Venus: Improbable Dream
- March 19, 2021
- Borealis
Get on SteamBorn with a birth defect that he hates, Kakeru struggles with severe anxiety and depression. Guide his timid decisions as he takes a brave step into a new world - joining his school's music club, making unexpected and inspiring new connections, and daring to dream again.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and emotional story that effectively addresses themes of mental health and personal struggles, making it relatable for many players.
- The artwork and music are top-notch, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the narrative.
- Choices in the game feel meaningful and impactful, allowing players to shape the protagonist's journey and outcomes in a significant way.
- The pacing can feel off at times, with some events progressing too quickly or involving time skips that may disrupt the flow of the story.
- While the game is well-written, it may feel unpolished in certain areas, which could detract from the experience for some players.
- There is no CG gallery available, which limits players' ability to revisit the game's artwork after completing it.
- story48 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is a deeply emotional and relatable exploration of personal struggles, particularly focusing on themes of mental health and the experience of feeling different. It features a well-structured narrative with a prologue, two chapters, and an epilogue, where player choices in the latter chapters influence the protagonist's journey. Overall, the writing is praised for its authenticity and ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a compelling experience for players.
“An exceptionally well-written visual novel with a uniquely compelling story arc.”
“The story was relatable and was conveyed very well - I was always curious to see what would happen next and could really feel the anxiety of the main character and the transformation.”
“This game is a story about a young man who is dealing with some personal struggles but realizes through interpersonal connections that he is not the only one.”
“Still, all the connections I found between myself and the story were not enough for me to fully understand his situation.”
“It is also a deep story about human beings and about a rare subject: mental health.”
“Having dyspraxia myself and going through certain stages in my life where I hated myself solely due to my learning difficulty, this story empathized with me more than most others when looking at a person and their interpretations of what they view themselves as.”
- music40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, featuring beautiful classical pieces that enhance the overall experience and align well with the music club theme. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is not only lovely but also impactful, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and atmosphere of the story. Overall, the combination of well-executed music and artwork creates a charming and immersive experience for players.
“The tracks are absolutely lovely to listen to.”
“The majority of them are beautiful classical music pieces, and I have to admit that classical music is one of my favorite genres.”
“I really liked the game; the music was very nice and fitted the mood.”
“While it may be unpolished in some areas, the writing and music are solid, and it's quite charming.”
“Getting back on topic, it makes sense that the tracks would be classical music since the music club focuses a lot on them.”
“Since music takes a big part as a topic in the life of our main characters, I respect that the sounds used in this game are very impactful to your gameplay.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Venus: Improbable Dream" is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in its true ending, which focuses on a poignant romance between the characters Kakeru and Haruka. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with many expressing that the story left a significant emotional impact, even bringing them to tears. The simplicity of the narrative, devoid of complex lore, enhances its emotional resonance, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
“Please get this game for yourselves to play; I am lost for words for how emotionally powerful this story is.”
“The story already made me cry like a little baby.”
“Omg this visual novel is amazing; the ending was so emotional and touching.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their high quality and nostalgic art style reminiscent of early visual novels, complemented by well-executed artwork and fitting music. Users appreciate the attention to detail in various locations, enhancing the overall experience despite the limited choices in gameplay. Overall, the visuals and audio contribute significantly to the immersive storytelling.
“The artwork and music are all top-notch, and while the choices are limited (large chunks of the VN are kinetic), it's nice to know that every choice you make does matter, unlike certain VNs that make you choose between synonyms with no indication of what any option does.”
“The graphics are nice, and the music is well integrated into the scene.”
“The artwork is well executed, the music is quite nice, and the flow of the story is easy to follow.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is structured around a narrative that includes a prologue, two chapters, and an epilogue, focusing primarily on player choices that influence the story's outcome. Additionally, the impactful use of music enhances the overall gameplay experience, reflecting the significance of sound in the characters' lives.
“As for the gameplay, the story contains a brief prologue, two chapters, and an epilogue (for both good and true endings), and it solely has choices.”
“Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my thoughts.”
“Since music plays a significant role in the lives of our main characters, I appreciate that the sounds used in this game are very impactful to your gameplay.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is generally effective, with choices in the second chapter significantly impacting the narrative direction, particularly regarding character performance decisions. However, the first chapter's choices do not influence the story's trajectory.
