The VII Enigma

[h1]Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow[/h1] [i][b]The VII Enigma[/b][/i] caught my attention by promising something different from the usual VN fare. Hard sci-fi, time travel shenanigans, near-future corporate dystopia, absolute control by information manipulation, the deadly plague - all coated in a decidedly western graphic novel visual style - it was just a perfect hook for me. And yet I struggled mightily through almost the whole first half of the game. The second part redeemed it greatly and gave me an overall enjoyable experience, but there was always something by the numbers and predictable about it that prevented it from reaching higher. It's easy to make [b]comparisons[/b] with [i]Steins;Gate[/i], just without anime tropes and all those slice-of-life antics, and there's even an evil scientific organisation. But actually the resemblance that jumped at me the most was to [i]12 Monkeys.[/i] The deadly epidemic that decimated the world population, time machine used to change the past and save humanity, shadowy, cultish organisation that governs from the future called... The Twelve! and a band of freedom fighters trying to stop their hegemony - the similarities are overflowing. Physical time travel is impossible here though and only information can be sent back, like in Steins;Gate, BUT we're dealing with sequential loops that build off each other, not many worlds theory (worldlines). It is all meticulously explained and makes sense, earning that hard sci-fi moniker. It's then chewed up, digested, spit and repeated again ad nauseam. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2726207354 [b]Technobabble and exposition.[/b] Prepare to drown in it for the first 3 chapters. I don't even mind technobabble, it's a sci-fi story, but for crying out loud, there's gotta be more elegant ways to do it. In conjunction with very obvious and crude exposition, it all felt very dry and artificial. Here's a confused amnesiac protagonist, how convenient; let's explain everything to him in a huge info-dump only somewhat interrupted with action scenes and some obligatory character moments. Most of the worldbuilding and scientific theories are done in this very condensed way. Lots of information hits you at once. I felt like I was in school, just passively trying to digest it. Thank god (um, developer) for the in-game Encyclopedia, so you can always check all the introduced concepts, terms, characters and even short recaps of endings... like a good student doing her homework. Steins;Gate did it beautifully, engagingly, tickling your imagination along the way. Inspiration, mystery, wonder, that was lacking in this first part of the game. I actually think it would've worked better as a p&c adventure game, or at least benefited from puzzle elements, like [i]Zero Escape[/i]. This dry tech jargon could've been implemented into puzzles slowly weaving worldbuilding through gameplay. Because the [i]novel[/i] part in the visual novel was really lacking in the beginning. Narration and descriptions were matter-of-fact, efficient but dull. Actually, my initial impression was that it's very [b]TV-show-like.[/b] It's the most evident in how procedural everything was: progress reports, rundowns, preparations, recaps, ready-to-goes, yessirs, just general action lingo. Another thing was the pacing, as in quick alternating scenes, jumping between actors and settings just like in a TV episode. We're mostly following the main gang on their mission which is paused at every turn for never-ending explanations because Elijah (read: we) needs to catch up on the whole history of this world (that's right, build the world on his back!) Then, let's hop and see what the always-on-edge antagonist is doing. Ok, time for the feelings talk and some bonding. Enough of that, too much filler, action time! By the numbers! In a TV show though, live action speaks for itself, but here even the attempt to imbue the static images with some animation wasn't enough to alleviate how stark this was to read. Beside the refreshing western graphic novel vibe, [b]visuals[/b] are sadly inconsistent in quality and style, esp. character art. There's a clash between models and comicbook flat shading that can be pretty jarring. The highs in the artwork are really high though (beautiful backgrounds) which helped me somewhat overlook the lows. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2738644389 Fair warning: you have to really love sci-fi and tolerate technobabble to get through this first part. Thankfully, I do. And THANKFULLY it got better!!! The [b]breaking point[/b] (or is it the making point?) was the protagonist's mind dive: a personal story told in flashbacks more emotional and meaningful than anything that went before which coloured everything after it. Finally some interesting characterisation using the old, very philosophically intriguing, sci-fi concept of relation between memories and identities. Even better, the amnesia turned out to not just be a convenient gimmick, but actually very important story point and crucial for Elijah's character development. Everything kind of came to its own. With the overwhelming exposition mostly out of the way, the story flow became more natural, the world alive and immersive, character interactions more interesting. They were still very tropey, but at least they were not just mission-oriented robots. Badass mama Faizah whose talks with Elijah were some of the most compelling, the antagonist becoming more and more interesting - are all the things that made this VN much more enjoyable. It finally earned that store page description "character driven." So, the first part of the game is all about the telling and the second part shows how it all unfolds. There's something compelling about it, I admit, and why that memory dive really works wonders, not just for the MC, but for the whole world. I also must admit that although the exposition was very ham-handed, it... payed off. Lots of [b]cool concepts[/b] were introduced, familiar buzzwords and current topics: social media wars, meta-verse, spying, brainscan IDs, brainwave patterns, mind control, AI, [spoiler]"collective homeostasis"[/spoiler] etc. The way this near-future dystopia is depicted, you can actually imagine it springing from today's world. In that sense it felt quite realistic, outside of time travel. But even that is treated like an everyday reality and a tool, something to fight with, the head of a snake that needs to be cut off, but not something that inspires awe and wonder anymore. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2738623570 Ironically, for a looping time travel story, the VN is fairly linear. There are [b]choices[/b] for sure, but they don't lead to any alternate routes, they're more like fast exits leading into abrupt bad ends/game overs. It's always very obvious which choice is the wrong turn; even the normal endings are abrupt and mostly recapped. Only the one true end really matters and concludes the story, so this could've easily been a kinetic novel. But I didn't mind this cause the way the story is constructed, the way the actors are positioned for the finale is very tight with no plot holes whatsoever. Everything makes sense (well it better with all those explanations) and there are some real tense moments towards the end, hopeless even, but also those heroic, inspirational "hell yeahs". Long-winded monologue, some surprising revelations or better yet, all the expected surprises and the heart-warming resolution. Nothing earth-shattering, and even with time-bending, it is kind of predictable but in that pleasant, comforting way. I can't fault it for making me feel good though and can almost forgive the rocky start. [h3][quote][b]Follow [url= https://store.steampowered.com/curator/40848670/]Drugoja In The Dreaming[/url] through wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff

