Dry Drowning

**This Review Contains Spoilers** (but don't worry, you aren't missing much) Another day, another style-over-substance cyberpunk property barely held together by tropes so tired you can hear them snoring in the background, Dry Drowning is a VN so poorly translated that at various points during one of the ending's epilogues it just gives up entirely and reverts back to whatever language it was originally written in (Italian? I'm not sure). Before that, it struggled to keep up the facade, being riddled with Google-tier literal translations such as "I agree with and appreciate these actions!" and "You are upset because of a reason?". Translation issues are the least of its problems though, because this game also insults the player's intelligence by lying to you. At the very beginning of the game, it boldly claims that there are no wrong choices and that you should play how you feel, and then spends the entirety of every single interaction you have moralizing about basically everything. In the case of the boring, overused "Nazi" parallel that is the Black Band political party arc, and which makes up a significant amount of the overall story, it doesn't present any of these characters as people who are acting on reasoning or motivation beyond being "racist" and in fact the game often introduces them with such loaded language right from the start. They are nothing more than grinning 80's cartoon villains, cackling on the peak of a stormy mountain at the amusement of their own evil. No attempt is ever made to explain their motivations beyond "immigrants bad" in order to set up a maudlin scene later on in *the best ending of the game*, which sees you and Hera getting fake identities and being deported after being harassed by a "racist" border guard. This was laugh out loud hilarious considering the kind of commentary this game was attempting to make for reasons that should be obvious: The game spends the entirety of its dialogue moralizing about racism and immigration and then presents being deported out into the world as the best possible outcome. I guess the immigrants being thrown out didn't have it so bad, after all! If you don't like it, leave! This confused, politically illiterate narrative, which comes across as a teenager's first attempts at socially conscious thought after seeing an Amnesty International ad, is also evident in its cast of characters: despite finger wagging endlessly about the value of diversity and the plight of the poor, downtrodden "immigrants" (who are never given any identity, descriptors or motivations beyond being "oppressed immigrants" somewhere off in the background where we don't actually have to see them because eww) the entire cast, from top to bottom, are all pretty White people. Like so much media in the 90's, this game wants its ideological cake and to eat it, too. That is to say, it wants to have all of the socially acceptable, "right" ideas that hope to impress the shallow DEI crowd that makes up its discord server, but without any of the realities that accompany it. But wait, there's more! The "good" supporting characters in this game are deranged lunatics who, in the case of the in-game trans ally, KILLS the main character (and revels in it like a psycho-villain from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) if you don't save her trans friend in the chapter's first ending, despite letting the character die being the objectively correct moral choice in a baby's first trolley problem. This continues with the lawyer David and his sister, a pair of bloodthirsty sociopaths who, in various endings either kill you, kill your friends, or (in the best ending) threaten to kill you on sight if they ever see you again, and are presented as being the insiders who plan to take down the evil "fascists" they for some reason hate despite being indiscriminate killers themselves. With friends like these, who needs "fascists"? Between these characters, the all White cast, and the best ending being a message that amounts to "Love it or leave it, libtard!" I might begin to worry that this game was an elaborate parody that I failed grasp, if it weren't for the obvious messaging by the developer on social media and elsewhere signalling sincerity. It's a shame, too, because this would make the game far more interesting if that were the case! SIDE NOTES: -The other overarching story element about a serial-killer (that leads to the aforementioned trolley problem) boils down to a cult that formed at a retirement home over a living conditions dispute, and which you spend the entire overlong last half of the game flashing back and forth between past and present to justify some silly door opening puzzles that lead to this monumentally dull "revelation". No, I'm not kidding -The game presents "scare facts" about the local government in the bottom left hand of the screen while loading that are at times ideologically contradictory (the ones about unemployment being the highest shame while also declaring that women aren't encouraged to work so they can focus on family life comes to mind. Which is it, are they capitalist worker units being shoved through a meat grinder or is this the Handmaiden's Tale?) or are already long into practice IRL (Can you fathom what it might be like if the MEDIA was owned by the STATE! I mean sure that's already the case, but said media and state take the developer's preferred positions on most issues. But like, what if they DIDN'T! 😱😱😱) or are, quite frankly, good ideas but just don't jive with the developers personal views (sorry not sorry, but I'd personally love it if we had a government whose focus was taking care of the people who built the country it's in control of. China and Singapore are doing just fine, thanks). Like every other political story element, it tries to say everything at once and in doing so says a mish-mash of nothing at all -The most playable part of this game was the minigame Be A Good Citizen which I found myself far more invested in than the story by the time it got added to my menu -As cloying, confused, and loathsome as the narrative and characters are, the concept of seeing "masks" appear over lying characters and the refutation mechanics around that were pretty interesting and would be enjoyable under better circumstances. The same goes for the art, which was perfectly serviceable and had some great monster designs but was unfortunately the candy shell over this mess of a story -Just play Snatcher instead. You get all of the atmosphere but with no hammy moralizing, a better story, voice acting (if you play the Sega CD version) and a killer soundtrack

