Info about Herald: An Interactive Period Drama - Book I & II:

Official game description:
Media
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About the Game
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Herald is a choice-driven adventure game set during an alternate 19th century in which the West is united as a colonial superpower: the Protectorate.
Help tell the story of Devan Rensburg, a man of mixed heritage who became steward on board of the HLV Herald, a merchant ship set for his country of birth.
As Devan it is your job to keep the peace among the crew and passengers by resolving their daily squabbles. Set during a time of widespread inequality and injustice, you are challenged to uncover a great mystery that surrounds the Herald's perilous voyage.
Herald Book I & II ends at a halfway point in the story of Devan Rensburg and the Herald. For the Complete Edition of the game, go to the Steam store page of _'Herald: The Interactive Period Drama - Complete Edition'._  
**IMPORTANT FOR RETURNING CUSTOMERS:** If you already own Book I & II and want to upgrade to the Complete Edition, buy the _'Complete Edition Upgrade'_ bundle.
Key Features
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*   A branching narrative that changes depending on how you decide to play. Do you choose to be bold and stand up for the downtrodden, or would pleasing the elite be the safer and smarter choice?
*   Uncover all of the secrets aboard the merchant clipper Herald, as you explore its many nooks and crannies.
*   The Herald is a microcosm of 19th century society. The crew and passengers all have their own dark secrets and often use sly coercion to convince Devan to help them. But who can you trust?
*   Herald's diverse cast of characters is brought to life by beautifully animated portraits, and the performances of thirteen talented voice actors.
*   Herald is set during an alternate 1857 in which the West has been united as a single global superpower: the Protectorate. Governed not by kings but by an elected 'Lord Protector’, the Protectorians believe they are morally superior. But are they?
*   A gripping tale about finding your place in a world divided by race, class and culture.

Release date: Feb 22, 2017

Categories: Choice-based Narrative, Point-and-click Adventure, Interactive Fiction, Historical Simulation, Dialogue-based Gameplay, Mystery, Visual Novel

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs well on a Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility with Proton/Linux. The target framerate of 30fps suggests optimization for less powerful hardware, which benefits Linux users.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game to be reasonably priced when purchased on sale, with specific mentions of $3 being a fair price. Additionally, users indicate that the game is frequently on sale for less than its current price, implying that the community considers a lower price range to be fair. The general sentiment is that the game is worth buying when discounted.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 8.0h
  - Story completion: 3.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides a range of playtimes for different aspects of the game. The first quote indicates that completing the first chapters takes a little over two hours, which can be considered a partial story completion time. The second and third quotes provide a range for completing the game, with one player taking about 3 hours and another taking about 8 hours, including reading additional content. The fourth quote suggests that experiencing everything the story has to offer takes almost 16 hours, which can be considered a comprehensive playtime including multiple playthroughs and exploring different nuances.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and potentially boring start but becomes significantly more engaging by the end of the second episode.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: End of episode 2
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Slow start; Tedious tasks; Dialogue advanced by clicks
  - Unlock drivers: Story progression; Engaging narrative
  - Conditions: Patience; Interest in story-driven games
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and player choice.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on narrative and interactive elements, enjoys exploring different story paths.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story lover; interactive story fan
    - Reference games: Life is Strange; Telltale; Dreamfall Chapters
  - Completionist Achiever (sale)
    - Motivation: Unlocking all achievements and exploring all story paths.
    - Playstyle: Replays the game multiple times to achieve all possible outcomes and collect achievements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist
    - Reference games: Life is Strange; Telltale
  - Historical Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Unique historical setting and atmosphere.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring historical contexts and unique game settings.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: historical fiction fan; mystery lover
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Compelling and well-written story (weight 0.93): The game features a brilliant and captivating story with strong narrative elements. Players appreciate the engaging and well-conceived plot filled with twists and turns.
- Beautiful art and graphics (weight 0.72): The game is praised for its gorgeous and stunning artwork, beautiful art style, and impressive graphics. The visual elements contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic appeal.
- Enjoyable characters and dialogue (weight 0.53): Players find the characters enjoyable and well-developed, with interesting dialogue. The character development and interactions add depth to the gameplay experience.
- Top-notch voice acting (weight 0.48): The game features high-quality voice acting with talented voice actors. The fully voiced characters enhance the overall storytelling and immersion.
- Excellent soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.47): The game features a fantastic soundtrack and good audio quality. The music and sound design contribute to the immersive experience.
- Unique and detailed setting (weight 0.4): The game is set in a unique historical alternate universe with a rich narrative and detailed character portraits. The setting adds depth and interest to the gameplay.
- Meaningful decision-making (weight 0.35): Players appreciate the complex situations and difficult choices that significantly impact the game. The decision-making process is meaningful and engaging.
- Engaging and immersive experience (weight 0.32): The game offers an immersive experience with strong thematic intent and socially relevant themes. The combination of story, art, and music creates a captivating atmosphere.
- Affordable and worth the price (weight 0.14): Players find the game to be reasonably priced and worth the investment. The overall quality and content justify the cost.
- High replay value (weight 0.11): The game offers high replay value due to its engaging story and meaningful choices. Players are encouraged to replay to explore different outcomes.

