The Vigilant Villa
- July 17, 2020
- 知行合一
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Vigilant Villa" , players assume the role of a novelist and Sherlock Holmes fan who becomes entangled in a suspenseful mystery at a hilltop villa. Ten guests, who seem unacquainted at first, are trapped for seven days and become ensnared in intricate relationships, uncovering lies, betrayal, and a hidden truth related to their loved ones and rivals. As the story unfolds, players must deduce the events to discover the truth.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an engaging story with well-developed characters and multiple plot twists, reminiscent of classic murder mystery novels.
- The art style and voice acting are well-received, contributing to an immersive experience.
- The game offers a variety of puzzles and interactive elements that enhance the detective gameplay, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The game suffers from significant server connection issues, often preventing players from accessing it altogether.
- The English translation is poorly executed, with numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies that hinder understanding of the story and gameplay mechanics.
- The ending feels rushed and convoluted, leaving many plot points unresolved and disappointing for players seeking a satisfying conclusion.
- story31 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story is a dark and captivating murder mystery that incorporates elements of abuse, human experimentation, and psychological themes, featuring a diverse cast of characters trapped on an island. While the narrative draws inspiration from classic works and offers intriguing twists, some players note that the ending feels forced and lacks clarity, particularly due to additional backstory introduced late in the game. Despite translation issues that may hinder understanding, the overall storytelling and atmosphere are praised, making it a compelling visual novel experience.
“The story was really captivating, and having multiple endings makes each playthrough that much more unique to the player.”
“I can see a mix of Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None', Knox's Decalogue, and Umineko elements in this story, making it somewhat classic but refreshing, albeit not a masterpiece.”
“The story is pretty sinister and dark; it's violent and has elements of abuse, human experimentation, psychiatric issues, and a lot of secrets.”
“The last chapter, however, seems a bit off, which I assume is due to an additional backstory suddenly added to the plot and changed the main point of this game.”
“The translation is poor and actively inhibits understanding of the interface and story.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the eerie background score that complements the murder mystery theme. Voice acting is highlighted as a strong point, contributing to the overall positive impression of the audio experience.
“Great art, music, voice acting, and story.”
“The characters are varied and I liked the music as well.”
“The background music is eerie to my ears, which probably suits the murder mystery theme of this game.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay features engaging characters and intriguing mechanics centered around deduction and evidence collection, drawing inspiration from classic mystery stories. However, players have reported issues with translation errors, bugs, and typos that detract from the overall experience, particularly during critical moments in the game. Despite these flaws, the core gameplay elements show promise, suggesting that future titles could benefit from improved localization and technical stability.
“The gameplay: the deduction and collecting evidence part are interesting, although sometimes when we are to present strong evidence, the correlating statement sometimes does not have any strong basis to reason it.”
“I wish the devs nothing but success in their future endeavors, and I hope their next work has a better translation because as far as gameplay and story go, they obviously know what they're doing.”
“The deduction and collecting evidence part are interesting, although sometimes when we are to present strong evidence, the correlating statement does not have a strong basis to reason it.”
“Good puzzles and stories, but a bad network server and bugs lead to a poor gameplay experience.”
“I did like the characters, the game mechanics, and the references to classic mystery stories, but then I got to the final part.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique art style, which enhances the overall experience alongside interesting characters and effective voice acting. Users appreciate the visual presentation as a significant aspect of the game's appeal.
“I very much liked the art style and the voice acting in the game.”
“The art style and characters were also quite interesting in their own way.”
“Anyway, the story and characters are interesting, and I like the art style.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users indicating that it offers little to no incentive to play again after the initial experience.
“Replay value: I'm sorry to say this, but it's little to none.”
“The game lacks any meaningful incentives to replay, making it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little motivation to go back and play it again.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally well-received, with users appreciating the engaging puzzles and interesting story, despite some rough translations.
“The atmosphere is immersive and captivating, drawing you into the world.”
“The game's ambiance perfectly complements the storyline, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The atmospheric design creates a sense of tension and excitement that keeps you engaged.”
