The Rose of Segunda
- May 30, 2018
- Blackcross & Taylor
- 9h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Rose of Segunda: Blackcross Taylor 2018," players navigate an open world as a bounty hunter, completing missions, battling enemies, and uncovering the truth about their past. The game features a deep story, various weapons and skills to customize, and a moral alignment system that affects gameplay and narrative outcomes. Explore diverse environments, interact with characters, and make meaningful choices in this immersive action RPG.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming and witty main character whose personality can be shaped by player choices, making for a more engaging experience.
- The writing is humorous and well-crafted, with interesting character interactions and a variety of romance routes that feel organic and believable.
- The art and music contribute to a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Some players found the writing stilted and the main character immature, detracting from the overall experience.
- The inclusion of an incest romance route was controversial and uncomfortable for some players, leading to mixed feelings about the game's themes.
- The game could benefit from a longer story and more fleshed-out endings, as some routes felt rushed or incomplete.
- story44 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and humorous, with well-developed relationships that grow organically over a short two-week timeframe. While the narrative is generally straightforward and could benefit from additional length to explore complex subplots, it features strong characterizations and enjoyable interactions, making it a fun experience for fans of romance and otome games. Overall, players appreciate the balance of lightheartedness and depth, despite some wishing for more romance and plot resolution.
“When I realized the story only takes place over 2 weeks, I wondered if the romance would develop believably, so I was pleasantly surprised when none of the routes had any pacing issues - all of the relationships felt that they grew organically, without feeling rushed or contrived for plot convenience.”
“The story makes clear that people are pressured to get married early for pragmatic rather than personal reasons, grow up faster and take on responsibility earlier than we do today, and don't have great family lives.”
“For me, the strength of this game comes from the characters and their interactions. The plot itself is also nice; a lot of the stories for each character's routes are very interesting and I would have loved to see them expanded if the game was longer.”
“The only piece of criticism I would have for this game is that the story could've been longer, to allow for more fleshed-out endings and to better explore and tie up the loose ends of the more complex subplots (especially Leopold's route).”
“I have no interest in incest routes, and considering what a strong, selfless ally he was throughout the story, I was genuinely disappointed it was an option.”
“Many choices don't actually have any influence on the story or romance route, but are for characterizing the protagonist.”
- music19 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as beautiful and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience despite the absence of voice acting. While some players found it standard or not particularly memorable, others appreciated its ability to complement the visuals and writing effectively. Overall, the soundtrack received mixed reviews, with ratings around 7/10, indicating it adds to the ambiance without being overly intrusive.
“Beautiful soundtrack, beautiful visuals, more choice than other games give.”
“I love all of it: the text, the artwork, the music... oh, the music.”
“The soundtrack is really nice, and it will always hold a special place in my heart for bringing me a little bit of unqualified happiness.”
“Just grabbing Mozart's music is totally fine, but the abrupt stop-replay part can definitely be improved.”
“The music is okay enough, I suppose, pretty standard.”
“I didn't find the music to be anything very special, but I wasn't bored by it either.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and witty dialogue, providing players with genuinely funny moments that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the balance of humor with engaging character interactions and storylines, making it a fun and relaxing choice in the otome/visual novel genre. The protagonist's cleverness and the variety of humorous choices contribute to a memorable and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The story line is hilarious and I had so much fun playing it.”
“Wonderful characters, and hilarious and above all intelligent writing.”
“The writing is witty and there were times where I found myself laughing out loud.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their rich and lovely artwork, contributing to an immersive experience alongside a beautiful soundtrack. While some users desire more variety in character models and better alignment between backgrounds and text descriptions, the overall art style is considered sufficient and enhances the visual novel experience.
“The visuals are rich and lovely.”
“Beautiful soundtrack, beautiful visuals, more choice than other games give.”
“I only wish the backgrounds matched the text descriptions a little better in some places (such as the palace being more lavish, or more areas of the garden being illustrated) but in the end the artwork was enough to help me imagine the rest, which is perfectly fine for a visual novel.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its polish and similarity to other well-regarded titles, featuring straightforward mechanics focused on action and conversation choices rather than visible stats. Reviewers appreciate the engaging personality mechanics and plot variability, with ratings ranging from 8/10 to 10/10, indicating a generally positive reception.
“It's way more polished than a lot of otome games on here and reminds me of Demon Heart and Along the Edge in terms of their personality mechanics and how the plot varies greatly on those factors.”
“Gameplay: 10/10”
“While I haven't played a particularly large amount of VNs or otomes, so I'm probably not the best judge, The Rose of Segunda's gameplay had some aspects I really enjoyed.”
“There are no visible stats to track; just action or conversation options to select, so gameplay is rather straightforward.”
“No plot details really, just impressions and mechanics.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development is positively received, with users appreciating the charming and diverse character designs that fit well within the game's setting. However, one character was noted as less engaging, suggesting some inconsistency in depth across the cast.
“I enjoyed all of them (but one who I found boring even after his route) and I liked everyone's character design.”
“The character designs are charming.”
“The character design is nice, and I was surprised at how diverse it was, given the setting, but none of it felt out of place.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply engaging, enhancing the tension and realism of the cutthroat royal court setting. The routes, particularly Charlotte's, offer a wholesome contrast, filled with heartwarming moments and emotional rollercoasters that keep players invested in the characters and their relationships. Overall, the blend of high-stakes drama and tender interactions creates a compelling emotional experience.
“It was a big part of what made the cutthroat and tense nature of the setting feel more real. Even if my character wasn't at any real risk, the fact that I was in a situation where I had to constantly toe the line made me feel that the royal court really is a very dangerous place.”
“With Charlotte, I didn't have very high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised; her route was so wholesome!”
“I thought there was going to be a kiss in the play... then again they got in trouble even without it. Also, even outside the game, I went on a whole emotional rollercoaster because of him! First thinking it's a pity the prettiest boy is the brother, then realizing he's still a love interest... I was both happy and worried.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by well-integrated music and sound effects that complement the narrative without being intrusive. While the backgrounds are not overly elaborate, they effectively support the setting and time period, contributing significantly to the overall immersive experience.
“Apart from the characters, story, writing, and choices, which I adored, the atmosphere was really created for you with adequate but not annoying music, sound effects, and the backgrounds that provided a good backdrop to the entertaining scenes nonetheless.”
“The music added to the atmosphere, even though I usually turn it down in visual novels.”
“Apart from the characters, story, writing, and choices, which I adored, the atmosphere was really created for you with adequate but not annoying music and sound effects. The backgrounds weren't lavish, but they provided a good backdrop to the entertaining scenes nonetheless.”
“It took an important role in adding to the overall atmosphere of the game, both in time period and setting.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the repetitive nature of daily activities across different routes, leading to a lack of variety and engagement.
“The main problem is that throughout all the routes you go through the same daily activities every time, and that can get tedious.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really drains the fun out of the experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that exploring different personalities significantly enhances the game's replayability, offering a richer and more nuanced experience of the protagonist's journey through a world filled with nobles and intrigue.
“I highly recommend playing with different personalities because it adds replay value and also gives you an interesting, comprehensive picture of the young lady making her way through this world of nobles and intrigue.”