The VII Enigma is a sci-fi mystery visual novel developed by studio Spire Games that features English text with animated backgrounds and multiple choices and endings. Currently, there is no voice acting. The game provides a medium gameplay length of around 20 hours but can be stretched to more if you want to read carefully and check all the files, which are very interesting and detailed. Story: The game is set in a future in which the company is victim of the BOSC (Bureau of Safety Control), a ghost government that has acquired absolute control through a series of devices that can be summarized as the Tempus System. There is, however, a group of people who intend to overthrow the aforementioned government with the help of a mysterious entity called The Founder. The themes within this visual novel are very dark. Even in moments of tranquility and joy, the melancholy and feeling that everything could go for the worst never leave you. I really enjoyed this style as it makes the story very captivating and ensures that there are never any dull moments. Characters: Every character is well-developed in terms of personality and backstory, you will be able to understand them better the further you progress through the game. They are very complex and listening to their stories and thoughts will have you sympathizing with them. We will see the points of view from both the sides of the game, The BOSC and the Anti-BOSC, respectively from two characters in particular: Agent Beckett, a cynical and ambitious man who will do everything in the name of power, and Elijah Shawn, a man who lost his memory and was saved by the activists to free the society from control for a better future. Original Soundtrack: This visual novel has a very interesting OST, very pleasant to listen to since it manages to give you exactly the vibe that suits each moment perfectly, from relaxed situations to thrilling. A persistent theme present in the OST is a certain cyberpunk element, accentuated from the usage of an electronic music base combined with other kinds of music. Personally, my favorite one is the Main Menu Theme, it has such an epic sound that I fell in love with this track the moment I first heard it. I would be really happy to buy a DLC with the full OST, if it were to be released in future. Graphic Style & Animations: One aspect that immediately drew my attention is the graphical style the studio decided to use. It is a very pleasant hand-drawn style, which reminds me of Tex comics books. The colors used play an important role in it, neither too bright nor too dull. This particular style works well with this game, it’s a rare combination that gives it an old-fashioned feeling. It furthermore combines pretty well with the backgrounds, which are also animated on some occasions, such as rain fall. Every character’s sprite also reflects their feelings, so we can have a dynamic effect during the dialogues. On a side note, animations work pretty well, because they can make a static background or scene “dynamic”, and together with some spectacular shots, like the snow part, they truly are breath taking for how evocative they are. Bonus: The menu has a section with every file you have unlocked in the game, which consists in summaries of the chapters played, endings unlocked, and lastly all the characters and special terms with detailed explanations for each. Final Thoughts: The VII Enigma truly impressed me, and I honestly can’t wait for the sequel, which I hope I’ll be lucky enough to be able to play! Definitely a visual novel to try if you are looking for something different, gloomier, and together with the OST and the thrilling plot it can truly give you a great experience full of tension and have you feeling always on the edge! [url=https://www.sinicalanimenetwork.com/post/the-vii-enigma-review]Complete Review With Images[/url] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/vnislife]Visual novel, JRPG, Anime Steam group - Join the group and consider following the group's curator list for more reviews[/url]

