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With Eyes of Ice

With Eyes of Ice Game Cover
68%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay
100% User Score Based on 19 reviews

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With Eyes of Ice Game Cover

About

With Eyes of Ice is a single player action game with romance and historical themes. It was developed by ebi-hime and was released on June 23, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"With Eyes of Ice" is a kinetic novel set in Iceland, following Gréta Egilsdóttir's journey from her home in Reykjahlíð to a fishing village. The story explores Gréta's love for the world-weary doctor Nataníel Jóhannsson, with 120k of text and no choices. The game features custom character artwork, a custom OST, and an atmospheric Icelandic setting.

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With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
With Eyes of Ice screenshot
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100%
Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews
story14 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game is beautifully written and engaging, with well-developed characters that evoke strong emotional investment.
  • The artwork, UI, and music are excellent, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the visual novel.
  • Despite its dark themes, the story is compelling and thought-provoking, making it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
  • The ending feels abrupt and lacks a sense of closure, leaving players with a feeling of aimlessness and uncertainty.
  • The story's messaging can be confusing and aimless, making it difficult to discern a clear takeaway or theme.
  • The lack of choices and branching paths may disappoint players looking for a more interactive experience.
  • story
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is beautifully written and engaging, drawing players into its emotional depth and well-developed characters, though it can be confusing and lacks a clear moral or message. While the linear, kinetic format limits player choices, the atmospheric narrative and dramatic pacing keep readers invested, despite some criticisms regarding character motivations and the overall aimlessness of the themes. The combination of stunning visuals and a fitting soundtrack enhances the experience, making it a compelling, if sometimes unsettling, tale.

    • “It is beautifully written and engaging. I like the characters; every story beat and hook got me interested and emotionally invested. I was thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and thinking about how badly I want to know what's going to happen next and how I wish I could go back to it.”
    • “You really do want to know what’s going to happen next: the story, in a twist that can’t fail to immediately grab the player’s attention, starts in medias res with the scene shown in the trailer (Gréta running in the snow at night), and the novel then unfolds in flashback form, explaining what she is running from and why.”
    • “Ebi-hime has done a wonderful job writing this story, and there are definitely unpredictable moments.”
    • “I don't really know what it is that I am supposed to learn here or draw from this story other than the story telling me some stance that revolves around cheating within a relationship.”
    • “The overall messaging of the story is also a bit confusing and aimless.”
    • “There were also times in which it felt like characters had to act the way that they act just for the sake of advancing the plot and not so much in a more natural feeling way.”
  • music
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, with tracks that enhance the storytelling and are inspired by Nordic folk themes. However, some users note that the soundtrack feels limited, leading to instances where the music does not perfectly match the scene's tone. Overall, while the music is a highlight for many, there are calls for a more varied selection to better suit different moments in the game.

    • “The UI, artwork, and music are excellent; though I may place special emphasis on the music - beautiful, aptly-selected pieces.”
    • “It also has pretty high production values with a lot of beautiful CGs and a really atmospheric soundtrack, featuring slightly haunting character themes and beautiful songs inspired by Nordic folk music that truly enhance the scenes instead of merely accompanying them.”
    • “The art and music are also absolutely gorgeous, and the music in particular fits the story perfectly.”
    • “The soundtrack feels a bit limited and is frequently used even when the tone of a song doesn't exactly match the tone of a scene; it just happens to be the best fit from the small soundtrack.”
    • “I would have preferred to just let the scenes breathe without music in those instances.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and often feels repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • emotional
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its beautifully written narrative and engaging characters, which deeply invest players in the story. Many reviewers express a strong connection to the characters and their journeys, experiencing a range of emotions from intense climactic moments to feelings of aimlessness in the ending. The game also explores heavier themes, including personal struggles and trauma, making it a poignant experience that resonates with players on a personal level.

    • “It is beautifully written and engaging. I like the characters; every story beat and hook got me interested and emotionally invested. I was thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and how badly I want to know what's going to happen next and how I wish I could go back to it.”
    • “[i] With Eyes of Ice [/i] is a well-written otome-esque visual novel that surprisingly became a very personal, emotional experience.”
    • “I think the payoff when it finally did was well worth it; the story was suitably heart-wrenching, but at the same time not nearly as bad as I'd feared after becoming so attached to the characters.”
  • graphics
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are highly praised for their stunning visuals, appealing character designs, and overall artistic direction, which effectively complement the narrative's dark themes. The UI is also noted for its excellence, while the accompanying music enhances the atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players. Overall, the game's aesthetic elements contribute significantly to the immersive experience, despite minor issues like typos.

    • “With 'Eyes of Ice' being a rather dark tale mixed with love triangles, drama, and a thick atmosphere, the overall art style, direction, and design are truly impressive.”
    • “This game has awesome visuals, and the music suits the plot ideally. The realistic and appealing characters leave a lasting impression, making every aspect of the game feel nearly perfect.”
    • “This visual novel may be a bit more expensive than Ebi-hime's works tend to be, but it's well worth the price for the story alone, not to mention the stunning visuals, effects, and music.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a moody and melancholic tone, effectively complemented by its descriptive writing, high production values, and a haunting soundtrack inspired by Nordic folk music. Set against desolate Icelandic landscapes and claustrophobic villages, the immersive environment enhances the dark themes of love and drama, making it a captivating experience even for those who may not typically enjoy the genre.

    • “With Eyes of Ice is a rather dark tale mixed with love triangles, drama, and a thick atmosphere, from its rather descriptive writing to its overall art style, direction, and design.”
    • “Since this is an ebi-hime novel, it is permeated by a moody, melancholic atmosphere, which matches well with the desolate Icelandic landscapes and claustrophobic little villages she chose as her settings.”
    • “It also has pretty high production values with a lot of beautiful CGs and a really atmospheric soundtrack, featuring slightly haunting character themes and beautiful songs inspired by Nordic folk music that truly enhance the scenes instead of merely accompanying them.”
    • “With Eyes of Ice is a rather dark tale mixed with love triangles, drama, and a thick atmosphere, from its descriptive writing to its overall art style, direction, and design.”
    • “Since this is an ebi-hime novel, it is permeated by a moody, melancholic atmosphere, which matches well with the desolate Icelandic landscapes and claustrophobic little villages chosen as settings.”
  • gameplay
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized as linear, with no choices or interactive elements, allowing players to simply experience the story from start to finish without any branching paths.

    • “I can't say much for the gameplay—it's a linear visual novel.”
    • “As for the gameplay, there are no choices presented, so you just play through the story from beginning to end.”
    • “Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my critique.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report a polished and bug-free experience, indicating high stability in the game.

    • “A polished, bug-free experience.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate the consistent performance; it never lags or stutters.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game resonates with a blend of classic Russian literature themes and modern memes, highlighting a shared experience of suffering that elicits laughter. This juxtaposition creates a unique comedic effect that appeals to both literary enthusiasts and casual players.

    • “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the narrative, making even the most serious moments light-hearted and enjoyable.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever puns and witty dialogue throughout the game.”
    • “The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, turning mundane situations into laugh-out-loud moments.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

With Eyes of Ice is a action game with romance and historical themes.

With Eyes of Ice is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

With Eyes of Ice was released on June 23, 2023.

With Eyes of Ice was developed by ebi-hime.

With Eyes of Ice has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

With Eyes of Ice is a single player game.

Similar games include Heart Fragment, Empty Horizons, Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue, In Fair Spirits, The Confines Of The Crown and others.