Aloners is an upcoming otome game/VN by tumblr user sonnet009. You can find the demo for all versions here.
Story: I don’t want to give too much away here, because I think it’s best to experience it as you play. You (the MC) wake up to a world in which there is a population of only one. The player starts out just as confused as the MC, and you learn about your predicament and the new world around you at the same time.
Characters/Gameplay: I decided to group these two categories together because they affect each other quite a bit.
The personality of the MC is shaped by the player. There are a lot of choices to make, and many of them are action/reaction choices. So you can choose for the MC to react in a variety of ways like reserved, hesitant, kind, sassy, or badass. You can choose to be all one or mix and match! Your choices don’t limit what choices you get next, so one moment you can fight and the next moment you can run. It’s up to you! Even the demo has a lot of replay value just because there are so many choices.
The really cool thing about the choices is that not only do they change the action of the moment, they seem to have a lasting effect on how the main guy perceives you. I chose all the sassy options in the first chapter, and he called me a spitfire in the next chapter. If you choose the more reserved options, he doesn’t do that. So choices have an affect not only in the moment, but later on as well.
The choices don’t really seem to change the character of the main guy though, only how he perceives you. He himself is a bit course and sometimes foulmouthed, but he can be gentle if he feels the MC needs it. He can also push her quite a bit! He’s the type of guy that may not come off as book-smart, but he’s highly efficient in practical ways.
One thing to mention is that there is a warning at the beginning for violence, language, and sexual themes. In the full version, you will have the option to choose between a teen or mature version if you wish.
Art: Both his design and the backgrounds are edge and gritty, and it fits perfectly with the mood and theme of the game.
Music: I personally love the music! I’m a big fan of sparse music (not a lot of instruments), so I really like the choices used so far. Plus it has a sort of minimal, tribal feel to it, and I feel that also fits the mood well. To me, it’s a subtle relation to the game itself. The minimal, limited music fits the minimal, limited world.
Final Thoughts: I’m in love! I want to play the full game now. It seems so unique and raw, and I love the fact that choices can have a lasting impact on the game and how Trash interacts with you.
The writing is excellent. It’s descriptive but succinct. The point of view draws you in and makes you feel you are in the game. You control the story. You experience it.
I’m greatly looking forward to the full release. Go play this demo, please, and if you like it, let the creator know!
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