RB: Axolotl

(I got this game through a bundle on itch.io, played it beginning to end, and then loved it so much that I bought it on Steam at full price. That should tell you how good it is right there, but feel free to keep reading.) This is honestly my favorite visual novel now. It's one of those games with a story that grips you, hits you hard, and refuses to let you go. Its got all sorts of twists and turns that are brilliantly set up, and when those narrative puzzle pieces finally slot into place its just...ITS SO GOOD. I hope my own VNs are one day this great. I wish I could go into it more, but really this is one of those games you should experience as blind as possible. Not only is the story great, but so are the characters. The five axolotls each get a nice character arc that evolves naturally throughout the course of the game. They're all charming with booming personalities, and you can't help but root for them. Even Enc - the one who lets players know EXACTLY what kind of game this is from his very first scene - has his own merits and intrigue. They're all very well done. The art is lovely all around, and the game uses character placement very creatively to really get the emotions and actions across. The soundtrack fits each scene nicely, inspiring hope and creeps as needed. There's a sense of humor that fits well (despite all the, let us say, drama of the game), with several jokes that landed at just the right time in just the right way. If I had to give any cons, it would be that Act 3 feels like it drags a bit (but it also sets up a lot of lorebuilding, so I really don't know what else could be done about it). But honestly, though, the pros WAY outweigh the cons. If you're a fan of narrative design, visual novels, or axolotls...get this game. Read it all the way through. Get your life changed. Okay, maybe that last one is a bit extreme, but seriously the game is good and you need to experience it yourself.

I really enjoyed this game! All the twists and turns it took made it a very fun experience. Though the visuals can be a bit tedious for the game's considerable length, its well worth a buy! Nio is the best character by the way

This game was an incredible experience like no other I strongly recommend this game to anyone and everyone!

This story is very slow paced, but knows how to spike in some tantalizing mysteries to keep you reading. If reading something slow paced is fine by you, this game will reward you with an incredible unique story from a rare perspective.

this game is fun

this game is everything im only 25 mitnues into it and love it already

[h1]STORY[/h1] Like most visual novels, RB: Axolotl is narrative-heavy. That being said, it's difficult to discuss the story without just spoiling things. I will preface with this: the game starts out at a bright, cheery tone that it does not keep up with. The characters are colourful, cute axolotl, and we spend our first few hours getting to know them differently coloured amphibians. Axy, Enc, Nio, Liam, and Lanna are all residents of the tank, and you quickly learn that things there are a tad bit strange. The axolotl doesn't need to eat and require very little sleep, for starters, and also don't seem to age. There are even more oddities present that we learn quickly. There's a void in the center of the tank, a portal of sorts that apparently spits items out every day. Nio is the axolotl with the highest intelligence, and he believes there's a correlation between their very existence, the items he throws into the void, and the things that come out. What I will say is that RB: Axolotl isn't necessarily for the lighthearted. Very early on things get dark, with graphic, vulgar dialogue. Things spiral from there, and if one were to label the visual novel as 'horror' I wouldn't disagree. There's a mystery in every part of this game, and it waits quite a while to begin to unravel all of its layers. [h1]GRAPHICS[/h1] As a traditional-style point-and-click visual novel, the graphics in RB: Axolotl aren't necessarily the focus. Still, the backgrounds that are present are hand-painted, bright, and varied enough to be eye-catching. The character designs are adorable as well, and their expressions change based on what they're saying or emotions present in the scene. [h1]GAMEPLAY[/h1] Gameplay is relatively minor, and the most you usually do is click or press enter to advance text. There is a feature that requires you to press the 'S' key, and I'll say that it did put a smile on my face most time it popped up on the screen. There are also a few choices in the game that you are able to make later on, that may or may not effect story outcome (from what I can tell, the choices are mostly for fun). [h1]VERDICT[/h1] I enjoyed the time that I had with RB: Axolotl. I truly enjoy games that set a narrative tone only to subvert it. Being lulled into a false sense of security and then watching the story spiral out once you think you know what's going on is always fun for me, and I eat up a good mystery. All things considered- even if the gameplay is typical of other visual novels- the story that RB: Axolotl tells is interesting enough to want to check out. It certainly did a few things I wasn't expecting, even if I did call a few other twists. When it comes to mysteries, a few shocks are always welcome. [quote]Visit SaveOrQuit.com for detailed game reviews, posted daily![/quote]

this game is about axolotls who have fun together

Am Axolotl and approve dis message.

Ignore my playtime, I watched the excellent [url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhumgEr0z0tazixGBvcBZb_ujSFrZxgxY]Let's Play by Sobata92[/url] and enjoyed it so much I came here to buy the game and support the dev. I love the Axolotls! I can't really comment on the story without spoiling the mystery and deep use of metaphors, but the character development was what had me hooked until the end. Their interactions, the way they learn and grow from each other, and learn to cope with the many many things that go wrong, was an absolute delight to read. The depiction of health issues in the game was incredibly well done. As someone who has dealt with long-term illness, it really resonated with me and I felt like I had been seen for the first time in any video game I've played. Overall, I loved it, but if you're like me and the idea of 9 hours of reading is too daunting, I really recommend Sobata92's Let's Play, as the voice acting makes it a lot easier to watch. Just remember to buy the game if you enjoyed it.