As We Know It

As We Know It is not the game I hoped it was going to be. The reviews give the impression that this is a story-based VN, but it isn't, it's a dating sim. There is almost no story at all in the game. As We Know It starts with you moving into a creepy vault run by an isolationist dictator that your mother inexplicably instantly falls in love with. Every day you wake up, go to your mandatory work duty, and - instead of going home after work - you are forced to choose between reading at the library, jogging at the gym or drinking at the bar (doesn't matter if you picked water as your drink of choice, incidentally, your character is written as if they got drunk anyway). This continues day after day after day and then the game ends. There are a couple of events that occur that the various characters (barely) react to, but nothing ever feels like it has any stakes until the very last day when you die. (Or, at least, in my playthrough I died.) I don't mind a tragic ending, but it doesn't count for much if there was no depth of narrative to give it weight. And in this game there isn't. Everybody is one-dimensional and boring. You get railroaded into a relationship even if you didn't flirt with anybody, because just being polite somehow makes people fall in love with you in this vault full of insecure basketcases. It's so wack. And, well, that's the thing. This is all par for the course in a dating sim. But if you are expecting a VN with a strong sci-fi storyline, you will be disappointed like I was.

Not a bad VN,, though the 2 stories I have done have been bad endings.. It seems you have to agree with everything the girls say no matter how stupid. I will try a couple of more times with the girls to see. The Male endings I would guess by the way they behave wouldn't be as stupid.

First off, I should say that this is one of those games where you spend a lot of time doing repetitive activities and the player just chooses which repetitive activities to do. I call them "scheduling games". I don't know if there is an official name. I personally find this kind of game boring, and since the previous game I played by this developer was the same, I should stop buying them. That having been said, it wasn't a bad game. The characters and scenario were interesting. I enjoyed playing through it. However, I doubt I'll play it more than once or twice more.

The game wasn't bad.. but both the female romance options are ugly as hell.

Full disclosure: I've only played a little over an hour of this game, and most of that time was spent going back to try different choices. I only played a few days into working the first "career choice" in the game. I've requested a refund. My first ever refund request on Steam. First, I'd just like to say that I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into creating a visual novel. I know that a lot of time, care, and creativity went into the creation of this game. Devs deserve to be paid for their hard work, and that payment happens through game sales. I feel bad for requesting a refund knowing that, but I just could not get through this game. Most of the interactions between the MC and the other characters (especially the love interests) are painfully awkward. The characters do not feel particularly interesting or compelling, and while the story seems fun, I feel like it's lacking in execution. I was really committed to just give it a try through at least one full playthrough, but when I got to the "scheduling" portion of the game where you work during the day and choose between three activities (the library, the gym, or a bar) in the evening, after just half a week it was already super repetitive and I was bored. I like scheduling games, but this one lacked the variety and nuance that many I've played typically have. I really like the background art and UI. The sprites aren't my favorite, but seem appropriate for the game's price point. I only had sound on for a few moments before the repetitive music got to me, so I can't really accurately comment on that aspect, as I did not use it. I was excited at the prospect of unlocking 30 different endings, but the choices feel unrealistic? Inorganic? I'm not really sure how to explain the feeling. Basically, I felt the choices boiled down to "become an outcast" or "interact in strange ways." I could never get an accurate read on what the other characters liked and didn't like. Choices that seemed to me would result in a negative reaction from the love interests actually made them like you more, and vice versa. As much as I was looking forward to playing this, and as much as I do not like not recommending games, and as much as I really don't like returning them, I just cannot recommend this game. I was very bored.

So this is where I hate the steam rating of yes or no. Was this a terrible "VN". No, not at all. But I would argue there are free ones out there that have richer story and characters. I feel like this is an interesting concept, but it just didn't go far enough. Most of the time you are either same old same old in the background of your job art or the library, bar or gym or living quarters. The art is very static for the most part. Even when the characters are describing rooms they don't match with the art. Which is fine, but it makes it somewhat less immersive. I've only played a few different routes for one romantic interest so perhaps there will be more variety later. I feel like there are many things that are missed opportunities example a character finds out you miss the stars and is like remind me to show you something sometime and then nothing ever comes of that. I just wish there would've been more development in the characters and in the world building. Not a bad game, but for the price point I did expect more.

I completed the demo some time ago and recall I loved it. I could see the game had potential to be an awesome one but after I bought the game and now completed one love route (I got the crazy ex-boyfriend one). It left me confused on who the crazy ex-boyfriend was as my date was neither crazy nor an ex.. The game got such great potential to be a great and fun game but it got boring after a while because it was the same day over, over and over as soon as you pick a job. I am not really tempted to play the game again even thought there are 30 endings in total and I would love get a happy ending at least once. I love the music, great music but I wish there were a bigger (or at least better) selection on who to romance and a better selection on jobs as well as. Definitely do something about the repeating days where nothing happens several days in a row. I am sad to say that overall, I do not recommend this game.

hoynwey :3

It's a fun game. It has a good story, interesting art, nice music, and good writing. I think it's worth the price since there are many paths and endings plus it has a pretty interesting story.