Displaying items by tag: Choose Your Own Adventure

Though this visual novel has an interesting narrative, it is hindered by a lack of impactful choices, a lack of options, and branching errors that take you out of the story. 

The Ballad Singer is a fully illustrated, narrative adventure created by Curtel Games. It’s a text-focused storytelling experience based on classic RPGs, role-playing tabletop games, and other epic adventures. The story takes place in the fantasy world of Hesperia and is told through the eyes and experiences of four different but connected heroes (or, rather, “adventurers,” as some of them aren't all that heroic).

While City of the Shroud, a real-time strategy RPG, has some interesting design ideas in theory, in practice these designs fall flat.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm plays like a cutscene with a point-and-click element that is a joy; no button combinations or consulting a grainy minimap: Daedalus himself designed the levels. The title deals with weighty issues wrapped in stunning visuals and peppered with a comprehensive soundtrack by real artists. This addition to the franchise is a must-play.

Late Shift is interactive storytelling at its finest, a Full-Motion Video (FMV) title where Choices Matter. This gripping "crime thriller" puts players in the hot seat, allowing them to make decisions that drastically affect the course of events that take place in the London night. With seven different conclusions and choices that are genuinely difficult, Late Shift delivers on what it promises: An "interactive, cinematic experience."

Narborion Saga is a wonderful melding of multiple genres, merging High Fantasy RPGs, Visual Novels á la Choose Your Own Adventure, and Dice Rolling games reminiscent of the good ol’ D&D days. Dungeon crawling, open maps to explore, treasures to find, enemies to fight, skill points to use… The list goes on and on.  Narborion Saga offers something for almost everyone, and it’s easy to lose yourself for hours on end.

Be mindful that if you pick this title up, which I think you should, you’ll be doing all the legwork in your brain while still keeping your heart rate down. Though simple and straightforward, and thoroughly enjoyable, this style of gameplay is not for everyone. That said, take some time away from the crazy stuff and chill out with Lifeline. Hats off to the developer for putting together a great story in an elegant, minimal package that still brings it home.

We Are Chicago raises real issues that still plague parts of America, and encourages young people to stay away from gang violence, and this goal is praiseworthy – but between the flat graphics, the uninspired characters, and the nausea-inducing camera movement, We Are Chicago isn't an enjoyable gaming experience.

A title that appears to have been a labor of love, but also and unfortunately, that fails to be anything more than that. For fans of visual novels and dating simulations Angels with Scaly Wings might serve to impress you, but if these aren’t a draw, then pass. The art, animation, and music leave something to be desired, while the gameplay and story line are only interesting because of the odd concept that serves as a common denominator: dating dragons.

I'd be remiss not to make the following connotation: "Dungeons & Dragons," for those of us grown old. Yes, it's a great substitute. Sorcery! gets an 9 out of 10. Well done.