大雨瓢泼而下，黑白昏暗的路灯下，叛逆之子莫德雷德独自走在回家的路上。他是一名40出头的中年男子，他额头低垂，浓密的头发与络腮胡连成一体，透出一股沧桑和颓废的气息。而他坚挺的鼻梁、浓密的眉毛和坚毅的眼神却告诉你，尽管早已经历地狱，他仍然能坦然面对一切。推开门，一股优美的钢琴声传了过来，填满了整个空间。欣赏着钢琴的旋律，回想着自己和赫拉的种种经历，他顿时觉得此时此刻是如此美好。他不想打破这样的氛围，于是从抽屉中翻出一盒烟，闭上眼，深吸了一口。白光一闪，他完全沉浸在了这短暂的愉悦之中…… 这一款代入感极强的的游戏。其实并不需要给这款游戏安上很多标签。“反乌托邦”“赛博朋克”“侦探”“视觉小说”，我觉得都不需要。它给我的游戏体验，就是纯粹的沉浸感。这种沉浸感来源于游戏黑白昏暗的色调，来源于主角硬派的外表、脆弱柔软的内心、每次遇到道德困境给玩家的冲击、每次通过“审判之眼”揭露其他人羞耻的面具时的紧张而又自信。你就是莫德雷德，你就是这样一个孤独、叛逆、伪善而又脆弱的灵魂。 当然，并非所有人都喜欢这个味道。不过如果你和我一样，也是雷蒙德·钱德勒硬派侦探小说的粉丝的话，那么请放心食用这款《干性溺水》，体验沉浸、挣扎、矛盾、无助和沉沦吧。

I played this game for like 4 hours straight tonight, and I am so ready to be done with it, but I'm only halfway through. It's awful. There's like... bits and pieces of it that are interesting and fine, but overall, I'm bored out of my ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mind and I can't believe I'm only halfway done.

Dry Drowning stands out with its cyberpunk vibe, psychological themes, and atmospheric music, though the lack of full audio is divisive. Its classic point-and-click gameplay feels familiar, but the story is hit-or-miss depending on your taste. Great for visual novel and light mystery fans, but perfectionists might find its flaws frustrating.

