With Eyes of Ice
- June 23, 2023
- ebi-hime
Get on Steam"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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Reviews
- The writing is masterfully crafted, with complex and layered characters that evoke strong emotional investment.
- The game effectively explores dark themes such as loneliness and sacrifice, creating a compelling and immersive atmosphere.
- High production values are evident in the beautiful art and atmospheric soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
- The linear nature of the game may leave players wanting more choices and routes to explore.
- Some aspects of the story can be confusing or aimless, making it difficult to discern the overall message.
- The soundtrack, while atmospheric, can feel limited and occasionally mismatched with the tone of certain scenes.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is described as intriguing yet confusing, with a linear narrative that lacks player choices, which some reviewers feel would have enhanced the experience. While it features well-developed characters and a compelling plot that unfolds through flashbacks, the overall messaging is seen as aimless, particularly regarding themes of infidelity. Despite its flaws, the emotional depth and artistic presentation are praised, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate character-driven narratives.
“This story is really really good; it's so interesting and I love the characters—they all have so much depth.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“This is a kinetic story (give or take 12-15 hours of reading time) with not a single choice to make and no route to choose from: although there are several 'love interests' in the loosest sense possible, the player can’t influence Gréta’s thoughts or feelings, only be privy to them.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its high production values and atmospheric quality, featuring haunting character themes and beautiful Nordic folk-inspired songs that enhance the storytelling. However, some users feel the soundtrack is limited, with tracks sometimes mismatched to the scene's tone, leading to a desire for moments without music. Overall, while the music is memorable and well-crafted, its repetitive use can detract from the experience at times.
“It also has pretty high production values with a lot of beautiful CGs and a really atmospheric soundtrack, with 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.”
“I tend to have trouble remembering how a song sounds if I'm not currently listening to it, but the title track of this visual novel is embedded in my brain (and I have zero problems with that, it's a nice soundtrack to go about my day to).”
“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 feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional investment in the game, particularly during its climax, highlighting the presence of sweet and wholesome moments alongside a compelling romance. The characters, especially Greta and Nathaniel, evoke strong feelings of attachment and a desire to protect them, contributing to a heart-wrenching yet rewarding narrative experience. Overall, the game's ability to create emotional connections is praised as a significant strength.
“I haven't finished the game quite yet, but I am at the climax and so emotionally invested.”
“Yes, quite a lot of genuinely sweet and wholesome moments are to be found here, and the main romance sure is an interesting one.”
“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.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "With Eyes of Ice" is characterized by a dark, moody, and melancholic tone, effectively complemented by its descriptive writing and high production values. The desolate Icelandic landscapes and claustrophobic village settings enhance the narrative's emotional depth, while the atmospheric soundtrack, featuring haunting character themes and Nordic folk-inspired music, enriches the overall experience.
“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.”
“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 its settings.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in "With Eyes of Ice" are praised for their stunning visuals, detailed art style, and atmospheric design, which effectively complement the dark narrative and emotional themes of the visual novel. Users feel that the quality of the graphics justifies the higher price point compared to other works by ebi-hime.
“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.”
“This visual novel is a bit more expensive than ebi-hime's works tend to be, but I really think it's well worth the price for the story alone, not to mention the stunning visuals, effects, and music.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as linear, typical of a visual novel format, which may limit player agency and exploration.
“I can't say much for the gameplay—it's a linear visual novel.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth.”
“There are too many bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
