Recent reviews by rafidev

This game was a lot of fun. I finished it fairly quickly, in just two hours, and found it interesting to follow the lines of events as described by each person. The art was lush and wonderful to look at, I adore Ada's design, and the true highlight of the game, for me, was the world-building. I was not particularly surprised by the results, and didn't find it incredibly difficult to solve the mysteries, though there were a few times where I was unsure how to progress, but the idea of a cyber-dystopia based so much on religion, and cyber exorcisms, and the things implied about the society by the designs of the daemons, the characters, and the scenery were all really exciting and enjoyable, fun to think about and explore. The concept of cybernetically enhanced humans hosting AI demons like malware is super cool. And the ability to contradict statements with evidence and other testimony is a great way for a mystery game to function. The one real complaint I have is that it feels like a prequel, rather than a full game that delves into the characters, the society, their motivations -- it ended with the opening to Ada's true quest, suddenly motivated by a new goal but newly faithless, and I can only hope that's a precursor to a longer game that goes more in-depth into characters and the world. I would buy such a game. This was a good enough way to spend a couple of hours, and I do think it's quite beautiful and well-built, but it left me sort of unsatisfied, wanting more from the setting they created here. This is, in some ways, an endorsement: leaving me wanting more obviously means I liked what I did get, and would have spent more time with it! I just would like something bigger in this same story, following Ada's journey, with more of an emotional attachment developed and the opportunity to get to know some characters and the setting with more intimacy. It's a wonderful proof of concept, but I want to see the concept fully executed now, expanded upon.

PS: As mentioned, I ADORE Ada's design. I found myself just looking at her. The eye motif throughout is excellent, and I really enjoy the way these characters look, her especially.

I've been following the development of Elsinore excitedly since 2015. It looked like a game with everything I loved; Shakespeare, time-loops, difficult decisions, intriguing characters, branching storylines with a lot of replayability, the option to be extremely gay.... etc.

Now, after finally getting to play it, seven hours into the game, I can firmly say it was worth EVERY SINGLE MOMENT I waited for it. I'm not even a little bit done, haven't gotten a single non-death ending yet, but it has rocketed to favorite game status already. It blends in so well with the world Shakespeare created while adding incredible, logical takes on the characters, who are endearing and devastating and all hiding something. I want to unpeel it and get every single possible ending, discover EVERYTHING, which will probably take me a million years and I will gladly put the time in. It's gorgeously written and atmospheric, and I'm so excited to get answers to all the questions I have.

10/10, honestly.