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.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Visual Novel Maker is beginner-friendly and easy to use, allowing users to create visual novels without extensive coding knowledge.
- The software offers a variety of built-in assets, including backgrounds and character sprites, which can help jumpstart projects.
- The drag-and-drop interface and live preview feature make it intuitive for users to see changes in real-time while developing their games.
- The software is plagued with bugs and crashes frequently, making it frustrating to work with and potentially leading to lost progress.
- There is a lack of comprehensive tutorials and documentation, which can make it difficult for new users to fully understand how to utilize the software effectively.
- The price point is considered high for the quality and features offered, especially when compared to free alternatives like Ren'Py.
- music46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 87 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game features 12 tracks and 58 sound effects, providing a solid foundation for projects, though many users feel the music lacks standout quality and variety. While some appreciate the ease of adding music and the overall sound quality, there are complaints about limited music options and issues with audio looping. Overall, the music is seen as a functional but underwhelming aspect of the game, with many users expressing a desire for more diverse and engaging musical choices.
“Music is supported and easy to navigate.”
“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 ('You Are Not Alone'), doesn't have to be.”
“Most of the DLC is music that I don't want.”
“The music, on the other hand, is a big disappointment.”
“The sound effects especially seem to be useful, if only because they're essentially decent quality 'freeware' effects consolidated in one place, but none of the music stood out to me.”
- stability46 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 have experienced significant issues, such as losing projects and encountering graphical glitches, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the tool's reliability. While some see potential for improvement, the current state is deemed overly complicated and far less stable than competing options.
“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.”
“As it stands now, Visual Novel Maker is still buggy.”
- story38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the story aspect of the game, with some users expressing frustration over the lack of built-in tutorials and the time-consuming nature of story development. While the software allows for creative control and the potential to craft engaging narratives, it is suggested that those seeking a simple storytelling experience might find better options in tools like TyranoBuilder or Ren'Py. Overall, the emphasis is on the importance of a compelling story and characters, rather than relying solely on music or visuals.
“Sort of a choose your ending kind of story.”
“Pros for writers: you can make your story, have complete control of what is occurring, and use in-game sprites to help as placeholders.”
“But 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 have the assets, but not the story content.”
“I haven't even begun to write my story with the amount of time it takes just to get it to work.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics aspect of the software is noted for its extensive library of ready-to-use graphics and the option to purchase additional DLC, though users are cautioned about licensing restrictions that limit commercial use. However, many have reported significant graphical glitches, particularly on Intel embedded graphics cards, and some users expressed frustration over the inability to trade graphics between programs. Overall, while the variety of graphics is a strong point, technical issues and licensing limitations detract from the experience.
“The best part and the one that put this software apart is the amount of graphics ready to use for your projects.”
“You can even buy more DLC to use more graphics; just be careful and check the licenses as some DLCs don't allow commercial use.”
“- the ability to create my own shaders using gs.graphics.”
“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.”
“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.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the visual novel maker to be tedious and repetitive, likening it to programming with Unity or Ren'Py. The process of selecting switches and variables is described as clunky and time-consuming, requiring significant effort to learn shortcuts and tricks for efficient use. Overall, the experience is marked by a sense of frustration due to its lack of simplicity and fluidity.
“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.”
“So selecting switches and variables isn't fast and is tedious.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by its potential for complexity, allowing developers to create intricate mechanics and experiences, particularly through the use of common events. However, users report encountering bugs and confusing mechanics, though an extensive guide from the developer helps address many of these issues. Overall, the focus remains on delivering a smooth gameplay experience.
“The ability to use common events allows for the creation of a game with complex mechanics and a rich gameplay experience.”
“I want to provide the smoothest gameplay experience to my customers.”
“The developer has a very in-depth guide that answers almost all questions, which helps navigate the confusing mechanics.”
“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 make a game with complex mechanics and game experience is a double-edged sword; it can be overwhelming.”
“While the system allows for very complex mechanics, the learning curve is steep and can be frustrating for new players.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by a few bugs that negatively affect its performance, though overall feedback suggests that these issues are not widespread.
“The only problem is definitely the few bugs that impact its performance.”
