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The Light at the End of the Ocean
Developer: Jane Titor
Publisher: Jane Titor
[b]Pros:[/b]
1. The story is a unique mixture of mystery and pain, how each character has a large purpose guiding the main character through the mysterious place.
2. The characters are all presented in an interesting way in the beginning, just going by who they are instead of their names until later on such as Guest, Keeper, Archivist.
3. The characters all have a smooth interaction with each other, despite their differences, their conversations feel very natural.
4. The characters all have very unique personalities greatly matching their characters such as the Keeper being a mild speaking straight forward person, the Guest being unsure of their origins until later, and the Archivist being a beam of light, making things lively and fun.
5. The minor characters are used to help give the major characters some background to who they are, which is a nice use of them, despite their minimal usage.
6. The poem at the start and end of the game is a very nice touch as it adds a bit to the eeriness of the Lighthouse.
7. The dynamic background when it rains, and the transitions from morning to evening enhances the experience.
8. The character art and CGs are lovely doing an excellent job at enhancing certain scenes.
9. The use of point and click mechanics to unravel clues is a neat feature to progress the story.
10. The incorporation of flashbacks to add depth to the characters is done well.
11. The extras upon completing the game such as the Tea Party, is a cute little addition.
12. The use of clues to help you get the other endings is a nice addition, I definitely don't see that too often.
13. The addition of a link to an official walkthrough is a nice touch as it lets players know that it is a trusted source.
14. The soundtrack is easy on the ears and helps enhance scenes when there's tension or lighting up the mood during a positive event. The main menu music also gives off a mysterious but curious feel upon looking at the screen showcasing the lighthouse.
[b]Cons:[/b]
1. There are some mentions of the Archivist's sisters, but it would be nice to get to know more about them as you spend time with the Archivist.
2. Although there are a few routes to go with, it feels that the story is focused more on the Keeper than the Archivist, even when going for the Archivist.
3. Upon first play, when using the point and click features, some items will progress the story. If you have missed some items, you'll have to wait for next opportunity or reload your save.
[b]Conclusion:[/b]
The Light at the End of the Ocean presents itself as a very interesting type of purgatory, the whole thing having a purpose. The story may be short, but it does not hold back in giving an eerie tale of tragedy and reconstructing a life. This VN is an excellent showing of unraveling the truth to show that sometimes life can be cruel, but you always can try again with a new outlook. With serious themes, it is actually a very entertaining and heartwarming experience throughout the whole game.
[b]Score:[/b] 8/10 GREAT
