Scarlet Hollow

I have been waiting for Episode 5 from the start, and I am quite disappointed by how this game and its story turned out to be. There is still one more extra episode to come out from what I know. I have played this game several times to understand the plot better, unfortunately. >Most of the dialogue options serves too little purpose for plot progression. Game gives you chances here and there to confront an angry person for example. But the most choice it gives are like "You are a bad person!" or "Don't do this!" Both are pretty much cosmetic than a 'choice' to use in that situation. That person just ignores you anyway. In each important scene plot gives you 6 or 7 options to choose from. But from that 7, at least 4 of them are things that shouldn't be said at that moment. When you see a man's daughter losing their legs because of the father's mistake, you don't go to him 5 minutes later and say "You should have been more responsible as a father!" He knows it. The problem is, he knows it in the plot, and choosing this option serves no purpose except getting yelled at.(As you should). -The choices given to me to roleplay shows no investment in the story and progression as well. If I become agressive to someone for no reason, they do not become aggressive towards me. Because game needs to progress certain plotlines for certain characters, and ignores my behaviours towards them. -You can literally pick out the dialogue option to progress these plotlines as well. It is obvious that for a character you are given two options, either continue or end that plot line. Rest are either there to praise their shirt or criticise them just to criticise them at that particular moment. The problem is, most of the characters have their own justified reasons to commit their 'Particular' acts. So even if you criticise them, they will just tell you they had to do it and you will move on to the next scene. >In some places there are "Quirky Chungus" dialogue options that absolutely destroys whatever relevance or seriousness the story have managed to preserve at that point. The world would be literally about to end, and there would be still that boiled peanut dialogue option for some reason. A joke not well-made, rather burnt from all sides. >Some of the choices doesn't matter as you have no control of the major events that were to happen. You just choose who is to react next to you. For example lets say you are against an armed vigilante that poses threat to you and to the cop next to you. You are a bit closer, and out of the direct gaze of the vigilante. You might think game will gave you and option to make a signal for the cop so you could tackle or distract the vigilante and cop can take him out. But for some reason, game doesn't give you that. Because you didn't use one or two "Polite" dialogue options to that cop at 9385495849 dialogue and scene before. So no clever option to you. Cop dies in that confrontation, gg nt. -I am aware I will not be able to change some points in the story as it says to you at the beginning. Then don't give me a choice. It feels like putting a delicious meal right in front of you, but not letting anyone eat it and letting it go bad. >Traits except Keen Eye and Street Smart are not sensible to pick in my opinion. Mystical for example doesn't let you uncover anything significant that you as a player haven't been suspicious of at any point. It just adds remarks like "This place's ultimate and extreme evilness is off the charts of your magical soul etc etc." as if you literally cannot grasp it from shackles and blood that are around. -Talking with animals especially has too little use because most of the time as they say useless things, and one that could just says "You cannot change anything boi, go back and close my door." I know game is made to play multiple times with multiple different traits to see most of its potential. But If I for example choose to pick Talk with Animals instead of Street Smart, an innocent girl loses her leg. And I also lose plenty of good information from important encounters with important characters If I do this. Yeah talking with a French Tsundere cat was fun. But I would rather save that girl's leg instead of talking with that cat. >Plot and story overall tries to avoid "Show, don't tell" and instead does "Tell, don't show." in most things. So although it somehow tries to explain some past things to you, you will forget them five minutes later as they have no significance at that particular moment. Most of the 'lore' is 'Your family did some bad things' and it only evolves to 'Someone -particular- in your family did some bad things.' hours later. >The story have led to a way that I hate. It is "No one is really evil." Especially with the episode 5, it really feels like I have wasted my time playing the game or trying to understand some things. I was quite invested with the story, but plot seems to run out of ideas and good points to tie up things together. >To finish, a VN that had decent story and progression has turned out to be something that has much less satisfactory payoff to me. I am not trying to indicate any anger, but disappointment. Very, VERY big disappointment.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ not even a full game and i already got 2 runs going and waiting for the rest of the chapters, i need more