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 36: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/10 [i] Dry Drowning [/i] is an Italian psychological visual novel and detective thriller developed by Studio V, set in a dark, dystopian future. It blends visual novel storytelling with investigation gameplay, moral choices, and a very noir-meets-cyberpunk aesthetic. You play as Mordred Foley, a disgraced private investigator haunted by his failures and morally gray choices. The story kicks off when a series of killings by a serial killer named Pandora begins, echoing cases Mordred failed to solve years ago. Set in the oppressive city-state of Nova Polemos, the game tackles themes of fascism, redemption, psychological trauma, and identity, while forcing you to make difficult moral decisions along the way. Overall, Dry Drowning is a flawed but ambitious cyber-noir mystery. It tries to say something meaningful about guilt, fascism, and justice—and it mostly succeeds. While it lacks polish in places, the moral weight of its decisions, its bleak setting, and its stylish presentation make it stand out in a crowded visual novel space. 🍷 [b] Pros: [/b] [list] [*] Compelling noir/cyberpunk setting: The world of Nova Polemos is gritty, politically unstable, and hauntingly atmospheric. [*] Heavy moral choices with consequences: Your decisions truly shape the narrative, including who lives, who dies, and what kind of person Mordred becomes. There are three endings, all drastically different. [*] Investigation gameplay: Beyond dialogue choices, you’ll examine crime scenes, interrogate suspects, and deduce who’s lying. It’s light in terms of mechanics but adds a nice layer of interactivity. [*] Psychological horror elements: The game visually distorts when characters lie (like showing grotesque masks), adding to the intensity and unease. There's a surreal, unhinged quality that fits the tone. [*] Original art style: Character designs are sharp, bold, and unique. Backgrounds are bleak but visually interesting, enhancing the dystopian mood. [*] Strong themes: Identity, authoritarianism, guilt, and personal responsibility are all explored with surprising nuance. [*] Cool (and apt!) title. The phrase dry drowning refers to a person who suffocates without water actually entering the lungs—a slow, invisible suffocation. It’s a potent metaphor for living under repression, choking on regret and guilt, and slowly being undone by a system or your own conscience. [*] Wonderful Greek allusions and characterization. Mordred Foley: the Cursed Knight, famously the traitorous son (or nephew) of King Arthur in Arthurian legend. His rebellion leads to the fall of Camelot, and in many versions, he deals the fatal blow to Arthur—but dies himself in the process. [*] Our Mordred Foley also has a past steeped in failure and betrayal. He destroyed his own Camelot and just like the mythological Mordred, is a symbol of self-destruction. Arthurian Mordred is a knight without honor. Foley is a detective—a kind of modern knight, tasked with uncovering truth and protecting the innocent—but he’s disgraced. This twisted mirror of the noble knight archetype reflects the game's core themes: moral ambiguity, redemption, and decay. [*] We also have Hera Kairis: the Disillusioned Queen. Hera, in Greek mythology, is the queen of the gods, the goddess of marriage and family—but she’s also jealous, vengeful, and wounded by Zeus’s betrayals. Hera in [i] Dry Drowning [/i] is Mordred’s partner and lover (based on your choices), and her name choice ties into multiple levels. First, justice and loyalty. Mythological Hera often punishes those who wrong her or break sacred vows. In the game, Hera is committed to justice in her own way—but her loyalty to Mordred is strained by his past sins and ongoing flaws. [*] She, however, is no sidekick. She’s sharp, moral, and frequently more principled than Mordred. Her name subtly emphasizes her role as a moral compass, but one who struggles with the emotional and ethical toll of the world around her. The ancient cycles of power, vengeance, and tragedy are still playing out in a futuristic setting. [*] Pandora: The name of the serial killer comes from the woman in Greek mythology who opened a box (or jar) and released all the evils of the world. The killer sees society as corrupt and wants to "reveal the truth," no matter the cost. Like the myth, the murders leave destruction in their wake, but also, potentially, hope. [*] Nova Polemos. The city’s name is also loaded. "Nova" = new, and "Polemos" = Greek for war. So: New War. Fitting for a dystopian society simmering with unrest, resistance, and moral battles. [/list] 💻 [b] Cons: [/b] [list] [*] Stiff writing and translation quirks: While the story is strong, the English localization is awkward at times. Some dialogue can feel clunky or overly expositional. [*] Pacing issues: The game occasionally drags, especially in scenes heavy with lore or exposition. Balancing action, investigation, and narrative tension could be tighter. [*] Limited gameplay depth: The investigation mechanics are serviceable but simplistic—more visual novel than detective sim. [*] Edginess overload: Some players may find the tone a bit too grimdark or melodramatic, especially in how characters are written or how trauma is presented. [/list]

I love that the settings and the characters get progressively worst. I think I got the worst/bad ending too. Yippee. I love that the story touches on realistic and hard topics that usually are glazed/babied on other similar games/media. A lot of times some of the dialogues got me thinking and relate like.. im very sure the writers here have lived under extremely corrupt government as well (I am Indonesian here I have a say at this), and not just the theoriticals that are mostly deployed on western writers. Very surprising since this is developed by an Italian studio. So either writers have lived under extremely corrupt government that nailed all the realistically political topics, or they did extremely good research. Although maybe the last scenes of the bad ending might be a little too rushed to my expectation (I was rooting for the villains!! come on, why are you glazing at the important part). it would have been 10/10 but I'll keep this at 8/10. Reason 8/10 bc other than that final scene; sometimes it gets confusing to navigate and progress the story (its that type of game that you need to click everywhere and make sure you've done everything). The UI/menu is not convenient (ie. if I open the menu on inventory, then open it back on the inventory, instead i have to navigate the whole bloody thing again) it gets annoying when needed to interrogate and check inventory at the same time, another thing about the menu is also inconvenient how you have to access dialogue history through it (again if you close the menu, you have navigate the whole thing again just to get back to the history part/where you left off). very annoying and time wasting. Lastly you might have to hold back your yawn and sleepiness when reading because of the whole dark UI and vibe. Even the illustrations and background are all dark with little colour variation. It *is* a noir detective theme after all, but yeah just a heads up. Time to do the new game+ just to see how far i can make the story worst. I'll probably have a coffee with me when I do it. Gonna nap now.

