Winds of Change

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 444 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
Winds of Change Game Cover
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"Winds of Change" is a 2D visual novel/point-and-click adventure game set in a richly detailed fantasy world. As the Seer of Valinorth, you'll join the Rebellion and use your spiritual visions to guide your choices in a story inspired by Dragon Age and Mass Effect. With fully voiced dialogue, romance options, and a multitude of side quests, players can shape their role in the fight to liberate Alestia from tyrannical rule.

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Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 444 reviews
story200 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling and emotional story that keeps players engaged throughout.
  • Characters are well-developed and relatable, with strong voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • The art style and music are beautifully crafted, contributing to the immersive atmosphere of the game.
  • Some players found the pacing slow at times, particularly in the early chapters.
  • There are occasional typos and minor technical issues that detract from the overall polish of the game.
  • The romance options are limited, with only one female character available for romance, which may disappoint some players.
  • story466 mentions

    The story of the game is widely praised for its depth, emotional impact, and well-developed characters, with many players noting the engaging narrative and the significant consequences of their choices. While some critiques mention pacing issues and occasional plot holes, the overall consensus is that the storytelling is compelling, immersive, and often heart-wrenching, making it a standout feature of the game. Players appreciate the blend of fantasy elements with moral dilemmas, and the voice acting further enhances the experience, drawing them into the richly crafted world.

    • “The story is exceptional in every way; the music really hits hard in certain scenes, the characters are lovable, and the lore/world is extremely intricate.”
    • “An amazing game with an amazing story. The story made me happy and it made me sad.”
    • “The story is gripping, keeps your attention at all times, and culminates in a poetic ending.”
    • “The story lacks action, and the first half has way too much information dumped on you; it's more like a novel than a game in a lot of ways.”
    • “To be blunt, this game tries to pull off a myriad of concepts, but ultimately falls flat in terms of its execution, with its multiple narrative flaws, the illusion of choice, and a skewed moral system. It's hard to take this game seriously when your choices don't matter in the slightest because the writers cop out and play it safe whenever an 'important' decision needs to be made, ridding crucial points of the story of meaning and emotion.”
    • “The main antagonist(s?) of the story only show up for a few scenes, but otherwise lack any sort of presence.”
  • music139 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the story. Many players praised the soundtrack for being beautifully composed, with standout vocal tracks that complement key moments without overshadowing dialogue. While some noted minor issues with certain vocal tracks being distracting, the majority found the music to be a highlight, often leading them to purchase the soundtrack separately to enjoy outside of gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack does a good job in setting the mood without being so noticeable as to detract from the dialogue happening at the same time, with the super special treat of a full song with vocals playing just as the world really opens up to you -- it was so good that I listened to the whole thing before continuing on to start new scenes.”
    • “The music is top tier, and the vocal songs add greatly to the emotional impact at certain points in the game.”
    • “The story, characters, music, art, and voice acting are all astonishing and really puts you into the world of Alestia.”
    • “I'm not sure how I feel about the musical tracks intertwined in the game that have vocals in them; they distract me from the dialogue a lot.”
    • “The music is somewhat mediocre, but it's good enough to not sound boring after long sessions of gameplay.”
    • “I'm sorry to say this, but during the majority of the game the background music is just straining to fill an auditory void.”
  • emotional73 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players reporting profound connections to the characters and story that led to tears and heartfelt moments. The voice acting and music significantly enhance the emotional impact, creating an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the game is described as a touching journey filled with relatable characters, difficult choices, and a narrative that evokes a wide range of emotions, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.

    • “Honestly great story and the end made me cry, incredibly worthwhile to play.”
    • “This game was my first klace game and I think it was the first game that made me cry. I really hope that being able to interact with your environment is in the next klace game because it's something you don't see in most visual novels like Echo or Adastra.”
    • “It was a magical experience and it really made me cry at the end.”
  • graphics54 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and charming character designs, which enhance the overall experience. The combination of beautiful visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and high-quality voice acting creates an immersive atmosphere that many players find reminiscent of watching a movie. While some players initially found the art style off-putting, most grew to appreciate its unique aesthetic and the emotional depth it adds to the storytelling.

    • “Amazing game, art style and music were top tier, and the talented voice actors and actresses made playing this game feel like watching a movie.”
    • “Winds of Change is an impressive visual novel with stunning visuals and high production value.”
    • “The artwork is beautiful with a fantastic soundtrack to match - I've bought and downloaded it to listen in the car or at work.”
    • “As an example, my two 'friends' often lapse into sad diatribes about how sad it is that our village is going to be destroyed, but to me, the village in question is simply 5 or so background scene artworks and 3 people.”
    • “I remember… back when Winds of Change was teased with the first screenshots, I was kind of put off by the setting and its art style, or rather, the unusually bright coloring of the characters.”
    • “The artwork for the backgrounds is really interesting, containing sometimes very detailed images jumbled up with a bunch of vague blurry imagery, that leaves me wondering if the artist was trying to draw attention to certain things, or if it was just all whimsical.”
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay in this visual novel is primarily focused on narrative and character interactions, with minimal traditional gameplay mechanics. While it features point-and-click elements and some exploration, the experience is heavily story-driven, making the narrative the main draw for players. Overall, the game successfully balances engaging storytelling with basic gameplay mechanics, appealing to those who prioritize narrative over action.

