Bahnsen Knights

Did not like this one. We were given no background information on who this cult was, what their motivations were, why they needed to be investigated, and how did Boulder enter the cult. And the "cult" was more like a gang. Why did they care about F5 tornadoes? How does the leader being a used car salesman factor into this other than the weird ass barn full of imported Ford Sierras. The man character wallows on and on about his wife, child, and dead friend, and this would be fine if it didn't take up what felt like over half the game. He is suppose to be a professional, but can barely keep his act together, risking everything. I just don't get it. We didn't get to know him or build any sort of connection. I just saw him as rash, unfocused, and irrational. We weren't told a story either. It felt more like a slideshow of different events that happened while Boulder is in this cult. I didn't understand the underlying connection or what I was suppose to be getting out of these scenes. There just ended up being so much dead conversations that didn't matter or add anything to the narrative, and half of the time Boulder wouldn't even contribute to conversation. It was always "........" while the other character rambles on about some unrelated whatever. I feel like I played only half of the game with all the important scenes removed. There were so many questions and narrative points that are never expanded upon, and it makes for a very annoying read.

Very conflicted on Bahnsen Knights. This is the first game from LCB I've played, so the style in which you play is a little new, but not completely foreign to me, as I have played visual novel games before. I did love the style overall. Both in the overall tone in how the story played out, as well as the the frames in how it was presented (and the color tone). On the other hand, I would say that for a game this short (which is great and not a negative), it is important that every story beat and choice matters in how the game is presented. And I feel as though this is demonstrated very well until the climax, which then ends the game almost 3-5 minutes later. The abruptness in how the game ends, and how things get to the climax, just seems incredibly out of place; both in the character with which you've come to know, as well as how the story is told. I hate to say that it ended with a thud, but I just feel like this is lost potential on what could have been a really great story, had it not only ended the way it did. With perhaps a little more workshopping, the ending could have falling in line with the character you've been playing. I do understand that games/stories cannot end the way I (or anyone) would like them to, so it's not necessarily the ending itself I'm disappointed with (though it seemed odd), it was the tone of the ending. Felt very much like a John McClane ending, which was not the character you play. Overall, I'd say to play it if it comes on discount, as 3/4 of the game is really enjoyable.

Years ago I played the first title in the Pixel Pulps franchise, [i]Mothmen 1966[/i] and really enjoyed it as a throwback semi-graphic adventure with cool retro style and a few mini-games. So I decided to buy [i]Bahnsen Knights[/i] too after trying the demo, I liked it too but not as much as the previous one. Graphics and sound are still top notch for what they are, but for a supposedly Pulp adventure there's nothing weird, supernatural or absurd about it, it's all very grounded. And the protagonist is not very interesting since, as an undercover cop, we know almost nothing about his "real" identity so we're not too invested in his struggles. Also the fact that the good guy and bad guy look somewhat like Bud Spencer and Lupin III is kinda distracting :D And, like all LCB games, there's always an annoying incomprehensible card game that feels forcefully inserted in the main game, thankfully it's not mandatory to complete the story. In short I liked it but not as much as I thought I would. And, I laughed when in-story one of the characters suggested that LCB stands for "Lewis Carroll Bateman".

Got hooked on LCB games from the very start. The Grizzly Man has the most straightforward story compared to other installments, with easy to follow game mechanics, but at the same time, it pushes pixel-based content to new heights, with easily the most visually rich delivery so far. Despite being a slasher story, it had a perfect blend of gritty and beautiful elements and delivered an overall very satisfying experience. Bahnsen Knights, on the other hand, felt much darker and oppressive, with a strong immersive atmosphere, some of the most ingenious mechanics in similar games, and great dialogue writing. Following on to Varney Lake, which strongly reminded me of Stephen King's The Body, was the most light-hearted story, a nostalgically moody coming-of-age story, but slightly less memorable than the other LCB stories. Lastly, I reviewed these games in the reverse order in which they were played, Mothmen 1966. It felt like something out of the X-Files, and being my first LCB game left me curious and excited to try the other developments. In retrospect, I appreciate how LCB continued to improve and refine their approach to storytelling, use of visuals and creative game mechanics; there’s a lot of thinking and passion poured into these games. Oh, and did I mention that all of LCB's games have banging soundtracks and audio effects? If you grew up playing video games in the '80s - '90s, you’ll love it. PS, this was intended for The Grizzly Man, but Steam bugged out and only recorded 1minute of gameplay instead of ~2hrs, not allowing me to review it.

An incredibly well done experience packed in just roughly 2 and a half hours. It's like playing a pulp comic book that's far above your average read. The writing, pacing, and artwork are all great. Well done for a bar that's not very high in the videogame genre. Definitely worth checking out if you're interested in trying out a visual novel.

An agent goes undercover in a religious-tinged cult of the Ford Sierra with a charismatic leader. Gather evidence and try not to raise suspicions in this pulpy visual novel. If you've played any of the other Pixel Pulps (Mothmen 1966, Varney Lake, GrizzlyMan (which I haven't yet but it's next on the list)) you know what you're in for. Striking pixel art, terrific writing, and chewable atmosphere. And a clunky (optional) card game… There are a couple "action" sequences where you have to be quick navigating menu choices which too me a couple attempts, but nothing that soured the experience. Would recommend making a save slot at the start of each chapter. So yeah, if you're looking for a quick play and like a good pulp, definitely give Bahnsen Knights a go (or all of the Pixel Pulps)!

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The outstanding and alluring pixel art-style is what draws me to purchase it. But as soon as I started playing it, the story and the way the game expressed this short story is even more fascinating. Large areas of red and purple pixels create a depressing and mysterious atmosphere, which perfectly fit with the storyline. And it's also interesting that this game used concise text to create many characters with distinct personalities. ps: also giving me some sort of Pulp Fiction feel.

Cara a arte desse jogo é tão bonita, recomendo demais, se for fazer as conquistas já se prepara pro jogo de cartas, que é um saco!

三部曲里比较喜欢的一部，围绕着bahnsen knights，一个（像暴走族的）邪教组织展开，设定很有意思，bgm很好听，主角的心理描写很到位，紫红黑组成的色盘更有诡谲的效果。还挺不错的