This was a truly special story, though not what I was expecting. In a nutshell it's the weaving of the plot, the characters and the soundtrack that make it. I was a little unconvinced right at the start. The first chapter was fast paced and felt like a mash-up of Steins;gate and 12 Monkeys. There was a LOT of information, and a lot of plot to wrap my head around (perhaps even a little too much). I was still very much on the fence about it at this point, but I'm glad I stayed the journey, because this story did know what it was doing. The pacing shifts for the better after the first chapter and the best parts of the story are in the second half as the plot deepens. I should also mention this story really is for true sci-fi mystery fans. There are quite a few info dumps, and also because of the mystery elements sometimes the trajectory of the plot was unclear. This could be seen as either a strength or a weakness depending on your tastes, as the plot does weave all the elements together for its ending, but depending what you come for a story expecting will depend how you find this journey. I for one love mind bending ideas and being lost in the dark in a story, so I had enjoyed it very much. Although this story does start off using well established sci-fi tropes, the further the story goes the more it deviates from the norms, and the more it shifts into something more character-driven and psychological. The characters really make this story, their own motivations and clashes are unlike what I have found in other VNs. The art in this one was unique, and though I liked it and felt it suited the story, it was a little inconsistent at times. Play this one for the plot, not the art. The sound track is very good, and for me was a big highlight. This, with the intense writing style, gave this story a distinctive feel from other visual novels. I can't say what makes this story so good without spoilers. All I can say is that I was truly satisfied with the ending, which I have to say is rare with visual novels nowadays. Just make sure you watch after the credits to see the epilogue...

