We. The Revolution
- June 25, 2019
- Polyslash
- 10h median play time
A unique journey through the history of the French Revolution, filled with important decision making, schemes and machinations. Eliminate your enemies and keep your head!
In We. The Revolution, players step into the role of a judge in the French Revolution, tasked with passing sentences and navigating a dangerous political landscape. With a distinctive art style, players must make difficult decisions and face the consequences, both in their professional and personal lives. Balancing justice and self-preservation is key in this tense and immersive game.
Reviews
- Unique and engaging story set during the French Revolution
- Interesting gameplay mechanics that challenge moral decisions
- Beautiful art style and atmosphere that enhances the experience
- Gameplay can become repetitive and tedious over time
- Choices often feel meaningless and lead to predetermined outcomes
- The final act features a poorly executed plot twist that undermines earlier decisions
- story1,281 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is initially engaging, weaving a rich narrative set during the French Revolution, filled with moral dilemmas and political intrigue. However, many players feel that it loses momentum in the later acts, particularly in Act 3, where it becomes convoluted and relies on predictable plot twists that undermine earlier choices, leading to a sense of railroading. While the art style and thematic depth are praised, the overall execution of the story leaves some players feeling frustrated due to the lack of meaningful player agency and the abrupt shifts in narrative focus.
“I recommend it for the story, but be warned it does get dark. There are mentions of various forms of assault, but outside of those cases, there are some actually interesting moral conundrums at times. Do you spare a baker refusing to sell bread because he wants to make sure his family can eat with a famine going around, even if that baker might have caused families to starve?”
“The story as I've played so far really captures how turbulent the times were and how easy it was to go from being at the top of the social hierarchy to finding yourself under the same guillotine you once sent others to.”
“The story is compelling and psychologically terrifying, with great dark storytelling, unique artistic design, and engaging intrigue.”
“The story falls flat.”
“The worst thing of all, however, the element that makes the entire story absurd and pointless is that your choices don't matter at all.”
“The story which starts slowly comes apart as you play is shattered into pieces at the end of act 2 and replaced with a boring and confusing plot that comes out of nowhere and undermines everything you've done up to that point and has nothing to do with the historical revolution.”
- gameplay1,025 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "We. The Revolution" is a mixed bag, featuring a core mechanic centered around courtroom trials that initially captivates players but becomes repetitive and tedious as the game progresses. While the introduction of various mechanics adds some diversity, many feel disjointed and poorly explained, leading to frustration and a lack of meaningful player agency. Overall, the game is visually appealing and offers an interesting narrative, but its execution falters due to convoluted mechanics and a diminishing focus on the engaging trial gameplay.
“The core gameplay of the trials is really good and does a fantastic job of putting you in the world it's trying to depict, when it strays from that it becomes far less interesting.”
“The gameplay is actually captivating because the results aren't what you think they will be at times, there are times where witnesses have swayed the jury way out of my favor and I have to concede the verdict to what they like, pleasing every faction is a bit too strenuous as I hadn't felt as if I had the power of judgement in my hands too many times, I think giving you a bit more freedom with justice would have been a better design choice.”
“The mechanics are also easy to understand, well explained, and the gradual introduction of new and ever more interesting and complex elements means the game gets more fascinating as you go along.”
“The gameplay feels disjointed and confused in what it wants to be; there are like six minigames wrapped up into a sloppy package.”
“However, the gameplay systems are simply too convoluted and not really well done (apart from the trial part).”
“The whole managing factions, relationships with the family, and reputation adds up to nothing at the end; every mechanic feels disconnected from the other.”
- graphics264 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique and compelling art style, often described as a blend of angular, oil painting aesthetics that effectively capture the grim atmosphere of the French Revolution. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and immersive design, noting that the artwork enhances the storytelling experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and reliance on RNG. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.
“The art style, with its angular, oil painting aesthetic, perfectly matches the grim, chaotic atmosphere of the time.”
“The graphics are great, and the art style is sharp and compelling.”
“The design and aesthetics of the game are superb; I found that once I started playing, I couldn't let go.”
“Also, actual game graphics are quite poor.”
“The aesthetics of Orwell have been preserved well enough but certainly not the moral dilemma, the tedium of Danganronpa minigames and none of the challenge.”
“Visual execution is not exceptional, but quite decent.”
- music82 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its beauty and fitting atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of background music during most gameplay, leading to an eerily quiet experience. Many players noted that they often resorted to playing their own music to enhance the experience, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more consistent and engaging soundtrack. Overall, while the music is appreciated when present, its sporadic use detracts from the overall immersion.
“Very nice and unique game overall, a lot of thought has clearly gone into all aspects of the game, including the wonderful artwork, music, and the moral dilemmas faced by the player, as well as effective use of the revolutionary setting.”
“It's aggressively dark and a lot of heads will roll, but between the political intrigue, the beautiful art, and the gorgeous music, it's definitely worth playing.”
“The atmospheric art style and music that I didn't desperately want to turn off enhance the experience.”
“It has no music or voice acting during 98% of the gameplay.”
“There's damn near no sound, no music, barely any sound effects.”
“And the lack of music for much of the game is inexcusable.”