    • “The addition of the point and click adventure mechanics makes it even more alluring as if you are indeed a part of the world you're exploring.”
    • “There's a lot of content which makes for a very immersive gameplay experience, and the choices you make feel more impactful than in Tall Tale Studio's last game, Major/Minor.”
    • “Beautiful game honestly, been a long time since I haven't been in such a story and involved in it; the story is very well written, and the gameplay is just balanced between the point and click and the involvement of the player.”
    • “Gameplay is basically non-existent.”
    • “This is a common problem with visual novel type games in that they have very little in the way of gameplay.”
    • “If you're looking for more in terms of gameplay, I'd look elsewhere.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and relatability, with compelling backstories and significant plot twists that enhance the overall narrative experience. While some users noted minor flaws and a lack of character design for the protagonist, the world-building and character relationships are highlighted as strong points. Overall, the game successfully combines artistic visuals with engaging character arcs, making it a memorable experience for players who appreciate story-driven gameplay.

    • “Great story, interesting mechanics, very nice characters with interesting backstories and some astounding plot twists.”
    • “I'm no expert on character design or writing, but these are up there alongside my most cherished from books and gaming alike.”
    • “Although I think the game moved rather quickly, it still had some really well done world and character development.”
    • “However, the character design is something I find severely lacking.”
    • “The story and character development is okay; there's a bunch of minor flaws, but nothing that will really ruin the experience in any way.”
    • “While at first I was put off by the character designs, as I assume many were, I decided to take a chance due to the exemplary trailer.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game's humor is a standout feature, effectively blending self-aware commentary on player choices with relatable and often hilarious character interactions. Players appreciate the mix of funny and heartfelt moments, as well as the comedic elements that provide levity amidst the more serious narrative. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, making it both enjoyable and emotionally resonant.

    • “The game has a way of calling you out when you make rather questionable decisions, which is as hilarious as it is immersive.”
    • “The humor of this game will truly make you feel joy.”
    • “The dialogues between characters can be funny, interesting, heartbreaking, and relatable.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, primarily due to its branching narrative and choice-driven endings, allowing players to experience different outcomes. While some users suggest it can be completed in about 15 hours, others report over 40 hours of gameplay, indicating varied engagement levels. However, a few reviewers noted that the replay value may be limited to one or two playthroughs, suggesting that additional achievements tied to player choices could enhance this aspect further.

    • “Cute and pleasing art, relationships that are very interesting and give replay value, and achievements too.”
    • “High replay value due to choices that strongly change the narrative.”
    • “I'd recommend getting it on sale though, as it only really has a replay value of once.”
    • “Maybe including a few more achievements that are dependent on your choices would have added a bit more to the replay value (like earning an achievement when you complete the game by picking nothing but flirty responses).”
    • “It would probably take about 15 hours at most to complete at a leisurely pace, but from what I can tell, it has at least one repeat replay value since the choices can really deviate to provide a different ending.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive experience, characterized by strong character development, effective writing, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the story. While not every musical track stands out, the overall composition successfully conveys the intended moods and complements the game's narrative and visuals. The combination of well-crafted characters, voice acting, and atmospheric music creates a compelling and engaging environment for players.

    • “Good characters, good writing, good music, just an all-round atmospheric experience.”
    • “The soundtrack of the game was awesome and it fit the game and story atmosphere.”
    • “This game is innovative in the way it handles itself from its simple but depth-filled story, to the atmospheric soundtrack, as well as the well-done voice acting, well-crafted and entirely human-feeling characters, and well-made backgrounds.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the voice acting performances are commendable, with standout emotional moments; however, some users report performance issues that may be system-specific, alongside minor typos and grammatical errors.

    • “The performances on display from many of the voice actors were great, with a couple of emotional moments being particular standouts that had me on the edge of my seat.”
    • “There are some pretty decent actors here who do the best with what they were given and all manage to give solid performances.”
    • “The only complaints I have are related to performance issues (that may be caused by my particular system) and a few typos/grammatical errors.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players report that grinding in the game can be quite time-consuming, with some spending 3-5 hours just on the first act alone. Achieving all Steam achievements and farming for additional content may require a significant investment of time, suggesting that players should be prepared for extensive grinding.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “On that note, expect a good 3-5 hours of reading, etc. for the first act in the game. It took me about 4.3 hours to finish the entire first act with all Steam achievements unlocked. I'm officially farming for the rest of the cards at the moment, so please don't take my total game time at face value.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with good graphics and a pleasant background music experience. While some users have noted minor typos and occasional voice-over glitches, these issues do not significantly impact the overall flow and enjoyment of the story.

    • “That being said, as of this writing, there are still some typos and voice-over glitches, but that doesn't detract from the flow and story.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users express that the monetization strategy, particularly through advertisements, has led to heightened expectations for the game's quality and content.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases makes it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
2-53hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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