The Grand Ball

About

The Grand Ball is a single player action game with a erotic theme. It was developed by Last Lotus and was released on May 10, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The year is 1882, and Queen Victoria and the British Empire is at the height of its power. Sadly House Blakely, one of Britain's oldest noble families, does not share in the Empire's good fortunes. It has fallen to you, as the eldest son, to restore it to it to its past glory.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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68%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a charming Victorian-era setting with well-researched historical elements, immersing players in the social intricacies of the time.
There are multiple endings available, providing a variety of outcomes that enhance replayability and allow players to explore different narrative paths.
The art style and music contribute positively to the atmosphere, creating an enjoyable experience that captures the essence of the period.

The game suffers from technical issues, including a buggy save system and clunky interface, which detracts from the overall experience.
The narrative feels shallow and rushed, with limited character development and abrupt endings that leave players wanting more depth.
Some choices lack meaningful impact, leading to a sense of frustration as players navigate through misleading options.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The story is set in the 1800s, focusing on a young nobleman's efforts to win a lady's hand at a ball, with choices that directly influence the outcome and multiple endings available. While some reviewers appreciated the historical accuracy and light intrigue, others criticized the narrative for lacking depth and an overarching message, describing it as more of a series of random events rather than a cohesive story. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding it enjoyable and engaging, while others feel it falls short of the expectations for a visual novel.
- “The story is set in the 1800s, and a screen shown before the story makes it clear that the writers emphasized an accurate portrayal over modern sensibilities.”
- “So.. with a total of almost ten different endings, you'll have lots of lines of text to explore and in my opinion it's really a great story, intriguing.. the financial situation of your family, the usual love interest but set in a historical past made up by the greatest European nobility.. you'll find yourself definitely absorbed by the narration, extremely fit into a Victorian scheme!”
- “Although completely fictional, the writers put a lot of love and care into crafting the story to be as historically accurate as possible, and it's an absolute joy to read.”
- “There was no overall message, or point to the story.”
- “Overall, I wouldn't recommend it, because this did not feel like a story at all.”
- “Even a cliché story would be better than a non-story.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players found it generic and passable, others appreciated its orchestral style and how it enhanced the atmosphere and narrative. The soundtrack, which includes original compositions and rearrangements of classical pieces, is available as a DLC, though opinions vary on its value. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's relaxing and immersive experience.
- “By the way, the DLC consists of the whole soundtrack of the game, 12 tracks overall; of course it isn't worth the 2€/$ but you can add it to your wishlist and I really enjoyed the music of the game, even outside it!”
- “Absolutely loved the music!”
- “The music definitely fit with the atmosphere and certainly helped with its tone, but I personally didn't care for it.”
- “Meanwhile, as for the music and the art, it was rather generic and passable.”
- “The score was made up of orchestral waltzes and chamber music; some of it composed specifically for the game and other tracks rearrangements of classical compositions.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its blend of absurd and hilarious moments, particularly through witty dialogue and character interactions, such as those from the butler, Jameson. Players appreciate the variety of endings, with several offering comedic twists that enhance the overall narrative experience. The writing captures a relaxed, entertaining tone reminiscent of 19th-century literature, making the humorous elements stand out amidst the more serious themes.
- “There are several endings to be had, from love to death to the absurd to the hilarious. [spoiler] Damn you, Samuel!”
- “It’s hard to classify a genre for this as it had both really serious mysterious moments and also really funny moments in the dialogue. Jameson, the butler, is my favorite character! He definitely had the funniest lines.”
- “The 'funny' endings were great; I like how in this game if you aren’t careful, you end up in a really mad situation.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay is hindered by clunky mechanics, frequent freezing, and glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are appealing, the subpar writing further diminishes enjoyment, suggesting that improvements in both mechanics and narrative could enhance the game significantly.
- “The backgrounds, as I said, aren't extremely great, but really, there are no problems at all when you get into the game's mechanics.”
- “The mechanics were clunky, freezing and glitching everywhere, and the writing was subpar.”
- “Gameplay: it's a visual novel.”
- “The backgrounds, as I said, aren't extremely great, but really, no problems at all when you get into the game's mechanics.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The atmosphere is characterized by refined conversations intertwined with deadly intrigues, creating a captivating yet tension-filled environment. While the music complements the tone, opinions on it vary, and the overall experience is enhanced by the Victorian setting, though historical accuracy may be questionable. Potential buyers are advised to consider their affinity for the atmosphere presented before purchasing.
- “I'm not familiar enough with Victorian settings to vouch for historical accuracy here, but I enjoyed the atmosphere as a whole.”
- “The music definitely fit with the atmosphere and certainly helped with its tone.”
- “Quite soon I was drawn into that atmosphere of refined, exquisite conversations but often hiding deadly intrigues and plots... there's no real action here, just lots of noble interactions.”
- “The music definitely fit with the atmosphere and certainly helped with its tone, but I personally didn't care for it.”
- “Couple the short playtime and $4.99 price point; if you aren't a fan of the immediate atmosphere the store page gives off, I'd advise against buying it.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics in "The Grand Ball" are generally well-received, featuring charming artwork and a fitting Japanese style that complements the game's narrative focus. While some users noted that both backgrounds and character designs could be improved, they found no major flaws, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience overall.
- “The graphics are definitely enjoyable; while both backgrounds and characters could have been drawn a little better, there are no major flaws. The characters are drawn in a unique Japanese style, and everything fits the game, whose main point is of course the plot!”
- “I enjoyed playing the game; the setting was well researched (though of course there were a few anachronisms), the art style is charming, and the potential endings are interesting.”
- “The Grand Ball is a short visual novel featuring multiple endings, nice background music, and beautiful artwork.”
- “Even before I bought the game, I had a problem with the art style.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development in the visual novel is criticized for its slow pacing and occasional abruptness, with some players noting a lack of expressive facial changes during dialogue that detracts from emotional engagement. While the character designs are era-appropriate, they are described as either plain or faded, which further impacts the overall impression of character depth.
- “The character design and clothing matched the era of the visual novel.”
- “While I found the character designs pleasing, the lack of expression change when they talk really bothers me since I've seen other visual novels (including free ones) where you can tell the expressions on the characters' faces change to fit the mood.”
- “The colors look too faded and the character designs felt a bit either plain or pale.”
- “Character development is very slow and sometimes too fast.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The visual novel delivers a deeply emotional experience, featuring a range of unexpected good and bad endings that evoke strong feelings. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling that transports them to another time period, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
- “Overall, this visual novel was an emotional experience.”
- “The variety of good and bad endings, some of which were completely unexpected while others were heartwarmingly sweet, added to the emotional depth.”
- “It really made me feel like I was in another time period.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report issues with the save menu, noting that it is buggy and does not allow for direct saving on choice, which affects overall stability.
- “The save menu is buggy; I can't save directly on my choice.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it impossible to progress.”
- “I've experienced multiple freezes during gameplay, which is incredibly frustrating.”