Venus: Improbable Dream

Venus is a beautiful emotional tale about two similar teens struggling with social anxiety and low self esteem. It follows them through their struggles and shows how they slowly build an inseperable bond between each other that starts of as friendship and develops into their first true loves. The atmosphere this game was able to produce during my playthrough is quite an achievement considering the low budget and the little experience the main creator has. This game also reconfirmed my view on mother tongue writing just having the edge over everything else. There are no awkward dialogues or writing errors to be found and it was a real joy to read. It is also very admirable to see that the quality control was very thorough on finding any mistakes that might have happend during production. The soundtrack of the VN is also a big contributor to the overall great atmosphere and it was nice to hear a few classics that probably everyone will know. I also didnt miss any voice acting as the story and music alone was more than enough to catch your attention and also keep it over time. The one thing that certainly could still be improved would be the art in general as both the backgrounds and the sprites are clearly not the highest quality, however I also know that those are the most expensive to get and it also honestly didnt hinder my experience in any way. I actually even found the art being like it is to add its own charm to the game and I quite like the sprite of Haruka. Reading through it once should also be enough for you to be able to get the true ending as it is quite easy to figure out which options are the "correct" ones. I also think that just playing the true ending is all you need as it is clearly the one you are mainly supposed to experience. I wouldnt even have minded if the game was just a kinetic novel without options and just been the true ending one, but for anyone that likes to have some decisions to make then you at least have a small amount of them that also actually change the story. All in all it was just a really nice experience that took me around 13 hours to complete and considering the cheap price it costs it really should be on anyones radar that loves themselves a nice emotional romance/ coming of age story. If you are looking for some more great VNs then check out my review page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/34401214/

Katawa Shoujo and Missing Stars are one of my most favourite VNs so far, one of the things I love about them is how they handle the topic of mental health. This is I was looking forward to Venus: Improbable Dream and got it as soon as it came out. I am just two hours in and I can already tell this is something special. The story already made me cry like a little baby. I can easily recommend it already. EDIT after finishing the story: OMG this VN is amazing, the ending was so emotional and touching. Just go and buy it, you'll love it. Now excuse me, while I go get more tissues. PS: I'm a very fast reader, you'll probably need more time to finish reading it.

Please get this game for yourselves to play, lost for words for how emotionally powerful this story is. Some games have a huge complex of lores to fully understand the underbelly of them, but this game doesn't have that, which works in its favour being tied emotionally to 2 people. 2 people who live very similar lives feeling like they're a bother to everyone else around them due to their at birth conditions. Having dyspraxia myself and going through certain stages in my life where I hated myself solely due to my learning difficulty, this story empathised with me more than most others when looking at a person and their interpretations of what they view themselves as. Kakeru for having hemangioma, along with Haruka for being blind. 2 very different physical conditions, but both giving the individual very similar psychological damage as each day passes, while getting into a routine living with the condition that they have, they resent themselves for having it and how their upsets & worries are portrayed in a way that doesn't disown them for having hemangioma or being blind. Each segment of the game gradually building up to a big moment with a few twists & kicks here and there to keep you on your toes, nothing is left in the open for the player to be confused by like other games sadly fall short on. Venus: Improbable Dream is an incredibly wonderful experience, a tear dropper for me personally on 2 different occasions throughout the game where I couldn't help but cry. Each ending presenting a different challenge, scenario and feeling when the curtain closes and you try the other choice to get to a different outcome. Speaking of choices, all of the choices in this game feel like they have meaning & purpose behind them. I was really impressed with the opening of the game when the demo initially released, and with the full game I was broken into submission by the game's ability to project the suffering that these two characters have endured both alone and with each other through their struggles. I want all visual novel fans to know, along with those interested in learning about mental health to know that this is a game you must purchase and try out for yourselves! No game is perfect, but emotions alone this game gives it to you like a siege hammer when times are tough, especially if you live with the same or similar condition(s) to either Kakeru or Haruka where it dramatically affects your entire life. Please get yourselves Venus: Improbable Dream today, you will leave with either a smile curling up on both sides of your lips, or tears running down your cheeks, thank you for all of the memories made on this wonderful game! <3

[b]Note:[/b] Topics, such as depression, disability, etc., are delved into the story, so it's only fair to give a heads up. [b]Venus: Improbable Dream[/b] is an emotional visual novel developed and published by Borealis. You take on the role of Kakeru Akane, a high school teenager who has a visible birth defect. Because of this defect and the fact that he was bullied a lot because of it when he was younger, Kakeru spends his days at school trying to be invisible. However, one day, his homeroom teacher approaches him, concerned that Kakeru isn't making any efforts to be more sociable at school. It probably doesn't help that his parents have called the school on some occasions to express their concerns as well. Thus, Kakeru's homeroom teacher suggests (although it's more like, pushes) Kakeru to join the music club since Kakeru used to play the piano when he was younger. Reluctantly, Kakeru agrees, silently deciding that he can drop out if things don't work out. Once he arrives at the music club, things are as Kakeru suspected. Just as he's about to decide on not continuing the music club, he hears the lovely sound of flute playing. Curiously, Kakeru investigates the source and finds Haruka Fujiwara, another member of the music club, in a separate room. Although their initial meeting is very awkward, to the point that Kakeru is almost completely sure that he won't go back to the music club, they continue to see each other, and the slow start of a friendship blossoms between them. I'll stop my story synopsis here to avoid spoilers and all that. ^^ As for the gameplay, the story contains a brief prologue, two chapters, and an epilogue (for both good and true endings), and it solely has choices. While the choices in the first chapter don't affect the story's direction, the ones in the second chapter determine whether [spoiler]Kakeru chooses to perform with the group or to do a solo performance[/spoiler]. There are a total of four endings: good, true, and two bad endings. Also, Steam achievements are present although at the time of this review, they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "profile features limited". In addition, there are several CGs although no CG gallery from which to view them. Now that I've gone over the story and gameplay, I'll move onto my thoughts. As this month is Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to play one game (at least) to highlight its importance, and [i]Venus: Improbable Dream[/i] definitely fits the bill. Also, I have been meaning to get around to playing this visual novel for quite a long while now. ^^ Without further delay, I'll give my thoughts on the story. It starts off as one would expect from such a story. Kakeru has major anxiety issues, which is very understandable due to him being bullied over his birth defect. I found him to a shy, quiet character who just wants to get through each day although that's not really living life to the fullest. Then when it comes to the other characters, I found the others to be mostly likable. Haruka is like Kakeru in that they both have anxiety issues and are shy and quiet, so it's no wonder that they end up developing a frienship. As for the other characters, like Kakeru's parents, homeroom teacher, and music club advisor, I found them to be pretty likable as well. A lot of them can come off as a bit pushy at times, but it's obvious that they mean well and only want Kakeru to break out of his shell. It's great that Kakeru has such a support system as well as a wonderful friend whom he can be himself around. On a personal level, I feel that it is important to have that support system, especially when you've been bullied (unfortunately, it has happened to me in the past). Otherwise, it's very easy to feel depressed and be in a dark place to the point of feeling isolated. As for the story itself, I enjoy reading it from beginning to end. It was wonderful to witness Kakeru and Haruka's friendship blossom, and I liked witnessing how Kakeru would gradually become more social although it was definitely a work-in-progress. Regardless of one of two possible routes that Kakeru can take, I liked seeing how Kakeru would work hard to perform well for the end-of-the-year school festival. While the good ending felt more like a friendship ending (not only with Haruka, but with a few other music club members), the true ending was definitely more of an [spoiler]emotional romance between Kakeru and Haruka[/spoiler]. Of course, the bad endings are what one would expect from them. All of them are full of emotion, and I would definitely play the good ending first before getting to the true ending. (The true ending is definitely worth waiting for. XD) In regards to the writing, the pacing can feel a bit off at times. While events would progress from one day to the next, there would be time skips of a few days for others. However, I think it's fine since it would feel boring to go over each day, and also, as far as I'm aware, this was the developer's first visual novel. As for typos, I only noticed a couple, but they were very minor and don't stand out from the reader enjoying the story. Regarding the art, it gives off that feeling of being an indie game in which I mean that there was plenty of love and care taken into creating the sprites and CGs. The sprites and CGs are drawn and colored well. I only wish that there was a CG gallery since I would have loved to have taken screenshots to show off. The art style reminds me of a few of the first visual novels I played way back, being free visual novels. (Yes, there are plenty of wonderful visual novels that are free, and I even have a list in my curation that lists all of the free games that I've played. ^^) Moving onto the music, the tracks are absolutely lovely to listen to. The majority of them are beautiful classical music pieces, and I have to admit that classical music is one of my favorite genres. Getting back on topic, it makes sense that the tracks would be classical music since the music club focuses a lot on them. They feel so soothing and relaxing to listen to. Overall, would I recommend [i]Venus: Improbable Dream[/i]? If you enjoy reading emotional visual novels and don't mind the topics that I mentioned at the beginning of my review, then this is certainly worth taking a look. All of the achievements unlocked for me without a problem, and at the asking price, I'd say it's just about worth it to get. I bought this on a sale, and I feel bad that I only got to it now, but as the saying goes, the best things in life are worth waiting for. ^^ Also, I just want to say that we definitely need more games like this that bring forth awareness about mental health and how important it is to acknowledge and address it, rather than ignore it or worse, bully people over it. [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]

