inconsistencies and pacing issues that detract from the overall experience.
The art quality varies, with some character designs being jarring and not matching the tone of the narrative.

story
101 mentions
34 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story is a complex and immersive narrative that blends dark themes with humor, featuring a morally ambiguous protagonist navigating the criminal underworld to support his sister. While it offers rich character development and multiple paths that significantly impact the outcome, some reviewers noted logical inconsistencies and abrupt pacing. Overall, the narrative is praised for its engaging twists and emotional depth, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a departure from traditional visual novel tropes.
- “Gone is the boring protagonist surrounded by a variety of high school classmates waiting to be swept off their feet, and in its place we have a gritty story about a teenager forced into the criminal underworld to support his sister after the death of their parents.”
- “The story is so immersive that I totally share what he feels.”
- “The story is riveting and beyond imaginative.”
- “There are quite a few logical inconsistencies, like never wondering why a co-worker just disappears, or Suoh's character being completely different in Lucia's story.”
- “The story mainly told throughout this visual novel is dark, disgusting, and vile.”
- “There's constantly abrupt cuts or fast-forwards in the story where you'd expect there to be something more, and there's lots of little inconsistencies in the characters' behavior.”
humor
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending funny and relatable moments with darker themes, which may not appeal to everyone but is generally well-received. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and comedic scenes that balance the more serious aspects of the story, making it both engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor is described as effective and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
- “It has many funny and adorable moments.”
- “Despite the general dark motives, the story was often funny and relatable.”
- “Ok, this game is really, really funny. Its story keeps you engaged, and it's really well done; there are a few moments in which they make you laugh hard.”
music
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, effectively setting the mood for various scenarios and complementing the overall atmosphere, despite some tracks being average or reminiscent of other works. While the absence of voice acting places more emphasis on the soundtrack, many players find it enhances the experience, contributing positively to the storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect, even if it doesn't reach the heights of iconic composers.
- “The music sets the mood for each scenario perfectly, like the late-night assassinations.”
- “Even though there may be no voice acting, the soundtrack in this visual novel totally makes up for it.”
- “The music is good, fits the atmosphere, and adds to the mood.”
- “However, the music was pretty average and didn't really do much to heighten the action, and in fact, one track was incredibly similar to a track from an old visual novel by a different company... so I don't know how they got away with that one.”
- “It is meant for a mature audience, one that is preferably familiar with the visual novel genre, as there is no voice acting whatsoever; you're going to have to read through it all in silence and with the background music.”
- “The soundtrack may not be something from John Williams, but it's pretty good in my opinion.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience, with some players finding the story to be a blend of humor, sadness, and excitement, while others feel let down by the lack of emotional depth in the characters. While some visual novels, like "G-senjou no Maou," are praised for their emotional impact, others, such as "Sickness," are seen as less provocative but still capable of eliciting some emotional responses through their dark narratives. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly across different titles.
- “The story is at some point funny or sad, heartwarming or heartbreaking, interesting or boring, exciting or disturbing.”
- “There are not that many visual novels that can get me all that emotional, but this one managed to do it.”
- “There are some scenes that are quite funny, and there are others that are rather touching; but the dark story takes prominence.”
graphics
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as decent and nicely drawn, though ultimately average and not particularly standout. While the visuals do not significantly enhance the experience, they are complemented by a fairly good storyline, making the overall gameplay enjoyable despite minor grammatical errors.
- “The visuals are decent enough, and while there were a very small amount of grammatical or spelling errors - I'm talking about 7 throughout the whole game - it was good to play.”
- “The graphics are pretty average; while the pictures are nicely drawn, they don't stand out in any significant way.”
- “The visuals are decent enough, but they lack the polish and detail that would elevate the overall experience.”
character development
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a crucial element in the game, particularly in the context of visual novels, where interactions like dating are seen as essential for character growth. However, some users feel that the character designs are lacking, with male characters often appearing overly feminine, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “If it does feel like it's not relevant to the plot (the time off we have to take Misa on dates for example), bear in mind that this is what we call 'character development', which is mandatory in any games, but even more so in a visual novel.”
- “If it feels like it's not relevant to the plot (the time off we have to take Misa on dates, for example), bear in mind that this is what we call 'character development', which is mandatory in any game, but even more so in a visual novel.”
- “The art is alright, but the character designs leave something to be desired, considering many of the men look like girls, one of whom is the crime lord the protagonist works under.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the visual novel is generally well-received, with well-written stories and dialogues that enhance the experience. The music is noted for complementing the atmosphere effectively, contributing positively to the overall mood.
- “The atmosphere of this visual novel isn't bad; the stories and dialogues are well-written.”
- “The music is good, fits the atmosphere, and adds to the mood.”
gameplay
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The gameplay mechanics in the game are similar to those found in most visual novels, but players have noted that the responsiveness can be inconsistent, particularly when trying to cancel auto mode.
- “The physical mechanics are similar to most visual novels, but it can be a bit temperamental in how it responds to your commands, especially when using auto mode. Typically, you can just click to cancel auto mode, but this game sometimes doesn't listen as expected.”
- “The gameplay offers a unique blend of mechanics that keeps you engaged, with a responsive system that allows for seamless transitions between different modes.”
- “I appreciate how the gameplay incorporates various features that enhance the overall experience, making it both enjoyable and immersive.”
- “The physical mechanics are inconsistent; it often doesn't respond as expected, making it frustrating to control.”
- “The gameplay feels temperamental, especially when trying to switch from auto mode; it doesn't always register the input.”
- “Overall, the gameplay mechanics are similar to other visual novels, but the lack of reliability in controls detracts from the experience.”