X
- VLG
- VLG
- VLG
- VLG
Dry Drowning
Released On: Aug 2, 2019
68
7.9
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
68
45% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
55% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
68
45% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
55% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dry Drowning is a very good game with great narrative experience. Every relationship between the characters is layered to increase player involvement, and each choice has different consequences. A thriller game that deserves to be played.
Dry Drowning is not a perfect game but successfully presents itself as a typical, but intriguing cyberpunk noir visual novel that will provide you with at least some fun time, despite its cliché tropes and translation issues.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 User Ratings
7.9
71% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
14% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
14% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 User Ratings
7.9
71% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
14% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
14% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Very impressive visual novel, mixing several mechanics from other genres and reinventing a bit the whole narration style making the game more like movies than classic visual novels, a real breath of fresh air for the genre.
The choices you make are ones you really feel like they are decisive and that are going to turn against you in unpredictable ways, and in fact they do.
Great soundtrack, always in line with the mood, and superb atmosphere. The illustrations and the city of Nova Polemos keep you very immersed, quite like if you were one of its citizens.
Report
PC
A wonderfully engaging neo-noir adventure set in a dystopian future. DEFINITELY WORTH IT:
+ Great story: explores the inherent dangers of revolutions, the morally constrained and self-interested nature of human beings, the AI revolution, and the value of integrity and compassion.
+ Engaging characters: they follow the standard template of film noir stocks--the morally grey detective with a dark past, AI researchers looking for the next breakthrough without pondering the philosophical and social consequences of their work, a kind-hearted cop who is forced to wear a hardened exterior to survive in a corrupt government regime, etc.
All characters are self-interested, but most do what they believe to be the right thing -- some pursue their own vision of utopia regardless of cost, while others are more reasonable in their approach. Major characters all receive some development.
+ Excellent soundtrack. the piano pieces in particular are very well-written.
+ Fun mechanic: the masks, and proving your arguments/conclusions through evidence.
Small complaints:
- Several translation errors (grammar, ****, spelling).
- You are given little to no indication of the extent of the consequences of your choices. A few have HUGE impact, and basically determine the endings.
EDIT: I created an account just to submit this review, because I really believe in supporting small developers who produce quality content! This is definitely quality.
Report
PC
And even though it’s throwing a pack of quite disparate elements into one weird cocktail, the result doesn’t taste half bad.
While Dry Drowning’s conclusion may be overly complicated, the visual novel-styled journey of tracking down a serial killer in a future dystopian city more than makes up for it.
Dry Drowning may be a fair bit messy, but there's charm here. Players who are willing to embrace the cheesier elements will find some joy in its well-crafted setting and a decent murder mystery plot. The game is constrictive and lacks the genuine shock and engagement of top tier visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club, but there are some moments of clever world building and a strong enough mystery propelling it.
Dry Drowning’s premise of chasing a serial killer holds a certain morbid allure, but odd choices just make it frustrating to play at times.
Dry Drowning is surreal and silly; it draws you in with earnest and ludicrous writing, perhaps not in the way the game's developer intended.
Dry Drowning è una visual-novel dai toni noir che pesca anche dai generi che vanno oltre la natura di videogioco, proponendo un comparto narrativo e anche estetico di ottima fattura. Insomma, anche se non esente da alcune sbavature, il videogioco riesce nel suo obbiettivo centrale: narrare una storia ed immergervi l’utente. Il giocatore verrà rapito da una sensazione continua di curiosità mista a suspense, che lo spingerà a non abbandonare il videogioco fino ai titoli di coda. Mi sento di consigliare il prodotto a chi ricerca una narrativa interessante e non proprio scontata, mentre lo sconsiglio caldamente agli amanti dell’azione e dei gameplay più strutturati
Report
PC
While this visual novel has a good start to the story and a decent ending, everything in between is a jumbled mess. It seemed like the developers had something much greater in mind, but their expectations fell short. All-in-all the novel holds out on its own, but just barely.
PROS: Nice visuals; good music; interesting interrogation mechanics; strong start and an interesting end.
CONS: The middle of the story is a jumbled mess with some inconsistencies; the characters are mostly paper cut-outs with an unbelievable development arc; some translation issues.
Report
PC
Summary Dry Drowning is a psychological investigative visual novel set in a futuristic dystopian city. Follow the story of Mordred Foley, unscrupulous private detective haunted by his dark past, and look into a series of macabre serial killings inspired by Greek mythology.
Platforms:
- PC
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
Initial Release Date: Aug 2, 2019
Developer:
- Studio V
Publisher: VLG
Genres:
