Info about Return to Shironagasu Island:

Official game description:
  
_I'm going back to the sinister Shironagasu Island..._  
A mystery adventure game and visual novel set on solitary Shironagasu Island.  
Explore the island and discover its sinister secrets as detective Sen Ikeda and your assistant Neneko Izumozaki.  
Sen Ikeda, a detective in New York, receives a mysterious invitation to Shironagasu Island in the testament of a millionaire. Together with Neneko Izumozaki, a girl with special abilities, he travels to the secluded island.  
Solve numerous mysteries and murders!  
Meet enigmatic and captivating characters!  
Discover the hidden secret of Shironagasu Island!  
Stay alive and escape from the ominous island!

Release date: Mar 2, 2020

Categories: Visual Novel, Mystery, Point-and-click Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings, Horror, Psychological Horror, Atmospheric Horror (Light)


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and enjoyable story (weight 0.89): The story is described as engaging, enjoyable, and well-paced. Players appreciate the narrative structure and the exciting plot twists that keep them engaged throughout the game.
- Strong suspense and horror elements (weight 0.78): The game excels in creating a gripping atmosphere with its suspenseful and horror elements. Players appreciate the well-crafted tension and the engaging storyline that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
- Charming and distinctive characters (weight 0.5): The characters in the game are noted for their distinctive designs and charming personalities. Players find them attractive and entertaining, with well-developed backstories.
- Excellent music and atmosphere (weight 0.46): The game's music and atmosphere are highly praised. Players find the soundtrack excellent and the overall atmosphere engaging, which enhances the gaming experience.
- High-quality voice acting (weight 0.44): The voice acting in the game is highly praised for its quality and execution. Players find it convincing and luxurious, which enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Good value for price (weight 0.21): Players feel that the game offers good value for its price. The story and character development are considered worth the cost, making it a worthwhile purchase.

Common complaints:
- Story lacks depth and originality (weight 0.61): The story is criticized for being predictable, clichéd, and disappointing, especially in the later parts. It is described as rushed, less engaging, and relying too much on contrivances and weak plot twists.
- Weak reasoning and plot holes (weight 0.52): The game's reasoning part is considered weak and illogical. There are noticeable plot holes and inconsistencies in the plot, which detract from the overall experience.
- Disruptive and unnecessary content (weight 0.46): The game includes content that is seen as disruptive and unnecessary, such as excessive fanservice and poorly executed extra stories. These elements are criticized for detracting from the main gameplay experience.
- Unappealing art style and fanservice (weight 0.45): The art style is criticized for being unappealing and not liked by reviewers. Additionally, there are uncomfortable and unnecessary fanservice scenes that disrupt the flow of the game.
- Excessive and ineffective jump scares (weight 0.3): The game is noted for its excessive use of jump scares, which are not considered scary and are seen as a significant drawback. Many horror elements are sudden jump scares that do not effectively contribute to the game's atmosphere.
- Uncomfortable and inappropriate humor (weight 0.29): The game's attempt at humor, including fanservice and certain gags, is seen as uncomfortable and inappropriate. These elements are criticized for being out of place and disrupting the game's atmosphere.
- Unrealistic and abrupt plot developments (weight 0.29): The plot is criticized for being unrealistic and having abrupt developments. The story includes sudden shifts, such as turning into a zombie apocalypse, which feel out of place and poorly executed.
- Poor UI and mechanics (weight 0.18): The game's user interface and mechanics are criticized for being poor and clunky. The save system and presentation are also noted as areas that need improvement.
- Short and boring gameplay (weight 0.15): The game is criticized for being too short and boring. The short playtime and lack of engaging content contribute to a less satisfying experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Detective and mystery gameplay (weight 0.97): The game prominently features detective and mystery elements, with players engaging in puzzle-solving, clue collection, and exploration within a visual novel format.
- Horror and suspense elements (weight 0.62): The game incorporates horror and suspense elements, including jump scares, psychological horror, and a suspenseful atmosphere.
- Choice-driven narrative (weight 0.5): The game includes a narrative driven by player choices, with time-limited decisions affecting the story's route and ending, adding to its replayability.
- Point-and-click mechanics (weight 0.31): The game utilizes point-and-click mechanics for exploration and interaction, enhancing the adventure and puzzle-solving aspects.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.18): The game offers multiple endings, influenced by player choices and actions, which encourages replayability and exploration of different story paths.
- Sci-fi and adventure setting (weight 0.13): The game is set on a remote island with a classic plot of being trapped, combining adventure and sci-fi elements.
- Time-sensitive tasks (weight 0.08): The game includes time-sensitive sequences and tasks, adding urgency and challenge to the gameplay.
- Mini-games and puzzles (weight 0.07): The game features various mini-games and puzzles, such as bomb defusal, adding variety to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Excellent visuals and audio (weight 0.17): The game features beautiful CG visuals and background music that perfectly complements the scenes, enhancing the overall experience.
- Crash on save overwrite (weight 0.1): The game crashes when a player overwrites a save file and then views the Steam overlay. This is a significant issue affecting gameplay stability.
- Audio synchronization issues (weight 0.09): There are issues with voice synchronization and overlapping voices, which can detract from the immersive experience.
- Steam overlay hidden by dialog box (weight 0.06): A hidden dialog box prevents the Steam overlay from showing, which can interfere with accessing Steam features during gameplay.
- Linux compatibility issues (weight 0.06): The game does not run by default on Linux systems, which limits accessibility for Linux users.
- Partial Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.05): The game is somewhat compatible with Steam Deck, but may have some issues that affect the overall experience.
- Inaccurate Steam playtime recording (weight 0.05): The time played recorded by Steam is very low, which may affect player statistics and achievements.
- Slow scene transitions (weight 0.05): During replays, the scene transitions are slow, which can affect the pacing and enjoyment of the game.
- Occasional bugs (weight 0.05): The game sometimes experiences bugs that can disrupt gameplay, although specific details are not provided.