3个结局和隐藏结局我都打了，感觉有些情节并没有说清楚，潘多拉最初为什么杀人，是出于爱好还是一开始就有抗争的意识在我不得而知。总体而言剧情还是挺有意思的，最好的结局虽然也不算好但是还存有希望。 最后我要槽一句，小游戏成为一个好市民我卡关了很久，上网找攻略居然发现游戏更新过以后UI和小游戏关卡都大改过，好市民难度增加，所以网上的攻略视频失去了参考价值我只能硬着头皮玩到第10关，强行拖长游戏时间让人很不爽。

The visuals and music are good. The gamepad support is well done. It's a professional work in that regard. However, the world building, plot, prose and dialogue are laughable. From the first line of text on screen it's obvious that prose is not going to carry the experience. For a visual novel this is dangerous territory. The world building is mostly established through glossary entries given out to the player. If limited to extra information presented with context this would be fine. Plenty of great games do it. However the way it's done here makes a rookie mistake: Core details about the world are thrown at the player at the start of the game without reason or context. Since players are not yet invested in the characters or world, they're not going to care about the history of your fictional city. Further more, if the information isn't relevant to story and isn't interesting to read, nobody is going to care. Nobody wants homework before reading a story. The plot makes do with recycling old tropes. That's fine but the key to success is making it interesting. You can't lean on them to carry your story. The characters don't have any sort of depth or personality which makes it interesting to watch them navigate the story. The quality of the prose is extremely low. Even forgiving the multiple typos, of which any amount is an embarrassment, the narration is the sort of purple prose you could make an ugly carpet out of. It's thick and clunky. It draws attention to itself and doesn't complement the space it takes up. It speaks too much while saying nothing. It wastes your time. Is there worse out there than Dry Drowning? Sure. There's worse. Is it an engaging story? Maybe, if your love of pseudo-noir stories set in a vaguely cyberpunk city outweighs your need for a good read. The visuals are nice and there is a mystery to unravel but you really should ask yourself: Do I want to play a game that is 90% text when the prose is awful and the plot and characters are paper-thin?

Dry Drowning is a stylish, atmospheric visual novel with meaningful choices, great presentation, soundtrack, and strong writing. The puzzle elements are a bit thin, but if you’re here for narrative tension, moral dilemmas, and a moody cyber-noir world, it delivers.

立绘风格比较“古早”，但个人就吃这套，喜欢~ 音乐及气氛渲染也很不错，女主角的钢琴独奏挺好听，主角识破谎言、揭露真相时的快节奏的诡异配乐，在几个小时的游玩时间里每每让我起鸡皮疙瘩。 四个结局中，B结局情感相对充沛些，女主失去爱人后手染鲜血的绝望/堕落/成长令人心塞。 个人还是最喜欢A结局，男女主角、女女配角无人死亡，有情人终成眷属，多好~~~ —————————————————— 然而总体来讲，剧情是真的一言难尽。 “神话献祭”、“赛博朋克”、“反乌托邦”这几个很大很有内容的命题，游戏中没能很好的融合在一起，彼此间割裂感明显。 政治方面。。。。。 感觉编剧像是一个草草翻过几遍《1984》就开始愤世嫉俗的中二高中生，政治见解充满主观臆想、幼稚到令人发指，就是把她们能想到的所有负面词汇都塞到自己想象中的“东亚法西斯”“专制独裁政拳”里去了。 ——玩的时候感觉制作组明明对于某东方大国一无所知，还能如此理直气壮地疯狂影射嘲讽。如此低级的意识形态输出现在看来还挺搞笑的。不过那几年意大利（欧洲）也正是白左思潮甚嚣尘上的时候，数年过去，制作组们也该“睁眼看世界”了吧。 至于隐藏结局。。。。吐槽不能！