Wonderful Everyday Down the Rabbit-Hole
- August 30, 2017
- KeroQ
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Wonderful Everyday Down the Rabbit-Hole" is a surreal adventure game where players explore a dreamlike world inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Interact with quirky characters, solve puzzles, and uncover the mysteries of the bizarre rabbit-hole realm. The game features a unique art style and immersive atmosphere, providing a memorable experience for fans of the unusual and imaginative.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted narrative that explores deep philosophical themes and character development.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, with memorable tracks that enhance the emotional impact of the story.
- The unique storytelling structure, which presents the same events from different perspectives, keeps players engaged and encourages them to piece together the mystery.
- The game contains extremely disturbing content, including graphic depictions of sexual violence and abuse, which may not be suitable for all players.
- Some scenes are excessively long and can feel gratuitous, detracting from the overall pacing and enjoyment of the story.
- The first chapter may mislead players into thinking the game is a lighthearted yuri visual novel, while the subsequent chapters delve into much darker themes.
- story800 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Subahibi" is a complex and often disturbing narrative that explores deep themes such as trauma, bullying, and existential philosophy through multiple perspectives. While some players find the intricate storytelling and character development compelling, others criticize the excessive length and graphic content that detracts from the overall experience. Ultimately, it is a thought-provoking visual novel that challenges readers to engage with its heavy themes, though it may not be suitable for everyone due to its explicit nature and dark subject matter.
“And after a gut-wrenching story, the characters have their emotionally uplifting optimism at the end, finding a sense of purpose and peace despite the overwhelming hardships they've faced, which was so impactful to me.”
“The story's strongest moments are some of my favorite moments in any visual novel.”
“A wonderful visual novel with a complex thought-provoking narrative and a plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat.”
“This is just suffering-porn (and literal porn) hiding between some pretentious philosophy and an inception-ripoff of a story.”
“The story wants to talk about the psychological impact of sexual trauma, and sometimes it depicts it with the horrifying seriousness the topic obviously requires, but then other times it's just part of some bit; I understand the poignancy of having traumatized characters living a life of uncomfortable passive oversexualization, but for a lot of the scenes it's clear that the intent is for you to be laughing along or worse, which completely undercuts what the rest of the story is going for.”
“My problem comes with the fact that only about 40% of the game is relevant to the actual story, the rest of this game's playtime comes with characters who don't matter at all, even one of the main characters ends up being completely irrelevant by the end of the story.”
- music158 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the visual novel is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting standout tracks that enhance the storytelling experience. While some mention inconsistencies in the soundtrack's usage, the overall consensus is that the original score is memorable and beautifully complements the game's themes and scenes. Many players express a desire for the soundtrack to be more accessible, indicating its lasting impact on their enjoyment of the game.
“The amazing and so well captured atmosphere is furthermore being supported by quite a unique soundtrack, many times featuring classical music, something you don't see every day and even less frequently in visual novels.”
“The soundtrack is great, and the characters are engaging.”
“This is a complex, beautiful story with amazing characters, countless allusions to classic literature and philosophy, at least a couple moments that made me tear up or cry, it's all tied together with some amazing sound-work; the music in this novel is almost worth the price of admission alone.”
“The music so far is a little forgettable.”
“Art, music, interface and even the characters are all subpar - average level.”
“It saddens me that the OST is not available as a DLC on Steam, since I would love to purchase it if available.”
- graphics96 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as a mix of breathtakingly beautiful and occasionally dated or goofy, with a unique art style that enhances the narrative's atmosphere. While the visuals and character designs are generally praised for their quality and expressiveness, the graphic content—particularly in terms of violence and sexual themes—has drawn criticism for being excessive and potentially off-putting to some players. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their graphic nature.
“The visuals and CGs are beautifully drawn, and the soundtrack of the game is also very memorable. Together, they blend in very well into the game, expressing the situation and the mood perfectly.”
“Overall, the visual novel delivers an excellent story with a lot of plot twists and a good amount of mystery horror, accompanied by excellent visuals and music.”
“The characters and story itself are excellent, the soundtrack is one of my favorites, and there are many moments where the visuals are awe-inspiring.”
“The art style isn't particularly high quality, and some sprites do look pretty goofy at times, but I think this style works very well for this piece when they need to shape it to their needs.”
“While I did stay interested until the end, the game's graphic content felt needlessly excessive at times, and there are themes and content that will definitely not be a fit for everyone.”
“One of the only downsides to the visuals of Subahibi is that they are meant for a 4:3 screen, though most who have played any VNs are likely used to that by now.”
- emotional82 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound and intense journey, eliciting a wide range of feelings from joy to despair, often leaving players in tears. Reviewers highlight the ability of the narrative to provoke deep reflection on life and personal experiences, despite some scenes being disturbing or uncomfortable. Overall, the game is recognized for its complex storytelling that balances philosophical themes with raw emotional impact, making it a memorable and thought-provoking experience.
