Walkerman
- May 22, 2017
- ScalemaiL
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Walkerman" is a single-player, erotic adventure visual novel that offers around 4 hours of playtime. As a "walkerman," you hunt supernatural creatures in the city of Midgard by uncovering and using their unique rules against them. Most of the game is spent investigating creatures through visual novel-style gameplay, with careful attention to detail and item usage determining success.
Mac OS
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Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a fascinating story with well-written characters and a unique take on monster hunting, drawing inspiration from Scandinavian folklore.
- The world-building is immersive, with a cohesive setting that feels well-researched and distinct from typical fantasy tropes.
- The gameplay mechanics, including logic-driven battles and investigative elements, provide a refreshing twist to the visual novel format.
- A significant portion of the game is devoted to tedious exposition and the protagonist's unlikable traits, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The episodic nature of the game leads to a feeling of incompleteness, with only a small fraction of the story available and concerns about future content delivery.
- Choices in the game often feel superficial, with limited impact on the narrative and a linear progression that can frustrate players seeking meaningful decision-making.
- story78 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing narrative and unique lore-building, encouraging players to engage deeply with the world through choices that impact the storyline. However, some critiques highlight issues with the main character's unlikable traits and the limited decision-making that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, while the story shows promise and has compelling elements, it is still in development, leaving players eager for future installments.
“So far, a great story that deserves more attention.”
“The lore building itself is unique as the story challenges the players to piece together the world state by drawing inferences from the conversations and not by frequent info dumps.”
“The title presented an intriguing storyline that was just a pleasure to read while illustrating it with phenomenal artwork and amazing sound quality.”
“The story here is bland and the protagonist is mostly unlikeable.”
“You are given a choice and that choice will change the next line or two of dialogue (which has no bearing on any future part of the story) or you will be given an option for example 'turn left' or 'turn right'.”
“The story could have focused so much more heavily on the interesting elements of what being a walkerman entails and having more encounters with the weird, but instead it chooses to linger on its protagonist's reactionary political views.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Walkerman is notable for its unique integration of board game mechanics into the visual novel format, offering players a blend of traditional storytelling with light puzzle-solving and battle sequences. While some elements may feel underdeveloped, the inclusion of gameplay is a refreshing trend in the genre that enhances the overall narrative experience. Overall, Walkerman stands out for its unorthodox approach to character development and lore building, making it a compelling title for fans of visual novels.
“Walkerman takes a very unorthodox approach to lore building, character development, and gameplay.”
“Walkerman sets itself apart from other visual novels by the fact that it actually has gameplay mechanics in the form of a board game aesthetic for battle sequences.”
“There is definitely some gameplay as well as light puzzle solving involved, which is a nice addition to the story progression of this visual novel. I've been starting to notice more and more visual novels include some form of gameplay in their narratives, and for me, this is a very welcome trend that I hope continues.”
“As for the gameplay, it's your standard visual novel, except for when it comes to the 'battle' part of the game.”
“The game they're going for here means I understand why you can't give the player actual control of a tile-based combat system, but it feels like they wanted to do something turn-based and instead had no time, budget, or couldn't make the system work, so they just left it in there minus the gameplay.”
“This is not to say that is the only thing that happens in Walkerman, but it undoubtedly takes the largest chunk of the currently 4 hours of gameplay, with the horror/detective elements making up the second largest bit.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally enjoyable and well-orchestrated, effectively complementing the theme and narrative, though some players find it underwhelming overall. While the main theme may take time to appreciate, the soundtrack features a dedicated music room for players to enjoy at their leisure. However, there are occasional moments of silence during conversations, which can disrupt the experience.
“The soundtrack is very well orchestrated and blends in nicely with the entertaining narrative.”
“Last but certainly not least is a music room for the title's wonderful soundtrack for you to listen to at your leisure.”
“The rest of the soundtrack is great though!”
“The sound/music is alright, nothing to write home about, but the blaring 'walkerman' headbanger outro after each act... fml.”
“The music is nothing to write home about but it fits the theme and environments.”
“The sound is pleasant enough to leave running for the duration of your stay, but nothing to buy an OST over as of yet.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in Walkerman are highly praised for their breathtaking art style, featuring superb colors, gorgeous shading, and fantastic effects that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game. While the battle sequences adopt a board game aesthetic that limits player movement, the effort put into the visuals is appreciated, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the engaging narrative. Overall, the combination of stunning artwork and sound quality significantly contributes to the immersive experience.
“The art style used in this title is just breathtakingly eye-catching with superb colors, gorgeous shading, and fantastic effects.”
“With me, I don't really care about the art being poor if the narrative in the visual novel is good, but if the artwork also happens to be terrific, then that is just icing on the cake, and in this aspect, Walkerman does not disappoint.”
“The title presented an intriguing storyline that was just a pleasure to read while illustrating it with phenomenal artwork and amazing sound quality.”
“The battle sequences put you (the protagonist) onto a board game essentially, but you can't move or do anything other than make choices... so why they went through the extra effort in visuals, I just don't get it.”
“Walkerman sets itself apart from other visual novels by the fact that it actually has gameplay mechanics in the form of a board game aesthetic for battle sequences.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in Walkerman is criticized for being underdeveloped and inconsistent, largely due to its episodic format that leaves many backstories untold. While character designs are generally well-received, there is a noticeable disparity in the attention given to male and female characters. Overall, the approach to lore and character growth feels unorthodox and lacking depth.
“Character designs are good for the most part, though obviously the ladies got more work put into them than the men.”
“That's the problem of episodic gaming, I guess. You know the character has some currently untold tragic background and character development, but you have to wait until it's written!”
“Walkerman takes a very unorthodox approach to lore building, character development, and gameplay.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Replayability is noted to be high due to the numerous choices available in the branching storyline, allowing for varied experiences. However, some users feel that this leads to a lack of significant replay value, as the core experience remains largely unchanged.
“Replayability is quite high as there are a number of choices to make in the branching storyline.”
“This means the game barely has any replay value.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the grinding in the game is engaging and not tedious, as battles remain exciting and players are motivated to seek out items that enhance their performance. This keeps the gameplay dynamic and rewarding rather than monotonous.
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by the protagonist's ongoing struggle with the consequences of his beliefs, which are challenged by the complexities of existence. This internal conflict is portrayed with significant emotional depth, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with players.
“The game forces players to grapple with the consequences of their views in the face of the complex realities of existence, often with heavy emotional overtones.”
“The emotional depth of the characters makes every decision feel weighty and impactful, leaving a lasting impression on the player.”
“The narrative is rich with emotional moments that resonate deeply, making the player's journey feel personal and significant.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the combination of graphics, music, and worldbuilding effectively brings the game world to life, creating an immersive experience.
“The atmosphere, with its stunning graphics, immersive music, and intricate worldbuilding, truly makes the world come alive.”
