Valentine Panic
- October 13, 2017
- Michaela Laws
Get on SteamIn Valentine Panic , you land a last-minute job at the Pink Lady Cafe for Valentine's Day. Romance options include two male and two female characters, and the main character is customizable with a genderless design and a name of your choice. The game features full voice acting, a memory card game, hidden easter eggs, and a talented team of artists, musicians, and voice actors.
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Reviews
- The game features excellent voice acting and well-drawn, relatable characters, making the interactions enjoyable.
- It's a cute and short visual novel that combines a matching mini-game, providing a fun experience for those who enjoy casual gameplay.
- The game is affordably priced, making it a good value for the amount of content and features it offers.
- The romance elements are minimal and often feel more like friendships, which may disappoint players looking for a traditional dating sim experience.
- The main gameplay mechanic, a memory matching game, can become repetitive and tedious, especially for those primarily interested in the story.
- The font can be difficult to read, and some characters have inconsistent designs, which detracts from the overall presentation.
- story40 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of "Valentine Panic" is a simple and short visual novel centered around a nameless protagonist seeking a job at a cafe, featuring a cast of lovable characters. While some players find the narrative enjoyable and well-written, many criticize it for being rigid, bland, and lacking meaningful romance, leading to a feeling of missed potential. Overall, the game is seen as a light experience that may appeal to those who appreciate its unique blend of mini-games and storytelling, but it falls short for those seeking a deeper narrative.
“Highly recommend this game as it's cheap, has a nice story and a lovable cast of characters!”
“The story is, even if there isn't much of it in the first place, well written and quite enjoyable.”
“A short little game, but I really enjoyed it; each story playthrough takes about 30-40 minutes, but it looks like there are probably about 4 endings.”
“Unfortunately, the story is extremely rigid.”
“The story is short, bland, and repetitive, and despite the romance hinted at in the title and description, there isn't any at all.”
“As much as I would have loved to enjoy Valentine Panic, it’s a shame that it wasn’t a bigger visual novel with more put into developing a story and actual romance paths.”
- music14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with particular praise for the beautiful main menu theme. However, while the existing tracks fit the setting and are enjoyable, the limited number of songs can lead to repetition and fatigue over time. Overall, the music and sound design are considered good but not exceptional, earning a score of 7/10.
“I love the main menu music; it is truly beautiful to listen to.”
“The music that was there was enjoyable to listen to and fit the setting well, but there are very few tracks overall, and it can get a bit tiring to listen to the same tunes again.”
“Music-wise, not so much.”
“In terms of music and sound, everything was well done, if not spectacular.”
“I am a big fan of Michaela Law's games, so I am a bit biased, but the art, music, and voice acting is what I expect from this developer (in other words, it's good).”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Valentine Panic" primarily revolves around a memory/matching game, which some players find tedious if they are seeking a more engaging story. While the mechanics are straightforward and the paths easy to navigate, the overall experience is considered average, with a rating of 5/10, leaving players wanting more depth and variety.
“This is of course, where the gameplay comes in, and if you know how a typical card matching game works, congratulations!”
“The main gameplay mechanic, a memory/matching game, could be an annoyance if you are only there for the story.”
“Most of the gameplay is a matching game, but the paths are relatively simple to figure out.”
“If you know how a typical card matching game works, congratulations!”
- graphics5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised, receiving a score of 9/10 for their cute art style and impressive character design. Reviewers note that the quality of the visuals and voice acting is exceptional, especially considering the game's low price point.
“I like the characters and the art style; I think it's cute.”
“For a dollar, this game has a really great art style, really great voice acting, and much more.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of achieving a streak of 100 in endless mode to be somewhat tedious, but manageable, as the ability to save progress allows for breaks and makes the task feel less daunting.
“Getting a streak of 100 in the endless mode is kind of tedious, but I did it rather quickly even when you factor in breaks (since you can save in endless mode and keep your streak going through multiple sessions).”
“Getting a streak of 100 in the endless mode is kind of tedious, but I did it rather quickly even when you factor in breaks (since you can save in endless mode and keep your streak going through multiple sessions).”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has received a strong rating of 8/10 for replayability, indicating that players find it engaging enough to revisit multiple times. This suggests a variety of content or mechanics that encourage repeated playthroughs.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the option to refuse a task, leading to a quick and amusing ending, which adds a playful twist to the gameplay. Players also encounter quirky scenarios, such as a hands-on test at the "pink lady," that contribute to the lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
“If you accept (you can actually refuse for a very quick ending that is rather hilarious), you'll arrive at the pink lady and get a hands-on test to see if you have what it takes to add your skills to the ensemble and hopefully make the Valentine rush a successful one.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by low-key and wholesome relationships, offering a refreshing departure from the typical hentai narratives commonly found on Steam. Players appreciate the depth and sincerity of the connections, enhancing the overall romantic experience.
“While these are technically romance stories, the relationships you can develop are low-key and wholesome, which is honestly a nice change from the typical hentai scene that Steam is known for.”