“And after a gut-wrenching story, the characters have their emotionally uplifting optimism at the end, finding a sense of purpose and peace despite the overwhelming hardships they've faced, which was so impactful to me.”
“I cried three times and my personal outlook on life is forever changed.”
“This is really one hell of an emotional rollercoaster, so expect to feel a lot of stuff on both ends of the spectrum.”
“But as the game tells you, once the mystery of the game is solved, it's just a boring story.”
- humor34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, blending dark themes with absurdity, which can lead to moments of genuine laughter amidst uncomfortable and taboo subject matter. While some players appreciate the depth and complexity of the humor, others find it jarring and inappropriate, particularly when it intersects with serious topics like sexual trauma. Overall, the humor is described as varied and unpredictable, eliciting a range of reactions from enjoyment to discomfort.
“It's weird, it's interesting, it's disgusting, it's depressing, it's funny, it's all sorts of things.”
“Great visual novel, some unexpected funny and weird scenes and some messed up stuff, I enjoyed my time with it.”
“It kept me giggling and laughing all throughout the middle sections of the story.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dream-like and mysterious quality, effectively immersing players from start to finish. The unique soundtrack, often featuring classical music, complements the beautifully crafted artwork and enhances the overall mood, making it a standout aspect of the visual novel. Reviewers note that the combination of engaging puzzles and high-quality visuals contributes significantly to the game's captivating atmosphere.
“The amazing and so well captured atmosphere is furthermore being supported by quite a unique soundtrack, many times featuring classical music, something you don't see every day and even less frequently in visual novels.”
“Also, the soundtrack is so good and manages to capture the game's mood and atmosphere the author was trying to convey.”
“Besides my personal issue with the explanation for the mystery, the atmosphere is completely different.”
“Immersing, disturbing atmosphere.”
“I'd like to avoid as many spoilers as possible, so I have to be really vague here, but that dream-like, mysterious atmosphere the game has from start to finish is really magical and grabs you, pulling you in.”
- character development20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally seen as adequate, with each character possessing a unique personality, though relatability varies among players. Some reviewers criticize the use of sensitive topics like rape and bullying as character development tools, feeling it undermines the depth of the characters. While the artwork and character designs, particularly for female characters, are praised for their beauty, male character designs are often considered less appealing.
“The artwork and character designs are also really pretty and unique, and the voices fit the characters really well.”
“Using subjects like rape and bullying as character development feels kinda cheap to me.”
“The character development is there and each character has a unique personality; some are easier to relate to than others, but that's probably because it's subjective and I can't find myself to relate to all of the portrayed characters.”
“Character development is ok.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as minimal and primarily narrative-driven, resembling a visual novel more than a traditional game, with significant content locked behind a patch that is essential for a complete experience. Players can expect straightforward mechanics with little difficulty, and while choices impact the story, the overall interactivity is limited. Ratings for gameplay hover around 6/10, indicating a lack of depth compared to other aspects like story and characters.
“This is a gameplay-light visual novel, so don’t go in expecting much interactivity, but the choices do have major enough impacts that making sure to save and venture down each path is highly advised.”
“Look past the fact that it might contain content that you don't like or want to see, or that it has Japanese animation styled art, or isn't really a game per se, but rather a book, if you will, (and this is coming from someone who plays games that focus entirely on gameplay with no plot) and go into this game with as little knowledge of it as possible.”
“There is no real gameplay and this should be viewed essentially as a book enhanced by visuals and sound for sequences not able to be conveyed by text alone.”
“All of this is locked behind a patch on the Steam version; however, the game is completely worthless without this patch, as most of the game's content (multiple chapters of gameplay) is locked behind it.”
“There is no real gameplay, and this should be viewed essentially as a book enhanced by visuals and sound for sequences not able to be conveyed by text alone.”
“There is no difficulty involved in the gameplay; there are some very straightforward, spoiler-free guides on the Steam community for this game.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been described as inconsistent, with some elements performing exceptionally well while others fluctuate significantly, leading to an unpredictable experience. Overall, the game's performance can be likened to a captivating yet erratic show, showcasing both brilliance and moments of absence.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers good replay value, particularly for players who are interested in exploring different outcomes or experiences after completing a full playthrough.
“The game offers excellent replay value, especially if you're interested in exploring different outcomes after completing a full playthrough.”
“There's a lot of replayability here, making it worthwhile to dive back in and experience the game from different angles.”
“Once you finish the main story, you'll find plenty of reasons to replay the game and discover new elements.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in Subahibi to be tedious, as the convoluted writing style and heavy foreshadowing can make progress feel slow and laborious.
