Virago
- March 15, 2022
- Sunday Akor
Get on SteamVirago is a 2D adventure survival game with black and white graphics and traditional 2D animation. As the player character, Virago, you must explore a vast, interconnected town, survive against monsters, and uncover new abilities to ultimately conquer the gloomy town. The game offers challenging but fair gameplay, a cast of bizarre characters, and fluid action in a beautifully detailed, vintage-style world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique and interesting concept that resonates with real-life experiences, particularly for women and girls.
- The graphics are nice and simple, and the sound design is well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Some players found the gameplay enjoyable and appreciated the emotional depth of the story, despite its flaws.
- The game feels unfinished, with numerous bugs, control lag, and unclear tutorials that hinder the overall experience.
- The story is convoluted and often confusing, leaving players unsure about character motivations and plot points.
- Many players reported issues with gameplay mechanics, such as frustrating combat, trial-and-error puzzles, and a lack of guidance.
- story26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its beauty and depth, rating it as high as 9/10, while others find it confusing, contradictory, and poorly executed, leading to a sense of disconnection from the narrative. Many reviewers express a desire for a more polished and coherent storyline, suggesting that the game's potential is hindered by its execution and lack of clarity. Overall, the narrative aspect is seen as a highlight for some, but a significant drawback for others, reflecting a divided reception.
“I liked the story and plan on replaying it sometime.”
“Ok, so I originally said that I didn't really like this game, but now I love it so much. The graphics and animations aren't the best, but the story is beautiful.”
“This is a really great game with a wonderful story.”
“The story just fell flat for a subject that should be handled with more care.”
“The story of the game is also confusing and contradictory, and the ending just left me more confused than anything.”
“The worst part is how unclear the tutorial is, and the story is too difficult to understand for this kind of game.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it enjoyable and innovative, particularly appreciating the introduction of new mechanics in each level. However, many criticize the controls as stiff and challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with platforming games, leading to an overall rating around 5-8/10. Despite these issues, the game's concept and story are praised, suggesting that while the gameplay may frustrate some, it still offers a rewarding experience for others.
“Even with these 'flaws', I still enjoy this game from the subject it’s discussed, to introducing new mechanics in each level (my favorite being the pepper spray) as well as being in the shoes of what people may have to go through, which is still sad to be reminded about, but important so we can look out for each other when we’re not staring at the screen.”
“Really cool concept, ragey gameplay but achievable.”
“Gameplay was like a 5/10, to be honest.”
“Overall, I do think this is a wonderful game and I enjoyed it; however, I was just heavily annoyed by the mechanics.”
“Firstly, I would like to say that this game isn't going to be for everyone, especially those that are not used to platforming games, as some mechanics like jumping and melee could be quite stiff and challenging for some to get used to.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including deaths that seem to rely on the game's performance. Many users have reported specific problems in areas like the church and alleyway, expressing hope for a more polished version in the future.
“The game is buggy and there are several deaths in the game that entirely depend on whether the game decides to work or not, which from what I've been reading seems to be a common occurrence.”
“There were some glitches I noticed, like in the church section and the alleyway section.”
“I hope that I can try and play again another time when it's more finished and less buggy.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as nice and simple, though not particularly impressive, with some users noting that the animations could be better. Despite this, the overall aesthetic complements the game's beautiful story, contributing to a positive experience for many players.
“The graphics are nice and simple, and the controls weren't too wonky for me, making it easy to finish the game.”
“The graphics and animations aren't the best.”
“The graphics leave much to be desired.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as flawless and nostalgic, effectively enhancing the emotional experience and aligning with the game's difficulty. However, some players noted that the music does not evoke the same sense of fear as the gameplay itself.
“The music is very flawless and nostalgic; the difficulty is also really aligned with the game, as if the developer wants us to experience what the character (Willow) experiences.”
“The rush of fear I would feel in the game around the men felt the same as in real life, excluding the music.”