Venus: Improbable Dream is not only a well-done visual novel. It is also a deep story about human beings and about a rare subject: mental health. How to deal with anxiety and depression. The game is well written and transports perfectly the feelings of the protagonists. This makes this game really special and an amazing experience. The graphics are nice, and the music is well put in the scene. Normally, I'm not too much into VNs, but here I got caught! Well done. I was even thinking about how it would be to have this story as a (real) novel for reading? I guess it could be published somewhere. If you are into VNs, then I would definitely recommend it. And If you think VNs are not your cup of tea, then I would double recommend it!

At first, the game felt like it was not for me since this was my first visual novel experience. I couldn't relate to the thought processes of the protagonist but soon I realized it was because I didn't know him yet. The more I played the game, the more I could empathize. Still, all the connections I found between myself and the story was not enough for me to fully understand his situation. As I looked from his eyes, my curiosity went up. Because this game is so successful at telling a story from the perspective that you have never been. Also, our narrator is a sociology prodigy. All the actions of the characters are coherent to their personalities. The world is not fantasized. There are people in this game, you wouldn't be able to tell that they are made up. Nothing feels out of place! A unique story while being natural and realistic... Can't skip the music. There are original pieces and they fit in the story quite well. Since music takes a big part as a topic in the life of our main characters, I respect that sounds used in this game are very impactful to your "gameplay".

Venus is one of the best-written VNs I've played, a real achievement. It's both a romance and a journey of self-discovery. The disabilities are treated honestly, and the tale is a real journey through classical music besides. Venus is a lovely boy meets girl tale - except she's blind and he has social anxiety. Visuals are adequate but it's very well and honestly written and really puts you in the characters' heads. For more niche curation, follow me at: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/27440015-CSH-Picone/

