Game Review:Long Live The Queen

Today we be looking at a particular little game.
It's a visual novel where you play as a princess.
Sounds boring or not something of your interest?
How's about we add on the premise being your mother (The Queen) is dead and you have to last 40 weeks before you're queen? Why 'last 40 weeks'? Cause everything can and could possibly kill you. Even yourself.

This is Long Live The Queen!

Long Live the Queen is a Visual Novel game created by indie developer Hanako Games. As stated in the opening, you're a princess whose mother passed away, unfortunately. As much as one could assume the princess to take the throne immediately after, you're not a legal adult yet until your next birthday, which is 40 weeks away.The main objective is to live till you can get crowned while dealing with the issues that happen between this time.

The gameplay works according to turns or 'weeks'. Every week, you are to pick two subjects(Each split into different categories) to learn that will boost various statistics. The learning progression of the subjects can be improved(Or hindered) depending on what activity you choose to do in the week which affects your different moods. These stats are important as certain weeks would have an event occurring. When they happen, the game would either automatically check a required stat for the event or check the requirement for your decision (The options you can choose will also be affected by your stats) . If you have a high enough stat for the check, you will successfully clear the event. If not, you'd fail and it would negatively affect you.

Or kill you.

This is not an appropriate way for a princess to go. *Cough* VERY INAPPROPRIATE*Cough*


There are multiple stats that the game checks for in the events, so failing in one stat for that event does not matter as long as you can pass at least ONE of the stats.Saving can be done at anytime, so there is quite a leeway if you make the wrong call.

Take notice that this IS a visual novel after all, but the game only reveals certain bits of hidden plot when your pass certain events. And as is tradition of these kind of games, there are various events and endings depending on your choices in game.

The game is intended for multiple playthroughs(And possibly failures for first-timers), as is the nature of it's genre. Every decision will affect your progress, most importantly the core decisions:Your statistics and the activity of choice you made to affect your moods. It really makes you think about your decision to increase or decrease certain moods as they will be pivotal in how much the stat increases by. This causes it to feel so much more personal, as the results of the events and checks are all the product of what you had chosen before hand.


Of course, the learning of the subjects aren't just numbers, as there are milestones. After reaching a certain milestone for the stat, there would be flavor text to read which would reveal more about the game's world. Also, after reaching 25% for the subjects under a category, a new outfit will be unlocked that boosts all the stats under the category.(I.E Tuxedo would increase all stats in the Economics category when you're wearing it). This means you can afford to change focus onto other stats.

Example of an outfit(Crap, I don't think I have this one yet... ;_; )


For what it is, it's pretty decent, as every event hints at certain plot points that may come up of you made the choices leading to them (Video related: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSf9aEETnvE) .Even if you don't manage to reach it the first time, at least you know there's something to work for in your next playthrough.
The way the checks are designed to reflect their results by color works well, with a bright pink indicating
success and blue indicating failure. Results of events in game feel so much more personal, as they are the product of what you had chosen learn(Or do) before hand. There's a good amount of content for the game to last anyone quite awhile.

BUT

The game has WAY too many stats to train(14 Categories, 3 subjects each. TOTAL 42 SUBJECTS), which can feel overwhelming and the game gives little to no warning about what event is headed your way(Though strictly speaking, that might be to replicate life and how it can pop up with situations that call for what you know). Still, such situations makes you feel like you've been cheated and just thrown into a fray unfairly if you pumped up the wrong statistic at the point.

Another issue is that one of the Categories is LOCKED and requires you to pass one of two subjects. The problem with this category is that it's subjects are vital END GAME. But you have no idea it would be.

It can be VERY frustrating for some first time players, even with the 'save at anytime' feature the game has.

Something to note that is rather odd in the game it has an infinite number of save slots for you to use, each laid out in a 4x2 format. Though on second thought, 40 weeks with so many possibilities and rolls may somewhat warrant this

Overall, it's price tag at $10 makes it a good value for money and is the kind of thing you'd take out to fiddle about with over the afternoon, cheering in your heart when pink and flustered when the blues hit you.

I really hate seeing blue things now.

Review: Left 4 Dead 2

First up is a little game that I've seen a good load of my friends play but I never did until Christmas(Free copy!). I regret having not tried it sooner now(And is feeling a tad bit of guilt for getting it free.)

Left 4 Dead 2 is a first-person 4-play co-op shooter made by Valve. I'm pretty sure most people online would know what it is, though in case there are those who don't, it's not really hard to describe. Survivors, zombies and reaching the objective without dying covers it nicely.

The game focuses intensely on the co-op thing.
Every player has 5-slots:2 weapons(One main, one side arm or melee weapon), a slot for health items, tossing items(Grenades, molotivs etc)and one 'booster' item that grants a health temporary boost or one that grants health AND speed boost.
What this does is that it makes it so players need to work together as they can't carry many things,

As much as some can assume that having an experience in shooter games would overcome the need for teamwork, the game is smartly designed that trying to play hero would only end with dying. Horribly. Cause the zombies can swarm a player VERY fast as they can come from anywhere, not to mention 'Special' zombies that are, of course, more dangerous.Every player will be vital, as levels would need them to stand ground or do certain tasks that require teamwork.

 The progression for the maps are fair, for the most part and in a way, the game could effectively do horror, instilling helplessness when players get overwhelmed by the threats around them.

BUT

Some may notice my statement "For the most part". That is because there are some maps that ramp up the challenge much too quickly(Small maps being guilty of committing this).

Another issue is that because the game is dependent on the 4-players, lag can be a issue that hinders the game terribly if even ONE player's computer is lagging.

Overall, it's a great game to play with friends(In fact, it is best played with friends) and if you were like me who had the fortune to get this free, appreciate it.

It begins

And here we go.

Welcome, individual of the net who happened on this one blog in the sea of blogs!
The name's Toinh Way Jie for people who came here by chance.
For those who know me, ignore the introduction.

So what we do here?
Talk games. Review games. Cause opinions and want to be heard.

Read my stuff and enjoy your stay. It shall be worthwhile.