[code]Curator page here-->[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/] DaRevieweD #164 [/url]<-- [i]New review every Weekend[/i][/code] [h1]"ALL THIS TICKING & TOCKING IS WINDING ME UP…!!"[/h1] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2733762251 [u] Here's The Thing:[/u] You are none other than Dr. Elijah Shaw. An amnesiac and presumed brilliant individual who for some reason comes out of a fugue state in an interrogation room. Subjected to a line of questioning by “The Bureau” in which he has no clue whatsoever and appears to be truthful… Left alone, he is then extracted by a team of freedom fighters. And so, the events are set into motion from then on. For all you know that is~ [h1][u][+] PROS;[/u][/h1] [h1]:) THAT’LL SHAW YA~[/h1] This is a kinetic visual novel which I feel a little annoyed that it conveniently omitted to say. But I was also deep down relieved because I could simply channel my senses, emotions and brain cells (and trust, you will too) on the substantial amount of exposition that will follow. There is a drastic learning or rather attention curve to the beginning that will decide whether you’d like this VN… But don’t worry, should you get lost there is a glossary that gets updated as the story progresses; characters, techie terminology, life-changing events and just recaps in general! Something I found myself revisiting quite a lot, because I’m just that dense! There isn’t much in the way of choices, except for the ones leading straight to the dozen or more dead ends that usually occurs within seconds upon selecting them. And of course, the 3 normal outcomes (if memory serves me correctly) and one true ending. The “VII” in the title is a giveaway that there are 7 chapters, each lasting approximately 1 to 2 hours. I’d wager the game taking up to 10 hours max for brisk readers and 12 hours, even more for those who want to take their time~ [h1]TIPS:[/h1] 1) Stuck at 99% completion? Hint: it’s in the [spoiler]main menu[/spoiler]! [h1]:) BOSC IN THE AMBIANCE![/h1] The art direction is a strange blend of water color and oil paint. Not particularly beautiful but still curious and striking enough that they maintain your gaze. Landscapes for instance are reminiscent of Monet. Sometimes out of “focus” and fleeting in presence, that you don’t belong in this place. Which is appropriate, given the plot point. The character models however are the apple of my eye! The score is for lack of a better word, simple and adequate in that they set the tone right but too bland. Though I for one, was moved more than once by the tracks carried by a piano. There are no voiceovers but the words have a way of filling in that void especially in the middle portion~ [h1]:) IN TIME, YOU’LL FIND A WAY-[/h1] The premise I’ve been told is strongly influenced by Steins;Gate but how much I cannot say. Instead, I would like to add a few examples of my own [b]Back to The Future[/b] and [b]X-Men: Days of Future Past[/b] in the hopes that without saying too much- you sort of get the commonality between them. The story is one of its greatest feats and there can be no second guessing that a lot of thought went into it both in terms of logic and stakes. I didn’t expect to buy into, let alone like the in-game universe which illustrated some very close-to-home Foucauldian politics without necessary showing too much. But as a sociologist, I couldn’t help but relate to and empathize so hard with the authoritative nature that could just as well be possible. The game’s central message is on the unpredictability of time and that some things cannot be altered, try as you might even with the supposed technology. It was idealistic, pragmatic and fatalistic in a cradling yet miserable kind of way. It really covers all the bases, not just as to the fates of these characters but also had me brooding over mine. What I’ve done, and let’s not go there~ https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2733988697 [h1][u][-] CONS;[/u][/h1] [h1]:( -TIME. AND. TIME. AGAIN…![/h1] Okay, the overload of information and over exposition minutes in the beginning was a major turn off… One that perhaps was necessary to really insert you as someone caught between so much all at once. But it didn’t help that it made want to give up right off the bat. So much so, that amnesia didn’t really cut it as the sole reasoning behind the protagonist’s (or rather MY) scrambled. The amount of intolerable jibber-jabber of “time this” or “tempus that” is enough to dissuade players from progressing past chapter 2. Which would be a grave mistake, because it really redeems itself from then on. Up to a point of course, because as with time-based narratives, the whole timeline gets derided once you start to pinpoint discrepancies or "why didn't they just do that". [h1]:( IKER-RAMBA.[/h1] I thought the forced choice sequences to simulate and or give the impression of “gameplay” happening was a dirty trickery in the highest degree. Because half the choices were either so ridiculously obvious or were meant to just be filler achievements. If anything, they acted more like a cork to obstruct the flow of the good stuff. I like to also paint a parallel between this and the [b]Zero Escape[/b] series which initially I was so psyched for it to be a spiritual successor of. Though they are still quite similar than they are let on. Yes, the latter is a puzzle adventure but excellently structured in short bursts of info. The character development, story progression is second to the gameplay. For Enigma VII then, limited on the mechanics end it seems like it’s doomed from the start~ [h1]:( A CLOCK BLOCK?[/h1] The art has the potential to go either one of two ways. The first is you won’t mind it. The second; you’ll pick to death- like a scab, heavily reused backgrounds, poses and their dire inconsistency. Being clear-cut sharp for some, then come slight blurriness. And others mosaic almost like they were never finished… It’s here that I must point out the draggy writing. Not an insult to the world building or storyboarding talent. Rather just the presentation and giving voices to characters. The intentional stalling for time to wad up the “personality development”- which had its moments sure, could not be more detectable… They say and argue circles on multiple cases; Elijah was unlikable early on. It’s times like these, I tell myself brevity is a trusty ol’ friend~ https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2733990331 [h1]BUGS:[/h1] x Pausing during the credits will stop it altogether. Unless you rollback and retrigger it… x Apart from that, nothing else. [h1]NITPICKS:[/h1] ~ Skipping transitions make the process to not be as smooth as it could be. ~ Surprisingly quite a handful of prominent misspellings in early chapters. As well as later on. ~ Also, I couldn’t count how many but there were enough to bother me; missing preposition, winded sentences with no punctuation breaks and also phrases with at least one word repeated. ~ Dead ends should just have you resume from your last save without bringing you to the menu! [h1]"- SO… WHAT WILL IT VII?"[/h1] [u]Last Words?[/u] Kinetic VN that admittedly has time on its side yet also against it. The gripping universe and temporal drama prove as much. But they soon get overclocked by dubious pacing as well as flat execution~ If you like anything to do with time manipulation and want a VN suggestive of one ageless [b]Zero Escape[/b] series. If you love a sometimes shrewder for its own good, worth-every-dime story that gets better over time despite a stalled start. Then take some out of your days for it~ [h1]7 / 10[/h1] [code]Time for me to bid my congratulations and eternal gratitude to [b]Spire Games[/b] for the key! I was totally blindsided by the offer~[/code] [code]Don't forget to follow my curator [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/]DaRevieweD[/url] for more games!![/code]