- atmosphere59 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the grim and chaotic essence of the French Revolution through its unique art style and sound design. Reviewers note that while the atmosphere enhances the experience, the gameplay itself may not be as engaging, leading to mixed feelings about overall enjoyment. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics and narrative depth, the dramatic and oppressive atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with players.
“The art style, with its angular, oil painting aesthetic, perfectly matches the grim, chaotic atmosphere of the time.”
“The overwhelming odds and oppressive atmosphere are very well achieved in some instances of the game; the rise to the top of the power ladder feels rewarding.”
“Very much captures the atmosphere of the French Revolution from what you can read in history books and see in documentaries - the only critique I'd make is that you do have to know about the circumstances and victims of the revolution beforehand; the game kind of assumes that from the beginning.”
“It has a bleak atmosphere and a gallows sense of humor; it's fascinating but not for everyone.”
“There is some merit to this carousel, as it's the atmosphere of a revolutionary court, with no time to reflect and a harsh lack of data.”
- replayability54 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players noting a lack of significant branching paths or choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the opportunity to explore different outcomes and decisions, the predetermined nature of the story and repetitive elements in late-game play detract from its overall replay value. Many recommend experiencing the game once for its engaging narrative, but do not see it as a title that warrants repeated runs.
“I would certainly recommend it; it probably also has some significant replay value for those willing to replay its campaign and try different choices to see how it affects your family and friends.”
“The game is replayable, and you can see how things change when you make different decisions over time.”
“The game opens with a lot of promise; really interesting mechanics, eye-catching art style, and the prospect of a properly branching story with lots of replay value so you can try different routes.”
“The main story has virtually no replayability, as there are no different paths or choices to actually make.”
“While the game was interesting and I enjoyed the moral dilemmas I was constantly facing, I found the fact that the story is predetermined to be a negative, mostly because it limits replay value.”
“I'm almost uninterested in starting a new save, since I suspect there is no real replayability in this game, despite its appearances of choice.”
- grinding44 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the gameplay mechanics are poorly designed and lack rewarding progression. Reviewers noted that the extensive grinding often detracts from the otherwise engaging story, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration as players slog through repetitive tasks and mini-games. While some appreciated the game's beautiful imagery and narrative, the overwhelming consensus is that the grinding experience can be a significant barrier to enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Still, the gameplay gets tedious after a while and it feels rare to see your actions actually reward you.”
“There is some beautiful imagery and writing in this game, but it's obfuscated by tedious chores and confused gameplay.”
“It mostly consists of repeating a tedious and badly made battlefield mini-game dozens of times; it feels like a chore.”
- emotional32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, with many players expressing that it evokes strong feelings, including tears at the end. While the narrative is often described as moving and powerful, some players feel that the limitations on player choices can undermine the emotional weight of their decisions. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a poignant story that resonates on a personal level, making it a compelling experience despite some narrative inconsistencies.
“A fascinating, brutal and often heart-wrenching game - simply brilliant.”
“Incredible, the story is so moving, I cried at the end, and I am not easily moved.”
“With a superb art style to go along, this game is emotional and powerful.”
- humor8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of gallows humor and a bleak atmosphere, which may not appeal to all players. While some find it amusing, particularly in the context of player engagement and the game's endings, others feel it lacks consistent comedic elements and is only occasionally funny. Overall, the humor is seen as fascinating but divisive.
“I find it so funny that only a fifth of players had even made it to the final act of this game.”
“It has a bleak atmosphere and a gallows sense of humor; it's fascinating but not for everyone.”
“It was fun to see all 2 endings and managing everything to keep it all running, while also not losing my head for the cause. Haha... not funny?”
- optimization8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally stable, with only a few crashes reported during gameplay. However, there are inconsistencies in voice acting that detract from the experience, such as varying pronunciations of key terms. The developers have made efforts to balance mini-games, which is a positive aspect of the optimization.
“In my 11 hours of gameplay, I had a few crashes but nothing serious performance-wise other than those.”
“In my 11 hours of gameplay, I had a few crashes, but nothing serious performance-wise other than those.”
“It's good that the developers tried to balance every mini-game by introducing implicit goals and explicit resources for optimization.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most users reporting no significant bugs or glitches. However, a few minor issues, such as occasional black screens, have been noted, but they do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“This is an amazing game, but it has a few very minor glitches, such as the screen going black. Other than that, it is a very fun game.”
“No bugs and glitches.”
“No bugs and glitches.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the narrative; however, some users note that it has notable flaws that detract from the overall experience.
“There are many more aspects I could touch on that I love, including mechanics, music, and character development.”
“The narrative part is good, but it has some flaws in character development.”
Critic Reviews
We. The Revolution Review – PS4
With its captivating and highly-original setting, engrossing story, and eye-catching visual style, We. The Revolution is without question one of year’s more intriguing titles. If not for the lack of polish and depth of its courtroom sections, coupled with a handful of minor issues, We. The Revolution would be well deserving of a place on anyone’s 2019 must-buy list.
80%We. The Revolution Review – Law and Disorder
We. The Revolution looks great, and the courtroom gameplay is interesting and kept me coming back. But, if you're looking for a fleshed-out or comprehensive RTS experience, you'll be sorely disappointed.
60%We. the Revolution (Nintendo Switch)
We. the Revolution
80%