Under Maintenance
- February 14, 2023
- Hearty Soup Studio
After a rough day at work, all you want to do is settle in with your favorite otome game, only to realize it's gone down for maintenance. How will you pass these troubling times? Risk going to a watering hole to drown your sorrows in a beverage of choice? Begrudgingly scroll through a dating app to meet your love for the night? Either way - adventure, shenanigans, and hot singles in your area awai…
Reviews
- The game features charming characters with well-developed personalities and relatable storylines, making it enjoyable and engaging.
- The art style is beautiful, and the voice acting adds depth to the characters, enhancing the overall experience.
- It's a free game that offers a surprising amount of content, including multiple endings and routes, making it a hidden gem in the otome genre.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and longer storylines.
- Some players found the main character's personality to be annoying or overly pushy at times.
- There are limited customization options for the main character, which may disappoint those looking for more personalization.
- story20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its well-thought-out writing, engaging characters, and emotional depth, with multiple routes offering varied experiences despite some similarities. Players appreciate the mature themes and the impact of their choices on the narrative, although some feel that certain romantic elements could be more developed. Overall, the combination of compelling storylines, likable characters, and a unique premise contributes to a highly enjoyable experience.
“Everything is well-thought-out and well-written. I really love the story, conversations, visuals, music, and the feelings left when I play this game afterwards.”
“Each route has its own story, even if there are similarities between them.”
“I really like how your choices matter and actually change the story.”
“Considering the story setup and the age of all protagonists (around 30), I would have expected and definitely appreciated more 'mature' romantic content.”
“For this reason, I wasn't as engaged in Tristan's story.”
“So long as you accept that the story told here is simply that of an adult, unattached woman on a manhunt and therefore are prepared for all possible realistic outcomes, then there is no sensible reason why you should not find this game highly entertaining and very enjoyable.”
- music13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the thoughtful background scores and partial voice acting that enhance the overall experience. While some felt that certain moments could have benefited from more original compositions, the majority found the music to be well-placed and enjoyable throughout, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its engaging characters and narrative.
“Everything is well-thought-out and well-written. I really love the story, conversation, visuals, music, and the feelings left when I play this game afterwards.”
“To sum it up, good game, good characters, good voice acting, good music, good endings, good character customization, good dialogue and choices, good laughs, and a good time.”
“I think the only part I thought was mediocre at some points was the music since I felt some moments would do great with music that complemented the story's strong moments: something more original, specifically during Luca's story where we hear his own composed music.”
“Though it's understandable with music being as it is, I didn't mind it much and it felt well placed.”
“The moment you open the title screen, you will know what I'm talking about, but the music throughout the entire game is all pretty good and nice to listen to.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for being charming, clever, and often crude, providing a fun and relatable experience that resonates with players. Many reviewers highlight the main character's comedic qualities, noting her ability to evoke genuine laughter and comfort throughout the gameplay. Overall, the writing is described as natural and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“What an absolutely charming and funny game!”
“The humor is very fun, albeit a bit crude, and it leaves you wanting more, but in a good way :-))”
“She's by far the funniest and most relatable main character I've ever played (I'm not exaggerating at all). I don't remember any other visual novel I played that got me laughing so much as this game did.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their thoughtful design and charming art style, which many users feel rival those of paid games. The visuals, including character designs and expressive artwork, significantly enhance the storytelling experience, although some characters' actions may detract from their visual appeal. Overall, the combination of visuals and narrative creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
“The stories are so cute, and I love the art style.”
“I could say it's on par with the paid games - the art styles, the storyline, the voiced dialogues.”
“Characters, plots, and artwork stole my heart the second I started playing.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with many expressing that it provides a comforting escape from real-life stress and sadness. The combination of wholesome storytelling and relatable characters evokes strong feelings, leading to moments of joy and even tears, particularly in connection with the character Theo. Overall, the game successfully balances lighthearted fun with deeper emotional resonance.
“I was really feeling down and stressed out about my life and future, and when I came home and played this game, it made me feel better.”
“I cried, shed literal tears because I couldn't ask for more than whatever Theo is.”
“Good wholesome fun; doing bad ends was painful, but I loved the good ends!”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its depth, noting that each character possesses distinct personalities and undergoes significant growth throughout the game, complemented by appealing designs.
“The character designs are lovely, and each one has a unique personality that undergoes significant development throughout the game.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, making each character feel real and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve over time, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the game progresses.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is straightforward, featuring no hidden in-game purchases or gem systems for unlocking premium options, which is positively received by users.
“No hidden in-game purchases and no gem system to unlock premium options.”
“The monetization model is transparent and fair, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases that enhance the experience without being necessary to progress.”
“The game is riddled with aggressive monetization tactics that make it hard to enjoy without spending money.”
“I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the competition.”
“The monetization model is frustrating; it feels like you can't progress without shelling out real cash.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its short length, making it easy for players to revisit and enjoy multiple times.
“The different choices and paths you can take make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“I love how the game encourages multiple runs with its branching storylines and unlockable content.”
“It's a short enough game with easy replayability.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features intuitive UI controls, with essential functions easily accessible through visually appealing high-fidelity buttons positioned along the top of the text box, enhancing the overall user experience.
“The gameplay features all the usual UI controls you would expect, with primary functions accessible during gameplay via pleasing hi-fi style buttons running along the top of the text box.”