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.
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.
- Some players noted that the pacing can feel off at times, with abrupt time skips that may disrupt the flow of the story.
- The game lacks a CG gallery, which would have allowed players to revisit the beautiful artwork more easily.
- While the writing is generally solid, a few minor typos were reported, which could detract from the overall polish of the game.
- story24 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story is a deeply engaging and relatable exploration of mental health and personal struggles, told through the perspective of a young man navigating his differences and forming meaningful connections. It features a well-structured narrative with choices that influence the outcome, enhancing the emotional impact and realism of the protagonist's journey. Overall, the writing is praised for its authenticity and ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a powerful 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.”
“While the choices in the first chapter don't affect the story's direction, the ones in the second chapter determine whether Kakeru chooses to perform with the group or to do a solo performance.”
“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.”
“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.”
- music20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its beautiful classical pieces, which align well with the music club theme and enhance the overall atmosphere. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is impactful and complements the emotional narrative, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience for players.
“The tracks are absolutely lovely to listen to, and the majority of them are beautiful classical music pieces, which is one of my favorite genres.”
“Since music plays a significant role in the lives of the main characters, I appreciate that the sounds used in this game are very impactful to the gameplay.”
“I really liked the game; the music was very nice and fitted the mood perfectly.”
“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.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
[b]Venus: Improbable Dream[/b] is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in its true ending, which focuses on a poignant romance between the main characters, Kakeru and Haruka. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with many expressing that it left a lasting impact and even brought them to tears. Overall, it stands out in the visual novel genre for its heartfelt storytelling and emotional resonance.
“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.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their high-quality artwork reminiscent of classic visual novels, complemented by well-integrated music that enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals and the variety of locations, contributing to an engaging and easy-to-follow narrative.
“The artwork and music are all top-notch, and while the choices are limited (large chunks of the visual novel are kinetic), it's nice to know that every choice you make does matter, unlike certain visual novels 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.”
“The art style reminds me of a few of the first visual novels I played way back, which were free visual novels.”
“The artwork and music are all top-notch, but the graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character designs are uninspired and fail to stand out, making it hard to connect with the story.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is structured around a narrative that includes a prologue, two chapters, and an epilogue, focusing primarily on player choices. Additionally, the impactful sound design enhances the overall experience, reflecting the significance of music in the characters' lives.
“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.”
“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 respect that the sounds used in this game are very impactful to your gameplay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's choices is noted to be limited in the first chapter, where decisions do not influence the narrative, but becomes more impactful in the second chapter, affecting character outcomes and performance options.