Recommendations:
- Good value for money (weight 0.44): Many players highlight that the game is worth the price and offers good value for money. It is highly recommended for its quality and affordable cost.
- Recommended for visual novel fans (weight 0.33): The game is frequently recommended for fans of visual novels, especially those who enjoy mysteries and mature themes. It is also suggested for fans of light novels and adventure games.
- Worth buying and playing (weight 0.25): Several reviews mention that the game is worth buying, whether on discount or at full price. It is also recommended for its complete story and fast-paced narrative.
- Recommendations for specific audiences (weight 0.21): The game is recommended for various specific audiences, including fans of character interactions, those who enjoy extra content, and beginners in suspense reasoning AVGs.
- Suggestions for improvements (weight 0.12): Some players have suggestions for improving the game, such as enhancing the script, increasing gameplay duration, and improving character design.
- Interest in other works (weight 0.11): Some players express interest in reading other works by the same author or trying similar games. This indicates a positive reception and curiosity about related content.
- Mixed feelings on game parts (weight 0.08): A few reviews mention that the first half of the game is better than the second half. There are also recommendations to avoid the after story if not pursuing all achievements.

Other player notes:
- Limited save slots (weight 0.06): The game only provides a total of 6 save slots, which some players may find restrictive.
- Demo available for gameplay (weight 0.05): Players have noted that there is a demo version of the game available for them to try out before purchasing.
- Crowdfunding and updates (weight 0.05): The game has been mentioned in the context of crowdfunding, with potential future updates expected based on community support.
- Fan translation to French (weight 0.05): A reviewer mentioned that they translated the game into French, indicating community involvement in localization efforts.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Players expressed disappointment due to various aspects of the game's story and mechanics. The plot was criticized for being predictable, frail, and full of holes, with an unsatisfactory twist and dull ending. Additionally, the game's UI, character development, and overall quality were found lacking, leading to an unfulfilling experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players were satisfied with the game's story, pacing, and overall experience. The emotional impact, character depth, and voice acting were particularly praised. The game was seen as a good value for money, with a complete and coherent story that kept players engaged.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): The game's engaging characters, story, and suspenseful atmosphere excited players. The pacing and tension were well-received, and the unique gameplay mechanics added to the excitement. Players found the game to be a good value for its price and looked forward to future installments.
- Frustration (weight 0.07): Players were frustrated with several aspects of the game, including the protagonist's personality, unrealistic plot twists, and difficulty in skipping text. The lack of clear indications for critical choices, stressful mini-games, and harsh penalties in bonus mode also contributed to the frustration.
- Fear (weight 0.06): The game's unsettling content, jump scares, and scary atmosphere induced fear in players. The horror elements, including scary creatures and post-game content, were effective in creating a frightening experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoyed the game's balanced plot, fun extra chapter, and movie-like experience. The high-quality game experience, interesting mystery, and good pacing contributed to the overall enjoyment despite some flaws.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players found joy in the game's enjoyable character interactions, story development, and post-game content. The engaging protagonist and enjoyable dialogue added to the positive experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): The game's great value for money, engaging mystery, and unexpected plot twists surprised players. The unique art style and well-crafted atmosphere also contributed to the sense of surprise.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Players were amused by the humor from certain characters, funny voice acting, and amusing character interactions. Some moments in the game were found particularly funny.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): The dark and heavy plot, along with the emotional impact of the story, evoked sadness in players. The mature and touching themes contributed to this emotional response.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admired the solo developer's work and the passion put into the game. The well-developed characters and themes of love and courage were particularly appreciated.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players were happy with the game's enjoyable characters, storyline, and worldview. The music, illustrations, and voice acting also contributed to the positive experience.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Some plot points and fanservice made players uncomfortable. The uncomfortable dialogue in the final chapter also contributed to this feeling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): The nostalgic character art style and mentions of childhood memories evoked a sense of nostalgia in players.}