Celestial Return

I would really love to recommend the game, but the core system - dice - is killing any pleasure I might derive from it. The creators say their inention was to force players to be "thrifty" with the dice, not to overspend. Ok, fine. I go into book 2, face a test that requires at least two dice (out of 6 I have) to pass. I fail. Do I progress forward in any way? NOPE. I have to pick another choice and spend more resources! The whole system encourages save scumming, not thriftiness. The game PUSHES YOU to just try to find a perfect roll, possibly with a single die, so just keep reloading until you get it (yes, the die roll changes on reroll). I don't want to reload through a story, and fail states you might encounter are NOT fun. Saying goodbye to the game. Won't be returning.

Beautiful atmosphere: CR understands the importance of presentation for the medium. The story and characters are also written in a way that highlights the authors cares for the work, something that is far from being the norm in 2026. Is the dice management rather aggravating? Somewhat. Did I just get a Bad End? Sure did. As a video game, I can't shake the feeling more could be done to make things tactical. There's only so much you can account for without knowing the importance and amount of tests the game will throw your way. Despite the sour aftertaste, I'd never discredit this one, though: It slots neatly between DE and Dragonfall, further highlighting the genre doesn't need nor should be 2077-dry.

Combining a dark science-fiction setting with a highly distinctive visual style, Celestial Return delivers an incredibly atmospheric and memorable experience that draws you in from the very beginning.

To start with - I am a kickstarter backer, so I have received a copy of the game 72 hourse before the premiere to check it out. This is why I have marked that I got the game for free, although I was a backer since the KS campaign. When writing the review, I'm already in the third book (the third act) of the game and I love it so far. I like that it's somewhere between a visual novel and a Disco-like rpg. Gives you a genuine feeling of reading an interactive comic book with cool noir-cyberpunk story and some simple but engaging gameplay mechanics. The narrative is mysterious and dark - and gets darker as the story progresses. It's well written and there is a really fast pace of action - so far the game was not boring even for a short moment. The art style is amazing - so many great concepts with a creative use of photorealistic graphics from time to time. Soundtrack is also well thought, suits the dark cyberpunk vibe of the game itself. Besides - music really plays an important role in the game, but I don't want to spoil the fun. I can only hope that if the game becomes a success, we could get voice acting - it would be a wonderful addition. As a player who is especially demanding in terms of a good story I am very satisfied. If you like games like Disco Elysium - this one is for you. If you like cyberpunk or noir-like detective stories - it's also definitely for you. Also - if you like artsy games bringing some fresh approach in the graphic/art style/design fields - I would strongly suggest to check this one out! Also if you are a fan of comic books or visual novels - this game is very likely to cast a spell on you, bringing also some fresh air to these genres. The game does not offer any complex character/skill development, so if you are looking for more classic approach to RPG - you will not find it here.

The story is incredibly compelling and its theme is extremely engaging. It flows so well that you can't wait to see what happens next.

the story is exciting and i love the art style it feels so alive

Disco-like oyunlar ararken wishlistlemiştim. Sunum bütünlüğü çok başarılı sevginizi kattığınız çok belli. Elinize sağlık. Başarılarınızın devamını diliyorum. Yerli olduğunuzu credits'e girince fark ettim. Sevgiler :)

The game has a fantastic storyline. It's been a long time since an indie game has drawn me in so much and made me wonder, "What's going to happen next?". It's like I'm experiencing a movie or a book. The dice system is also a very interesting and innovative experience. And the art is amazing. For an indie game, it's filled with truly impressive artwork.