When Our Journey Ends - A Visual Novel
- January 30, 2017
- Afterthought Studios
Get on SteamFollow Mariko as she boards a train to a completely different world - A world of unbelievable beings and happenings.
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Reviews
- The artwork and backgrounds are beautifully crafted, creating a nostalgic and fantasy feel.
- The game features voice acting in English, enhancing the experience for players who do not understand Japanese.
- The story is unique and engaging, with charming characters and lovely music.
- The story is relatively short and linear, with limited choices and two endings that are not significantly different.
- The game engine is poorly optimized, with issues such as a non-functional auto mode and hidden features requiring keyboard shortcuts.
- Some voice acting does not match the text, and achievements may not be recognized by Steam.
- story36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "When Our Journey Ends" is a unique and engaging fantasy visual novel centered around a girl traveling to a mystical station between the human and spirit worlds. While the narrative is praised for its quality, artwork, and voice acting, it is noted to be relatively short and linear, with limited player choices and two similar endings. Additional content post-completion enhances the experience, but some players feel the main story could benefit from more depth and user input.
“The story is quite unique and very well put.”
“Fantastic artwork and some well-done voice acting. I especially like Hachiko's voice and a story that I certainly enjoyed 'reading' along with very lovely music.”
“The extras really give this visual novel a well-rounded story, and while everything combined is still kind of short, I greatly enjoyed how this 'journey ended.'”
“The story is rather short.”
“The story is rather linear, with two endings that are, to be honest, not too different from each other; plus some extra content after completion.”
“If this visual novel only had its main story to offer, I would have been a little disappointed.”
- music20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in "When Our Journey Ends" is praised for its high production quality and melodic tunes that effectively enhance the storytelling experience. Many reviewers noted its inspiration from the soundtrack of "Spirited Away," with some tracks feeling particularly reminiscent. However, there is a consensus that the final emotional scene could have benefited from a musical accompaniment to elevate the moment further.
“The quality of the music production is really good!”
“As for the rest of the soundtrack, very nice melodic tunes that really set the scenes really well.”
“I feel for one or two of the tracks it gets a bit too close to the soundtrack of 'Spirited Away' to be just inspiration.”
“I do feel that there should have been music in the final emotional scene (you will know what I mean when you get there).”
“I can tell that the director for this game asked the composer for it to take inspiration from the musical score of 'Spirited Away' (by Joe Hisaishi).”
- graphics4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their excellent artwork, detailed backgrounds, and appealing illustrations, which enhance the overall experience. Additionally, the voice acting, particularly that of Hachiko, complements the visuals and contributes to an enjoyable narrative atmosphere.
“Fantastic artwork and some well-done voice acting. I especially like Hachiko's voice and a story that I certainly enjoyed 'reading' along with, accompanied by very lovely music.”
“The good: good artwork, background, and illustrations.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its reliance on traditional Japanese designs, which may evoke nostalgia but lacks originality in storytelling. Reviewers suggest that while the aesthetic is appealing, it does not contribute to deeper character growth or unique narratives.
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its engaging mechanics and well-balanced duration, providing players with a satisfying experience that keeps them invested without overstaying its welcome. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its pacing and variety, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express that the emotional impact of the final scene could have been enhanced with music, suggesting that its absence diminished the overall experience.
“I do feel that there should have been music in the final emotional scene; you will know what I mean when you get there.”
