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.
Reviews
- The game features stunning hand-drawn art and a charming atmosphere that immerses players in its storybook world.
- The narrative is engaging, with interesting characters and emotional storylines that resonate with players.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and provide a cozy gaming experience, making it a pleasant way to spend time.
- The game is incomplete, with only two chapters available at launch, and future chapters will be released as paid DLC, which was not clearly communicated prior to purchase.
- The English translation is often poor, leading to confusion and immersion-breaking moments throughout the game.
- There are several technical issues, including bugs, sound balancing problems, and clunky interactions that detract from the overall experience.
- story31 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its charming and immersive narrative, complemented by beautiful hand-drawn art and engaging characters, though some players express a desire for a longer experience, particularly regarding the protagonist Nico's backstory. However, the localization issues detract from the overall experience, with grammatical errors and unclear quest instructions impacting immersion. Additionally, many reviewers are frustrated by the game's limited content, as it currently only includes two chapters, leaving players with a cliffhanger and concerns about future DLC costs.
“Absolutely loved the whole storyline from the different areas to unlock to mini side quests!”
“Super cute storytelling, if not a bit bittersweet at times, as you get the occasional glimpse into all of these characters' war backgrounds and fleeting moments of how it has affected them.”
“The storytelling is so good that it makes me want to just dive into the game and enjoy it as a nice little cute gaming session.”
“The translation needs some work as while it does get the story across, the grammatical errors make things a bit rough at times.”
“My only concern is that the storyline may never be complete. I could pay for DLC only to be left on a cliffhanger.”
“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.”
- music13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and charm, enhancing the overall atmosphere alongside the art style. However, some players have noted issues with the music's inconsistency, including abrupt cuts, a lack of presence in certain scenes, and problems with sound settings resetting. While the ambient sounds can be immersive, the absence of a more constant musical backdrop can lead to moments of dullness during gameplay.
“The art is so beautiful, lovely story and characters, cozy music and easy puzzles.”
“I love the music and art style.”
“I really wanted to be in love with this game, it's absolutely stunning and the music is perfect when it decides to grace us with its presence.”
“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.”
“Music cuts abruptly in some scenes; I recommend using a fade-out effect.”
“There's almost no music in the game; most of what you hear is ambient noises, which isn't 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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style and vibrant colors, creating aesthetically pleasing backgrounds that enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the gorgeous visuals and beautiful music, often rating the graphics as exceptional. Overall, the game's artistic presentation is a significant draw for players.
“Nonetheless, I would highly recommend this game to anyone who wants to play a game with very aesthetically pleasing backgrounds and an amazing walkthrough of a storyline.”
“The art style is absolutely gorgeous; every environment is stunning to look at, with such vivid color work.”
“But first of all, the art style is gorgeous.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its immersive details that evoke strong feelings, including joy and sadness. However, some users feel betrayed by the developers due to the perception of an unfinished product, which adds a layer of disappointment to their experience.
“There is just so much happening at all times and so many details; it really made me feel immersed.”
“It made me cry.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming art and gorgeous visuals, creating a cozy and inviting environment that enhances the overall experience.
“Very charming art, absolutely gorgeous atmosphere, and charming characters.”
“It has a very cozy atmosphere.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay features engaging and varied puzzles that utilize different mechanics, providing a fresh experience. However, some users suggest considering alternative games, as the overall playtime is limited to about 8 hours.
“The puzzles are engaging and not repetitive, with different mechanics depending on the puzzle.”
“You're better off finding something else to play other than this game.”
“If you're going to buy the game, know that you're getting only 8 hours of gameplay.”
- 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 development of its characters. This combination enhances players' emotional investment and connection to the storyline.
“The engaging world-building and compelling character design truly bring the story to life.”
“I love how the character development is intricately woven into the narrative, making each character feel real and relatable.”
“The depth of each character's backstory and growth throughout the game is impressive and keeps me invested in their journeys.”
- 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 cumbersome and time-consuming.
“The lack of a fast travel option makes backtracking tedious and frustrating.”
“Grinding feels like a chore, especially with the endless backtracking required.”
“Without any fast travel, the grinding becomes a monotonous task that drags the experience down.”
