Sunset Hills
- August 20, 2024
- Cotton Game
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Sunset Hills" is a narrative-driven game where players join Nico, a writer, on a journey through several countries, years after the end of a war. Along the way, Nico meets old comrades and encounters various people and events that gradually reveal his past and the true purpose of his journey. With mature themes and an expected playtime of 8 hours, the game provides an engaging storyline as a warm reminder of war and loss. Future content will be released as free updates.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and beautiful watercolor graphics that create an immersive and cozy atmosphere.
- The soundtrack is delightful and enhances the overall experience, with many players expressing a desire for its release.
- The story is engaging, focusing on themes of friendship and nostalgia, with interesting characters that players look forward to learning more about.
- The game is incomplete, with only two chapters available at launch, and future chapters are planned as paid DLC, which has frustrated many players.
- The English localization is poor, with awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that detract from the narrative experience.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as puzzle guidance and text readability, are lacking, leading to frustration and confusion during play.
- story57 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around Nico, a dog reconnecting with his military friends, is praised for its heartwarming themes and charming characters, though it suffers from a lack of depth and focus due to its incomplete nature, with only two chapters available. While the art style is beautifully hand-drawn and the narrative has potential, many players find the English translation clunky and distracting, which detracts from immersion. Overall, the story is engaging and evokes a range of emotions, but players express a desire for a more polished and complete experience.
“Absolutely loved the whole storyline from the different areas to unlock to mini side quests!”
“The story centers on Nico, a charming dog who turned to writing after his military service, during which he forged bonds with various characters we meet as we journey through the game’s unique settings.”
“I've smiled gently, laughed like a hyena, and teared up a little, wondering what else is to come and how much the story, past and present, will unfold.”
“The dialogue and narration for this game are often so clunky and grammatically incorrect and oddly worded that it continually frustrates me and pulls me out of the story.”
“Unfortunately, the primary storyline seems to take a backseat to these secondary activities, leaving the narrative feeling somewhat disjointed.”
“The biggest con for me is that there are only 2 chapters published so far, with a 'to be continued' credits roll scene that honestly baffled me at first because it didn't feel like there had been a proper ending to the storyline.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and charming animations, creating an immersive and visually appealing experience reminiscent of a living picture book. Reviewers highlight the unique 2.5D aesthetic and attention to detail, which contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere that enhances the storytelling. Overall, the visuals are considered one of the game's standout features, captivating players from the moment they enter its world.
“The art style is fucking gorgeous; every environment is stunning to look at, with such vivid color work.”
“Animations are elegant and evocative; characters are awash with pleasing, distinctive details; locations are crammed with interesting features, with background NPCs regularly coming and going, making for a truly immersive picture book aesthetic.”
“The game's warm colors and inviting art style exude a comforting, familiar vibe—almost like a friendly hug at sunset.”
“The graphics are hand-drawn with 3D scenes while the characters are created in 2D.”
“The puzzles may not be the best, but the graphics have to be one of the best.”
“The game's art style, animation, soundtrack, and characters are all great; however, there are some shortcomings.”
- music28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the unique soundtrack and its alignment with the game's art style. However, some players express disappointment over the inconsistent presence of music, noting that there are moments of silence that detract from immersion and can lead to a dull atmosphere. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered sublime and memorable, there are calls for more consistent musical accompaniment throughout the gameplay.
“The first thing that struck me about this game were the music and art style, which are both very unique and right up my alley!”
“The wistful tones of the theme song will be stuck in my head for days.”
“Sunset Hills has a fantastic collection of soundtracks that gives players an immersive gaming experience as they journey through breathtaking locations.”
“I got my ears blown out constantly by loud noises even though I had all the sound sliders down at minimum, and the music one kept resetting to highest every single time I booted the game up.”
“There's almost no music in the game; most of what you hear is ambient noises, which is not bad on its own, but they loop endlessly back to back and eventually can get quite annoying when there is no gap in between them.”
“Music isn't a constant, and this can make some scenes really dull to be in. Given how the game makes you run around the map, you are going to be experiencing several dead airs due to the lack of music playing in the background.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the reviewed game features a blend of point-and-click mechanics and engaging puzzles that encourage exploration, though initial controls may feel unintuitive. While the puzzles are varied and enjoyable, some players find the inventory management cumbersome and the need to explore unrelated areas for puzzle solutions can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers around 8 hours of gameplay, appealing to those who appreciate mystery-solving and exploration.
“The puzzles are engaging and not repetitive, and different mechanics are used depending on the puzzle.”
“The gameplay in Sunset Hills has a delightful mix of puzzles and mystery-solving for players to enjoy.”
“Initially, the mechanics and UI were not intuitive, but after about 5-10 minutes, it became much more natural, and now I look forward to having the time to finish it in full.”
“The only part I thought less successful was the inventory screen: though controllers are fully supported, I found that button contexts weren’t always consistent, leading to some awkward fumbling when trying to detach previously-combined items from each other, or manipulate some of the mechanical puzzles.”
“Gameplay-wise, Sunset Hills demands a lot of exploration to solve its puzzles, which can often be frustratingly blocked by the need to first discover something unrelated in another area.”
“You're better off finding something else to play other than this game, and if you're going to buy the game, know that you're getting 8 hours of gameplay for this.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartwarming narrative that balances lighthearted moments with serious themes, such as the impact of war. Players report feeling deeply immersed and emotionally affected, with some expressing joy and even tears during their experience. However, there are concerns about the game's unfinished state, which detracts from the overall emotional impact.
“Though generally quite a heartwarming pair of adventures, there are serious topics such as the lasting effects of the war in there, too.”
“The story line is heartwarming.”
“This game is seriously wholesome and playing it brought joy to my heart!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming art and gorgeous atmosphere, creating a cozy environment that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the delightful characters that contribute to this inviting ambiance.
“Very charming art, absolutely gorgeous atmosphere, and charming characters.”
“It has a very cozy atmosphere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as both hilarious and engaging, particularly in the unique approach to winning the darts game, making it an enjoyable experience overall.
“The way to win the darts game is hilarious!”
“The game is funny, engaging, and just plain fun to play.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game features engaging world-building and compelling character design, which contribute significantly to the depth and relatability of the characters. This combination enhances the overall narrative experience, making players more invested in the characters' journeys.
“The engaging world-building and compelling character design truly elevate the experience.”
“The depth of character development allows players to form meaningful connections with the characters.”
“Each character's growth throughout the story is both believable and impactful, making the journey unforgettable.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to the lack of a fast travel option, which makes backtracking a cumbersome process. The running option does little to alleviate the repetitive nature of traversing the game world.
“The lack of a fast travel option makes backtracking tedious and frustrating.”
“Grinding feels like a chore, especially with the endless backtracking required.”
“Without fast travel, the grinding becomes a monotonous task that drags the experience down.”
