SK Reviews: RE: Alistair++

“That’s it, I’m playing it again! :3”

Note: I score my games based on 1. Technical level and ability 2. My experience and enjoyment factor. From these values I create my final score. Your game could be as beautiful as possible and it would get a low score if I found it extremely boring. People play games to be entertained, right?

Technical:

Set-Up and Interface:
Being a Visual Novel the way the game is presented is of utmost importance. Alistair uses a sleek menu system couple with multiple, well drawn character portraits. It was all very understandable (though I didn’t realize I could use the mouse until I was browsing through the bonus level after finishing.
The only time I had difficulty was in the email section, where I couldn’t tell what email I was selecting. It only nagged at me a little, so I’ll let it slide.
Score: 5/5

Mechanics:
I was never quite sure what mechanics were at work at all times. I purchased a number of items and books, and some fashions, I randomly selected what I would do after school though I usually ended up working and then studying (no! my nerdiness has been unleashed! If only I was like that in real life P: )
I think the game could’ve used a bit more explanation into what on earth was going on with the mechanics. And maybe pointing out the ability to use a mouse or a keyboard :/
Score: 3.5/5

Construction:
Now, this is a tentative title, but this is basically a score on how well the game was constructed as a whole.
I am unfamiliar with Renpy as an engine but I have heard it is not as user-friendly as engines such as Novelty, which I couldn’t even get my head around D:. That said, Renpy uses a Python script system and I assume all mechanics that were not default with the engine were coded.
Graphically, this game is constructed immensely well, from the emotions displayed on each of the character’s faces to the backgrounds showing where you are. Care and detail has been put into making this game smooth and coherent, which makes it a joy to play.
Score: 5/5

My Experience:

Graphical:
Holy wow this game is pretty. The four main characters all have multiple portraits and emotions conveying how they’re feeling. The Rivenwell Online server is also presented very well and the UI’s displayed are reminiscent of true online games (cough).
There are also CG story scenes which look great as well. The game is bright and cheerful, and not so much it’s a pain on the eyes.
Score: 5/5

Story and Characters:
I love the story behind this game. Being predominantly a story-orientated developer myself, I enjoy visual novels very much. Each character had a distinctive personality, which I really enjoyed.
I really enjoyed a lot of the cutscenes and dialogue, and it felt really immersive.
5/5

Gameplay:
Gameplay was smooth and enjoyable. The day was divided into several segments, where you would be prompted to do something. I sometimes found that when I would want to do something (such as shop) I’d get a story cutscene and whenever I wanted a story cutscene I wouldn’t get one :c. But, this is probably a fault of my own and overall I found the way the game flowed to be extremely enjoyable.
5/5

Replay Ability:
This game can get a little repetitive at times. I kept hoping Merui would log back into Rivenwell online, get a new email…however, the different story paths you can take opens up lots of different paths.
In fact, once I finish this review, I’m going to go out and play it again for more Shiro <3
5/5

In case anyone was wondering…


Total score: 33.5/35
Which is: 4.785714265714285714285714/5….

It’s a full 5 stars from me :)