OurLifeBA is an amazing visual novel and my favourite one of all time. I ADORE Cove in all his glory and I love the interactions involved in every platonic and familial relationship too. The amount of character customisation available is astonishing. I cried MANY times. I wish so badly that Cove was real.
I cannot express how much i love this game. It's not something I thought I'd enjoy but here we are 100+ hours later. The character creation is inclusive and it's great to see your characters grow and actually get to show it. I adore all of the characters, each of them are so unique but feel genuine. No one is a "perfect person" everyone has a flaw and the game is very upfront with those flaws. The inclusivity is AMAZING.
Our Life: Beginnings & Always hits a sweet spot in the realm of visual novels. It's like a warm, nostalgic trip down memory lane, but with the unique twist of growing up alongside your virtual neighbor. The level of customization is impressive, making each playthrough feel genuinely personal. The game beautifully navigates through the ups and downs of life, striking a balance between joy and adversity in a way that feels authentic and heartfelt. The free-to-play model, complemented by optional DLCs, ensures that the core experience is accessible to all, which is a big plus.
While the artwork is pretty decent the overall presentation of this game is quite lacking when compared to similar titles. Sound and music are good but nothing to write home about. The characters are very poorly written though which was disappointing. I did enjoy parts of the story but then the social politics aspect hits you and you're taken out of the world. The game is extremely woke and focuses on social politics a bit too much. If you're looking for something to entertain you and forget about the real world, this is definitely not that game.
SummaryA twenty-dollar bill, four summers, fifteen years, and a one of a kind life. Create an experience that’s all your own in this near-fully customizable visual novel where you grow from childhood to adulthood with the lonely boy next door.