Это чувство, когда после прохождения просто сидишь и смотришь в пустоту, улыбаешься от того насколько это потрясающе... И начинаешь новое прохождение, чтобы заново испытать те же самые моменты, но по-другому. Протагонист приезжает в шахтерский городок Скарлет Холлоу по приглашению своей двоюродной сестры Табиты Скарлет для участия в похоронах недавно скончавшейся тёти. На первый взгляд это ничем не примечательный сонный городишко, состоящий из одной улицы, где все друг друга знают и никогда ничего не происходит. Ещё после гражданской войны его основал наш предок, и вот уже больше ста лет семья Скарлет полностью контролирует город и прилежащие рудники. Сестра встречает нас кислой миной (но ты сама позвонила!), а старое фамильное поместье - пылью и разрухой. Неделя обещает быть томной... Но в первый же день нас бросает в водоворот мистических и кровавых событий, и фольклор и легенды аппалачских гор становятся явью. У нас есть неделя, чтобы распутать тёмные секреты своей семьи, неразрывно связанной со всей той чертовщиной которая происходит в городе, а заодно возможно спасти чужие жизни и свою. После великолепной Slay the Princess пыталась бить себя по рукам, потому что принципиально не играю в игры в раннем доступе, но оно оказалось сильнее меня. И, черт возьми, нисколько не жалею. ВН, в которой действительно твои решения влияют на сюжет, персонажей, их отношение к тебе, отношение друг к другу. Здесь выбор в диалогах существует не только ради отыгрыша, можно действительно получить разный исход. В самых интересных местах специально делала сейв и перебирала все возможные варианты, на каждую реплику и действие у персонажей была уникальная реакция. Некоторые сцены можно получить только при стечении определенных обстоятельств. В каждой главе есть несколько ключевых сцен, которые сами по себе неизменны, а вот прийти к ним можно совершенно разными способами. У каждой ключевой проблемы есть 3-4 решения (конечно же, не всегда все будут вам доступны), и все последующие события учитывают ваш выбор. За спиной пока только два прохождения, но уже удалось оценить, как билды влияют на сюжет. Полную картину событий можно составить только после нескольких прохождений, так как разные трейты и их сочетания подбрасывают совершенно разные инсайты. Для понимания сюжета вовсе не обязательно перепроходить на все возможные сочетания, но если интересно собрать все кусочки паззла, это того стоит. Механика трейт сейвов (когда тот или иной трейт даёт уникальный выход из трудной ситуации) получилась очень интересной и уникальной и мотивирует на разные прохождения. Отдельно хочу отметить музыку, просто, моё почтение. Тот же композитор, что работал над Slay the Princess, без его музыки игра и наполовину не была бы такой запоминающейся и атмосферной. Лучшая ВН из всех в которые играла. Теперь жду выхода концовки сильнее чем какой-либо другой релиз ближайших лет, надеюсь, финал нас не разочарует.

This is genuinely one of the best games and narrative experiences I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying, and I highly recommend it to everybody.

• I played the demo back in September 29 of 2020 at 12:55am for the first time back then. • My First Run was Keen Eye + Street Smart in Scarlet Hollow - Episode 1 • Brought the game back in June 13 of 2021 at 11:13pm for $19.18, (-10%) • I want to love, care, cherish and be with Tabitha Scarlet for the rest of my life, personally, i love and care for her. for all of the ups and downs of everything that has happened back then, it was worth it to keep this game in my library all this time, my character allegiance is just Tabitha Scarlet straight up, being a Tabbymaxxer/Tabitha Loyalist was a rough road but is it worth it for me today. Cousin Bonding Time literally means more to me than the residents of Scarlet Hollow, and i will block off all romance options for her personally, down the line, i love what has Abby Howard and Tony Howard has created the best visual novel on my steam library, Worth It. I Just Can't Wait For Episode 6 and 7 to be released.

Genuinely one the most PEAK games I've played in the last 6 years. An absolute masterclass in visual novel storytelling and character building from start to finish, with a brilliant art style and art direction to match. It's clear to me or anybody else who's played this game that it was made with passion and love for the craft. I myself have just finished chapter 5 and am absolutely frothing at the mouth for more and think It's a genuine crime how underrated this game is in both the indie community and mainstream gaming community. Well bloody done Black Tabby, you guys are killing it so far.

What an amazing game. There are so many branching paths and SO MANY consequences to your actions, I love it. They've done a great job of making each playthrough really feel unique. The characters are really well written, the horror elements are done extremely well, and the humor is sprinkled throughout in a perfect way. I've been watching it's progress since it was announced and finally decided to make the purchase for episode 5's release. Very excited to see it's progress.

You have to be kidding me. 5 years and can't even finish a visual novel. How about Screw You? What is the point of the replay value. IF THE CONCLUSION OF THE STORY CANT BE REACHED. i don't want to play 5 times only to be blocked repeatedly. Doubt it will ever be finished. Would give it a 10/10 otherwise.