Shanghai Summer
Last updated: 2025-06-17
- Appealing and distinctive art style.
- Emotionally resonant narrative themes.
- Relatable and well-developed characters.
- Weak, confusing, and bland plot.
- Poor translation quality.
- Short length, high price.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 161
- Helpful reviews
- 88%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 12%
- Protest reviews
- 0%
- 75%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 25%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 359
- Negative points
- 273
- Gameplay points
- 44
- Perf. points
- 5
- Rec. points
- 93
- Misc points
- 26
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
Appealing and distinctive art style
| The game features a distinctive and appealing art style, often described as anime-inspired with soft visuals, detailed backgrounds evoking Shanghai, and well-executed character designs and CG artwork. Reviewers highlight the warm color palettes, hand-drawn aesthetics, and overall visual presentation as contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and emotional impact. | 59% |
Emotionally resonant narrative themes
| The game's narrative explores themes of youth, regret, acceptance, and confronting the past, resonating with players on a personal level. Reviewers appreciate the emotionally impactful storytelling, the relatable characters, and the satisfying conclusions to their stories, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and reflection. | 55% |
Relatable and well-developed characters
| Reviewers found the characters to be relatable, well-developed, and human, dealing with realistic problems and evoking empathy. The game's ability to create a connection between the player and the characters is a significant strength, enhancing the overall emotional impact of the story. | 51% |
Atmospheric and immersive audio
| The game's music and sound design are consistently praised for complementing the atmosphere and enhancing immersion. Reviewers specifically mention the soothing and melancholic qualities of the soundtrack, noting how it evokes feelings of nostalgia and tranquility, particularly reminiscent of summer afternoons. | 48% |
User-friendly systems and mechanics
| The game incorporates user-friendly systems such as a story tree, rewind mechanic, and functional archive, making it easy for players to navigate the narrative, explore different choices, and unlock multiple endings without getting stuck. The achievements are also easy to obtain, encouraging players to fully experience the game's content. | 24% |
Intriguing multi-timeline narrative
| The game employs a multi-timeline, fragmented narrative structure that adds intrigue and suspense to the story. The gradual unveiling of the plot and character details through exploration of different timelines keeps players engaged and curious. | 7% |
Decent, short, and soulful experience
| Some reviewers found the game to be relatively short and easy to play, but still decent and above average in terms of content. The story is described as soulful and kind, providing warmth and emotional stimulation. | 7% |
Nostalgic early 2000s atmosphere
| The game effectively captures the atmosphere of the late 90s and early 2000s, immersing players in a nostalgic setting with authentic architectural and scene design. The inclusion of collectible items further enhances the sense of time and place. | 5% |
Polished with side quests/easter eggs
| The game includes nice side quests and easter eggs, and has a high level of overall polish, indicating attention to detail and a commitment to quality. These elements contribute to a more enjoyable and complete gaming experience. | 4% |