The Wolf of Derevnya
- April 4, 2023
- Nightwell Games
Get on SteamIn "The Wolf of Derevnya," a survival-horror narrative game set in Kievan Rus', you play as a hero accused of attacking the villagers of Derevnya. With over 1200 choices, a customizable protagonist, and multiple endings, this 87,000-word, illustrated choose-your-own-adventure game offers a rich, immersive experience as you hunt for the beast and confront your past. The game includes 40 high-resolution hand-drawn illustrations, creating a haunting atmosphere to enhance the story.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and immersive setting in ancient Kiev, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn art and atmospheric music.
- The writing is compelling, with well-realized characters and a story that keeps players engaged through meaningful choices.
- Players appreciate the depth of the choices, which feel impactful and reminiscent of classic choose-your-own-adventure books.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay and prevent players from completing it fully.
- The plot is criticized for being predictable, with major twists easily recognizable early on, diminishing the overall experience.
- The inclusion of untranslated Russian words can confuse players, detracting from the authenticity the developers intended.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the main plot twist predictable early on, diminishing the overall impact. However, others appreciate the immersive writing and the depth of the narrative, noting that subsequent playthroughs reveal more subtle clues and enrich the experience. While the story is considered short, it effectively conveys a compelling narrative within its limited timeframe, set in the intriguing world of Kievan Rus.
“Would love to explore a bit more of it at a later date to explore the new paths as I feel there's more to the story besides what I caught from that first playthrough I did.”
“The story is a bit on the short side for my taste (my first playthrough took about 1 and a half hours), but it achieves a lot within that short time.”
“A creative and thoughtfully written story that immersed me in the unique world.”
“Unfortunately, when the main plot twist is so blunt and recognizable in the first 10 minutes of the game, the rest doesn't really matter.”
“For a text game like this, both writing and plot issues are critical, so I don't recommend the game.”
“Many of these choices are gated behind time-sensitive events; for example, near the climax of the story, you have a choice to talk to several villagers, but you are not told that there is only time to talk to 2 of them, and which 2 you talk to actually have a drastic impact on the endings.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its minimalist art style and moody music, effectively evoking feelings of isolation and dread. The well-crafted tension and gradual revelation of lore enhance the grim medieval setting, while realistic dialogue and characters contribute to an engrossing experience. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a compelling and immersive atmosphere.
“It's minimalist sketchbook style drawings and moody background music come together very nicely to create a believable atmosphere of isolation and dread, leaving your imagination to flesh out the world from the text descriptions.”
“Great atmosphere and well-written tension, with just the right pace of background lore being slowly revealed.”
“This game is very engrossing and atmospheric, with dialogue and characters that seem very real.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, which enhances the storytelling set in ancient Kiev. The visuals, including richly sketched portraits and a compelling user interface, contribute to an immersive experience that encourages players to appreciate the scenes and characters more deeply.
“I love the hand-drawn art style, and it's neat to see more stories taking place in ancient Kiev.”
“Well-written, compelling, and interesting characters, along with a very unique art style and user interface.”
“Zvezdana is a delight that makes me slow down to digest the scenes. Mila is fun and helpful, and there's a rich intrigue to it all, as well as a beautifully sketched style to all the portraits and visuals.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its minimalist and moody quality, effectively enhancing the atmosphere of isolation and tension. It complements the beautiful illustrations and writing, creating a cohesive experience that immerses players in the narrative. Overall, the subtle sound design contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact and storytelling.
“It's minimalist sketchbook style drawings and moody background music come together very nicely to create a believable atmosphere of isolation and dread, leaving your imagination to flesh out the world from the text descriptions.”
“Beautiful illustrations and musical accompaniment.”
“A nice little visual novel full of atmosphere and tension; the subtle music and sound effects really complement the writing here, complete with a twist ending that felt right and I probably should have seen coming.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game provides a welcome contrast to its darker themes, offering plenty of funny moments that allow players to momentarily escape the gravity of their circumstances.
“Plenty of funny moments to help you briefly forget how messed up your situation is.”