Common complaints:
- Save system issues (weight 0.46): There are numerous complaints about the saving system, including lack of save options, no cloud save, limited save slots, and no manual saving.
- Graphics quality concerns (weight 0.36): The game's graphics have been criticized for being low-quality, outdated, and sometimes falling into the Uncanny Valley.
- Game feels unfinished (weight 0.34): Many players reported that the game feels incomplete and unfinished, with a very short playtime and a story that seems half-finished.
- Choices lack impact (weight 0.3): Players feel that their choices do not significantly impact the story, with effects often limited to immediate scenes.
- Animation and voice acting issues (weight 0.23): The animations are described as stilted, robotic, and sometimes buggy, while the voice acting is criticized for being mediocre and monotone.
- Long wait for updates (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated with the long wait times for new chapters or books, and the lack of updates since 2021.
- Disappointing story and characters (weight 0.18): The story and characters did not engage many players, with some feeling they could not connect with the characters.
- Technical issues (weight 0.17): Players have reported various technical defects, including game freezes and bugs that lock the game.
- Repetitive and linear gameplay (weight 0.17): The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive, linear, and simplistic, with limited freedom to pursue side quests.
- Slow movement speed (weight 0.16): The walking and movement speed in the game is considered to be slow, affecting the gameplay experience.
- Value for money concerns (weight 0.15): Several players feel that the game is a waste of money and time, with an unrealistic price for the content provided.
- Puzzles are too easy (weight 0.13): Several reviews mention that the puzzles and minigames in the game are too simple and easy to solve.
- Slow and boring start (weight 0.13): The first chapter of the game is criticized for being slow, boring, and not engaging enough.
- Tedious fetch quests (weight 0.09): The game includes fetch quests that players find tedious and uninteresting, taking up most of the gameplay time.
- Confusing elements (weight 0.09): Some players found the beginning of the game and the map to be confusing, affecting their overall experience.
- Limited endings and story divergence (weight 0.09): The game has a single ending, and the story does not feel overly divergent after one playthrough.
- Language support issues (weight 0.09): There is a lack of Chinese language support, and some players experienced a slow pace due to language barriers.
- Camera and framerate issues (weight 0.09): Players have noted issues with camera angles and a framerate that never goes above 30 fps.
- Lack of communication (weight 0.06): Players are disappointed with the lack of communication from the developers regarding updates and changes.
- Long development time (weight 0.05): The game has been criticized for taking a long time to develop without significant updates.
- Pronunciation issues (weight 0.05): Some players noted pronunciation issues in the first book, affecting the immersion.
- Control customization (weight 0.05): There is a lack of customizable controls, which some players found frustrating.

Gameplay feedback:
- Choice-driven narrative gameplay (weight 0.97): The game features a narrative-driven gameplay where player choices significantly impact the story and character interactions. This includes branching narratives and multiple endings based on decisions made throughout the game.
- Point-and-click mechanics (weight 0.33): The game utilizes standard point-and-click mechanics for interaction and puzzle-solving. Players engage with the environment and solve puzzles through this classic adventure game method.
- Multiple endings and replayability (weight 0.23): The game offers multiple endings, encouraging players to undertake multiple playthroughs to experience all possible outcomes and achieve all accomplishments.
- Interactive and conversation-focused gameplay (weight 0.23): The gameplay is heavily focused on interactions and conversations, with dialogue choices that have far-reaching consequences. This includes high-stakes conversations and roleplaying elements.
- Historical and alternate settings (weight 0.2): The game is set in a period environment with a historical timeline, exploring themes of colonization and trade. It also features an alternate history setting, adding depth to the narrative.
- Puzzle-solving elements (weight 0.19): The game includes various puzzles, ranging from simple to inventory-based challenges. These puzzles are integrated into the gameplay to advance the story and engage players.
- Character customization and roleplaying (weight 0.14): Players can customize their characters and engage in roleplaying, with decisions impacting character personality and story development.
- LGBTQ+ themes and inclusivity (weight 0.11): The game incorporates LGBTQ+ themes and includes hidden elements specifically for LGBT players, promoting inclusivity and diverse representation.
- Mystery and criminal thriller elements (weight 0.1): The game falls within the mystery and criminal thriller genres, offering an engaging story that involves exploration and roleplaying within a suspenseful narrative.
- Save system and controller options (weight 0.09): The game includes a save system for progress tracking and offers controller options for different play styles.
- Indie game development (weight 0.06): The game is developed by an indie team, reflecting the creativity and unique storytelling often found in independent game development.
- Mature content suitable for adults (weight 0.06): The game contains mature themes and content, making it suitable for adult players or mature teenagers.