'The VII Enigma' is a sci-fi visual novel that through its sci-fi plot tackles important issues such as personal connections, society and power struggle, as well as difficult personal choices and sacrifices that we must make in tough times. Without spoiling the plot, the core sci-fi idea at the heart of this visual novel is a device that allows people to send information to the past, and thereby enable those who receive this information to make different choices, which alters the timeline to a new reality. There is a lot of explanation about this and also the game's world in the early parts of the story. This might sadly put some people off, as there's a fair bit of science that gets thrown at us right away regarding time travel and also the workings of human brain. To me personally, as a person of science, it was no problem and even very interesting to follow, but to someone who isn't a fan of science, it might be harder to follow. Still though, I urge you not to give up on the story early on and just stick with it, because the only concept you need to understand here is the idea that information can be sent back to the past and allow people to make new choices that alter the timeline, which is a familiar concept in the sci-fi genre, and with this idea in mind the whole of the plot and the dystopian world in which it takes place is crafted. What is a lot more impressive are the characters and the backstory of the main character. Initially we start with him having lost all his memories due to some gone-wrong experiment, but over the course of the game, we uncover more about his past, and see flashbacks to important events, not only on the current timeline, but in the very first timeline as well, which is what leads to all the events we find ourselves in. I really enjoyed those parts that had us delve into the main character's past. There were many moments that took us on an emotional rollercoaster and had me asking myself the difficult questions about our existence. It's a perfect blend of the tragic with the beautiful. Moreover, the stakes keep rising as we progress through the story, with things getting more intense with each chapter, the hair-thin narrow escapes the characters experience that keep you on the edge of your seat, and the clever use of the game's sci-fi concept that we didn't think of at first but end up realising with sudden 'aha' moments when they happen. Some of the plot and its twists you might be able to figure out way ahead of time, like I did, but that still doesn't take away from the experience when they are revealed and your suspicions are confirmed. As far as gameplay, most of the plot is linear and not much is required on our behalf aside from picking occasional choices that are given to us. In majority of the situations, one of the given choices leads to an abrupt bad ending, and the other progresses the plot, and it's not always clear which one is the bad one. So, I recommend to just save before making the choices! A few of the choices near the end lead to alternate normal endings, but there is only one true ending. For the most part though, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the story. The story and emotions are greatly enhanced by the excellent soundtrack the game has. Virtually every tune is memorable and conveys the emotions of the scene, whether it's tension during high-stakes scenes or tugging at our heartstrings during emotional moments. The visuals are decent. Most of the time we just see the background image of a location we're in and the character busts of the people who are talking during each dialogue line. I generally enjoyed the visual aesthetic, and it is among the minority of visual novels that has non-anime visuals. So if you prefer a non-anime style, this VN fits the bill. The images of the full character models that we see at times may look a little different and odd in their art style to some of the backgrounds, but the busts during dialogues are pretty great. Generally speaking, I liked it. It took me just over 12 hours to go through the whole story and to see the alternate endings, but this may differ depending on how fast you read. I think a few scenes could've certainly cut down a bit of dialogue and character ramblings, but overall, I enjoyed the pacing and the progression. The story kept me intrigued from the very start and I've only been more and more absorbed by it the further it went on. 'The VII Enigma' has an absolutely phenomenal and beautiful sci-fi story that explores important questions about our humanity and society as a whole. I think it's criminal that this VN is so overlooked. For me, it's earned a place among my favourite video game stories to date.

I am impressed by the quality of the story writing.

Gripping story couldn't stop reading had to know what happened next, was always on edge wondering what was about to happen

Just a preliminary review for you guys but I'm loving the world building in this! Just finished chapter 3 and it's got me hooked.

That was quite the emotional roller coaster. I'm impressed!

A verbose but tightly written story, effective and well put together which is a rather hard thing to do these days! Time travel and mysteries mix well but are hard to get right, I think this story pulls it off well by constraining its time travel with proper rules. Forgive my review being a little short, check the others if you're interested but this game does deserve attention, give it a try!