Very rarely do I write reviews for games, in fact I think might be my first ever one on Steam; it only took me 6 years to do one, anyways. For those who like to know TWs (trigger-warnings), this game does experience a few, so if you're not comfortable reading about the following, anxiety, depression, disability issues, etc.; then this game isn't for you. Now with that mentioned, before I get to my pros and con of the game, I just want to say that this game is very well produced and very well written. I personally liked that we saw through the eyes of someone who's going through mental troubles and seeing someone else's perspective on dealing with another disability. The stories progression does show growth between all the characters which is good and it feels natural. Music choice was alright for the game personally, but again with what resources the creator had, there was only so much that can be done. With my general consensus done, let's get into my Pros and Cons about Venus - Improbable Dream: Pros: - Excellent story progression, the game didn't feel like it was prolonging itself and it felt a natural pace. - Excellent POV of someone dealing with anxiety, depression, etc.; not many people see what truly happens when an episode happens. This game showcases how characters have an emotional breakdown and how each character then copes with the aftermath. - Excellent character development throughout the story. - Excellent character on character support within the story. - The amount of routes given in this game (four) is fair for the price of the game. - The music that was produced was good, I personally enjoyed it, but if you don't orchestra or instrumental type of music in the background, they might I suggest turning off said music and listening to your own. There isn't any VO in the game so you have that luxury but you also miss critical musical cues within the game. - Even though the story was through text only, you could feel the emotion throughout the game, and I believe that's an awesome selling point. Cons: - No VO in the game, I know its technically not the creators fault due to limited resources, but this game would've been even more great with VO within it, hearing the emotion from some of the lines along with the music would've made this game a masterpiece. - Music was good but felt repetitive at times. - Transitions could've been more fine-tuned. Some transitions were just images of locations flashing across the screen then the game resumes back to where it was going to resume. Sometimes using the faded black option (which this game did use) is the better option for almost all transitions as it indicates the end of a scene. If the creator could've maybe fine-tuned some the scene ending transitions. - This could be just me, but some of the word choice within the game felt too high level, like some words I had to look up because I didn't know what they meant. It's nice that I got to learn new words but I don't like having to stop my play-through and look up something because I don't get it. I hope you guys enjoyed my review, again this is all my opinion, but I suggest you take some of my pros and cons into consideration before purchasing this game. The game is great, in fact its a hidden gem within the VN community, but its content and theme might not be for everyone. At least if download the demo and give it a play-through that way in case you're unsure. Thank you!

This was my first visual novel and unfortunately, due to my work schedule I have not been able to complete this game yet, but what I have played is precisely the sort of thing that young person might need to read to learn some new perspective. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say this: This game is a story about young man who is dealing with some personal struggles but who realizes through interpersonal connections that he is not the only one. It's very much a story about what it's like to grow up different, and aware that you're different. Story aside, the artwork is well executed, the music is quite nice, and the flow of the story is quite easy to follow. I really didn't find anything worth noting that could be considered negative.

I would love a sequel, as Kakeru and Haruka's story doesn't feel "finished". As strange as I describe it, it feels like there's more room for both characters to develop as they face more challenges as they grow up, individually and/or together. I'm happy enough with how the "good ending" wraps up, but it ends too fast and does not feel natural. It is made a bit worse when the epilogue for "good ending" feels like a dictionary example of a "Wrap up happily ever after" scene. On the topic of not feeling natural, I guess I could say this ending was my first ending based purely on instinct and not using a guide, but the choice that directly leads you to "Bad Ending 1" feels like a trap. I didn't expect Kakeru to behave the way he did based on the choice's wording and the entire scene went 0 - 100 in no time at all because of Haruka's reaction and was gut-wrenching for a reason I don't think was intentional. The hypocrisy coming from Kakeru off of this choice, intentional on his end or not, was hard to read the events that followed when the choice that starts this ending is worded as such I believed he would have asked a question and let it be. When, [spoiler] the alternate choice has Kakeru dropping it and then in the next scene giving Haruka the question anyway and she does not once go 0 - 100 at Kakeru, and the story continues on [/spoiler]. I had not saved after making this choice so I had the chance to load back a few scenes and make the alternate choice. I got the "good ending" afterward, and I should stress again I've not used any guides. I have not yet experienced the other two endings, assuming the ending structure is like this: "Bad Ending 1" "Bad Ending 2" "Good Ending", and I presume there is a "Neutral Ending" or a "True Ending". This is a superb story and I don't believe anyone's time will be wasted reading it. Kakeru and Haruka feel like they're people. You'll feel Kakeru's struggles as the story progresses and cheer when Kakeru succeeds, I did anyway Edit 11/5/2021 - After seeking out the other endings, my opinion of this novel holds strong, perhaps stronger than before.