Vindictive Drive

About

Vindictive Drive is a single player action game with thriller and anime themes. It was developed by Bal Dev and was released on June 24, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

Story/Summary: Vindictive Drive is a Thriller/Action game with Stealth mechanics following Arris Fern's quest for revenge. Features: Vindictive Drive's battle system relies on outsmarting security systems, avoiding cameras, and fooling your enemies using your computer and jamming devices, leaving the pistol as last resort. Stealth is an important part of the game, you will be able to disab…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story17 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Vindictive Drive features a gripping and dark narrative that explores themes of vengeance and trauma, with a well-developed antihero in Arris Fern.
The gameplay combines stealth mechanics with tactical decision-making, encouraging players to think strategically while navigating through tense environments.
The game offers multiple endings and branching paths, providing players with a sense of agency and encouraging replayability to explore different moral outcomes.

The game suffers from technical issues, including soft locks, control responsiveness problems, and a lack of save points, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Graphics and audio design are inconsistent, with some animations appearing stiff and sound mixing issues detracting from immersion.
The RPG Maker engine limitations are evident, resulting in a lack of polish in certain areas, which may turn off players expecting a more refined experience.

story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The story of "Vindictive Drive" centers on Arris Fern, a young woman seeking revenge against her father, a powerful political figure responsible for her mother's murder. The narrative is notable for its depth and complexity, blending visual novel-style dialogue with stealth and action gameplay, while exploring dark themes of revenge and moral ambiguity. Despite some plot holes and limitations of the RPG Maker engine, the game delivers a compelling and emotionally resonant experience, enhanced by strong character development and a gripping soundtrack.
- “What makes Vindictive Drive's storytelling remarkable is its refusal to conform to easy archetypes.”
- “In Vindictive Drive, the story segments feel a lot more like reading an intense comic or even watching a movie - the characters have very strong personalities and the writing itself does an amazing job of holding all of the pieces together.”
- “As a revenge story, it's genuinely epic, with people in power being as sick as can be imaginable, and Arris becoming every bit the monster they turned her into.”
- “Unfortunately, there are some serious plot holes that have to be addressed.”
- “I also found the story and gameplay not that engaging and exciting.”
- “Still, be ready to look past some pretty significant plot holes.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay combines visual novel-style dialogue with stealth and action mechanics, encouraging strategic thinking through the use of gadgets and environmental awareness. While the core mechanics can feel clunky and the production values are low, the gameplay evolves throughout the story, offering a mix of tactical sequences and action-oriented encounters that keep players engaged. Despite some uneven pacing and occasional frustration, many players find the unique blend of stealth and exploration elements to be compelling and enjoyable.
- “The game unfolds through a mix of visual novel-style dialogue and stealth-driven gameplay, blending cinematic storytelling with tense, tactical sequences.”
- “The mechanics encourage strategic thinking rather than brute strength, forcing players to rely on gadgets, diversions, and environmental awareness.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is phenomenal and the methods are as clever as any AAA stealth action game.”
- “Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low-quality copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
- “I also found the story and gameplay not that engaging and exciting.”
- “In terms of gameplay, I’d say that I wish there was more engagement on Arris’s part.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's graphics, built on a modified RPG Maker framework, feature stylized 2D visuals and dramatic portrait art that evoke a noir aesthetic, though they are often criticized for being inconsistent and lacking detail. While some players appreciate the charm and fitting art style, others find the artwork amateurish and the technical limitations of the engine, such as poor fullscreen support, detract from the overall experience. Overall, opinions on the graphics are mixed, with some praising the unique style and others lamenting the quality.
- “The raw amount of charm this game oozes, from the gritty art style to the unhinged protagonist and story, is incredible to see from an RPG Maker game.”
- “Great game with a strong, movie-like story and a very nice, fitting art style, but avoid if you don’t like dark stories or violence.”
- “Built on a modified RPG Maker framework, the game employs stylized 2D visuals and dramatic portrait art to compensate for technical constraints.”
- “Seriously, the artwork here is terrible; it's a blend of old retro pixel art used as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics, and some of the most amateurish MS Paint/baby's first Wacom tablet style drawings I've ever hurt my eyes on.”
- “As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the narrative's grim tone, with synthetic beats and melancholic melodies that effectively underscore key moments. Reviewers appreciate the harmonious integration of the soundtrack with the game's atmosphere, noting that both original tracks and sourced music complement the scenes well. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and storytelling.
- “The music choices are spot on as well, remaining consistent and definitely helping to define the game's atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack amplifies the grim tone of the narrative, with synthetic beats and melancholic melodies underscoring the tension of infiltration missions and the sorrow that defines Arris’s journey.”
- “The presentation, the animated cutscenes, the accompanying music, all of it fits together harmoniously.”
- “The game uses music from a number of sources.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its exploration of grief and obsession, illustrated through complex characters like Liz Barrett and Luna Herz, who embody varying perspectives on justice and vulnerability. The narrative is marked by sharp dialogue and emotional tension, effectively conveying a sense of desperation, despite occasional melodrama. In just three to four hours, the campaign delivers a complete and impactful story that is both raw and morally challenging.
- “Her emotional coldness and merciless precision paint a chilling portrait of what happens when grief turns into obsession.”
- “Conversations are laced with sharp writing and emotional tension, and though some dialogue can feel melodramatic or uneven, it succeeds in reinforcing the sense of desperation that defines this world.”
- “The campaign typically lasts three to four hours, yet it manages to tell a complete and emotionally resonant story within that span.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by expressive and memorable designs, complemented by simple yet effective cinematic cutscenes that successfully convey mood and emotion.
- “Character designs are expressive and memorable, while cinematic cutscenes, though simple, convey mood and emotion effectively.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey.”
- “Each character evolves in a way that feels organic, making their growth and struggles resonate with the player.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by well-chosen music that remains consistent throughout, effectively contributing to the overall experience.
- “The music choices are spot on as well, remaining consistent and definitely helping to define the game's atmosphere.”
- “The game's environment is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of its world.”
- “Every detail, from the lighting to the sound design, contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you stop playing.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in combat to be tedious at times, yet many are willing to endure it for the sake of the engaging plot, which exceeds expectations.
- “The combat gets somewhat tedious at certain events, but I persevered for the sake of the plot, which was much more challenging than it had any right to be.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a distinctively dark sense of humor, which complements its overall tone and adds a unique layer to the gameplay experience.
- “It is a very dark game with dark humor.”