Your Story
- January 19, 2023
- GameLoad
Get on Steam"Your Story" is a visual novel taking place on a fantasy island, where you help Lia, the teenage half-elf protagonist, navigate major life events and unexpected guests at her family inn. The game blends visual novel and point-and-click exploration, offering multiple conclusions. As Lia's inner voice, you influence her decisions, while also building relationships with various colorful characters.
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Reviews
- The artwork is beautifully done, with a mix of polished and sketchy styles that enhance the fantasy setting.
- The game features engaging gameplay mechanics, including choices that affect interactions and exploration elements, making it feel like a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
- The character of Lia is endearing, and the narrative has intriguing moments that can lead to emotional highs and lows.
- The story lacks depth and coherence, with many players feeling that choices do not significantly impact the narrative, leading to a disappointing experience.
- Technical issues, such as the disappearing cursor, can make the game unplayable for some users, detracting from the overall experience.
- The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying for many, leaving players feeling frustrated and wanting a more complete resolution.
- story16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in the game starts slowly but has moments of intrigue, particularly with choices that influence interactions; however, many players feel it lacks depth and coherence, leading to a less engaging experience overall. While some appreciate the organic storytelling and beautiful visuals, others criticize the narrative for being underdeveloped and not fully realized, leaving them wanting a more fleshed-out experience. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with potential that remains largely unfulfilled.
“This kind of organic storytelling is what I imagine the developers were going for with this game, and I love seeing such attention to detail.”
“When the story begins, Lia gets to choose if she wishes to pursue 'destiny', 'love', or 'nothing'.”
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging and the story is truly captivating.”
“I cannot really accurately describe the story as it is, well, not that thought out as a full experience.”
“What you pick does subtly influence your interactions in the game, but since the game does not see any one story completely through, it ends up not really being significant.”
“So the story writing needs work.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a standout feature, with well-executed artwork that enhances the fantasy setting and character expressions. However, the use of two distinct art styles leads to a disparity in quality, particularly in the cut scenes, which some players found rough and less appealing. Overall, while the artwork is generally praised, the inconsistency in presentation may detract from the experience for some players.
“The artwork is the highlight of this game for me.”
“I adore elves and the fantasy setting was a factor for me, but the artwork is so well done and even the love scenes are handled with grace and not overly graphic or tasteless.”
“I loved the subtle character expressions and the effective use of two different art styles.”
“There are two art styles in this game; however, the 'cut scenes,' as I will call them, look very rough and sketchy as opposed to finished painted pieces.”
“Not everyone will buy a game, like myself, just for the artwork and fantasy appeal.”
“The presentation is lacking, as the character expressions are subtle but not impactful, and the use of two different art styles feels inconsistent.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly engaging, featuring questlines that offer interesting choices and opportunities for exploration, complemented by mini-games. The combination of captivating storytelling and beautiful visuals makes it an excellent entry point for those new to the visual novel genre.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging and the story is truly captivating.”
“I also loved the gameplay, which gives you questlines you can follow and allows you some really interesting choices to make as you roam around the environment, finding people to talk to and playing little mini-games.”
“The deal is, that if you are not a visual novel fan, then you'll find yourself a neat entrance into the world of such genre in this game - throughout the extraordinary approach to the mechanics.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are too many bugs and glitches that disrupt the flow of the game, making it frustrating to play.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its calming and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and storytelling experience. Reviewers recommend it for its ability to complement the beautiful hand-drawn art and create a captivating environment.
“The music and overall atmosphere are really on point, so I can definitely recommend checking it out!”
“Not to mention the pretty, hand-drawn art, but the music is calming and immersively provides the feeling of diving into the story.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game's ending has been met with disappointment from some players, as it shifts from a wholesome choose-your-own-adventure experience to a predetermined bloodbath, undermining the sense of agency and emotional investment built throughout the game.
“The emotional weight of the story left me in tears; it was a beautiful yet heartbreaking experience.”
“I felt a deep connection to the characters, and their struggles resonated with my own life experiences.”
“The game masterfully explores themes of love and loss, making every decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
