Visual Novel Maker
- November 16, 2017
- KOMODO
- 349h median play time
Get on SteamVisual Novel Maker is a powerful tool for creating your own visual novels, with an intuitive interface and a wide range of customization options. It includes a library of pre-made assets, but also allows you to import your own art, music, and sound effects. The software also supports event-based programming, allowing for complex interactions and storytelling. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, Visual Novel Maker provides everything you need to bring your vision to life.
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Reviews
- Visual Novel Maker is easy to use, especially for beginners, with a drag-and-drop interface that simplifies the creation process.
- The software includes a variety of built-in assets, such as backgrounds and character sprites, which help users get started quickly.
- The program supports Live2D integration, allowing for dynamic character animations and enhancing the visual appeal of the created visual novels.
- The software is plagued by bugs and crashes, which can disrupt the development process and lead to lost progress.
- Documentation and tutorials are lacking, making it difficult for new users to fully understand all features and functionalities.
- The price point is considered high for the quality and amount of content provided, leading some users to feel it is not worth the investment.
- music35 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with users noting a limited selection of tracks and sound effects, though the quality of the included music is generally decent. While some appreciate the ease of adding custom music, many express a desire for more diverse options and better looping capabilities. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as generic and lacking in standout pieces, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The music can be changed by map preferences.”
“On the audio side, the resources are no less impressive: 12 music tracks and 58 sound/music effects - more than enough to get your project started - and all of them at a consistently high and well-mixed quality.”
“I love the music, 'Love Never Ends' is glorious, and the rest of the tunes, while not as awe-inspiring as a Final Fantasy 9 score, don't have to be.”
“Most of the DLC is music that I don't want.”
“The soundtrack and sound effects are very limited, but what is already there is pretty decent in quality even if generic.”
“The music, on the other hand, is a big disappointment.”
- stability28 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the software is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and numerous bugs that hinder functionality. Many reviewers express frustration over lost projects and game-breaking glitches, suggesting that the software feels unfinished and overly complicated. While some acknowledge potential for improvement, the consensus is that it currently falls short compared to competitors, making it difficult for both beginners and experienced users.
“It freezes and crashes quite often, and I have a PC that can run high-end games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 with ease.”
“The whole engine is just extremely buggy and has a lot of problems that need to be fixed.”
“I don't recommend this... sure it's easier than learning to code, but it's not supported, it's incredibly buggy, and there are tons of weird design choices that just make what should be simple things so tedious.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the software provides useful resources and tutorials for creating visual novels, it lacks a built-in story generation feature, which some users find limiting. Many users appreciate the ability to visualize their stories and the control they have over character development, but note that those seeking a simple, linear narrative may find better options elsewhere. Overall, the platform is seen as a helpful starting point for aspiring writers, despite its shortcomings in story creation.
“If you’re honestly interested in starting to make visual novels, then this program will certainly help you get started and learn the basics so you can visualize your story better.”
“But to say some nice things - VNM comes with quite a bit of character sprites, music, and other resources that you're free to use in your commercial VNM games, and there's actually a pretty decent help documentation that is well written and includes great links to articles and YouTube videos about general writing tips, story structure, and presentation.”
“You can tell a great story even with only the base assets--and that says something, to put it lightly.”
“The game is simple enough that you could just draw images and put them in to create your story.”
“I haven't even begun to write my story with the amount of time it takes just to get it to work.”
“If you just plan on writing a short, linear story then you will unlikely need to worry about this.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics in the software are praised for their variety and quality, with many preloaded assets available for use, as well as the option to import custom artwork. However, users have expressed frustration over licensing restrictions on paid graphic packs, which limit their use in commercial projects. Additionally, some users have reported graphical glitches, particularly on certain Intel graphics cards, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The best part and the one that sets this software apart is the amount of graphics ready to use for your projects.”
“The program allows you to import your own artwork and sound if you wish to fully customize what you’re doing, but it also offers a selection of preloaded assets for you to experiment with.”
“Two really positive things are the artwork and the nice music presets.”
“Another thing that bothers me is the fact they release paid graphic packs that you are not allowed to use in commercial products, adult projects, etc. That's not okay with me, so I am not recommending this product anymore.”
“11-26-2017 update: there are graphical glitches on most Intel embedded graphics cards such as Intel Iris and the Intel HD graphics chips.”
“1080p graphic glitches during transitions.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the visual novel maker to be tedious and clunky, often comparing it to programming with Unity or Ren'Py. The process of learning its intricacies and navigating its buggy design choices is described as repetitive and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
“I don't recommend this. Sure, it's easier than learning to code, but it's not supported, it's incredibly buggy, and there are tons of weird design choices that make what should be simple tasks so tedious.”
“The visual novel maker is not much simpler than programming with Unity/Ren'Py, and most certainly not any less tedious.”
“It's very tedious and repetitive to use, and overall feels kind of clunky.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by complex mechanics that allow for a rich gaming experience, though some users encounter bugs and confusing elements. Fortunately, an in-depth developer guide is available to address most questions, aiding players in navigating the intricacies of the game. Overall, the focus remains on delivering a smooth gameplay experience.
“The developer has a very in-depth guide that answers almost all questions, which helps with the occasional bugs and confusing mechanics.”
“The ability to use common events allows for the creation of complex mechanics and a rich game experience.”
“I want to provide the smoothest gameplay experience to my customers.”
“I still run into bugs and mechanics I find confusing, but the developer has a very in-depth guide that answers almost all questions.”
“The ability to use common events to create a game with complex mechanics and gameplay experience is impressive.”
“The game can have very complex mechanics, including the menu.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized primarily for performance issues on mid to low-spec systems, with users noting that a few bugs significantly affect overall performance.
“This is predominantly in regards to performance issues for mid-low spec computer systems.”
“This is predominantly in regards to performance issues for mid to low-spec computer systems.”
“The only problem is definitely the few bugs that impact its performance.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often highlighted through comparisons to The Sims 4, with players finding it amusingly ironic that the game is perceived as inferior yet more expensive when considering its DLC offerings. This juxtaposition elicits laughter from users, who find the situation both ridiculous and entertaining.
“The humor in this game is surprisingly sharp, with witty dialogue that keeps you chuckling throughout your playtime.”
“I love how the game pokes fun at everyday situations, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining.”
“The absurd scenarios and quirky characters provide a constant source of laughter, making it a joy to play.”
