If you’re looking for a unique visual novel that jumps straight into the action, A Long Journey to an Uncertain End is the one for you. However, this time, it wasn’t the one for me.
While the story is fantastic, and the gameplay is a lot of fun, there were some elements to it that I sadly wasn’t meshing with.
A beautiful art style in the backgrounds and fun character personalities really shine through in this game, but there were just a few things that felt a little bit off. Despite that, the game has some fun and fresh gameplay that is unique in a visual novel, and A Long Journey to an Uncertain End does a great job of blending a visual novel with RPG gameplay.
Cartoon Character Design
Image Credit: Crispy Creative.
I never expected to be boarded on a ship with a Corgi, but it was a fantastic choice. Who doesn’t want to be on a ship with a hologram Corgi?
While some characters have fantastic character designs, Truly being a standout example, others look garish. Understandably, this is an artistic choice for the game, but how you design your character doesn’t feel fitting to this science-fiction world. The customization options feel limited, and no matter how many combinations I tried, their faces looked disproportionate and not in a good way.
Some characters are ridiculously beautiful, like Truly, Zeke, and Aylah. It was such a huge disappointment when I found that my character was plain and didn’t look as exciting as any of the others aboard my ship.
Tackling Sensitive Subjects
Image Credit: Crispy Creative.
This game is fantastic at tackling difficult conversations and keeping players comfortable throughout. You play as an A.I. spaceship pilot who is on the run from an abusive ex. With great help on board, you are comforted and well looked after.
As you progress through the game, you slowly regain your memories and remember the turmoil your partner put you through. The way it is explained is subtle but still gut-wrenching and horrific.
The characters are incredibly lovable, and you can build rapport with them to learn more about them as you go. Not only that, but the cast of characters you can interact with is fantastically diverse, with a range of pronouns and neopronouns available for them, as well as POC and trans characters.
What Are the Odds
Image Credit: Crispy Creative.
The gameplay for A Long Journey To An Uncertain End is something that I did enjoy quite a bit. You have to explore different planets, meet new people, and barter to get supplies so that you can pilot the ship. All the while, you have to hide your true identity so that no one catches on that you’re a sentient A.I.
Exploring planets, you get to complete quests along the way. Doing so allows you to interact with the game’s colorful cast with various attitudes. I particularly enjoyed this mechanic as there were a lot of missions where you would have to try to charm a character or bribe them to complete the mission. It also had a success meter, where you’d even be able to boost your success rate by “calling in a favor.”
Wrapping Up
Overall, the gameplay of A Long Journey To An Uncertain End is a lot of fun, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. A lot of it came from the jarring character customization, as I just felt that my character looked out of place compared to some of the others.
The game is relatively short, too, so your mileage may vary on getting your money’s worth. If you want to burst through a journey, this game is the perfect visual novel for you.