Performance notes:
- Game freezing and locking (weight 0.12): There are reports of the game freezing and a specific bug that locks the game, causing significant disruption.
- Movement and animation bugs (weight 0.11): Players have reported issues with movement and animation bugs affecting gameplay.
- Technical defects and issues (weight 0.07): Various technical defects have been reported, impacting the overall stability and performance of the game.
- Framerate capped at 30 fps (weight 0.07): The framerate is reportedly capped at 30 fps, which may affect the smoothness of gameplay.
- Low-quality graphics assets (weight 0.06): Some players have noted that the game features low-polygon assets, which detract from the visual experience.
- Display server restarts (weight 0.06): Switching graphics settings to windowed mode causes the display server to restart, which is inconvenient for players.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for visual novel fans (weight 0.31): This game is highly recommended for fans of visual novels, interactive dramas, and period pieces. It caters to those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences with historical or colonial themes.
- Great for narrative enthusiasts (weight 0.16): The game is perfect for those who love story-driven games and enjoy simple games with good narratives. It is ideal for players who appreciate a strong narrative focus.
- Best purchased on sale (weight 0.11): Players recommend purchasing this game on sale, particularly when it is priced under 4.99€. It offers good value for money during discount periods.
- Suited for text and interaction lovers (weight 0.06): This game is recommended for players who enjoy games centered around text and interaction. It is well-suited for those who appreciate interactive storytelling.

Other player notes:
- Ethical concerns about game completeness (weight 0.07): Players have expressed ethical concerns regarding the sale of an incomplete game. This suggests that the game may have been released in a state that does not meet the expectations of the players, leading to dissatisfaction and mistrust.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.23): Players loved the engaging story, diverse cast, and high-quality voice acting. The beautiful art direction, aesthetic atmosphere, and historical context also contributed significantly to their enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.17): The anticipation for upcoming books and the intriguing direction of the story are major sources of excitement. The rich historical setting and engaging narrative also keep players excited.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players are satisfied with the enjoyable gameplay experience, engaging story, and impressive graphics. The realistic characters, beautiful art, and high production values also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Frustration (weight 0.11): Frustration stems from the game being unfinished and issues with the saving system. The lack of certain features like auto-dialogue and save-anywhere, as well as long waits for new chapters, also contribute to this emotion.
- Excited (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the storyline and the upcoming books. The quality of the character art, voice acting, and the impact of choices also contribute to their excitement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from the game's incomplete state and technical issues. Some players did not find the story engaging and felt the game was too short and unfinished.
- Anticipation (weight 0.04): Players are looking forward to spending more time with the characters and the game. They are eagerly waiting for the next books to come out.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the detailed ship environment, strong thematic intent, and vibrant graphics. The art, voice acting, and believable plot are also highly valued.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): The engaging story and characters keep players hooked. The themes and overall narrative are also significant factors in maintaining player engagement.
- Interest (weight 0.03): The historical setting and plot twists piqued players' interest. The interactive bits and the story becoming more engaging also maintain their interest.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admire the beautiful art, world design, and voice acting. The engaging mystery plot and the overall production quality are also highly admired.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players hope for the game to be completed and for the story to have a follow-up. This hope is driven by their investment in the game's narrative and characters.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Some players felt confused by the beginning of the story and the opening sequence. This initial confusion can impact their overall understanding and enjoyment of the game.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): The epilogue for Book 2 and the end of Book 2 surprised players. These unexpected moments added to the overall impact of the story.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): The emotional impact of the story evoked feelings of sadness in players. The narrative's depth and character development contributed to this emotional response.
- Intrigue (weight 0.01): Character secrets intrigued players, keeping them invested in the story. The mystery and hidden aspects of the characters added to the overall engagement.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Some players were disappointed with the animation and the impact of choices on the story. This disappointment stems from expectations not being met in terms of visual and narrative impact.
- Surprised (weight 0.01): Players were surprised to hear Jim Sterling's voice in the game. This unexpected cameo added a unique element of surprise and delight.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): The impactful player choices and the desire to replay the game to explore different outcomes fueled players' enthusiasm. The game's design encourages multiple playthroughs, enhancing its replay value.}